Exactly. I really think the difference is Battier and Rafer missing open shots. Chuck Hayes is what he is. He has played well. In Fact, defensively Chuck seems like the most improved Rocket since last year. If Battier is shooting 40% from three and Rafer is shooting 38% from three, I think we would be having better starts. We still are 6-3. People act like we have 4 automatic losses ahead. We DID beat the Spurs in SA without Tracy last season. The team just needs to get focused and hit some shots. There is no missing heart or passion to me. Although, I agree that SF3 has the most heart of any guy on the team. I am sick of the knee jerk reactions to two losses. The defense has been fine. Guys aren't hitting shots. With our tough schedule and the way we have performed overall, I am very optimistic about the rest of the season.
Not to jump on the Celtics' bandwagon, but what Garnett does for that team is exactly what the Rockets need a dose of. The way he plays gets that whole team amped up to treat nearly every game like it's the playoffs. It's infected that whole team from Allen and Pierce to the bench players. Of course, not every team can have KG, but man, I'd like to see half that much passion in our guys sometimes.
exactly. I would argue that KG has a lil more pep in his step, because of his chances of reaching the promise land. He has always played the game hard tho. Tracy and Yao just don't come off as those type of guys.
You may have forgotten who was in the building commentating... Anyway, I'm on the let Francis play bandwagon. As with everything else: I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. However, how do you get much worse than Rafer Alston? The Rockets have nothing to lose, especially this week with T-Mac's injury. Let's run him out there for limited minutes and see what happens.
I really wanted to post yesterday but it didn't work out. Just as well since I'd written quite a long post. It touches a nerve with me, too Kind of interesting that the response to DaDakota's post issimilar to what he says about the team -- kind of ho-hum. Or maybe most don't know WHAT to say about it. I've railed about this since the season they lost to Dallas in the first round. Besides lacking fire and passion they also lack shooting ability... another thing I've mentioned over the years because they've had so few at any one time. Outside of Tracy and Yao (who CAN shoot), We only have scorers, not shooters. And Rafer struggles to be consdered either. At least we did have Padgett and Barry at one time. We need versatile shooters who can shoot well off a pick as well as a spot up jumper. Unfortunately, these skills are most easily developed in the off-season. There is little time during the season. So for all who think this is blown out of proportion, I hope you're right. I hope somebody (or bodies) will emerge to be the fire and/or intensity for this team. The second half of the Laker game easily demostrated the difference it makes. Call it fire or urgency it was there. And had these same players played like that in the first half I think it would have made a world of difference. It's easy to say "winning solves a lot of problems". But you need the fire and intensity to win the games in April and June when it really matters most. If your habit is to play without it most of the time... well, habits can be hard to break.
Sura's only been a Rocket for such a short time, and yet he's left such a deep impression with the fans. For a guy who hasn't led the team to any playoff series wins or championships, he is of legendary status. Next thing you know, people will start making up those outlandish "Bob Sura Facts" along the same lines as the infamous Chuck Norris ones.
FIRE, PASSION. Where does that come from? Adversity. So I think Tmac's misfortune is fortunate for the team to develop and step up as the whole. It's interesting to see how we square off with elite teams when the pressure is on. Hopefully we'll come out stronger.
