Houston: A- In less than two months, Jeff Van Gundy has patiently transformed the Rockets from duds to one of the most dangerous teams in the league. On the court, it's Bob Sura who ignites everybody's fuses ¡ª he passes, rebounds, and he's even making more than an occasional jumper. T-Mac and Yao are still not in sync, and may never be. The team needs a ferocious glass-eater, more cohesion on both ends of the court, and a killer instinct. And on any given night, they're just as capable of beating the best teams in the league as losing to the worst. But by the time the playoffs roll around, nobody will want any part of the Rockets. http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3392164 Suns, MEMPHIS, Spurs, Seattle got the A Clippers, Rockets and Mav got A- Sac B+, Lakers B- Minn F
you didn't have to beat last year's Rockets. If you waited around long enough, the team would beat itself. sad but true.
I wonder what him him think T-Mac and Ming will never be in sync? Thy're both playing better as of late, and will continue to do so...
Yes, but that was assuming that the team would eventually "gel".... and even though they played with the same starting lineup for virtually the entire year, they never did. Meanwhile, this current team, although they've been together less than 2 months, has already gelled more than any Rockets team since 1998, and still has room to grow.
I think these guys look at highlights and box scores more than anything else (they miss all the back picks Yao sets for Wesley and Tmac and they miss the 2nd and 3rd passed made out of the post) that being said, I think once BOTH Yao and Tmac hit the 20 pts per game mark on the same nights - the media will pick up on it and rate them even higher
Check out Rosen's archives and read his piece(fairly recently) on the Rockets. Personally, I don't think they really need to be that much in sync for us to win. As long as they can alternate being the go-to guy throughout the game is fine with me.
How have Yao and T-Mac not gelled? Sure they're not Shaq and Kobe, but that little play where T-Mac comes off the pick and roll and bullets it to Yao under the basket for the dunk is becoming automatic. It's scary to think how far they've come in just half a season. I don't think even the biggest proponents of the T-Mac trade could have imagined this. It's going to get even better as time passes. Every time McGrady has the ball, the past 4 years of Rockets basketball has me expecting him to throw it out of bounds or dribble it off his foot, but time and time again he just zips it inside the defense easelessly. I had no idea his passing was this good. Finally, I was watching the Indiana Pacers broadcast last night, and the commentator mentioned that Houston and Memphis had more wins than anyone in the league since New Year's. I didn't think of that.
I disagree with the idea that Yao and Tmac are not and will nto be in sync... they are starting to run more and more plays where Yao and Tmac play a two man PNR game or where Tmac is at the top and as the ball swings around the perimeter, Yao posts int he middle of the paint and Tmac jets a pass to him for a easy scoring opportunity. These are plays that they are running more often in the last few games....I saw several of both in the last game. check the highlights from the last game if you arent sure what Im talking about. Eventho they were struggling, this team has learned how to pull out a win even wehn all things look bleak performance-wise..... I dont see a regression coming, I see things getting better and better....wait and see.
Yeah, I don't know why he thinks T-Mac and Yao aren't in sync. They seem much more comfortable playing with each other compared to just a couple months ago. Sure it helps that Yao seems to have emerged from the slump he was in, but the two of them are developing a nice chemistry out there on the floor. Just imagine how deadly they'll be this time next season.
I enjoyed these Yao picks and then Jhoward pick to free up TMac for a shot or penetration. There's not a lot of plays call for Yao to get the ball though. Yao is setting really good picks and guys are getting open like Sura, Wesley, Howard, TMac. I think the team is definitely gelling. As soon as JVG figure out how to use Yao and TMac together more, we will see something as good as Kobe & Shaq.
Why are Yao and TMAc not in sync? I just don't get it. Are they supposed to be lobbing alley-oops to each other every possession?
gal I have to agree with you.. I dont understand why they are not in sync? what more do you need from your best players than to be winning and helping your team win. J
