Truth is that on the road we'd have to play a perfect game to win, while getting some breaks from the officials. That hasn't happened and likely will not. LA is simply a better team than we are. Shaq is the most dominant big man on the planet, Kobe can take over a game like no one else in the league (witness last night), then add two upcoming HOF's who understand their roles adding muscle and guile. Mix in oodles of playoff experience, solid bench performers, and a world class coach and they are tough - simply better than Rox at this point in time. They have more weapons than we have and know how to win - witness: Shaq gets only 7 points and it's still not close. That being said, I agree with other posters that LA won't get past Spurs. I like our heart and effort. Each game has been a dogfight, but in the playoffs sometimes you gotta lose to learn how to win. It's a growing and learning experience and will pay dividends down the road. D R
Who is to say it still won't go seven? Who is to say that there will not be another seven game series on the heels of this one?
If anyone else trots out that tired-ass "We're a young team and young teams make mistakes" excuse once more time, I'll go postal. For the record: THIS IS NOT A YOUNG TEAM - THIS IS A STUPID TEAM. They are stupid because they do not want to listen to their coach who's telling them what they need to do in order to win. They are stupid because they are bound and determined to continue playing the way they want to no matter what the consequences. It doesn't matter that playing their way landed them in the lottery for four straight years. It doesn't matter that playing their way has cost them and will continue to cost them winnable games. They will continue to play this way because they are STUPID! Oh, and just what makes you think that somehow, some way a magical switch will be thrown and this team will suddenly start playing smart basketball when they haven't been able to do so for 84 games? Granted, they were underdogs when the series began and all that but what the Lakers are conclusively showing is just how away from contention these Rockets really are. A GOOD team would have been able to capitalize on the lethurgy of the Lakers. A SMART team would have seen that these Lakers were there to be had and that's what really disappoints me the most. I'm not saying that Houston could win this series but it would be far better to go down 4-2 than the 4-0 finish they are careening toward.
"Movin' On Up" is for what we are all cheering, hoping, praying and banking on. Please re-read the words IF the Rockets MUST "lose to learn...." Thanks, now let's get back to my favorite pastime -- Laker bashing.
Hey, HillBoy, how are you? With a couple of exceptions (Yao and Boki -- both of whom are young and seem pretty coachable), I agree with you. Gadzooks (world ends ). Jim Jackson is the bright bulb in the bunch, but Steve, great as he is, just doesn't seem to "get it." I think there is hope for Cat and Mo. Cato is somewhat smarter than the pine. I think your post is "tough love" -- we all want the Rocks to play smart and WIN.
Wow, Steve played a near flawless game, kept us going, and he still gets bashed. Maybe it is time he moved on. Seriously, maybe parting ways would be the best for all parties here.
Your point is not lost here. Steve IS a great player. He had a good game -- heck, his mediocre season is the envy of 90% of the league -- but his game -- great as it is -- is not a good fit for the Rockets. If Steve had the savvy of Jim Jackson, he would be a 50 Greatest, maybe even a 25 Greatest.
Their role players simply stepped up. Shoot, even Luke Walton was out there draining 3's. Sometimes you can execute a good game, go in there with a solid plan ... and still get beat. Kareem Rush. Luke Walton. Those guys hurt us. I wanna hurt Flop Malone. I can't stand that punk. Hey, what about when Stevie beat Payton so bad, all he could do was fall to the ground and watch?!?
no doubt! Witht he exception of the first quarter in game 1 and a couple of mistakes in game 2...he has played a damn fine series so far. Unfortunately, like the previous 4 seasons show...SF playing good isnt enough for us to win...we need others to step it up also...and they havent. but this series isnt over yet....if we can pull out 2 at home....and stretch this series to 6..Ill be satisfied.
I agree. I also agree with Hillboy that the Rockets problems are largely between the ears. However, up against the Lakers they are also "outgunned." Huge talent gap.
I am usually suicidal after the Rockets lose playoff games. I was incredibly disappointed that JJ missed the jumper in game 1. However, in the aftermath of yesterday's loss, I am quite proud of the team. They have played with determination and energy. In the 3rd and 4th quarters of game 1, they played the best defense of the season. They carried over a lot of that defense into the first half of game 2. Hillboy, I am also impatient with this team. But it is universally accepted that this team is young IN TERMS OF PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE. But for that inexperience, we would have taken game 1 and we would all be talking about an upset in 7. If we break down the performances of key Rockets versus a realistic expectation of their first playoff showing, we can see that they have done fairly well. We have lost to the Lakers because they are a better team. Yao: In my mind, Yao is the biggest disappointment. As most of us have said, the Rockets go as far as Yao can take us. Right now, we are down 0-2. I had hoped that Yao would be more efficient on the offensive end because of our tendancy to run into droughts. However, he is simply not ready to deal with a physical Shaq that is actually trying on defense. Nor is he ready to deal with the physical playoff play, where fouls calls in his favor are even more scarce. Yao has done the job on defense, in covering Shaq and on pick and roll situations. If he could have boxed out Shaq in game 1 . . . oh well. At this point, I would give Yao a C+. (partially because of my high expectations). Yao needs to use that jump hook more. Francis: His horrific play in the first half of game 1 was almost offset by his ability to get into the paint in the 4th quarter. In game 2, he settled down and played the way that we need him to play. As it has been all year, Francis is very effective when going north-south, particularly against the porous LA defense. If he ever learns to consistently attack north-south, ala iverson, he will be the efficient scorer that we need. Francis' jitters were natural and he has settled down. I would give him a B- Mobley: Mobley has been our best player. He has defended Kobe as well as one can. He has attacked Kobe on offense. His turnovers in Game 1 were likely due to nerves. I would give him a A-. JJax: Jackson's performance has been similar to Mobley's. He has helped on Kobe and continues to do all the little things to help us win. He has been huge on the boards. Despite his missed shot to win Game 1 and low fg percentage, I still give him an A-. Cato/Taylor/Spoon: Spoon is what he is, a good role player. He has done what we need him to do. I give him a B. Taylor has not played up to his usual offensive standards. For that reason, I give him a C+. Cato has not played to his defensive capability and has not been a force on the boards. I give him a C-.
Yao is not playing even close to his potential in the PO. However, I can live with the fact that he is neutralizing Shaq to the point that the latter is held to his worst ever PO performance. Basically the two big guys are cancelling each other out so far and you cannot really ask Yao for more in his first PO series. SF3's play has opened my eyes and I really love to see him at 2 with Cat coming off the bench as the 6th man. Get Brent Barry and start him and Steve in the backcourt. Let SF3 play 18 min at 1 and give Cat 28 min at 2, and our backcourt is set. I love the Yao-SF3 combo. Actually Yao has gone as far as he can in saying that he does not want SF3 traded.
SF should get at least B+ for his performance so far. Cat is B- for his stupid plays in the 2rd game. JJ is B and does not deserve a better score because of 5-19 from the floor in the 2rd game. Yao is B- because he at least neutralized Shaq so far in two games. Cato - D; Mo - C+. And the rest of the bench is F so far and I balme JVG for not developing a decent bench.
Famous phrase, but I still believe we can get win a couple and play our game the entire game... I hate to say it, but SF may be gone after this year and the focus should be on Yao...
It is really quite simple, the teams that has the best player usually win the game. The best player have enough touches, make enough plays and make everyoneelse around them better. In game 1, Shaq is the one; In game 2, Kobe is the one. It is not a surprise Lakers won two games on their home court, I am not complaining. It is great to see Rockets players put up some fights in the first 6th quarters. It is heart breaking to see they lost their intensity abd cracked down in 7th and 8th quarter. But hey, this is their first playoff series in 5 years, I can wait. Hopefully they can maintain their composure and put up more fights at home.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but the Lakers are the better team period. In order for the Rockets to win, the have to have everyone playing a good game and make sure no one other than Shaq and Kobe have good nights. The re cord doesn't lie, this team was 30-8 when all 3 were healthy. This is a classic triple post offense that creates lanes and avenues for role players to step up. Anyone remember who was on the floor when the blazers had like a 20pt lead on the bulls in the 4th qt? The rockets margin for error is smaller than it it for la. They have to get game 3 to keep from being swept. If they get game 3, it will go 6. If not, the lakers will put the foot on the throat and squeeze the life out.
When Mark Jackson was in at PG and Francis moved to the SG, I liked what I saw. I wonder why JVG doesn't try Francis at the SG more often and let one the Jacksons bring the ball down and set up the plays?
