http://clutchcity.net/feature.cfm?FeatureID=102 Just finished reading this. Kudos to Jeff, as this is one of the best (if not the best) articles on today's and yesterdays Rockets that I have read. Jeff, brakes down what made the mid 90's Rockets so successful and the problems with our current version. I'm sure most of you have already read this, but if you haven't check it out. It is exceptional. ------------------
I agree with most of the article, however, I feel that much of these problems can be adressed immediately. It shouldn't take 6 years for a team to learn to play with intensity every game. That is up to the coaches. Rudy and the gang needs to TEACH these current Rockets some of the basics of winning. They shouldn't have to figure it out all by themselves. That is why teams have coaches. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
Thanks for the kind words. ZRB: Actually, it took Michael Jordan and the Bulls (arguably the best player ever to walk on the court) about 7 years. It took Olajuwon 10 to hit his prime. Stockton and Malone took about 10. Jabbar, Bird and many others took many years to reach their peak. We have a core group of 5 or 6 guys all under 26. When looking at championships won over the past 25 years, two factors were needed for the teams involved - talent and experience. NO team with an average age of under 26 years old has even contended for a title let alone won one. Now, if the Rockets don't make slow, steady improvements each year (say win 5 to 10 games more per year and begin challenging for the playoffs within a couple of seasons), then we can begin to be concerned that the mix of talent or coaching staff isn't getting the job done. I don't think we have really any way to judge this team currently. By the time Francis becomes eligible for free agency, we'll know just how far the team has come. ------------------ I am very very sleepy.
I don't think Jeff was saying it would take six years for them to come together. I think he was saying it would take time and that could mean several years. With such a young team I don't think that is unrealistic. Look at the Bulls. Jordan did not just come into the league and and take it over. It took years for him and his team to jell. It is very rare that you find a player much less a team of players so young that has the maturity to challange for a championsip. The last player of youth to lead his team to a championship was Tim Duncan. Of course he had a veteran team that had years of playing together around him. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 80's did it but once again they each had teams that had considerable experiance together when they came out of college. Our own team with Hakeem took years to come together. I don't know of any team that has had such a large nucleus of core players that won a championship. I have to agree with Jeff, a team this young needs time to mature and grow together before they are ready to be a serious contender. ------------------
I know it took Jordan a few years to win a title. I'm not talking about that. I don't think the Rockets will contend for a title for a few years. I'm just talking about making the playoffs. You forget that Jordan and Hakeem almost always made the playoffs in their younger years. They just fizzled out in the first or second rounds. The Rockets can not go a few years without making the playoffs, or they will be just like the Wizards, Nuggets, Warriors and Grizzlies: going nowhere. The Rockets need to make the post season right away. They need to learn how to win in the playoffs, not the regular season. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
crash5179 -- I like the way you are sucking up to jeff. You want him to like you so he can email you the stuff about the deal. ------------------ President of the Moochie Norris fan club.
when Hakeem came on board we had the previous years Rookie of the Year in Sampson. Add Hakeem and no opponent got more than one shot and the paint was owned be the Rockets. Also we had John Lucas running the point and both Robert Reed and Allen Level making major contrabutions. So as you can see they had substantial experiance. The only experiance the current roster has is Hakeem and he is on the injured list most of the time. No other vetarn on our current team contributes as much as John Lucas or Robert Reed did for that team. Another point...the West is a lot more competitive now than it was then. If the Rockets were in the East we would be serious contenders for the Finals. My last point is that our SuperStar happens to play the point. He is only playing it for the secound year. The point is the hardest position to learn. I don't think a little time is asking to much. ------------------
I think the point was made but, just for clarification, Dream and others made the playoffs fairly early in their careers because they were drafted onto veteran teams. Big difference from what Francis, Mobley and other face. By the way, I have no further info on any deals to give, so you're all outta luck. ------------------ I am very very sleepy.
Mobley was drafted onto a favorite for the title that season. Espn predicted us #1 in the division and 2 in the conference. The problem is the dream and charles were both out for significant portions of the season Francis was traded to a veteran playoff team that was predicited to go around #4 in the conference, and with the addition of steve and Shandon possibly further. But then Pippen was traded, Olajuwon and Barkley were both injured Leaving us with rookie pooint guard Francis, second year scorer Mobley, swingman shandon anderson, and spot up shooter walt ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
