1. Yao Ming's development - even during a bad game he still manages 17 rebs and 11 points and 2 blocks....nice rookie, eh? 2. Cuttino's game - He seems less ball hoggish, more team- based and definitely more lethal at times 3. Steve's numbers - I say Steve is not your proto typical point, but if Griffin, Taylor and Rice had better shooting %s, His assists would be in the 8-9 range.....Still, he is one of the more potent guards in the league 4. Posey for Thomas - Thomas was hit and miss. He had an impact game about 1/4 times. Nice undersized player, but picking up Posey added depth, speed and defense sorely needed. 5. Cato - Major attitude adjustment = more game. He has help make the Ming-Cato combo the best center tandem in the league-hands down. His play has been solid, yet quiet and very consistent! 6. 7th seed to date. We are not even hitting all cyclinders and still maintaining a playoff seed. This team will get better for sure--just some time. 7. One of the best backcourt and center combos int he league now we just have to play all 4 quarters a few games.....
i couldn't agree with that more. if only we can get posey, boki, and Tmo more playing time instead of rice and sometimes moT we could be one of the best in the league. playing dead wheight like rice doesnt just not help us, it hurts us. mo has his moments but needs to become more consistent.
To amplify on the earlier point, HOU has the two toughest positions to fill locked down with young impact players (Yao and Franchise). And a very good prospect at the next hardest position to fill (PF). Plus young another prospect that can shoot at the SF position (SF). Then when you think that during a time they are transitioning their offense from a guard-dominated isolation offense team to a center-focused offense built on the inside-outside game (and hey, one that has a stronger defensive focus) the team is contending... well, I am pretty darn optimistic...
The play of Rice and especially MoT against the T-Wolves makes this statement look a little silly in hindsight. However, I would like to see Posey start and Rice as the sixth man. Time for T-Mo and especially Boki is coming.
Great post montgo. While we all criticize and try to see where there is room for improvement, it is good to point out the positives once in a while as well .
agreed...thanks montgo.. I also am of the opinion that we would be better served having Posey start, and bring Rice off the bench. If he's hitting and we don't need Posey to lock down on someone, then leave him in for some big minutes..other wise, just bring him in to spell Posey for a little while.. Yao, I'm not as worried about YM's shooting as long as he can pull down the boards, and intimidate around the rim..Thats what I feel centers are best used for anyway. If your center can score and pass as well as Yao can, then that's just a bonus. Steve...nice game, I'm not as surprised about the assist level as some. In previous games, he also has passed alot, but his teammates just were failing to hit the shots. Big difference between those games and last nights game. The only part that surprised me is that SF only tryed around 2 or 3 shots all thru the first half ( got fouled on a couple IIRC, so only one counted).. Lets see a repeat performance against Orl, guys..
Wow a positive post ! Well said montgo. All your points were dead on and I just can't wait until we DO start clicking on all cyclinders. What a sight that will be!
Posey was huge defensively...he definitely impacts the game with his D, quickness and open court game! Mo is something definitely to be positive about...he is beginning to bring it on and you can tell getting his heel warmed up takes time. I bet you he really kicks it in second half, which really would help us and would have lead to probably 2-3 more wins to date has he put up more numbers! Notice how Steve's assists go up when players hit their %s...also steve could have had at least 3-4 more assists had Ming been on last night....bummer...cannot have it all!
