Of course last night withou both YAo and Steve we would have lost the game. So I think they do mix. They did last night. A lot of people want Steve to not do well. There were a couple of plays in a row when Steve passed the ball to Yao Ming. I mentioned that in the chat room, and several people got upset about it. God forbid a fan actually PRAISES his team. On the whole, last night, every time Yao was open he got the ball. Steve had 9 assists, played hard, and scored the clutch 3. EVen when he wasn't scoring he was doing other things on the court. He was active as hell coming up with Steals when we needed them, skying in the air for rebounds, tying up the Hawks for jump balls etc. He played hard and with the most energy on the court. He also only had 2 TO's in a tripple overtime game.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned defence. Just shows how the NBA has become stats only I guess. Suppose player xyz, let's not name names, goes out to score, say... 18 points. Great night right? But what if the player he's guarding scored 28 on better shooting? How does that first stat look now? Now ask yourselves, which player on the 2003 - 2004 Houston Rockets, regularly in the 8 - man rotation, is the greatest defensive liability?
If Yao was not on the court, Steve would shoot a better percentage - no need to go OT Yao can still get the pass as I think the others pass as well as Steve if not better.
That's another thing. I'm glad you mentioned Defense. Steve's defense on the whole was exceptional last night. Sadly our team defense wasn't. There was missed rotation after missed rotation. Yao and Steve do need to learn how to defend the pick and roll though.
Who was guarding Jason Terry and Bobby Sura? Those were the guys causing the Rockets the most problems. I just saw a lot of matador defense.
I think Matt Maloney and Kenny Smith could have played defense on the perimeter as well as the crew last night.
I think the real heart of what DD is saying is that neither player complements the other; rather they get in each other's way. This, however, is not a problem if both players are not afraid to impose their will at the end of a crucial game and pull out the win. Shaq and Kobe managed to win 3 straight while constantly stepping on each other's toes because in the 4th quarter, and for the entire playoffs, they were able to put aside their differences and work together more efficiently. My problem with Steve is, he seems to be along the same mindset as Kobe, but without the results. He seems unwilling to cater to Yao, much as Kobe has with O'neal. The difference is, Kobe has proven he can carry a team to a close win consistently, whereas Steve is just as likely to hit a big three against the Hawks as he is to dribble out 15 seconds against the Spurs. This is the crucial part of the argument for me. If Steve always wants to be the man, but often fumbles the opportunity, is he helping us or hurting us with his "heart" and "guts"? I do not question that his desire to be "the man" on this team comes from a good place, much the same as Kobe, Bird, and MJ feel when they demand to have the last shot. But Steve has not proven to be the same level of clutch player, and what's worse, he ignores our most potent weapon in the process. Yao is absolutely worthless as a decoy while Steve tries deparately to create a shot for himself. The other side of the argument is: "Does Yao have the demeanor to take over a game?" This question has not been fully resolved, but the way Steve plays sometimes, it is a moot point anyway. In either case, no one can argue that the key to success in the NBA has always been ride the big man while he is hot. Other than MJ, each of the last ten NBA champs have ridden the best big man in the league at the time: 94-5 -- Hakeem 99 -- Duncan 2000-03 -- Shaq 2004 -- Duncan Yao is generally regarded as the next great center in the league. The sooner Steve gets the message, or the sooner he is used to get someone who does, the better off our team will be. What is the message? Big men win championships, not point guards.
No one was saying give Steve a year to adjust after 01'. the team won 45 games with no other All-Star. In 02' he had migranes. In 00' he was a freakin rookie. I guess they should have won 60 games that year. The team is adjusting, Yao is asserting himself, everyone chill out.
more like after game 55 - TRADE STEVE! after game 54 - TRADE STEVE! after game 53 - TRADE STEVE! after game 52 - TRADE STEVE! after game 51 - TRADE STEVE! after game 50 - TRADE STEVE! after game 49 - TRADE STEVE! after game 48 - TRADE STEVE! after game 47 - TRADE STEVE! after game 46 - TRADE STEVE! . . . . . you tell me which is more repetitive and asinine.
Didja know that Finley is a max player? I don't think he brings that much more than Cat brings for less than half the price.
I see the comparisons to Shaq and Kobe, and I just think it's way off-base. Shaq in those championship years was considered possibly the most dominant player to ever play the game. Let's not go homer here and say that Yao is Wilt Chamberlain or Shaq in terms of dominance. Kobe was compared to Michael Jordan in terms of his play on the court and demeanor off the court. If anyone thinks Steve has the talent of Kobe or Michael Jordan, go drink some coffee because you're drunk. Shaq and Kobe won not because they complemented each other but because their the totality of their talent far outweighed any chemistry issues. Most teams from the Kings, Mavs, Spurs, and the Twolves do not have the luxury of having two of the best players in the history of the NBA playing in their prime alongside each other. Look at the Rockets. Look at the Spurs. Those championship teams are more comparable even though Yao is not at the level of Hakeem or Duncan.
Chavo - totally agree. I still hear people talk about how Kobe is better than Jordan at tha same stage of their career. I was not alone thinking that Kobe would eventually be better than Jordan ( I was probably biased as Jordan was never my favorite player - Pippen was). Oh well.
yea thats when we where getting blowed out but when we started to catch up you heard nothing but good things about the rockets.its easy to say the pieces don't fit when a team is losing by 10 15 on national tv.i would like to hear someoe say that when we are blowing someone out by 30 that the pieces dont fit.
i think i finally see why steve didnt pass him the ball when yao was open ...it was because the angle he was at he looked wide open but he was doubled to where the defrender helping out could still the pass force a turnover or make ming have to pass.thats why steve kept thowing the ball in the coner so he could give ming the ball.because when ming gets it in the conner he is at a better angle where he can then take his man 1 on 1 with out having the ball knocked out of his hand.........I think its something that the coaching staff noticed that we didnt really realize.and i think that helped steve with some of his turnover problems last night .
