I said it before and I'll say it again. The offense reverts to the Steve Francis show when he is on the floor. He can do this as a back up but not as a starter!!!
Im glad that Yao is showing some heart, just wish that more of it was actually during this game. Steve didn't play well to me because he was not aggressive and was watching Tmac be the ball hog so he wouldn't get the blame. We don't need him to do a 180 of what he was before when here, but to find the balance of that and what he lacked today. Rafer will moving the ball maybe up the court faster, would not have helped this team today. He still sucks and can't shoot. And Tmac was still in NewJACKcity. Rick Adelman is the biggest problem for this team. His lack of understanding of his personnel and how to use them will keep this team in mediocrity.
I believe it was directed to the coaches as well. This is not the first time Yao spoke about lack of preparation (studying opponents) before the game. I mentioned this in another thread: Yao, TMac and teammates circled and discussed their defensive plan (more like switching the person they should guard) when Raptors took their flagrant foul FT during the game. No coach involved. You can see how desperate they were.
The lack of a plan would explain why the effort was slack. The players need direction or they will drift and lose respect for the coach, if they haven't already. I guess we should continue being "patient". OrangeRowdy95, there is nobody on this team, including the coach, who can kick the other players into gear. The Rockets need a heart transplant.
They have gone from being almost over prepared (JVG) to just figure it out you know how to play basketball(adelman).
I don't blame Yao for being angry. This was one of the worst Rockets games I've seen in years. Just unspeakable execution in the second half. Unbearable to watch. I turned off the TV with 5 minutes left, and I never do that. I mean I never do that. I took it off my DVR after turning off the game. If the Rockets were trying to move Alston, they couldn't have done a better job of showcasing him. Don't play him and then completely fall apart. GMs must be thinking, "Hot damn! Alston must be a bigger part of the Rockets success than we thought. Maybe we should pick him up!" I mean really, could they have possibly made Alston look any better than by simply not playing him, and then having a second half like last night?
To clear some things up. This is what Jon Feigen had to say on Yao's quotation after the game today: That should clear things up Clutch.
We did play some good ball the first half. I dont know that's due to the coach or the players. It's hard to blame the game plan when you have one good half game. The things is our shots got a lot more difficult and predictable in the 2nd half, body language changed after the lead was wiped out. To me it's the players' fault, but we could indeed use some of leadership JVG showed on the sideline last year.
My interpretation of what Yao meant - whether the players aren't adhering to the game plan or we don't have a clear game plan it is all the same- the coach
I think some of it is the coach, I also think its just some players who just aren't doing what the coaches say.
The latter is not neccesarily a bad thing-- forcing players to go figure out things for themselves. It worked with Vlade, Webber, Christie, Bibby, Peja and Co. These guys figured it, worked hard, and it was successful. But it takes the right type fo players to do that. You need guys who are not only smart, but also self motivated and hard working. It's not for everyone. Some guys simply are not capable of figuiring it out (at least not in time to save their jobs with that team (See Williams, Jason).
