1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

The Rockets completely folded in Game 5. It happens.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by m_cable, Apr 29, 2004.

Tags:
  1. m_cable

    m_cable Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2002
    Messages:
    9,455
    Likes Received:
    73
    I was thoroughly disappointed by the Rox's effort tonight. Everybody played like crap. It was absolutely embarrassing to see the team leave the playoffs with a whimper. The only consolation that I can take is that, this is not an indictment that the team is hopeless. Yao and Steve played terribly in an elimination game, but let's not assume that they have no heart, or can't ever get it done.

    When you get right down to it, a lot of great players, and great teams have completely folded in the playoffs, before, after and even during the time that they were contenders. A couple of years ago, the Spurs were absolutely demolished by the Lakers. They were swept, got blown out in nearly every game and absolutely folded like a wet napkin at home. It was pretty pathetic. But last year, they put it all together again and came away with another championship.

    Look at Sacramento, who were also swept by the lakers a few years ago(but ended up coming back a couple of years later to give the Lakers a really tough series). And a couple of years before that, Shaq and Kobe got throttled by the Jazz in two straight playoffs. It happens. All these teams looked absolutely pathetic and can be accused of choking in the playoffs. But that doesn't mean they can't or didn't overcome those poor performances.

    Don't give up on this team. Winning a championship requires varying degrees of talent, experience, confidence, determination, and quite frankly luck (the more of one thing you have, the less you need for something else). And the difference between winning a series and losing can be very close. With a couple of different bounces, this series could have been 3-2 heading back to Houston. And even if it had been a blowout sweep, it would have still been a learning experience. An obstacle that the team had to face in order to grow.

    They Rockets did a lot of good things in this series. They also did a lot of bad things, but even so; we were right there and had a good chance.

    So brighten up Rox fans. After all, tomorrow is another day.
     
    #1 m_cable, Apr 29, 2004
  2. bigballerj

    bigballerj Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2002
    Messages:
    1,785
    Likes Received:
    9
    I agree with most of your post. However, the Rockets are not to be confused with the Spurs, Kings or Lakers (pre Phil Jackson).

    Rockets are simply dis-organized and turn the ball over way to many times. Even tho the Lakers are the better team, it seemed as if the Rockets had a bigger hand in beating themselves and the Lakers played a secondary role in helping things along.

    Just my 0.02
     
    #2 bigballerj, Apr 29, 2004
  3. IROC it

    IROC it Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 1999
    Messages:
    12,629
    Likes Received:
    89
    It should be 3-2 heading back to Houston right now.

    The difference? Experience.

    We just got some experience.

    Next year, barring any stupid moves by JVG and CD, the experience gained this season will pay dividends.
     
    #3 IROC it, Apr 29, 2004
  4. Dave2000

    Dave2000 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2001
    Messages:
    11,091
    Likes Received:
    813
    Couldnt have said it any better.

    If this team is broken up by any matter other than the expansion draft, i would be very pissed.
     
    #4 Dave2000, Apr 29, 2004
  5. The_Yoyo

    The_Yoyo Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2001
    Messages:
    16,683
    Likes Received:
    2,873
    it would have been a much closer series if the rockets cut down on the unforced mistakes they've made, but thats part of being a team trying to find its identity and being in the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. Think about it Francis' first two years he had Dream and Barkley and the team was undecided on where to go really, it was still Hakeems team, but it was obvious that his best years were behind him and that there was a new potential star in francis. Then came the season where steve was out for a good portion of the season because of his inner ear disorder. Then yao's rookie year and then this season, a whole new system to play in.


    I take that all into account when looking at the teams best player and its soon to be best player (yao) and there hasnt really been much time to gel and find an identity as a team. All the teams that have been successful and have gone on to win championships had an identity of some sorts. Thats one thing that has been lacking for this rocket franchise the past 5-6 season, especially since the transition of hakeem to francis. Despite all the negativities this season, the team is slowly starting to build an identity and they shall become an elite team so enough, but it just a matter of time and playing with each other that this will happen. Expect these rockets to be in the WCF at least by 2007 if the right tweaks are made in the offseasons
     
    #5 The_Yoyo, Apr 29, 2004
  6. Molotov Cocktail

    Molotov Cocktail Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 1999
    Messages:
    618
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you.
     
    #6 Molotov Cocktail, Apr 29, 2004
  7. yaopao

    yaopao Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    855
    Likes Received:
    68
    I didn't realize the Rockets had a franchise player like Duncan who we could just add some role players around, which is all the Spurs did to get back.
     
    #7 yaopao, Apr 29, 2004
  8. Hmm

    Hmm Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    6,361
    Likes Received:
    115
    Would you all be againts seperating this team, and sending some of our coveted players away, if in return it gave us T-mac? And Brent Barry through FA? AND if it gave us Boki as our starting SF?

    Brent Barry
    T-Mac
    Boki Nachbar
    (? PF, since so many are up in the air, who knows)
    Ming Yao

    Would you all prefer that one over

    Steve Francis
    Cat Mobley
    JJ
    Cato or (one of the many PF's that are up in the air)
    Ming Yao

    I mean, if it were really possible, would you all still be against seperating this team?
     
    #8 Hmm, Apr 29, 2004
  9. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2001
    Messages:
    22,329
    Likes Received:
    12,444
    I'am proud of the way they performed under a sorry coach.
     
    #9 Roc Paint, Apr 29, 2004
  10. couch_pot8o

    couch_pot8o Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2003
    Messages:
    1,161
    Likes Received:
    3
    exactly! most on our roster, this is their first ever playoff experience. they just need some more experiences, and really need to chop down the turnovers. i talked with alot of laker fans here in west covina and they told me they are really happy for the rockets coz they really gave the lakers a series. the rockets really made the lakers earn those 4 wins. as a matter of fact, they even expected it to go to 7 games. they were really impressed with how the rockets played even if only 3 players on our roster has playoff experience. they said that we should really keep the core of yao, steve, and jj. they also agreed that we badly need a powerforward. they even congratulated me coz in the whole room, im the only one with a rockets jersey on and rooting for them. :D they are already lookin forward to a great matchup like this next season! go rockets!
     
    #10 couch_pot8o, Apr 29, 2004
  11. redgoose

    redgoose Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    1,532
    Likes Received:
    0
    Exactly. It's not like we all didn't see this during the regular season the Rocks blowing games. If we couldn't close out teams then, what makes you think we could in the playoffs? But we will never close out games turning the ball over so much at the wrong times.
     
    #11 redgoose, Apr 29, 2004
  12. Hmm

    Hmm Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    6,361
    Likes Received:
    115

    Should be a great matchup, especially if we have T-Mac :D :D
     
    #12 Hmm, Apr 29, 2004
  13. GoatBoy

    GoatBoy Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2002
    Messages:
    1,019
    Likes Received:
    0
    Experience is valuable when you actually learn from it. I just pray this team will stop making so many mental mistakes. I'm not sure if "experience" will drive the point home, but I REALLY hope you're right about it.
     
    #13 GoatBoy, Apr 29, 2004
  14. HillBoy

    HillBoy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2003
    Messages:
    8,939
    Likes Received:
    2,343
    If you were to look up "stupid basketball moves" in the dictionary, CD's picture would be right there...
     
    #14 HillBoy, Apr 29, 2004
  15. montevideo

    montevideo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2003
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hellooooooo out there - did you forget your thinking cap?!

    Parker is just a role player?!

    Ginobilli also?

    Rasto? Turk?

    Are we talking about the same Spurs team?

    You will see Lackers devestated by role players shortly.
     
    #15 montevideo, Apr 29, 2004
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page