Time for a Major Trade/My Disgust with the NBA (long)

I hate to admit that Rudy may be the problem. Either way, go Rox!!!

 

RocksM, you've been around here too long to be so damn naive.
Can you recall the last time the rocks had a SMART b-baller?
How is it that a team like Sacramento, with considerably less physical talent at its disposal, can play as well as they do WITHOUT Webber or Bibby on the floor?
Do you think it might have something to do with COACHING?
COACHABILITY?
Or should we just chalk it up to a "young team", year after year?
Mike Bibby came into the league in '98; Francis in '99. Mike Bibby was a couple of foul shots and ticky-tack fouls away from LEADING A TEAM INTO THE FINALS; Steve Francis hasn't had a sniff of the playoffs.
You're happy with near-triple-doubles and high PPG?
World B. Free had sick numbers, but is he a Hall of Famer?
Bird Averitt- same thing.
Steve Francis is wonderful for the visibility of the franchise.
Now he just needs the right coach, and the right position on the floor.

 

<b>But some of you are running out of excuses for the Rockets. I love them just as much as the next man, but like my own child when they are messing up and doing wrong not playing to their potential I will not make excuses for them. Bottom line im sick of some of you sighting the same ol' excuses for them. Be a man and admit it when you are messing up. I have not passed judgment on the rockets yet this season because the season is too young. I will pass mine a little after mid way through the year. Unfortunately last night the Sonics were just on fire! </b>

You can criticize all you want. But see say you're sick of people giving the same excuses (even though I don't know how youth is an excuse), we're sick of hearing people ready to break up the team after every loss. It gets tiresome when after every loss you hear people wanting to move Francis to 2-guard, trade Mobley, and complain why Ming, who is getting used to the NBA, isn't getting the ball everytime down the floor.

 

There's 78 games left...

 

You want to trade Mobley straight up for Brandon - who may never play again? Prognosis for Brandon's return range from Feburary to "never" with "never" being the betting favorite.

 

Maybe your knowledge of basketball is limited to that of a PS2, but the rest of us have a fairly realistic understanding of whats going on.

So you want to trade Mobley for a broken Terrell Brandon, FARTS. I guess you've been playing too much PS2 and missed it, but Terrell Brandon is on the brink of retirement due to his physical ailments. Four games into a season, and you have it all figured out don't you. Gee, why hasn't the Rockets made you the GM yet? I just don't understand.

 

Bingo.

 

<b>RocksM, you've been around here too long to be so damn naive.
Can you recall the last time the rocks had a SMART b-baller? </b>

I don't know what your definition of a smart baller is. I would say the last time we had it is when we had a veteranteam.


<b>How is it that a team like Sacramento, with considerably less physical talent at its disposal, can play as well as they do WITHOUT Webber or Bibby on the floor? </b>

Because that is a veteran team that has played together for a long time. Bibby fit right in because they had veterans to help them fit in. I'm guessing a year from now this team will be able to win with Francis and Mobley and Griffin out for a few games because the chemistry will be there. Until then this team is learning.

<b>Do you think it might have something to do with COACHING?
COACHABILITY? </b>

No I think it has to do with injuries, now the team is getting healthy and Rudy is teaching the guys their roles and what they need to do. A coach can't teach a team that is injured all year to play together so last year was a throwaway game. And this year this team is getting better and better offensively, and the defense was there up until last night. As I said, a work in progress.

<b>Or should we just chalk it up to a "young team", year after year? </b>

Young team this year, I we'll see next year.

<b>Mike Bibby came into the league in '98; Francis in '99. Mike Bibby was a couple of foul shots and ticky-tack fouls away from LEADING A TEAM INTO THE FINALS; Steve Francis hasn't had a sniff of the playoffs. </b>

And Bibby didn't win jack until he went to a veteran team in Sacramento. Were you raving about Bibby when he was losing everynight with a talented Grizzlies team?

<b>You're happy with near-triple-doubles and high PPG?
World B. Free had sick numbers, but is he a Hall of Famer?
<b>Bird Averitt- same thing. </b></b>

Did I say I was happy with a triple-double? No. I was happy with the strides the offense made. I wasn't happy with the defense though.


<b>Steve Francis is wonderful for the visibility of the franchise.
Now he just needs the right coach, and the right position on the floor.</b>

Rudy is doing fine, but this is a young team and he is getting them used to each other. At least give the guy half a season before you want him fired.

 

Nachbar - hurt
MT - out
KT - hurt, just back
Rice - just back
TMo - out
Yao Ming - lost at sea, just floating in...
Mooch - just back, sore pinky

That's seven of your top twelve. No excuses, they just need some time to play together and gel.

They ran into the hottest team in the league with an allstar having a career night.

 

Dude, are you serious?? Sacramento is jam packed with physical talent!!!! What NBA team does Sacramento have "considerably less physical talent" then? Sac has the deepest bench in the league. Read up before you come in here with that lame hearsay.

 

Rocksmilleniuim, are you saying that you are not critical of the team at all? That they have no problems? That they have not looked completely lost as a team offensively?

Come on Rudy, I know it's you... Level with me.

You are right, just let em play. They will figure it out eventually.

 

I NEVER SAID BREAK UP THE TEAM. I like the what we have for the most part. If I was GM I would trade Mobley and Find a new coach IE: Jerry Sloan. But I know its more to it than just shipping one player off and hiring a new coach. Thats all I think our problem is. Thats my opinion on our problem. But like I said, im really not promoting that opinion till 2/3's of the season has been played. Right now we have what we have. So lets watch them play. However like one other poster said if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, moves like a duck.... You know the rest... Thats all im saying is excuses dont = Wins.

 

LOL! - Naw couldnt be?????

 

man, u gets rag on the rockets after every loss.

that game last night was winnable, just a letdown in the third quarter costed us the game...as i recall, the team was playing great in the first quarter, but got out of the groove, and started missing shots, taking forced shots, then turned the ball over also...but the first quarter, francis and mobley were getting everyone involved, especially griffin.

how come u guys (unnamed) diss the rox when the guards initially passed the rock around, then francis got into foul trouble, and then the sonics took advantage and went on their run in the 3rd....

i'm all for trading mooch and getting a pure veteran point to show francis how it's done, cuz apparently mooch is not a solid point guard, as we all know, he doesn't have a shot, can't pass, or won't pass. what we do need at the backup guard spot is a high energy guy to come in a bring a spark off the bench, provide solid veteran leadership and make a couple of plays.

hopefully steve can keep up his great guard play and keep the rockets in some games until the team can get healthy and build the on court chemistry

 

Man I read right over that, I completely agree! Right now I consider Sacramento the best team in the NBA from top to bottom. Comparing the Rockets to the most talented team, and maybe best team (we'll see if they can take the Lakers), is ridiculous. Sacramento was losing in the 1st round in their earlier years, the Rockets just had bad luck. They win 45 games, the best record of any non-playoff team in history. Any other year the Rockets are in the playoffs. Then the next year they have a team that, personally, I think would have got to the playoffs as an 8th seed and injuries just killed them. This year I think the Rockets will be lucky enough to slip in, but they won't be a #1 seed like the Kings were last year.

<b>Rocksmilleniuim, are you saying that you are not critical of the team at all? That they have no problems? That they have not looked completely lost as a team offensively?

Come on Rudy, I know it's you... Level with me.

You are right, just let em play. They will figure it out eventually.</b>

Did you even read what I said? Did I say they have no problems, didn't you just see me say the defense was horrible? I said criticism isn't a problem, but when you hear people raving about moving Francis to SG and trading Mobley for a broken down PG then that is when things get ridiculous. If you think it makes sense to trade Mobley for a PG on IR be my guest. The offense had 18 assist, Francis had 9 assist, the offense is getting better. It's not perfect but it's getting better. You don't have to be Rudy to see that.

 

Why do we think these guys should be more than they are right now?

Hawkins - you have to love him. But, c'mon the guy is a 29 year old CBA player at best. AND we have to start and rely on him.

Cato - you have to love how he is playing. But he is a second string center playing over his head..

EG - starting at PF, he really should just be coming off the bench and still be learning the ropes. He was like the second youngest player in the league last year.

Yao Ming - the invisible 7' 6" man - his time will come

Injuries = bad chemistry and rotation

We are 2-2. There are 78 games left!

 

See what I mean, more excuses - Hurt or not you get paid to play. If you love the game you will play hard. I dont buy it... Stop dishing it... Dont start this the same as last year. Every team has injury's but we seem to be the only team to use it as an excuse night in and night out... Give it up already....

 

Now that makes sense. Does anyone here disagree with trading Moochie for a veteran Point guard???

 

More excuses...

 

It's not the injuries themselves, that will happen, but only 4 games into the season we just haven't had enough time to expect these guys to play together like a well oiled machine. That's not excuses, that's reality. To get upset at a 2-2 team with 78 games to go and a lot of positives about to happen (players coming back, getting more time together) is a sorry excuse of a fan...