Would you like to tell me how many years Marbury has been in the league crash? Because it dwarfs ours. But still I give you that one, however we should be 2-0 against Phoenix if not for Steph's miracle shot. But still we are an extremely young team without veteran leadership unless Rice, Moochie or Cato counts. Also Amare gives Phoenix a low post game we do not have right now, and wont have until Eddie matures and Yao is ready to carry a 20 shot load every night.
Crash- as to your numbers. Maybe so, but remember that a)this is Stephon's 7th year in the league, b)Joe Johnson is only now starting b/c Penny got hurt, so factor 31 into that # for Phoenix; and c)Correction- there starting centers this year have been Bo Outlaw (last 3-4 games), and before that Scott Williams, who are respectively 31 and 34. Then, look at the rest of the team, outside the 3 30+ guys I just pointed out- like Tom Gugliotta and Randy Brown. Meanwhile, the only 30+ guy on this squad is the "should be retired" Glen Rice, and then our next oldest players are Cat and Cato, 27. We are young, as is Phoenix. But the nucleus of that team has been together longer, and remember, for the Rockets, last year shouldn't even count towards experience with these guys- they were all hurt and none of them played together. Go easy on them.
I agree Mobley is a disaster. Worst decision making on the court I've seen in a looong time. Its difficult to watch.
theguent, Crash- as to your numbers. Maybe so, but remember that a)this is Stephon's 7th year in the league, It is his 7th year in the league but it is only his 2nd with Phoenix and he has never been with any team or any Coach more than 2.5 years. Steve is in his 4th year and all are on the same team and under the same coach, he should have gotten a clue bye now. b)Joe Johnson is only now starting b/c Penny got hurt, so factor 31 into that # for Phoenix; Actually he has been starting for about 12 games now. I think that is sufficient to call him the starter. Remember that I did not factor Kenny Thomas age or Glen Rice age in at Power Forward or Small Forward for the Rockets. I guess I can do that but I think you see my point. and c)Correction- there starting centers this year have been Bo Outlaw (last 3-4 games), and before that Scott Williams, who are respectively 31 and 34. Jake Tsakalidis has started 20 Scott Williams has started 16 Bo Outlaw has started 8 I simply chose the player that has started the most since they don’t seem to have one player that they rely on as a starter at that position. Then, look at the rest of the team, outside the 3 30+ guys I just pointed out- like Tom Gugliotta and Randy Brown. Tom Gugliotta has only played in 10 games all year and he has been on the I.L. since the beginning of December. Randy Brown has only played in 18 games all year and only averages 9 minutes a game when he does. Meanwhile, the only 30+ guy on this squad is the "should be retired" Glen Rice, and then our next oldest players are Cat and Cato, 27. Rice 35, is the only player that has played and won a NBA championship as for as I know. He has also been a much bigger contributor on the Rockets than Brown or Googs for the Suns. Moochie Norris is 29 Juaquin Hawkins is 29 Kelvin Cato is 28 Cuttino Mobley is 27 4 of the 5 have spent multiple years with the Rockets and Rudy T except Hawkins. We are young, as is Phoenix. But the nucleus of that team has been together longer, and remember, for the Rockets, last year shouldn't even count towards experience with these guys- they were all hurt and none of them played together. Would you agree that the nucleus of the Phoenix team is: Stephon Marbury 2nd year with the team Shawn Marion 4th year with the team Amare Stoudemire 1st year with the team Joe Johnson 1st full year with the team. Would you also agree that the nucleus of the Rockets is: Steve Francis 4th year with the team Cuttino Mobley 5th year with the team Eddie Griffin 2nd year with the team Yao Ming 1st year with the team. Also remember that the Rockets nucleus has only had one coach during their time in the NBA. Amare Stoudemire is the only Phoenix player that has had the stability to play under the same coach out of that nucleus of players. Once again the advantage should be to the Rockets but for some reason its not. Go easy on them I watched part of the Phoenix and Orlando game last night before the Rockets came on. One thing I saw was Amare Stoudemire get a rebound and then lead the fast break. It was executed perfectly and ended with two very crisp passes and an Amare slam dunk. All I could think about as I watched it was that this 20 old power forward straight out of high school leads a better break than Steve Francis! He was quick, decisive, had a plan and above all else…he executed properly. Is that too much to ask for from our team? Just some consistent execution? You know when I watched the Suns play last night I don’t recall seeing their players dribble the clock down to nothing before deciding to charge head down into the paint with no plan and just slinging up a prayer and hoping for a call from the refs. I think that there is a reason that the Rockets are the absolute worst team in the NBA at executing their offense and so bad at passing and I don’t think you can blame it on youth or inexperience.
I be thinking the same thing when watching the other teams in how they execute their offense and wishing the rockets could do the same. It all boils down to coaching. A team is a reflectiion of it's coach.
LoadedA baller:- I agree with you 100%. I feel sure that this is the case. We could even loose Yao Ming over the selfish Guard Play. That is one of the things he was tired of in China.
I DO NOT REALLY SEE HOW THE SUNS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE ROCKETS. They are only younger now because Anfernee Hardaway is not in their lineup. We would be older too if we put Glen Rice. But our team is still younger than theirs. They are not different. Stephon Marbury has only been with them for 2 years. He does the same stuff as Steve Francis. He just drives in or shoots. He doesn't do anything special. ISO Joe Johnson doesnt' do anything but wait to be open and shoot. Shawn Marion usually scores by finding shots himself. ISO How does Amare score? ISO. Their centers don't score. They don't need to. Their team is already too good. They can all find ways to score. Their team is bigger and more athletic. Take out Amare, and they are nothing. Our team...it is much different because we have usually been guard-oriented. Now put in this tall and slow center that changes our game completely. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. Their team is better right now. We need to improve. Our coach is too old school. We need some new coaches like Byron Scott. They seem to be succeeding...
The Suns have some of the same problems we do because Stephon Marbury is a streetballer who shoots 40% and yet takes the most shots game after game. He takes it upon himself to iso a lot of the times too. Earlier this year he said he wasn't sure Frank Johnson's motion offense fit him very well. I wouldn't worry about the Suns.
