Jeff, the one good thing is that Francis IS changing his game. By the end of the season he should be in good form. But the Cat will take more time.
We are 2-1. 49 percent isn't just a stat. It means that Steve's hits on almost every other attempt. Cat is the one that guns to much. Steve is our leader. Steve is like Iverson. The O runs around us. The difference is that Steve hits a high percentage of his shots. We are 2-1, thanks to Steve's scoring.
I agree completely. This has been my point all along. It seems that people must think Francis is one of the greatest players in the history of basketball if they honestly believe that, at 25 and with a team full of players around his age, he has the skills, maturity and experience to lead the Rockets deep into the playoffs. Maybe the guy needs to actually PLAY in the playoffs first. He is, at the moment, head and shoulders above any other player on the team in talent. Compare his play on the floor to two years ago. It is night and day. He doesn't contantly go right to the basket. He's learned to stop and pop. He's learned to look for the open man if not always. To think he has the skills to lead THIS team to a championship right now shows no respect for the history of this game.
Steve and Cat take charge on the floor, just like Dream did, just like Jordan did, just like Kidd does, just like Kobe/Shaq do, just like....... It's called being a leader, making split second decisions for your team on the battlefield. Do you expect Rudy to outline every single damn play for them, thats insane. He's allowing them to lead and to learn from their mistakes. And yeah, you do NOT win two championships in a row without, among other things, a great coach to piece everything together.
I saw Les Alexander in the game. Certainly his opinion on Rudy will count the most. Rudy is a nice person and lucky man, but I don't envision him to take Rox to anywhere. The best team for him to coach to have a chance is Spurs or Lakers. Put the whole team on the shoulder of Duncan or Oneal, then just cheerleading.
No, I don't see a pattern emerging. Magic, Bird and Duncan were all under 25 when they won their first titles. You can't pick three stars and call it a pattern. Besides, O'Neal was 28 also. Mobley is 27. I am not holding my breath for him to start playing smart...
I mean AMEN! I'm just agreeing with you...Some people just look at the numbers and say 'wow, look at the numbers, he played a great game' blindly...and ignoring problems that could leak to major ones in the long run...
Name one team that averaged under 26 in age that went deep into the playoffs. O'Neal had Kobe. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Bird had McHale and Parish. Duncan had Robinson. I hope it can be Francis and Yao in a couple of years, but let's be realistic.
'Rudy Sucks' threads suck. Negativity abound... even when we win. Francis plays with more intensity and heart then anyone I have seen play this season and people complain that he shoots to much. I have been making a list of all of these complainers who after 3 games are certain that Rudy sucks, Mobley is crap, Francis isn't a good point guard, Griffin is weak, etc, etc. We are 2 and 1 without two key players in the line up. The Rockets rule, Rudy has been doing a great job, Steve is the man, and I can't even read this BBS anymore.... too much comlaining. When we have won 50 games by the end of the season... YOU WILL ALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!
I will be gladly held accountable. I much prefer the Rockets to win than I to be right. Here's my pledge of accountability: If Rockets win 50 games, I am putting $50 into the tipjar. How does that sound? From what I've seen though we are a long way from 50 wins. Our 2 wins were quite ugly and came against terrible teams. Nuggets are at the high-scholl level, and Toronto looked quite bad without Vince and AD. Remember they lost Keon Clark, Montross, Childs, Dream and Curry from last year... they are in a ton of trouble if VC is out for extended period, with Lamond aleady out.
