Everyone out there looks impressive and are only going to get better, but Mutombo has regressed a ton.
Or maybe the real test will be Saturday night. The Rockets have always come out lack luster against teams they should easily beat. But yes, the game against Dallas will be huge, especially if we do not lose our home opener.
- Both Yao and TMac look fresh throughout the two games, and no major injuries to other key players (knock on wood) - No grumpy baldy Yankee on the sideline - Victories of the two statement games on the road against two playoff-bound WC teams (assuming the Lakers don't implode later in the season) are huge, signaling a very special season for the Rockets
What i liked the most: 1. No significant drop off when we go to our bench! Our bench hold its own no problem and even do better than the starting lineup... wow. 2. MJ passed the freaking ball. He took his shots but he choose them well. 3. Whoever was on the floor, they had swagger. They know they are good. 4. Tmac and Yao no longer need to feel all stressed out if they come out of the game. They can rest on the bench and see the bench do their thing. 5. Love Scola. I think he needs to bulk up a little but the man goes out there and gets the job done. He is only gonna get better. You can tell his bball IQ is solid just by the way he is avoiding fouls now. He learns from his mistakes. 6. Adelman has no problem sitting people down if they are not doing well. He wont allow anybody to get abused by the other team for any significant amount of time(with the possible exception of Yao or Tmac but they are the stars so he has to be patient with them). He will give minutes to the people that are balling. Things i didnt like(very few): 1. Scola should get a few touches down low. The guards tend to ignore him and use him just for screens. He gets points basically because he hustles. Hopefully he will slowly get more and more integrated in the offense as we move along. 2. The starting lineup doesnt seem ideal to me. I would like to see Scola or Bonzi or maybe Mj start the game. We have plenty of talent. No need to put it all on Yao and Tmac in the first quarter.
here's another thing that i also REALLY liked. when yao was struggling in the 4th quarter, making turnovers and missing shots, Adelman went to T-Mac the rest of the game. last season Van Gundy wouldve kept pounding it to Yao no matter how bad he was doing. I like Adelman's on-the-fly changes.
i want tmac to guard dirk full time. he needs to get some nods for all-nba defense. battier can get scola.
why would tmac guard dirk when we have battier? that was probably the main reason we got battier, to guard the opposing team's best player.
well if tmac picks it up on both ends, aren't we a better team? he's not doing a lot of playmaking anymore so he should be fresh to take on more defensive responsibilities. he guarded kobe for 8 mins in the 4th in the first game and did very well. he should at least start to guard the best player in the 4th.
For that reason, yes, but your first reason about him needing to get "nods for All-NBA defense," no. I rather have T-Mac save all of his energy for the offensive end even if he is doing a lot less playmaking. When no one can stop Dirk, then we should switch T-Mac onto him.
Morey to Steve, pre-game: "Stevie, Oeilpere says we're going to trade you, so try not to f&@k things up by pouting in front of the cameras like a little b****, OK?" What *I* liked about our 1st two wins: This team is finally deep enough to win games when 2 or 3 guys have off nights -- even if they're starters.
I like our new game plan. Our starters keep the game close. We bring our bench in when they bring theirs in and outscore them 30-13 to win the game.
