As a Spurs fan here in San Antonio, I don't understand how the Rockets are not going to make the playoffs. Your team is loaded with talent. Francis, Ming, Mobley, Rice, etc. etc.. You look at Utah with the over 40 club playing successful making the playoffs, how is it possible that the Rockets don't make it? Is it the Coaching Philosophy, Point Guard, or Me First ball? I sure would like to know. What do you all think it is?
I am not rubbing it in at all. I have seen the Rockets play a few times this year and they seem unorganized with their offensive sets. Why does Ming sit so long? Why isn't his size advantage used? It seems the Rockets do not do the dirty work like rebounding, steals, diving for balls, and play physical... On paper, the Rockets are a loaded team.. I am just trying to understand the concept of being a lottery team again...
It sucks to be Rox fan right now. Our team lacks disclipline and basic fundamentals to be a good team. That being said: I wouldn't be getting too confident if I were Spurfan either. There is a decent chance that you guys will play the Lakers in the 1st round. I know you own them in the regular season but the playoffs are totally different.
-There's no true point guard or playmaker. - Our power forwards are brutal, especially Griffin. Mo rebounds like a shooting guard. -Yao is still up and down, often looks tired. -Our small forwards (Rice, Posey) have good skills, but they mostly stand on the 3 point line as someone else ISOs. -Cuttino can shoot and drive very well, but he is inconsistent and doesn't pass enough. -Francis needs a lot of work on the fast break, we never consistently get points off the break. Still, if they move the ball around, they can look really good. They've beaten good teams like the Kings, Spurs, and Lakers this year.
The Spurs could have been playing the Rockets in the first round. If you look at the remaining games on the schedule, SA has a favorable one compared to Dallas. Plus SA has the tie break in case of a tie. So it looks like SA gets Phoenix in the first round. SA will have the #1 spot at the end of the season. And will be a full game up on the Mavs after tonight. As for asterisks, I hear ya, we all want to go back to the NBA finals and win again, to make it legit.... But you know a ring is a ring and the Spurs have one... That is all that matters...
I don't think you're "rubbing it in," so I'll be happy to give you my opinion. For one, comparing the Jazz to the Rockets. Experience vs. youth/athleticism. Jazz win with their heads; Rockets win with pure athletic ability. They don't play heady basketball yet. Another one you really hit on: "hustle points." Vs. Orlando, when MoT dove on the ground for a loose ball, the crowd TOTALLY got in it. He passed it off to Moochie who made a behind-the-back pass to Mobley for an easy 2. That was probably the only hustle play I've seen by the Rockets all season. I don't think our players make enough of the self-sacrificing plays that championship caliber teams make. I mean, shoot, the one I referenced above was in a game we were up by 10+. Yesterday in a losing effort vs. Portland, I think our players would prefer to point in their direction to convince the refs it's our ball than actually dive or make a play on a loose ball. I don't think there's anything with the amount of time Yao plays ... he's a rookie with basically no offseason. We're a good rebounding team. We cause some turnovers. I just don't see us going all out and leaving everything on the court, which is something a young team like the Rockets who relies on physical gifts rather than mental preparation really needs to do.
Considering the avg. age of San Antonio is like 32, they know how to close games, and win the mental aspect. The Rockets have an avg. age of like 25. Yao and Francis have not yet hit their prime. I don't mention Mobley, because he doesn't really have anymore offensive upside. But realistically, Yao will be able to carry this team on his back in about 3-4 years.
Do you all think Rudy T is fitted for a younger run and gun team? or he is he suited to the half court offense of the Dream years?? I thought maybe we would see that sort of style again now that you could maybe run the offense through Ming....
Well, who you play in the 1st round is up to you and Dallas, if you guys wanna play us, then beat Phoenix. If not, you can take your chances with the 3-time champs.
OK!! You are on!!! I think Phoenix will beat allas tonight.... (There is no D in allas) I don't know if you all say that here, but we do in SA.. lol We will do our best to win out! That would be something... If for some reason, the Rockets don't make the playoffs, please do me a favor and cheer the Spurs on!!! We would like to see David Robinson go out with another ring!!! He has been truly a blessing.
I think Dallas will bring their A-game out of necessity. Especially since they CLEARLY want no part of the Lakers in the 1st round.
Honestly Steve Francis just isn't a fast break player. He's terrible on the break. I don't think Rudy T is really the problem, though he constantly called for ISOs the past few years, and now he expects the guys to start moving the ball around. So an adjmustment period was to be expected. Our young guys- Francis, Griff, Nachbar- are not developing as fast as we would like in all areas. If they make some strides next year, we should be fine.
When is it time to change? Francis hasn't led the Rockets to anything.... Yet in the press he and Mobley run their mouths like crazy....
