Not one single player has stood out. Best yet, our two best players have all played below average to average at best. Yao has had some strong games at home, and McGrady has had some strong games at home, but for the most part, they have been subpar. Especially McGrady, who we used to depend on so heavily. This is a good thing to me because I think they are only going to improve in the home stretch. But even outside of them, there are no individual performances (except maybe Rafer) over this stretch that you look at on paper and say "WOW! How did they manage to do that for nine games (or 21 games)???". It is a total team effort, on both ends. Our offense still leaves something to be desired, but I see potential there that I haven't seen in a long while.
i agree. winning as a team is much better than having a star win you all of these games himself. what's important is that we are second in the league in defense. if we are able to add one more scorer then we wouldn't hit as many scoring droughts. hopefully not any. at that point we will be a contender. until then, we just need to hope that the TEAM play keeps up and in the tough games our STARS step up...like this friday against the hornets.
Agree with you, but I'd still say that if you had to pick the biggest factor behind the Rockets' surge, it has to be Rafer Alston's play. He does deserve the props -- he is just flat out getting it done. Making plays on offense, playing good defense, providing scoring punch, and being the leader that this team has so desperately needed for a long time. While he's certainly no all-star, he has finally started to live up to the billing of that famous "all the Rockets need at point guard" article a while back. He's much more comfortable on offense and is playing with more freedom. As long as he keeps up this level of play, the Rockets have a chance to beat anybody, any given night. Let's hope he doesn't cool off. It's hard to do that though -- one part of your brain says that he's never been this good in his career and will eventually fall back to earth; the other sees the change in styles and the obvious results of the work Adelman and the coaching staff have put into him and says this new Rafer is for real. That's not to say the Rockets couldn't use an upgrade at that position, still. It's just that our point guard position isn't as weak as it used to be anymore.
since we don't rely on mcgrady so much now, we should make a trade for a decent PG. All these good teams in the western conference have a PG way better than ours.
The guys at ESPN said that the biggest factor in the Rockets' new and improved play has been Scola, and I'd have to agree. Feed Scola. Get him rolling in the first quarter. He's shooting some ungodly high percentage over the win streak and his scoring not only builds momentum but it also opens the court up. Once teams realize they have to guard him it opens it up for Yao and T-Mac.
That's a good point. The Rockets are a much deeper and more versatile team than last year. I still think it is nice to have two dominant (or potentially dominant) guys for the playoffs. Through this streak I haven't gotten the sense that they are firing on all cylinders, even. The players that have really stepped up their game have been Bonzi, Rafer and Scola. Yao, McGrady and Battier have been up and down, so I am really encouraged about their future.
I'd have to say Scola as the starter. I mean, the team played well before that, but since he has started the other teams have had to play honest the whole game. Honorable Mention to Rafer. When was the last time the Rockets won 9 in a row with their 2 top dogs averaging less than 40ppg between them??
i just can't imagine what would happen if we continue this play while having tmac and yao have good shooting nights. we essentially won by 10 with them having terrible shooting nights. Man, can't wait. Hopefully we keep the streak going. C'mon Rockets!
i think adelman amerliorates rafer a great deal. i really am starting to see jvg as a terrible coach.
Rafer has been pleasantly suprising. He's always been a great ballhandler and OK defender. His shooting is still not where i'd like it to be, but he's compensated for that by running the offense pretty damn well. I've also gotta give love to Scola. His ability to knock down 15 footers and execute out of the high post does means a couple of things: 1. Hhe opens things up for Yao and Mcgrady. He keeps the D honest. 2. He opens things up for himself! Scola is a threat to drop 15-20 on any given night. Yao and T-mac get a lot of attention, and Scola, when playing with the starters, benefits with easy buckets. That 15 points tonight...that's 15 points that Chuck Hayes certainly doesn't score, and that Scola doesn't necessarily score coming in with the 2nd unit or backing up Yao. Scola IS the third option we talked about all last year.
is Alston really going to keep this up? i wouldnt bet on it. at least the shooting perhaps. but i see him choking later on in the season. if he keeps the confidence of a TRULY ELITE THREAT... then we'll be tooo close to a championship. Rafer...keep ur confidence...keep working on ur shot. I aint sold on you yet.
I have to agree. The stifling defense from last year is back with a vengeance and the overall play of the team on the offensive end is great right now. Also, with Rafer, he is shooting the ball with much more confidence. Whereas before, he would hesitate to shoot the first open look, he is now shooting as soon as he gets the ball out of the double team. But, man oh man, I love that defense. You can see it in all the players' eyes and body language. They love to shut other teams down. Whether it is Mac, Rafer, or Bonzi stripping players or closing out the passing lane, or its Yao, Scola, or Landry crashing the boards and closing out the lanes. Great team defense! And with each passing game, I continue to appreciate Battier more and more. The guy faces the toughest opponents every night and he holds his own. Great job Battier!
He is clearly playing the best basketball of his career. And to expect him to suck again is such a pessimistic attitude. But I have to admit I don't trust him . I don't have faith that he will stay at or near this level in the playoffs and that's what counts. I hope he proves me wrong. I hope he continues this better play all the way till the end. And if he does I suspect the end won't be in april. Still I have my doubts.
dude, i aint tryin to be so pessimistic about this...i just am being realistic about it and u pretty much agreed. and i'm going to re-agree with you on an optimistic note: YES I HOPE RAFER CAN PLAY LIKE THIS FOR THE REST OF HIS CAREER. even if it aint for us in a few years.
To me what I love the team at present, is the unity of purpose, belief and effort that Yao and T-mac doesn't have to dominate and have big games for the team to win. It shows in the results and it makes harder for opposing teams to rely on shutting down Yao and T-mac to get the W!
agree, rafer deserve a lot of credit. he might not be most improved player, but definitely the guy kept the rocket ship steady.
