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

Give it up huh? Ok, the Lakers are suffering from suspensions and injuries, now they have a losing records, do you use that as an excuse or a fact that because they are missing key players they have a losing record?

 

You are a latecomer, I was posting prior to the season about this very topic.( I was beeten down and my threadsand posts deleted ).I don't think a 'trade' is called for! Coaching and firm direction is needed from Rudy T. and his Staff. After 20 Games , a revue should be made and players unable to adapt should be replaced or moved in playing position.The Rockets must have a chance to get everyone on the same page before anything drastic is performed!

 

Why bother rice you'll always have fans like ut851662 saying it's an excuse when over half the team's roster is decimated with injuries. I don't know why they can't see what we have said, this team needs time. I can understand criticism of Francis or Mobley taking bad shots, of Griffin's shot needing to improve, on better team play in areas, but people want this team to have 60 wins after the first week of the season. If our bench was as experienced as Sacramento then injuries wouldn't be an issue and this team would win. But when you're bringing rookies and 2nd year players in and say "Injuries aren't an excuse you should win, just like the 60 win Sacramento Kings did", then you have impatient fans who want a young team to play like a veteran team. They'll whine that it's an excuse, but the fact of the matter is, when your projected starting PF hasn't play since the 2000-2001 season, your SF has barely played, and you're relying on rookies and guys coming off of rookie years then you're going to struggle. Then again the team is 2-2 after the first week of the season so it's not like they're 0-4 or something.

 

I'm a Rocket fan that's definately over 25 and I actually watched or listened to every game in the '85-'86 season. I have followed tis team religiously for almost twenty years. I remember when the fans said we could never win with then Akeem becuase he doesn't pass the ball. Then we couldn't win with Rodney McCray because the small forward position is a scoring position and without a high scoring small forward we would never win. Then we would never when by posting every time down. We needed to trade for guards that could penetrate.

You don't win by trading away your star player. I think the Rocket' biggest problem is that don't have players that compliment Steve. If you have a high scoring guard, you need one guard that does the other things - a Dumars for every Isaiah. If you rely on your backcourt for scoring, you need tough, agressive front court players that defend and rebound - Laimbeer, Salley Rodman. And you need at least one dependable post option. You need players that know they aren't scorers that will move the ball around to the shooters without wasting time trying to break down the defense themselves first.

What the Rockets have is a bunch of offensive guys that all want to be the first option and have to be prodded to pass or play defense or rebound. None of those things are first nature to the Rockets players. That's one of the reasons I was against drafting Yao. His strengths are mostly offensive. And although he has the potential to develop the rest of his game, it's not his first nature.

I agree that playing Cat and Steve together is not working because Cat simply will not accept a secondary role. Cat would be better served coming off the bench where he could shoot as much as he likes. The Rockets need a smart, tough, defensive minded player at the two. And they need tough aggressive big men to control the paint. James from Seattle is a journeyman center but he played hard and was aggressive. That's the kind of big man play the Rockets need.

And finally, the Rockets need better coaching. Seattle's offense was much better than the Rockets' last night for a lot of reasons. They set a lot of back picks to free up their shooters. When GP would make his move, his shooters would move to a spot while another player picked off their defender - wide open jumpshot. You didn't see the Seattle guys just stand in the same spot while GP did his thing and wait for him to pass to him. They had movement on the weak side. That is something the Rockets are seriously lacking in.

But a guy putting up the numbers Steve is putting up isn't the problem.

And btw, I know there is a lot of talk of moving Steve to the two guard like Iverson, but anyone who thinks Iverson REALLY plays the two hasn't seen the 76'ers play very much. Iverson still dominates the ball, it's just that they run him off screen sometimes first. And he never plays the two defensively. Eric snow is just a perfect complimentary player to him. Plays defense and does the little things.

Just my $.02

 

Never underestimate the heart of a champion - I will not give in to these sorry excuses for fans...

My point is they have managed to be 2-2. There's 78 games left. They should beat GS Saturday. They have a bunch of guys coming back, working the rotation, they have some practice/healing time. It's easy to whine about what they are not doing. But to expect this team to win every game right now is crazy. The (Lebron sweepstakes) CAVS beat the Lakers...

 

Payaso,

Your Rudy comment is on point. The great thing about the NBA is that playing time is still king. It doesn't matter if you have a large contract or several commercials. If the coach doesn't have any balls or know-how, he won't bench you. Rudy is not a good coach, he's a great ambassador. A good coach will demand a player to do it his way or he will be benched. No Playoffs with Rudy!

 

Oh my god ROCKSM you need to go back and read my initial post. You are so blind man you never read thoroughly what someone says... I said the Rockets last night took a step in the right direction. I said I will not pass judgment until 2/3's of the season. I said i will not make excuses for the rockets either.. Whats wrong with that. Dude you are so lame. The part you dont like is when I say excuses for the rockets is played out. Everyone knows the excuses are lame!
***Why bother rice you'll always have fans like ut851662 saying it's an excuse when over half the team's roster is decimated with injuries.*** <--- this statement really makes me think you may be Rudy T. More excuses to preserve your job. Im done replying to you, you will never get it.... Go rockets and I do think if we play like a team we will go to the playoffs. I do like the way we've been playing 70% of the season so far. However if we go on a pattern of lose 2 win one for the rest of the season. I will not make any excuse for them!
--

 

RoxM, Iwas in the middle of posting when you posted... My bad, but you misuderstood why I was mistaken you for Rudy. I sometimes feel like some people on this board are more Rox fans than basketball fans. Some people want to ignore the problems that the team continue to have and just want to wait and see what happens. It sometimes seems that must be Rudys way of thinking also.

 

We did last year...twice!

 

Never too proud to admit my bad on TBrandon... uh, don't have NBA Dish? Does that fly?

The greater point to be made is this- there are point guards out there who understand what it means to make plays. Then there are guys who either have no faith in their teammates or no brains or no court vision- and they force the action themselves rather than take what's given them. Our very talented phenom # 3 qualifies as any of the above, take your pick.
Our hot dog # 5 also displays considerable talent and should be dangled in front of any number of teams possessing a 'pass-first' point guard and maybe a defensive role player. I'm certain that Hawkins would appreciate the help. My pick would be a healthy TBrandon, a player possessing experience, but I would take Andre Miller as well in a straight-up one-for-one deal. An alternative swap might be Darnell Armstrong and a draft pick.
(of course, they would all have to pass a physical- for the benefit of you rotisserie geeks out there with the Dish and know more than I do at this point).

 

I'm sorry if I'm off topic or am repeating what someonel else may have already said, but I haven't read all the other posts just the initial one. I thought I should try and get my point across because I'm sick and tired of hearing all these people saying our guards are too selfish.

First of all why would you want someone who is scoring 30 ppg and shooting over 50% passing the ball to the likes of Kelvin Cato? The problem is not with the guards its with everyone else on the team. I'm not saying everyone else on the team is playing bad just if they can't step up and hit the shot when they get the ball then why pass to them on the offensive end? Mobley isn't far behind Steve scoring 23 ppg on near 45% shooting.

I know after watching the Sonics game last night it might have made Francis look selfish while Payton dished out 18 assists but you have to understand the Sonics are overloaded with good shooters in players like Brent Barry, Rashard Lewis, and Radman. The Sonics are one of the best shooting teams in the league. The truth is without Francis or Mobley we would be terrible. This is obvious from what happened last year when Francis got injured and he couldn't win a game. What we need is to get used to Rudy's new offense and for players like Nachbar and Yao to develop. Then I'm confident you won't be wanting to trade our best player and we'll be in the hunt for another championship.

 

Maybe Wally would be a good fit in Houston. I've heard he is a dick, but he does know how to play fundamentally is able to score points without jacking the ball up 18 times a game. He's a better passer than Cat (though not as good a pure scorer) and is probably a better fit as far as a spot up shooter goes. He wouldn't add much defensively, but we could use another high % shooter. Cat for Wally World?

I don't know that I think that's the best idea either, but it would be interesting. I personally still think that the best idea may be to go with a 3 gaurd lineup. We would get killed now, but when Ming and EG develop down low I think they would provide enough thunder to help out our small defensive team. We would get added speed, Cat could do exactly what Rudy wants a 3 to do (crank up 3's and spot shoot), Steve could have less pressure at the 2 spot and focus more on scoring, and we could bring in a PG that is a defender/floor general. If Steve were 6-5 and Cat were 6-7 would anyone argue with that strategy? The way I see it is that height is less important in the post-illegal defense era, especially if you have to giants in the middle that could give you blocked shots.

 

that fact that you seem completely contempt w/ the way the offense is being run is what stupifies me. the way you consisntently jock steve's and cuttino's nuts day-in and day-out and bash every person that criticizes them upsets me.

after one game where our turnovers werent atrocious yet still lost and youre satisified?? i cant believe that you can honestly think that our offense doesnt look lethargic. there seems to be absolutely no consistent ball movement , but what the hell?, steve put up good numbers so lets all celebrate!!!

you may be sick and tired of all these posters coming in and complaining, well gues what... we're sick and tired of the rockets complete lack of an offense and their inability to perform consistently. so there.

 

Well stated and point taken sncns.

 

man is the rocket's forum getting hard to read or what?

RM, i wish i had your patience to go through each of these posts and defend what looks like a very good young team to it's "fans". some people are just too fu**ing stupid though.

what else can steve francis do as pg that would make them 4-0 which is obviously the only acceptable record they can have? he's involved his teammates, he's shot 50 freaking percent, and grabbed 10 rebounds per. does he have to put the ball in the basket for glen rice, yao ming, kenny t, etc. as well. give me a break.

this team does not need a trade, this team needs time to play together. there is a definite change in the offense but the kinks won't be worked out overnight. look at the young talent we've aquired over the past 2 years and look at how much itme they've played together. wheres the problem? the lakers are what 2-3, man i guess kobe sucks ass without shaq. you think we can get him for collier and tito?

 

I agree with the above give at least 66% of the season until you pass judgement!

I disagree with the excuses... We are running out of them....

 

Hey Braniac, take it easy ! Those red bulls are getting to you

 

There is a long and storied history to players leading the NBA in scoring (or close to it ) and not winning come the playoffs. George Gervin. Dominique Wilkins. Bernard King. Adrian Dantley. David Thompson. Dr. J for the longest time - til Moses. Even Michael Jordan had trouble until ... his teammates were relied upon as scoring threats as well. Were their original teammates a bunch of losers or was it because he didn't know how to make other teams pay for concentrating on him early in his careers?

 

You don't have to be a "rotisserie geek" or have Dish to do a couple of minutes of research on the Internet to see if a particular player is playing and/or healthy.