Yup, I have an interview tomorrow. I can just imagine telling the guy, "and oh yeah, I will need several personal days this month. I've got a madness that only college basketball can cure baby!"
Observing the Rockets more closely this season, I believe the problem is indeed team chemistry. The Rockets do not have a good fit at any position besides the starting 5 position. As I proposed before, I think Francis is better suited at the 2 with an athletic pg, who can score decently and pass effectively compliment him. There seems to be no connection between the guards and the forwards on this team. I cannot count the number of times Eddie Griffin (who most people want to see kicked out of the NBA and sent back to seton hall) has caught a pass and be indecisive with it--there is no fluidity on offense. Unlike the old rockets team when passing the ball around the perimeter seemed effortless, this team does not have the knowledge. Posey does not seem to fit in anywhere, and seem to be best suited as a bench palyer. Mo Taylor is good for one thing--offense. Along with a weak benchm this team is plagued with problems. The biggest contract ever given to a bench player by carrol dawson has really been a burden for this team, freezing up cap room. I was an optimist, but this team has too many problems to become a good team I am sorry to say. They will only reach preeminence with the addition of shooters and the shipment of taylor, mobley, rice, and moochie out of houston.
Frustrated... yeah of course. Alright here's what the rox need to do in the offseason if they miss the damn playoffs. Get rid of Francis, Norris, Maddox, MoT, Rice, Posey, Griffin, and Collier and get PArker, Daniels, Wilcox, Bell and Brand. Something like: Collier and Maddox for Parker Posey and Norris for Daniels MoT for Bell Francis, Rice, Griffin, and a pick for Brand and Wilcox (hell give the clips Nachbar too if they want him). Rox lineup becomes: Parker/Daniels Mobley/Bell Hawkins/TMo/Nachbar? Brand/Wilcox Ming/Cato This gives good playmakers and decent scorers in Parker and Daniels. They can pass well and have that pass first mentality usually. They're both young and have played with a dominant big man (Duncan). Mobley fits the sg position well and is the third major scorer/shooter needed in the lineup. Bell is his backup for D mostly. Hawkins needs to work on his jumpshot, but he's a good defensive player and not bad at shooting 3's. Pretty good complement to post up threats. TMo's shot is much improved and he's tall and a pretty good defender. He can spot at pf if needed. Nachbar, if the rox keep him, is a gamble for a future star and of course trade bait if he develops into a mediocre player (hope he's a 3 point specialist and slasher... then we can give Bell's minmutes to HAwkins and Hawkins minutes to Nachbar... something like that, hmm... unless Hawkins can turn out to be a good 3 point shooter... then we wouldn't need Nachbar... I like that better.. dream on though eh?). Brand is versatile and a large threat at the pf position. He does everything. Wilcox is an up and coming prospect for cheap and may end up better faster than Griffin. Rox need to develop him for the future. Ming and Cato remaing the same, but the main difference here is the need for a very well rested Ming. Why would this work better? Much better D at the pf position would always help as will having "true" (smarter) pgs that don't need all the time to be effective. Three positions offer plenty of offense: sg, pf, and c (not to mention Parker provides a good deal of offensive threat as well). Having two legitimate post or inside players could be perhaps the most effective combo to work against any type of defense. Ming can also shoot the mid range jumper. The sf position will, hopefully, start to be able to hit shots more often than with Posey and the aging Rice. Bell will add D to the sg position when needed, and when Mobley seems to be off his game. He's a decent player on offense as well (see his time with the Sixers and their playoffs). Basically this lineup would have good the great D all around at every position (with the exception of Nachbar, he's unknown), and a limited number of players who need the ball to be effective, and a decent number of spot up shooters/slashers. There now I'm done being angry and making up dumb trades. Anyways, truly though I don't want the core of this team to be broke up just yet. Too much talent...
You are pretty optimistic man! But I think most fans here have placed high expectation on our team this year. If we can't make the playoff, there will be lots of disappointment rite here.
Frustrated...? Nah! It's good to keep in mind SF drives into the arms of an opponent to be locked up... good to remember players getting stupid technicals to kill momentum... good to see crazy bad passes and mindless drives... good to see players standing around like spectators when the ball in in the hands of an excellent passer being double teamed... good to see the second/third string come in and play like college kids... ... all good so that when we go on a record 3-game winning streak 2 seasons from now we can savor the moment.
You give yourself too much credit on this subject I have already passed "5. Despair" level and back to normal now
Apathy. I promised my girlfriend that if the Rox went down by 20pts, we could leave, and do her plans. Sure enough, I look up in the 2nd qtr and the score was 26-47. I was expecting to see at least 3 maybe 3.5 qtrs. What's funny is that now losses are expected. I'm just numb now. We'll give it up to anyone, like we're drunk on prom night. Cleveland? OK. Chicago? Why not. Now, it's when we win, that I'm actually a little miffed. It shows that we don't have to suck, and that our current state could be changed with effort. This team doesn't deserve this site or these fans.
I am giving up watching the Rockets for Lent My kids think this is an awsome sacrifice, as I am a huge fan. Its actually a relief. No more boredom as I watch a team I am supposed to follow, no more hype, no more make believe that this team can finish above the bottom 25%. No heart, to little talent. I'll check back in after Easter for the lottery discusions.
I'm as frustrated as anyone but I still love this team and know we can play better then we have been of late.
Apathy. Yup. That's it. Steve is hurtin, Rudy isn't much of a coach, Cat and Yao have to carry the team. Playoffs? I gave that up weeks ago. I am now hoping this collapse will bring changes for next year. If you start with Rudy, then maybe you can clear out the detritus that he has collected and bolster the team, get some heart and hustle and brains in here.
