This is a pretty inciteful article on how Francis, Rudy, CD, & Feigen assess this season. Whether you believe the injuries are being used as an excuse or not, the fact is, that the Rockets had a phenominal number of injuries & as a result, no consistent lineups. It's a long article, but worth reading. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1373659 Rockets' woes no aberration Players believe, but needs exist By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle A year ago, the Rockets hated to see the season end. They longed for a few more games, or even a few more weeks. They wished for chances to make the playoffs, and even failing that, just for a few more nights to play basketball together. A year later, when the season mercifully ended in Portland on Wednesday, the Rockets were down to seven healthy players and could give thanks largely that a miserable season was finally over. They had followed the best season ever to end without a playoff berth with the franchise's worst season since 1983. Along the way, they suffered through a 15-game losing streak, humiliating losses to the Bulls, Nuggets and Grizzlies and a never-ending and frequently maddening succession of injuries and illness from the offseason to the season's last game. Clearly, this season or last was an aberration. For all their losses, the Rockets insisted they are really the 45-win, rather than the 54-loss team. "I still believe in this team," Rockets guard Steve Francis said. "I believe in my teammates. The injury thing really hurt us. That's definitely the way I feel. Glen (Rice) and Maurice (Taylor), two guys that were out almost the whole season, are two of our big pieces. Then with all the other injuries, it's tough. But it doesn't change what I think about this team." But as much as the Rockets can blame their collapse on injuries, those that did play showed there is work to do in the rebuilding and difficult decisions to make. Relatively unchanged from a year ago (Shandon Anderson and Hakeem Olajuwon left in sign-and-trade deals and four rookies made the team, including top prospect Eddie Griffin), the Rockets believe they are much closer to contending for the playoffs than the 28-54 record, their fourth-worst ever, indicates. "We have a big, big offseason ahead of us health-wise, development-wise, draft-wise," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "I've talked to Les (Alexander, the Rockets' owner) already about things like that and we will talk about the season. We feel good. We felt we were on the right path already with how we played. These things happen. We can't lose our focus. We can't lose our mission. "If we process it the right way, this negativity might be a positive for us if we use it as a springboard. We've seen other teams that are farther along, that have veterans and All-Stars (struggle). "We have to internalize pain. Use it as a springboard. Even though there were individual improvements, we have to be hungry to take it further. And next year, if we have all those close games, let's not let a guy missing here, a guy missing there, be the difference." But there is more to do than use the ample pain as motivation. The Rockets did not have the same starting lineup in more than two consecutive games since November. They used 27 starting lineups. All 15 players to suit up started. Asked if he would have changed things in the Rockets' often-stilted offense had he kept a lineup, any lineup, together, Tomjanovich said: "Maybe about a thousand things. Our lineup changed so much, I couldn't have guys out and then do different stuff. We kept it to a bare minimum on the things we did. It was not like a regular year." The Rockets' greatest potential remains in the person of its best player. But beyond the issues of their ability to sign Francis to a contract extension this summer, as productive as he is, after three seasons he remains loaded with unrealized potential. Francis can be a phenomenal force, an All-Star starter and the only NBA player to average 20 points and at least six assists and rebounds. His value to the Rockets is undisputed given the team's 2-23 record without him. But for "Franchise" to be the franchise, the Rockets need him to become the unstoppable scorer in the Allen Iverson mold or a more polished point guard. Francis, 25, averaged a modest 6.4 assists with 3.9 turnovers per game. Rockets coaches maintained throughout the season that the injuries robbed continuity vital to a point guard. Francis disagrees. "You should be able to play with whoever you're out there with," he said. "I don't think that's it at all." But there is no telling how much Francis' injuries and illness also have slowed his growth as a playmaker. Even beyond the games he missed, he played many games with badly blurred vision, headaches and dizziness. But in the season's final weeks, he demonstrated again a talent for distributing the ball the statistics did not show. Francis regularly set up teammates for open, perimeter shots they did not make. That also pointed to a problem of the season and a potential solution for next season. The rule changes that allowed teams to play zones robbed the Rockets of the strength of their 45-win season, Francis' and Mobley's explosive off-the-dribble quickness. The Rockets' planned forward combination of Taylor and Rice could have had the perimeter shooting touch to burn teams that sent too much defensive help in Mobley's and Francis' direction. But Rice struggled through most of his 20 games and Taylor missed the season. "It could be loads of things we missed," Tomjanovich said. "You don't know. It's almost like music, a jam session. You don't know how it's going to play off each other until they get out there. "All I know is Mo Taylor is a good player. Glen Rice is a good player. You get a chance to play together, you find different things." Kenny Thomas had a breakthrough season in Taylor's spot, but his strength, like Francis' and Mobley's, is off the dribble. The Rockets never did find a consistent shooter at small forward, and though Cato contributed as the Rockets had envisioned, he is not an option on the perimeter. In a season in which teams could force the Rockets to rely on their infrequent ability to shoot well outside, only Mobley improved as a perimeter shooter. Mobley led the Rockets in scoring, minutes, steals, field goals made and attempts, 3-pointers made and attempted, free-throw percentage and 3-point percentage. Francis' shooting percentages dropped to 41.7 percent overall, 32.4 percent from the 3-point line and 77.3 percent from the line. Without consistent outside shooting or post-up options, the Rockets also did not generate easy baskets, rarely forcing turnovers or scoring on the fast break. As much as they can hope adding Taylor and Rice back to the mix would bring an immediate offensive boost, neither would seem a solution to the Rockets' defensive shortcomings (they ranked last in opposing field-goal percentage) or clumsy fast break. "We have to be a better running team," Tomjanovich said. "We've got to do better. But it's hard to work on running when you don't have 10 guys. That's something that has to be worked on. ... " The Rockets placed greater emphasis on defending in the second half, with mixed results. But Tomjanovich believes with better health, he can limit Mobley's and Francis' minutes (they were second and fifth in minutes played) to allow them to set a better tone defensively. "Because of the injuries and we didn't want to give up, it got us overextending some guys," Tomjanovich said. "That definitely shows up defensively. And when you change lineups, that hurts defensively as much as on the other end, or more." But the injuries cannot be discounted. Even beyond the team chemistry, the Rockets could not develop with their ever-changing lineup, their rotation was several solid contributors short when two expected starters and veteran Walt Williams were forced to miss much of the season. Of their regulars in the Rockets' rotation, no one off the bench averaged in double figures or shot as well as 40 percent. The players from the Rockets 2000 draft, Jason Collier and Dan Langhi, did not crack the rotation until the season was lost. The Rockets' top pick, Griffin, showed the potential and a work ethic the Rockets believe will make him an All-Star, but made just 36.6 percent of his shots without developing an inside game. "The season was a disappointment after where we thought we'd be, where we were looking forward to being after the way we played last year," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "There were some things that will help us down the line that did happen. Guys got experience and we'll get a lot of players back." But with the season over, Tomjanovich no longer has to lament the injury troubles. By the final weeks of the season, he was loath to talk about his ever-changing lineup, knowing it sounded like an excuse. Now, finally, that's over and he could look forward. He just can't be sure what he will see there. "I hate to keep talking about the injuries," Tomjanovich said. "They happen. What matters now is what the heck do we do now?"
good read, injuries aren't an excuse but it's just plain obvious that we had way to many to be a winning team. feigan's right, either this year or last year was an abberation and at least to me it was this season. i'm pumped for a good summer and a return to health for our starters. next year is when i'll judge how good this team is.
Some things that stood out <b>Asked if he would have changed things in the Rockets' often-stilted offense had he kept a lineup, any lineup, together, Tomjanovich said: "Maybe about a thousand things. Our lineup changed so much, I couldn't have guys out and then do different stuff. We kept it to a bare minimum on the things we did. It was not like a regular year."</b> I definitely understand what Rudy is saying. Having different players available nearly every other game, not knowing if your star player was going to be suffering from a migraine that night, its hard to come up with any offensive strategy whatsoever. <b> But the injuries cannot be discounted. Even beyond the team chemistry, the Rockets could not develop with their ever-changing lineup, their rotation was several solid contributors short when two expected starters and veteran Walt Williams were forced to miss much of the season</b> Obviously the Rockets lost a lot of games because of injuries. They got to decent start this season, and things looked pretty good. Then Francis went down. There record was completely shot, and they were nearly out of the playoffs by midseason. I'm sorry, but if you lose sixteen games in a row, the team's mood completely changes. No team chemistry was allowed to be formed because of it. I think that the injuries not only affected the games where some of our players didn't play, but even the games where they did play. With a completely healthy Rockets team, I guess they would have won 10 to 14 more games this season. Call me an <i>excuse maker</i> but that's what I believe. <b>But in the season's final weeks, he demonstrated again a talent for distributing the ball the statistics did not show. Francis regularly set up teammates for open, perimeter shots they did not make. Of their regulars in the Rockets' rotation, no one off the bench averaged in double figures or shot as well as 40 percent. </b> Some spark off the bench, huh? I can't even believe that. Not ONE of our bench players shot as well as 40%? How is any team supposed to make the playoffs without a bench. The Rockets could use a complete overhaul of the bench. They pretty much have CBA talent coming into the game. I don't think one player on the bench even really deserved to play in the NBA this season, with the exception of Walt. I think some of them do not deserve to play any season. I would say the Rockets have about six or seven positions to fill in the starting lineup and on the bench. I think the Rockets inability to run and play defense goes a little bit deeper than just having capable bench players to rest some of our starters, but I definitely see how it could be a factor. And just gives more reason why the Rockets need to become a much deeper team. And obviously we all know Steve's decision making is not good at times, but what Feigen says is true. When Steve does kick the ball out and gives his teammates open shots they brick it. Thus, it makes Steve's playmaking ability look a lot worse than it actually is simply because he is not racking up the assists. Finally, an article worth reading. It was still critical of the Rockets, which wouldn't be right if it is wasn't, but Feigen actually used a little something called logic to give reasons why things were the way they were. Good article!!! Definitely NOT boring.
Remember that KT was a starter when he would have normally been a bench guy. As was whoever we would run out at SF. So our bench was naturally shorter than it normally would have been. And some of the key bench guys, Willis and probably Walt, got a lot less time than he would have if we had been in contention. A bench of Moochie, Oscar, Walt, Griffin, Willis and KT really isn't too bad if they are actually allowed to be your bench rather than starting.
No doubt it helps to have your bench players actually coming off the bench rather than starting due to injuries, but I still think that is a very weak bench. Griffin's improvement would definitely help the situation, but if that was our bench this season I still would have trouble thinking of any team with less depth than the Rockets.
This article I like. I can't read Fran b****bury's stuff; he just wants to tear down the team. This article has a kinder way of saying, Injuries killed us, so we sucked. Francis and Mobley had no one reliable to help them. KT is good but his game is similar to the guards' (good-bye, KT; I hope we trade you to a good team in the East, I like your game).
I like the article too, but I do not buy into the part about not putting in new offensive sets. The year was a goner, what is wrong with putting in new sets? Heck, get a head start on next year. I think Rudy gave up on this year, and tanked a LOT earlier then people think he did. 3 guard lineup anyone? DaDakota
From Feb 20, when Langhi and Collier started to get regular minutes, they shot 41% and 47%, respectively. It appeared to me that they got opportunities to score when Mooch or Tierre were at the point. Both showed flashes of good offensive production. Langhi played solid defense, Collier did not move so well on defense. I don't think Steve made any effort whatsoever to get these guys involved. Good luck to them wherever they land next year.
For whatever reason, with the exception of KT, Cuttino and Steve, our shooting percentage stinks. Is it the offense, or the primary scorer's inability to involve other players, or something else? I am pretty sure none of these guys would have a gotten a look if they shot this poorly in tryouts or in college.
I think it has to do with a lack of easy shots. Steve, Cat, or Cato do all the finishing on the very very few fast breaks that Houston ever produces. It's momentum, how often do you see the other team force Houston to turn the ball over and then get a dunk, followed by some nobody draining 3's on them b/c they are on a roll. If the Rockets played better D, their FG% would go up by leaps and bounds.
Out of all the games the Rockets started flat, I wonder how hard it would have been to pick up full court and increase the tempo? Anything could have been tried to get easy shots or force some to's. I saw a game when Miami was beating the tar out of atlanta, then Krueger, goes to a zone and changes the complextion and wind up coming back from 20 down coming into the 4th. They not only came back, but they won the game. If guys are not playing with passion or the teampo you wish, a coach has to do what he can to change that either by subs or schemes, but to blame it on not having guys is crazy. They knew they wouldn't have Taylor and Rice was iffy, but thomas ,cat,francis,griffin,langhi,cato,collier,willis,morris ,brown and torres were all availiable. Go with what you have and put in a offense where the team can succeed not just 1 or 2 players.
