The Dallas Game, Our Offense, What We Need and Our Chances at the Play-Offs

Very well thought-out post Crash... echoes my sentiments exactly.

This is a much more real, more objective approach than the "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" outburst.

Our offense IS improving... Yao is playing the most physical basketball I've seen from him all year long. I think Yao's physical play is one of the big reasons why our offense is improving. You can't have the whole inside-outside, ball movement game plan working, unless your inside presence has established itself, and Yao is doing a much better job of establishing himself now.

We missed shots that we SHOULD make in the Dallas game, and basically had bad luck with all the rim outs (4 rebounds, 4 layups rim out in a single possession) and all. I didn't expect to beat Dallas... as absurd as it may sound, the real test for this team will come against the Grizzlies. They must prove they can beat the weaker teams, or it's all over.

 

Chemistry only plays so much into the equation. Utah has two 40 year old players whose chemistry helps offset their diminishing skills. Utah is also 1st round fodder.

Once the Rockets develop chemistry, how would we fare?
Instead of borderline playoffs, we'd be around a 4th or 5th seed at best.

We aren't just missing a Piatkowsi. We need 1 more really good player. A legitimate borderline NBA All-Star.

If you look at the real contenders, they are either loaded (Dallas & Sacramento) or have one (or two) of the Top 3 players in the league (LA & San Antonio).

Sacramento's backup PG is Bobby Jackson. Dallas has Nick Van Exel. We have Moochie Norris.

Chemistry will make us better and so will EG's development. However, to be a legitimate playoff threat, we need another serious scoring threat or Francis and Yao have to get to the elite level.

At this stage, neither are ready for that.

During the offseason, we should trade Rice's expiring contract (a valuable commodity) and paray it into a player with a "bad" contract.

This will be the only way we can add to our pieces without having to subtract an important member of our existing team.

 

Hey...The Dallas Mavericks are the best team in the NBA. They are just way better than us. We made some mistakes and missed some free throws...but we always miss free throws!!! Even Glen Rice missed a free throw.

Our team is way too inconsistent...our guards are usually OK. Just sometimes they have a minor slump...like Mobley. And sometimes one is injured. BUT MOOCHIE JUST SCREWED IT ALL UP. Man...usually he is just OK. He's not that great. He just plays for a while. On Wednesday against the Pheonix Suns, he was awesome!!! And the next game...he had like 2 points and 1 assist and 3 fouls. I wish we could have a good backup point guard like Nick Van Exel. But do you know how much he makes?

Someone who could be great on our team is BRENT BARRY!!! He is awesome. I'm sure he can shoot and yesterday, he had SIXTEEN ASSISTS in his first game as point guard. He would be great for our team. And he could be our point guard as well. But to get him, would we need to give up Mobley? Maybe Bostjan Nachbar is a really good shooter...we also have Terence Morris...but they don't pass to him enough.

I love Eddie Griffin and Yao Ming. But our forwards are just too inconsistent. Yao Ming is usually great when he actually receives the ball. Sometimes he has trouble..occasionally. BUT OUR FORWARDS...they have talent...but are too inconsistent as well. Glen Rice...7-8 from the 3 point line one game...then 0-3 the next game. James Posey...sometimes he looks wonderful and fabulous. But other games, he gets in foul trouble very early and doesn't play...Terence Morris. I like him. But now he doesn't get any playing time. He could actually shoot...Bostjan Nachbar...injured list now. Eddie Griffin...sometimes has a big game. He has been getting many double-doubles recently. And he has been making his 3's too. But also too inconsistent and cannot guard the taller and bigger power forwards...but he does defend better than Mo Taylor. Mo Taylor has been awesome and has scored in double digits like the last 5 games. But yesterday, he was OFF badly...0-6. Maybe because he twisted ankle. I hope he plays well tonight.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM. It is awesome to watch them whoop good teams unexpectedly, but it is horribly painful to watch them lose to losing teams. They are just too inconsistent.

I would like the Rockets to sign a fairly all and big shooter who can also defend multiple positions. And I would also like a power forward who is strong and aggressive and a good defender...I wish!!!

PLAYOFFS...The Rockets can make it!!! Pheonix could drop out. The Lakers are winning. But the Suns are down...the Rockets could make it!!! They just have to win the next couple of fairly easy games.

 

Excellent post Crash.

From watching last nights game from the 3rd row behind the Rox bench (please see my thread), I could clearly see some BIG differences in our team.

1. Yao Ming is playing much more physical. Dude was getting hammered last night - refs were horrible IMO.

2. We are starting to "get it". I could see the team jelling and trusting each other more - just playing a more cohesive game. Even though we were losing, the team never gave up this game (until garbage time) and played HARD.

3. I think we are headed in the right direction. Beating the Mavs is no easy task these days..... Their CORE unit (Nash, Nowitzki, Finley) have been playing together for 3+ years.

Time will tell, but I like what I see if we can keep that same focus.

As a closing thought, firing Rudy T is not the answer.

 

Was everyone worried when Mo Taylor and Eddie Griffin were laying on the floor last night?

 

What does this have to do with the topic.

 

Oh yeah. I am positive that the Rockets can make the playoffs. But what's the point? They'll just be swept by the Mavericks..

 

Good playoff experience?

No young team will make it very far when it first makes the playoffs... it takes a couple years of losing in the playoffs to finally win it all.

 

I know...but still. There is no way we can beat them. I just hope the Rockets can beat the Grizzlies tonight.

 

I have faith in this team to make the playoffs for one reason only. It's because they are infuriatingly inconsistent, and they've been this way since day 1. they have yet to put together a nice winning streak, but have pout together a bunch of memorable losing streaks. At some point, statistics say that, because our team DOES in fact posses talent, our results will skew the other way.

I love the Rockets. There is not one Houston Rockets that I hate. The onle player I didn't like as much as any other Rocket was Kenny Thomas, but still, he was a Rockets, and I'd defend him against other teams' players. But I'm not blind. Don't be fooled. This team is structurally FLAWED. Here's why:

Yao Ming & Steve Francis:

These are the Franchise players. There's no doubting we want these guys on our team. Why? Because, Yao Ming will be the uncontested #2 C in the league next year, and will be #1 the following year. When you have someone who will always be in the top 3 @ his position, he's a keeper. Same goes for Stevie. Everyone, including himself and the coach, have come to the conclusion that he would "love to play the 2". Although he will never actually play the 2, because he will dominate the ball regardless of position, I think that we will bring a PG to play alongside him, which will render him more effective. Someone like Brent Barry (16pts, 11asst last night ) or Jamaal Crawford (what he's projected to become). There aren't a lot of these players in the league so an Eric Snow or Andre Miller (without a MAX contract) would also fit in well. Point being, we have 2 keepers, and they will consistently keep this team competitive, regardless of role players.

Eddie Griffin:

To Be Determined. We can judge this guy once he can PHYSICALLY do what he's trying to do. It's like, he wants to open a can without a can opener. We can't judge him until he gets that can opener (strength/bulk). If you ask me though, once he is told to cut back on the 3's, and actually bulks up, this guy is great for the team. He's a very good shotblocker, and once he bulks up, will be a good defender too. A combination of length and quickness (relative to other PF's) will make him a good man-to-man defender. Aside from that, he doesn't demand the ball and works hard for rebounds. There are better compliments to Yao Ming, no doubt, but he will certainly be adequate.



Cuttino Mobley:

This guy's a great player. Brings it every night, leaves it all on the floor. Good shooter, great man-to-man offensive player. Adjusts to anything he's told. But the cold, hard truth remains: Cuttino Mobley is NOT an off-the-ball player, and this team needs all 3 role players in the starting line-up to be able and willing to play off the ball. My suggestion is this: If we can acquire another Guard without trading Mobley, then great, because he'd be AMAZING leading our second unit. But we don't have the personnel to make that kind of trade without Cat. At least I don't think so.

James Posey:

Great role player, ONLY if he's told that he's NOT allowed to take jumpers. Posey's most effective when he's running on the fastbreak, when he cuts to the basket and gets the ball from Yao Ming, and scores off putbacks. He should NEVER EVER take jumpers. When he tries to score in the ways I mentioned, and he adds rebounding, tough D, steals, and some hard-nosed play, he's super effective for us at the 3. Of coruse, if he asks for more than a starting salary of 4M, let him walk. T-Mo can do just as much @ a much lower salary.

Bench:

Cato is brilliant. Unless we get a starter, we shouldn't move this guy. He leads the league in rebounding efficiency. How many people have that kind of guy on their bench? MoT is a good player, and I do believe he should be starting while Eddie develops, but he makes WAY WAY too much for what he brings. Eddie will eventually overtake him anyway, so we should try and get a short-contract veteran for him from a team looking to get younger. Same goes for Moochie. He does well, but he has a lot of flaws for one of the highest paid backup PG's in the league. He's good for fan support, but he's not great for the team. I'd move him also for a smaller contract veteran. Boki, we still don't know, but hopefully, he's next year's pick. He'll be more fit (physically) and will have experience with NBA life, which will help him make a more immediate impact early in the season.

Terrence Morris:

I wanted to dedicate a section to this guy to show how much I think of him. his guy, IMO, worked INCREDIBLY hard over the offseason. He improved his shot tremendously, and he looks mroe comfortable when out there. He's got confidence, and that makes a big difference. he does a lot fo what J-Po should do (putbacks, defense, long rebounds) but he also brings shotblocking, height, and a better jumper. If this guys adds a 3-pt shot top his repertoire (sp?) over the summer, I'd seriously consider him as the starter over Rice, Posey, and Boki. He brings so much, and works like a horse. I just love what he brings, and I think he'd be a BIG upgrade (if he adds the 3-pt shot) with a contract which would be WELL below his value.


Thoughts on any of this? (Assuming you had time to read it, lol )

 

The Mavs are naturally superior to the Rox. The only way to beat the Mavs is if the Rox are playing the best game of their lives, while the Mavs are playing their worst game. If the two teams are playing at the same level, then the Mavs will win.

 

I read your entire post, and you are absolutely right.

Yao will be one of the top 3 centers in the NBA. He is already one of the best. He is going to be even better. And Francis...well we have him. We aren't going to get rid of him. He is very good..but is getting older. It would be nice to get Brent Barry...who I think had SIXTEEN ASSISTS. They could be interchangeable. But I also want to keep Mobley. Mobley is pretty consistent. He just had some problems. But it seems like he is returning to his normal self. He is cheap...and dedicated. But we need some good backups...someone who is almost as good as Bobby Jackson or Nick Van Exel. I WOULD LOVE BRENT BARRY. But Jamaal Crawford? No...he complains about playing time too much.

Eddie..he is great, but I don't think he can ever become bulky. It's like genetics or something. There is no way he can become strong and built like Amare. But he is a good player as well...can only get better.

Cato has been doing wonderful...but he is getting less and less playing time. Mo Taylor is awesome. He has good offensive skills. And his defense is not terrible. He is just too short. And he makes way too much money...I would like the Rockets to acquire one a good power forward.

Terence Morris has been great. But he is not as energetic or fast as Posey. And Terence Morris can already shoot 3's. He can shoot well. But he doesn't get any playing time. There's already Posey and Rice. Only when they are injured...or one of our power forwards are injured. BY THE WAY...I was wondering...what was Rudy thinking when he put Glen Rice on Dirk Nowitzki? I wish Terence Morris could play more. He is a good shooter...and pretty athletic. He is also cheap.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM. But we don't have anybody who is incredible like Dirk Nowitzki or Steve Nash or Michael Finley or Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady. They are just special.

I think our team just needs more time to develop and find their strengths. But it would be nice to have a couple of additions.

 

Great post Crash.

I just want to add that we need some luck in the health department during this stretch run. We need Francis to be healthy - it was obvious to me in the Lakers game that something was Physically or psychologilly wrong with Steve (which was later confirmed to be a Physical issue).

 

I'm with you crash on the rockets just trying to acquire a shooter in the offseason baring a player of Brands ability becomes available. Piatkowski and Barry would both be ideal pickups.

Since Seattle acquired Ray Allen it would seem like Barry would not be needed next year but Barry just went off for 16 assists last night playing the point. Not to shabby.

 

I agree as well that this team needs spot up shooters in the worst way. Not just one, but 2 or 3 more. Yao is great at finding the open shooter. Francis, Mobley, Posey, and Moochie are all very good at penetrating and dishing out to the open shooter. This team can get wide open shots all game long, but as long as the players taking the outside shots can't hit, it does no good.