This isn't a lets break up the team post or a bashing post so plz don't expect it to be. Ok, the Rox has lost more than their share of bball now and its a little tiring and I'm a little irritated. One thing is evidently clear in my opionion, Yao and Steve haven't been able to dominate TOGETHER as much as we would like them to. I attribute this to the fact that Yao missed training camp and right now the chemistry just isn't working. This team was playing well in the beginning of the season because the players knew who in control of the team at what time. Steve was the guy, the offense ran through him and the players knew what to do as far as it concerns toward their roles on the team. After Yao's emergence, the team is making an very consciences effort to get him involved more as far as shot goes. In the first 15 games of the Rockets season, Steve averaged 18.9 attempts per game, Rox went 9-6. In the last 15 games Steve played (meaning not including the Memphis game), Steve is averagomg 15.4 attempts per game and the Rox went 6-9. I think the biggest problem in the last few games Steve is trying to become a player this board and rest of the league seems to love, Jason Kidd, but that's not his strenghth, lets face it we don't have motion players and we don't run a motion offense. Our best players are one on one players. Steve, Cat and yes Yao Ming (even with his great passing skill, is still most dangerous his abilitiy with the ball to make defense adjust and then decide pass or shoot) and we really don't have that great of players to play off the ball. Steve IS a scoring point guard, he leads by igniting the offense and then passing to an open man when the defense focuses. Steve IS at his best when he dominates the other team by commanding the ball. In the last few games, Steve has been try to get other players involved, but it seems to be forced. His play doesn't seem to fit with the team or himslef. I will go as far as say HIS PLAY LATELY IS DETRIMENT TO THE TEAM. But the blame IS NOT his alone, Yao is equally guilty. Yao is getting a lot of attention lately and lets face it, he is and is treated like an All-Star by opossing team as well as the Rocks. While his role is starting to get there, his attitude hasn't. He still is not commanding enough, his pressense is surprisingly low for a 7'5" player. He doesn't have that cockiness that a focal point of an offense has, the same thing that Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, hell even some second tier player like Pierce, Rasheed have. It's an aura that Steve had but no longer have. It's almost like when Yao and Steve score, its more as if they are glad that they didn't miss instead of expecting them to score and be more angry when they miss. This team as of right now doesn't have an leader any more. Steve was earlier in the year, a player with that certain cockiness and confindence that is neccessary to lead. This cockiness crucial to stop a run or ignite one and Steve has lost it. We like Yao and Steve to be the next Shaq and Kobe, but Shaq and Kobe have that cockiness. That look in there eyes when they get the ball. We like guys to be humble, but not when they are on the court. I think with all the ESPN crap and the bashing going on lately, Steve is playing as like he's constantly looking over his shoulders, hoping to not play bad instead of just playing good. And Yao isn't even showing signs of that cockiness. A team with two players who WANTS to (not neccessary will) score every time down the court can coexist and win, Shaq Kobe, Jordan Pippen, Hakeem Clyde, but a team with out a single player in that frame and of mind will go no where. For this team to get better we need that "all star" leader. Some one with enough confidence that it instills confidence into surrounding players. So my hope is this, Steve play his game and ignores all this crap from ESPN, big O, the board what ever and play HIS game. And Yao, its nice that he's nice guy, a great spokesperson for us Chinese. but on the court, you know what they say about nice guys and last place.
The Rockets won 45 games two years ago for that post presence brought by HUMBLE Hakeem, whose contribution is simliar to Yao's current output.
It doesnt help that: 1. Francis has been injured. If you rely on athleticism, an injury or severly limit your game. 2. We have no real shooters in the game other than Gen Rice on occasion. Steve is a penetrator and Yao likes to pass. So we do occasionally have people open that couldnt make a shot to save their life. That's not helping. 3. Our defensive intensity is non-existent until the 4th quarter. James Posey is a defensive stopper my ass. Hawkins has totally outplayed him the last few games and at least he can actually make an occasional shot. The adjustment is not just between Yao and Steve but waiting for someone else to step up everynight and carry their share of the burden.
I understand why you meant. But please consider this: a guard-dominating game may (just may) get us into playoffs this year but it certainly would not get us very far in the future especially in this big-men dominated Western conference. Our long-term success still needs to be built around an inside-outside game. I would consider right now as the learning process and growing pain. Please be patient.
To Panda One, Hakeem had the desire and cockiness on the court expected of an leader, even when he lost most of the talent. Two, that was the year Steve trully became the Franchise, I remeber being so stoked with our next best playerand started to have hope for a big playoff run, even after they missed by one freaking game, I was still exited about the year after but the rest is history Carayip, lol that's what 'I' being trying to tell people the whole season, its a young team yada yada yada. While I think we need inside presence, it doesn't neccessary have to completely inside out. Kobe takes it on his own a lot, Clyde when he was with us takes over on his own every now and then. The point I was making was that our too "leaders" need to play like it. Gives the rest of the Rockets something to believe. Play to win, to succeed, instead of every individual play playing not to fu*k up.
I agree, Francis has lost something in his attitude. This may lead to posts about how this team is young, or how Yao and Francis cannot coexist.. but whatever comes of it, Francis better feel like he's still the Franchise or we're not going anywhere this season or the next. This is a bump in the Rockets evolution, I just hope it doesn't stall here. Somehow they have to get over this obstacle which will require time.. but time doesn't heal all.
No. You have to look at the big picture. Championships are won with an inside-outside game unless you are Michael Jordon. Look at Lakers. Even they won so many games during Kobe's 40 pts run. But right now they still want and need to go back to their Shaq-oriented triangle offense. And I agree with the part that leaders have to play like leaders. But being a leader doesn't mean dominating poccession and shooting every time. For a start I think a leader should take upon himself to provide the intangibles, do the dirty work, namely playing defense. If the leader doesn't play defense, how can you expect your teammates do?
Wizkid, I completely understand your post and I felt the exact same way watching the last couple of games. Steve seems to be trying really hard to be unselfish and I'm not sure if it's the injury or what, but he seems out of rhythm. He's definitely lost that "this is my team" strut in his step that won us a bunch of games earlier in the season. All the scouting reports about the Rockets, even ones coming out this week, are still knocking Steve for being selfish and you have to believe it's having an effect on him. It's throwing him off of his game and that may be a good thing long term, or it may cause permanent chemistry problems. We'll have to wait and see.
Hey man. I ain't gonna bash you. Nothing to bash. But we have to go through Yao. That's just the way. We are testing. If you don't want to endure the pain....then tune in next season. I MEAN...they will HOPEFULLY be looking like the Spurs soon....just wait. Testing.......Experimenting. Like the Spurs. At first....did their normal stuff. BUT NOW are 22-4 in 2003. They've won 13 of the last 14 games. JESUS!!!!! And we are in dire freakin need of a shooter. TERRIBLY. And our defense is sucking. Our offense will work if we make actually stop people and stop allowing teams to shoot 60-70% in the first half. We have to start the game aggressive and control the game early..... which doesn't seem possible. Yao and Steve will develop a unique relationship... And Francis has been injured. It looks like he has been trying to share the ball more....but yeah. He's not scoring AS MUCh.
I agree with you. The rocket need a leader. Yao should be a leader and be agreesive and demand the more more if the strategy is to play through him. Unfortunately, it is in our Asian culture to very much respect in seniority. I do not think that he has the attitude to become a leader yet especially when Francis is his senior.
I could imagine what it is gonna like if you put unselfish Yao in Kings, Mavs or Spurs. Man, that is going to be a lot more fun game to watch. I just feel sorry for Yao to play in such an stupid system. None of Rox players knows how to move w/o ball after playing ISO for past three years. Damn it!!!
You right about that Jeff. Even tho Im a diehard Rox fan, their games are <b>painful</b> to watch. I have to shut off the TV or change the channel sometimes because I can't take watching them make the same dumb mistakes over and over and over again. Id rather watch a Sac-Dal game because they understand how to play the game.
Carayip, I still don't think you and a lot of posters are understanding the point of my post, I'm not saying that we shouldn't dump it inside to Yao, but that Yao and more disappointingly Steve lately have been playing very timid. When Shaq gets the, he feels he will score this basket, the same with Kobe. That's why with the Lakers, Shaq with drag along the team, help them trade baskets with the team until Kobe catches on fire and they go on a run. Look at the Lakers in the playoffs, Shaq is almost an automatic two or foul but if the games close, Kobe will help pull away and put away. Perfect combination, they trust each other to do they part because they have trust in themselves. They are not afraid of a miss shot because they feel they can make the next one. The point is that no one on the Rox have that mentality on this team. Our two best players (Yao and Steve) needs it. Even cat, our gunner, fearless sam cassell type of players of the past is playing more timid basket. Like I said the players are playing not to fu*k up instead of trying to win, that's not gonna translate to good basketball.
Go get all of Yao's guards from China. They will obviously play well together. They will win a lot of games.
I don't think Steve is selfish. I agree that in the last few games he tried very hard to share the ball with Yao. But let's face it, Steve is not a good point guard. his talent just was not there. He is a very talented shooter, but his court sense and his passing ability is not good enough to make him an terrific point guard. Rox need a real play maker, who can keep the ball move efficiently inside and outside.
