The Rockets have not evolved. The same standing around on offense that has been the hallmark of this team has really not changed. Once Cuttino Mobley came back from his injury, the Rockets stopped running any sort of recognizable offense. Yao Ming does not get the touches he was getting. Yao has become the third option once again. As a result of this, he does not get many looks, and the ones he does get tend to be poor. (Ergo the low shooting percentage). Yao is also tired. He has hit the wall with more than half the season left to be played. Combine each of these factors, and it is quite apparent that Houston is not going to be a playoff team again this year. Rudy has not shown that he can control his players, they have not grown, and as a result, the "street ball" mentality that has shown up for so much of this year will hold the team back once again. No playoffs. Not this year. I am having very serious doubts about Rudy as a coach at this point. The sign of a well coached team, even one that is losing, is the adjustments that are made over the year in an attempt to improve team performance. I just haven't seen the adjustments so far. (What happened to the zone defense, what happened to the motion offense, what happeend to spacing, why the CONSTANT isolation with absolutely NO movement...) I honestly do not think Rudy knows what to do with this group. Either they are uncoachable, in which case personnel moves NEED to be made, or Rudy has lost his knack for coaching. A good coach would not tolerate these same mistakes repeatedly. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am. This team will not make the playoffs.
we get a little losing streak and all of a sudden we're done? god. after the lakers win it was all 'oh, we're goin far in the playoffs', but now its all 'fire rudy, francis sucks, mobley sucks, yao ming has reached his peak.' come on. i am sick and tired of this crap. this isnt 'tough, pessimistic love', this is bandwagon yao ming only fans. weve lost to the spurs, mavs(NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE NBA), and now pistons who i think are the number 3 in the east. relax and enjoy the season.
This "Yao Ming" only fan has probably been involved with the Rockets since before you were born. I stand by absolutely every statement I made. Either the team is not well coached, or the players do not care to adjust. The Lakers will improve, Minnesota will not get any worse, and the Rockets will probably end up out of the playoff hunt as a result. Anyone else here think this is a pretty realistic projection?
Its not just a little loosing streak! Its the same damn mistakes that we have been seeing over and over and over during the last few years. We will continue to win because of superior talent. But we will never win consistently because of lack of execution!. That is the complaint and that is why many including me feel that this is not a play off team even after the win against the Lakers. Need proof then just look at the standings in the West. Going into December we were 3rd in the West behind Dallas and Sac and since then we have steadily dropped while other teams have improved and passed us. Most notably Utah, Phoenix and Minnesota.
I agree. This team is lost. Sad to say it but the Rox are going to be on the outside looking in again. They have not shown me that they are consitent enough to make the playoffs here in the West.
I agree with every thing you said except that we may still make the playoffs by our sheer individual talent but I know that's not saying much, individual talent will never get you far, never to the championship.
Sorry Hank I agree with Jello. The thing you get with a young team is it is always inconsistent. And considering this one of the very youngest teams in the league it it to be expected. But on the same token I do think this team will make the playoffs. Which no matter what they do there will be a great accomplishment for the 2nd youngest team in the league.
You guys are pathetic, a little 3 game losing streak and we aren't a playoff team anymore? I'll be more than happy to go on record and say the team will make the playoffs. We currently are about five games up on 9th and 10th place in the West, at worst 3 and a half games if LA wins. We will get back on track and do fine. Ye of little faith disturb me. The Rockets aren't perfect but they are young and they need time and nurturing and they will make the postseason believe it or not. And Yao does not need rest, he needs to fight through this, to make himself stronger.
Since we don't have a first round pick this is NOT the year to be missing out on the playoffs. Since we won't even have a lottery pick to console us. I still think the Rockets will make the playoffs as a low seed. I am very worried about both Yao's stamina (rest him Rudy) & the fact that there is no cohesiveness or teamwork at all on this team right now.
Remember the season when the Rocks won 45 games and missed the play-offs. Every game counts. It wouldn't worry me so much that we lost to quality teams but when they get done by the Clippers and other cellar dwelling teams, then what does that leave you with??? SF. Mobley, Rudy T. don't suck they just haven't learned or refuse to learn from 4 years in the wilderness. As for Yao reaching his "peak," it wouldn't surprise me if he has given up on this team. This guard oriented BS of an offense is easy pickings for opposing teams especially when the pair handling the ball has no good decision-making skills or even the discipline to move the ball quickly. Houston will live or die as its always been, with its big men. Moses, Hakeem and now Yao...as history shows Houston had a world-class centre evrytime they made the play-offs. Hint hint to Rudy T...
Sorry, but you're all about two days too late Heck, I was saying this team wouldn't make the playoffs back in November.
The Phoenix Suns starting line-up: Stephon Marbury 25, 2nd year with club Joe Johnson 21, 1st full year with club Shawn Marion 24, 4th year with club Amare Stoudemire 20, 1st year with club Jake Tsakalidis 23, 3rd year with club Average age 22.4 years old. Average length of time with the Suns 2.3 The Houston Rockets starting line-up: Steve Francis 25, 4th year with club Eddie Griffin 20, 2nd year with club Yao Ming 22, 1st year with club Cuttino Mobley 27, 5th year with club James Posey 26, 1st year with club Average age 24 years old Average years with club is 2.6 So the Rockets starting line-up is almost 2 years older than the Phoenix starting line-up and they have been with the team longer…in some cases much longer so you would think the Rockets would have the better chemistry and posses the better record. Wrong. Phoenix is 25 and 18 sitting in the 6th spot in the West. The Rockets are 23 and 18 and getting worse while holding down the 8th spot in the West. The Rockets are not too young and should be much better.
