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Rudy Blows Up, Franchise Makes Interesting Comment

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Jeff, Mar 6, 2002.

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  1. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    From the Chron today:

    <i>Young stars help Rockets turn back Hakeem, Raptors
    By JONATHAN FEIGEN
    Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

    On a night begun with a long standing ovation for what once was, the Rockets left the court Tuesday with their fans on their feet with a revitalized feeling for what could be.

    Hakeem Olajuwon, the longtime franchise, was adored again in Compaq Center. But Steve Francis, the new "Franchise," had his best game in a month as Olajuwon's successors lived up to his legacy in a stirring second-half comeback to a 112-109 win over the Raptors. The defeat was Toronto's 12th straight.

    With a rally from a 17-point second-half deficit, affection that had poured from the 14,221 at Compaq Center for Olajuwon was joyfully returned to the home team as if Olajuwon's reappearance in Houston revived the emotions lost in a lost season.

    "Everybody knew it would be significant as far as Dream coming back," Francis said. "It was going to be a lot of emotions on the court whether it was from him, whether it was from management here in Houston, whether it was from the fans, the coaches, everybody was feeling something. I felt the same way.

    <b>"As the fans greeted and acknowledged him it made me realize what type of people I'm playing for."</b>

    That, and a halftime verbal barrage from Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich that Francis said easily surpassed any he had ever heard, inspired a Rockets revival.

    The Rockets had played the first half as if the night really was just a happy family reunion. They rarely did anything that would so much as distract the Raptors. They passed around turnovers as if trading old snapshots.

    <b>"I was sick at halftime," Tomjanovich said. "We had an opportunity with our fans here and all this excitement and all this stuff, and we were just not getting it done. I thought we were on the verge of humiliation. You get in that rut, it isn't an alarm clock; you need a time bomb."

    So Tomjanovich exploded.

    "We needed it," Cuttino Mobley said. "Coach came in and chewed us out at halftime because we weren't being aggressive at all. He chewed us out and said some things that I can't repeat. We needed it." </b>

    After a sloppy and soft first half, the Rockets came out as hard as a blacksmith's calluses. If there had been any doubt that the warm fuzzies of the introductions were over, when the Rockets made their run, Olajuwon and Kelvin Cato were fighting for position down low when Cato hit Olajuwon with a sharp elbow. Moments later, Olajuwon stopped a Kenny Thomas drive with a hard foul.

    Francis, meanwhile, took over, filling all the "Franchise" persona with a spectacular run that seemed to change his teammates and the game.

    "He put them on his back in the third quarter and got the job done," Raptors forward Vince Carter said. "Everybody fed off that."

    Mobley, who had 23 points, had made a jumper to start the Rockets' run. But Francis took that cue to drive to a three-point play, nail a jumper and hit a trey. He passed to Walt Williams on a break to complete a 12-0 run.

    When the quarter ended with Francis passing to Thomas for a layup and then hitting another jumper, Francis had 17 points in the quarter and the Rockets had made up all but the last point of the 17-point Raptors lead.

    "Steve was phenomenal," Tomjanovich said. "My God, he was phenomenal."

    But with Olajuwon relegated to his fourth-quarter place on the Raptors' bench, done for the night with seven points in 25 minutes, Francis also took a seat, and the Rockets turned to an even younger successor to Olajuwon's standard. Rookie Eddie Griffin drained three consecutive treys and had a tip to keep the Rockets within 100-97 with five minutes left. He later added a remarkable block of an Alvin Williams drive.

    Still, the Raptors still led 102-101, with 2:28 left, when the Rockets took off one last time.

    Mobley answered with a drive and a three-point play. Francis stole a pass and set up Mobley for a fast-break slam. Mobley passed to Williams for a trey that gave the Rockets a 109-102 lead with 1:25 left.

    Carter, who had a season-high 43 with 18 in the fourth-quarter, made the Rockets sweat, scoring on a drive for a three-point play and putting in a tip with 21.1 seconds to cut the lead to two.

    But with 10.4 seconds left, Francis was fouled and swished both free throws, giving him 35 points -- to go with seven assists and six rebounds -- and the Rockets a comeback from 17 down, their second-largest of the season.

    Carter scored one more time and Moochie Norris made one of two free throws to leave the Raptors within three with 6.1 seconds remaining. But Alvin Williams' trey at the buzzer missed.

    With that, the pre-game sentiments were replaced with a celebration not of past victories, or even championships, but of one win that rose above the blur of a long season.

    "It felt great," Mobley said. "I love a crowd like that. A crowd like that makes you play better. And we came out in the second half and showed we were worthy."

    Almost as if scripted, Olajuwon had returned. But rather than wait for a torch to be passed, the Rockets at least for a night, seized it.

    "It was a great night for Houston fans," Tomjanovich said. "You get to see the guy who made all the great memories. And we get to have a great comeback."</i>
     
    #1 Jeff, Mar 6, 2002
  2. backwardhead

    backwardhead Member

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    I hope the lesson isn't lost in the other games or in the off-season. A younger team needs someone to hold them accountable until they learn to lead themselves. The half-time tirad would never have worked with the Rockets of 4/5 years ago because Hakeen, Barkley, and Clyde would have been insulted. But it was never necessary for Rudy to do that because Barkley would have been the one screaming at everyone. In my opinion that was why Clyde couldn't play with him, because he was a leader himself and pridefull. But these young guys need that. I think Steve has got another 3 or 4 years (and 3 or 4 more all-star games) before he can get away with that, so in the meantime, Rudy needs to assert himself.

    Rudy before last night at halftime=:( :rolleyes:
    Rudy last night at halftime=:mad: :mad: :mad:
     
    #2 backwardhead, Mar 6, 2002
  3. Drewdog

    Drewdog Member

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    Hmmm you could really take this 2 ways.

    1. He was pissed that the fans only showed up to see the Dream play and give him some props.

    or

    2. He was happy that our fans had enough class to cheer for the man that helped bring the team 2 NBA Championships.
     
    #3 Drewdog, Mar 6, 2002
  4. finalsbound

    finalsbound Member

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    drewdog, I believe it was #2. ;)
     
    #4 finalsbound, Mar 6, 2002
  5. TroyBaros

    TroyBaros "Special" Friend of Steve Francis

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    Actually after the game I sat and listened to Steve and Jim Peterson do his usual guest interview

    Francis made the comment that Rudy told them if they did not come out and win this game with more intensity they were gonna have a 3 hr practice tomorrow. He also said Rudy came in the locker room throwing towels.

    Francis also credited the fans for being rowdy and getting into the game and in so many words Hinted at the fact that it needs to be that intense every game and I AGREE! He said they they feed off our energy when we get rowdy....

    Today I am hoarse and have a sore throat but IM HAPPY!

    As far as Mooch not being Mooch I overheard Hakeems brother say he was a tad ill.
     
    #5 TroyBaros, Mar 6, 2002
  6. LAfadeaway33

    LAfadeaway33 Member

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    Although Rudy is one of the best coaches there is, I think that especially with this team, he needs to be more of a tone setter. He has a tendancy to hold back and politely request better defence or more rebounding which doesn't make a big impression on the younger players.
     
    #6 LAfadeaway33, Mar 6, 2002
  7. lpbman

    lpbman Member

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    It's about time Rudy chewed some butt!
    If those guys are going to play 40 minutes +, then they need to go to work, play defense, control how the game is played for once.

    All season the Rockets start out practicing what Rudy has preached, but degenerate and loose focus, playing whatever game the other team plays.

    Remember the Bucks game a few weeks back?
    Do the rockets really wanna just trade 3's Allen and gang? Thats not their best game and Rudy knows it.

    Inside out ball man inside out

    peace
     
    #7 lpbman, Mar 6, 2002
  8. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    That's the Rudy I've been waiting for! That's the Rudy I remember! That's the Rudy I want to see from here on out! MEAN RUDY!
     
    #8 ZRB, Mar 6, 2002
  9. edc

    edc Member

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    It is judicious use of "mean" that works. Remember the "Double Clutch" video?
     
    #9 edc, Mar 6, 2002
  10. Wakko67

    Wakko67 Member

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    If he does it all the team, I think it won't be as effective. They play that game all the time. I swear, I called it to my brother-in-law before the game started. I said they'd be down by around 15 at halftime, come back in the third, tied in the early fourth and after that it's anyone's game. I'll take the every game third quarter Rockets over anyone, anyday. That teams moves the ball, takes good shots and plays D. I love that game. :)

    Francis's comments seem to me to mean that before he thought there were no fans (not a farfetched idea,) now he sees that he has to earn them and has gained a respect for the fans. I think he knows if they play better, the fans will be there and cheer.
     
    #10 Wakko67, Mar 7, 2002
  11. treeman

    treeman Member

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    Where's LHutz?
     
    #11 treeman, Mar 7, 2002
  12. tycoonchip

    tycoonchip Member

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    a)I'm hoping he didn't think
    "Fine if they ain't gonna come for me, but will come for dream, then my big ego butt is not being respected here. Therefore DC looks like a good place to start again once my contract is done. I'll never have their hearts anyways."

    b)I'm hoping he thought
    " If I actually do something good like bring a ring home, I'm going to be loved and respected like this for the rest of my life. They'll lick my butt on whatever I do and wherever I go for the rest of my life. Maybe instead of just talking about getting to the playoffs I should actually lead the team to it. I should have also listened to some of Dream's mentality and teachings while he was here ""stay humble and stay hungry"" with the ""we're going to win it all"" mentality. Instead of the "hey let's just make the playoffs", let's think we're going out there to win it all. Heck we have the talent. We have a great coach. I really do need to win it all for Houston, then they'll really love me!! I'll be the new icon of houston forever. Heck they really love dream so much cause of the good he's done, so if I whine and leave for no good reason, they'll hate me for the rest of my life, and wherever I go, like that no good Quitten-person. "
     
    #12 tycoonchip, Mar 7, 2002
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2002
  13. NJRocket

    NJRocket Member

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    Very interesting stuff Jeff. I take 2 very important things from that.

    1) Steve's quote, at least the way I took it, was more along the lines of 'wow, what great fans we have here. The really appreciate what dream did etc etc etc. Hopefully a selling point when we offer him the max.

    and more interesting than that...

    2) Apparently, there is ABSOLUTELY NO TANKING going on down in Houston. While I still think we would be better off with a higher draft pick, this says something about Rudy and the guys.

    Anyone who doesn't think Rudy can coach anymore can kiss my a$$. This guy walked into a locker room at halftime and ripped a new a$$hole into a team full of millionaires that...

    A) is down 15 points

    B) has no shot at the playoffs

    C) is well aware of any implications that a win coupled with a Toronto loss has on our draft

    That win, as meaningless as it was, was ALL Rudy
     
    #13 NJRocket, Mar 7, 2002
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2002
  14. Will

    Will Clutch Crew
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    My translation of both Rudy and Steve:

    We have no shot at the playoffs. We're losing motivation. We need something to play for. Let's play hard for the fans.
     
    #14 Will, Mar 7, 2002
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