In the past several years, I missed Rockets telecasts only if I forgot or if I had something else that I had to do. The last several weeks, I have been aware of the games, I just have no interest in watching. I'm not mad, I'm not happy, I just cease to care. That is a sad statement from a former rabid fan. Not only that, I have not been keeping up with posts and information on thsi wonderful bbs. The Rockets uninspired play just leave me completely and utterly indifferent. I follow sports to be entertained inspired. The Rockets provide neither right now. I am now in favor of a major shake up of the team. Since Yao won't be traded because of his play and marketing potential, it has to be Mobley and/Francis. This team is mired in mediocrity and we need to make a bold move to improve or recast this team in a different mold/philosophy. Surely, there is a market for Francis, Mobley, Cato and Taylor. Go, sigh, Rockets.
I feel for you. The last few games, I've been falling asleep by the third quarter. This team maybe better than last years, but they suck to watch. Last year I drove down to Houston for 12 games, some in the middle of the week. This year, I don't even bother to watch them on my Tivo sometimes.
I'd say that Van Gundy has sucked all of the joy and excitement out of this team. Not only has he not gotten through to the players with his negativity and criticisms, but he's also managed to make our 2 best players play worse and worse with each game. His brand of "defensive basketball" is plain ugly, and he has absolutely no skills setting up a team's offense. Enough with these 20-point halves and 60-point games! His idea of offense is when he offends his own players by benching them or criticizing them in the press. Off with Van Gundy's head!!!
Made to order ! Houston trades: PG Steve Francis (17.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.7 apg in 39.3 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.1 apg in 39.4 minutes) Houston receives: PF Elton Brand (18.9 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 3.2 apg in 37.0 minutes) PF Chris Wilcox (9.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 22.6 minutes) SG Marko Jaric (8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg in 27.6 minutes) Change in team outlook: +4.1 ppg, +9.5 rpg, and -0.3 apg. L.A. Clippers trades: PF Elton Brand (18.9 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 3.2 apg in 37.0 minutes) PF Chris Wilcox (9.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 22.6 minutes) SG Marko Jaric (8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg in 27.6 minutes) L.A. Clippers receives: PG Steve Francis (17.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.7 apg in 36 games) SG Cuttino Mobley (15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.1 apg in 36 games) Change in team outlook: -4.1 ppg, -9.5 rpg, and +0.3 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
I'd absolutely love to get Brand by the way. Rebounds. Blocks shots. Hustles. Doesn't need a lot of shots to be happy. Ironic how he was co-ROY with Francis, and now, most of us would much rather have Brand than Francis on this team.
I'd say that you are full of crap. He has had to take a team of players that have been playing some of the worst basketball ever for 4 freaking years. Francis would probably be one of the better off guards in the league, but he is probably the worst "point guard" ever. Until this year, he was the anti-Christ as far as any offensive flow went. Sure, he got his stats, but who wouldn't if they dominated the ball by dribbling the ball for probably 70 to 80 percent of the shot clock. Then if he did pass, it was most likely to Mobley who did the same thing once he got his hands on the ball. Detroit is just now getting used to Larry Brown's style, but they already had a team that was used to playing team basketball, moving the ball, not stagnating the offense by having one guy dribble the ball for 20 seconds. Until he is traded, Van Gundy has to go with Francis, hoping he will eventually improve his fundamentals. If you think a guy with Francis' ego can change overnight from nothing more than a flashy, athletic street baller to someone that is an above average point guard, you are nuts.
Couldn't have put it better Rileydog. I have lost intrest in the team almost completely. My brother bought season tickets for this year and now I wish he would have bought them for the Astros. It just gets old watching the same boneheaded play after another. Not to bad.
Brand is an awsome player but just injury pron.. Its risky but i would try to make a deal where we could land Brand & keep steve here too, man we would be good!! p.s. I still cant belive Chicago traded Brand man there GM musta been on crack
This problem is not on Van Gundy. It's the players. That's why I am now in favor of shaking up the team. In my opinion, Van Gundy has done the right things. He pushes intelligent, hard play. And enough about vangundyball being boring. he is waiving his arms asking the players to uptempo the ball down the court. Francis responds by skipping up the court in his usual fashion, and the rest of the team matches that tempo and intensity. Make no mistake about it. This team has plenty of talent, but more than offsets that with the lack of identity and intensity.
I agree. A lot of my passion is no longer there as well. It's sad really. The Rockets used to be my escape from stress. Now it seems they are one of the major problems. I haven't really watched too many games since the Lakers win a few weeks ago. I've even vowed to not watch a game till something big happens. I’m sorry to say that I still watch a quarter or two, a possession or two here or there. I guess hoping that either Francis gets a clue, Ming grows some balls, Cuttino stops taking stupid shots, JVG smiles for once, or that Coop is no longer machine-gunning her statements. So far, I’m still hoping that I'm asleep, and I'm going to wake up in 1995 and see Dream, Clyde and Rudy's rum and cokes on the sidelines. Ahhhhhhhhh the days of old. Now the question of the night.........Rockets, or Golden Girls reruns?..............................Betty White, looks like I'm your man!
Then you're a fairweather fan. I kept watching the Astros in the early '90s, the Oilers after all their chokejobs, and I'll keep watching the Rockets. Rockets fans seem to be under the impression that being great is the norm and are pretty spoiled. Being great takes time and sometimes franchises take wrong turns for a while.
You're the one full of crap, Moe. "Worse basketball ever"? As I recall, the Rockets almost made the playoffs last year. In fact, they had the best record ever for a non-playoff team. A bit of an exaggeration, eh? I think Van Gundy is solely to blame for not taking this team to the next level after the promise shown last year and earlier this season. He's in fact taken us several steps back. Our 2 best players have regressed under Van Gundy's system, and our other players are very inconsistent. I agree that Francis is not a good point guard, and he should be playing shooting guard instead. And that's exactly my point. Van Gundy is the coach. If he sees what all of us see, he should take the freaking initiative and move Francis to shooting guard. If his players don't freaking listen to him and follow his strategies, he should trade them. I'm sick and tired of him criticizing his players in the press and spreading all this negative vibes and then not getting anything accomplished with his team's play.
As I understand it, it's the COACH'S JOB to create an identity for his team and to fire up his players so that the team plays with intensity. If he doesn't like the players he has on his hands, he should get busy fast and make a move.
People who do ReamGM trades are morons. Memphis trades: SF Bo Outlaw (4.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.7 apg in 18.1 minutes) PG Jason Williams (10.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 6.9 apg in 29.3 minutes) SG James Posey (11.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg in 27.7 minutes) PF Pau Gasol (17.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 apg in 31.9 minutes) Memphis receives: SF Scott Padgett (2.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 8.6 minutes) SF Bostjan Nachbar (3.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.7 apg in 11.1 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.1 apg in 27.7 minutes) PG Steve Francis (17.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.7 apg in 39.3 minutes) Change in team outlook: -8.7 ppg, -3.1 rpg, and -3.4 apg. Houston trades: SF Scott Padgett (2.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 8.6 minutes) SF Bostjan Nachbar (3.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.7 apg in 11.1 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.1 apg in 27.7 minutes) PG Steve Francis (17.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.7 apg in 39.3 minutes) Houston receives: SF Bo Outlaw (4.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.7 apg in 37 games) PG Jason Williams (10.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 6.9 apg in 28 games) SG James Posey (11.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg in 37 games) PF Pau Gasol (17.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 apg in 37 games) Change in team outlook: +8.7 ppg, +3.1 rpg, and +3.4 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
Jason Williams is not the answer at the point. Even though he's grown less wild since his early days, he's still prone to pull a "Steve Francis" at the most inopportune time. We've gotta get a better point guard than this to pull the trigger on Francis.
