What do you see as the Rocket Strengths and Weaknesses? Like personally Like Yao Strengths - passing and shooting Weakness - defense and lateral movement Report - body him and be overly physical with him Cuttino Strength - shooting and driving Weakness - Defense and decision making Report - make it personal. Can be goaded into making it one on one Francis Strength - Shooting Driving and athleticism Weakness - Decision making and Defense. Report - Steve can try to do too much. either taking too many shots or the most recent and maybe worse. . .trying to hard to be a TRUE pt guard. resulting in OVER passing sometimes Rocket River
If you are right about their weaknesses (I think you are), then they got the perfect coach in JVG. He should really help them on D. I think Yao's problem was that he was just a little tentative in his first year in the NBA. I think he'll be a lot more assertive with a year under his belt.
Ming is the Real Thing! A few years away, but within the right system (And JVG will likely bring it) can have a major impact. Smart kid, great size, excellent passer, may be the best shooter on the team, needs help on position, condition, and footwork. He is no Shaq but can be one of the league's best players. Francis, well I am not his greatest fan. Objectively, he has great athleticism, fantastic leaper, strong, quick feet, excellent rebounder. He is no playmaker. Saves himself for offense. Not a great passer, may have limited court vision. Not a pure shooter by any means, but has improved his jump shot. Has streetball tendancies, highlight mentality. Plays well by himself, not so great with others. IMO, he is one of the most overrated players in the league. Plus, I don't like his brooding, "what about me" attitude. He is a profanity machine in practice and during games. Finally is one of the league's worst interviews. Mobley, IMO, is the team's best guard. Has better vision and appears to be a better passer than Francis. He is quick, both hands and feet. Good defender when he decides to be. Relatively good shooting technique, but seems to lose consentration and throws up wild shots. I like his personality, and IMO he is more coachable than Francis. Griffin has potential, good leaper, has defensive skills, used to have a sweet mid-range jumper in college. He has been severely mishandled. Appears lost. Temperment is a problem. His lack of aggressiveness is not helped by dope-smoking. Could blossom under new management. Is the second worst interview in the league. The rest of the Rocket's players are, well, not that interesting. Although I think Taylor is relatively intelligent, he may have experienced a career ending injury. Has just not been the same since. Rice's career was over two years ago, and Norris is not an NBA player. I can't fault him for "taking" the Rocket's organization for millions; they should have known better. Cato is overpaid as well, but is a good back up center. Posey is still something of an unknown. This is my case, for some new talent.
I think Francis' greatest weakness is the same problem that Mobley and Moochie face, which is over dribbling. JVG will be extremely critical of anyone wasting seconds off the shot-clock. I bet he will publicly criticize any of the three who dribbles too much.
He might, but I hope that he keeps that kind of thing behind closed doors and handles it man to man. I think Van Gundy might have the right ideas about what the team needs, I just hope that he implements those things behinds closed doors, and not in the public.
I disagree on two points. Yao. His defense is not bad, leading Rockets in blocks/rebounds. He move reasonably fast, and his size along help blocking baskets. Cuttino. Defense is actually his strength. He and Posey are Rockets best defenders.
Hawk is very overrated as a defender. I cannot even count how many times the dude flopped (worst looking flops in history) and the opposing guard just made a jumper over him. He is okay, nothing to write home about. And whoever thinks Cuttino did not improve his defense last year is a moron or did not watch many games.
If I was a scout I wouldn't care too much about the strengths. I'd tell the team I was working for to - front Yao(since almost no one on the team can/will throw a lob pass) - push both Yao and Griff out of position as much as possible - single coverage on Mobes and SF, only help on deep penetration. - abuse SF's horrible d. - single coverage on Mo when he's outside the paint, quick double when he gets too close to the rim - try to bait Griff and Posey into taking jumpers - stay tight on Rice since he's not quick enough to get around anyone anymore I'm sure there's more, but that's enough for now.
I think people tend to overlook Mobley Defense. he actually plays pretty good defense. I remeber watcvhing him hold Iverson to the worst shooting night of his career. Just because people hate mobley I don't think they shoudl critcize his D. Personally I don't like him as a player/ ball hog, but i have to admit he plays pretty good D. A lot better than Steve
I think Posey is very Overated defender in this team. Yes, he's fine defender but not that good people make him to be . He's not consistent enough to shut his man down. While Mobley had improved greatly since last year on his defense. But the interesting part about FRancis this year will be how he' ll defend his man. In JVG's system, it will require to play a hard nose D.
You would be a good scout! If they fronted Yao...I would tell the guards to throw the ball off the backboard and get Yao to just put it back in. Well...Griffin is already 50 feet away from the basket. And Yao can be easily pushed out of position. Just don't let him get right in front of the basket. That's an automatic 2. Well there's been a little less pressure on our guards because most teams are focused on Yao. But our guards don't know how to use Yao very well YET! Steve Francis's defense should improve. Our entire team defense should be more stable and consistent and more teamoriented and nice and unstoppable! Mo Taylor.....yeah. That's what they should do, but they don't. At first..they just let Mo go 1on1 and then after he makes like 3 great awesome jump hooks in a row....the opposing coach gets furious and calls a time out and tells them to triple team him. Griffin and Posey don't shoot! And hopefully JVG will give them some type of role and when to shoot and how to get easy baskets. And of course...FIRST..we must resign Posey! Hmm...Glen Rice. Well many teams still leave him open which is good. Yao's defense is above average. But he's kinda slow. But his height should be utilized more with JVG! Mobley.....his decision making is horrible. But he is a good defender and shooter. He should practice catching and shooting.
quote: - stay tight on Rice since he's not quick enough to get around anyone anymore I think one thing that a lot of people overlook is the fact that Rice can also post up, using his weight to muscle inside. He's a great shooter, but a competent post player as well. If I were a scout, I'd definitely tell the team to watch out for that.
You think it is a ridiculous statement, most likely, because you are a big fan of Francis. IMO, Francis is a forward in a guard's body. He is very poor playmaker, passer, and defender and is really not that great of a long range shooter. Mobley almost matches him in athleticism and has more guard-like instincts and skills. Again, it is my opinion, you aren't required to agree. You are welcome to keep thinking that Francis is headed for the HOF.
Yao's strength: Intelligent, great basketball IQ , good decision making ... weakness: stamina, strength and inconsistent shooting..
Moochie Norris: Strengths: Occassionally shows real courage regarding his choice of hairstyle. Weaknesses: Everything else. Report: If you're playing against the Rockets at home, send someone to the airport to make sure he gets to town okay...book him a quiet room at an out of the way hotel, give him a wake up call followed by breakfast, and arrange for a car to get him to the stadium. Avoid major thourougfairs, and concentrate on quieter back streets to avoid any possibility of an accident, or traffic. If you are playing in Houston, skip the airport, but arrange for someone to call him early, and pick him up in plenty of time to get to the arean, and also follow the same priorities regarding route. And this is key: As he takes the floor, at home or on the road, have various people yell challenges at him regarding his lack of dribbling ability. Then enjoy the game.
Kelvin Cato Strengths: Shotblocking and Rebounding and Making People Laugh and Intensity and Dunking Weaknesses: Everything Else...especially shooting. Report: Kelvin Cato was #4 in rebounding efficiency last season and has played very well as a backup for center Yao Ming. He is a good spark of energy...He is a good teammate. Glen Rice Strengths: Shooting and Veteran Leadership Weaknesses: Well he's just too old to keep up with the young fast players nowadays... Report: He is the best 3 point shooter on the Rockets! He shot like 50% from behind the arc last season after he returned from his injury. He made a lot of clutch 3's.
I'm just writing about passing. How is Mobley a better passer than Steve Francis? I don't think you will find 10 people on this entire board who agree with that.
You are right in that he doesn't pass much; I was talking about technique. He slings the ball quickly and accurately. He just doesn't do it enough.
