Well said. Tmac may be scoring less now due to the dominance play of Yao inside. But everyone can see he's still the heart and soul of the team. The sheer presence of Tmac on the court already make the Rockets a better team simply because he can draw defenders away from the paint to collapse on Yao. Yao needs the ball in order to destroy his defenders inside and Tmac is the best player on the team to give the ball to Yao at the right time and the right spot. The Rockets team still need Tmac as much as they need Yao.
You make our points for us. That is all we are saying on this so called negative side. We have the personnel to do what we have to do and not to implode in the 4th quarter and Van Gundy seems intent on going with what doesn't work to maintain a lead. Our guard rotation can't defend the best guards in the league in the 4th so they eat us alive. The only thing that got our best defending guard in so he could prove himself was not VG but a tragic accident. Our shooting goes dead when the regulars get tired but VG has yet to insert Novak for some fresh legs and at least a 5-8 min spurt of 3's. We are not that far away from beating people by 10-20 a night. It will be a lot less nerve wracking than hanging on thru last minute meltdowns. And we did have another one when Vspan was pulled in the 4Q. I was there and Arenas got very frustrated in the game when facing Billy and I remember once even Hayes. He did not try to cut to the basket on Hayes. I also remember last year being told by some "experts" that a zone D would never work even in some kind of a rotation between zone and man to man. And VG never used it although circumstances seemed to call for it at times with our limited personnel. We seem to be playing zone now from time to time and clogging the paint now that we have much better players. Van Gundy must have gotten smarter. Playing Rybo last year was another VG habit that bore no fruit - yet he stubbornly stuck with it. Do not try to tell me this guy is perfect - he is not. Great strengths, great weaknesses as well. If you guys enjoy seeing an 11 point lead dwindle in a few minutes to 1 then by all means, let's keep the present rotations.
Please save all the complaining crap at least till Mar next year. so far, I think we are doing good, there're 82 games babe, 82 games! we maybe lost some games we should win, but meanwhile we win some games (maybe with luck)as well. realx, this is the game, you win, you win, you lost, you lost! that's it, simple fact!
I think you speak for the rest of us we are just not as vocal (I believe the term "whiny" is not politically correct any more) as the "others" hence it may "seem" that there are alot more pessimists than realists And OMG i am a senior member....whats next LOL??
I have serious issues with this statement. We should beat everybody with the team we have. And we are also supposed to beat the Jazz. I don't care if they have 6 allstars on their team, we should always beat the Jazzholes. Jeff, I think you are losing your edge for hating the Jazz.
Jeff, you don' get it: there are dozens, possibly hundreds of little John Woodens here on Clutchfans who have the magic formula for eternal Rockets success if only Van Gundy would listen to their wisdom. It is frustrating to see such God-like genius and basketball insight ignored.... Message to the whining faction: if you were such perfectionists in your own lives as you expect the Houston Rockets and their coaches to be, you wouldn't spend so much time on the internet anklebiting and moaning like a deflowered nun. Read more, post less.
Jeff was right, there are some games we 'could' have won but end up losing because we're not as good as a team since there's so many new faces on the team. All in all, great performance by the Rockets so far in my book. The way I see it, Rockets is a dangerous team for whoever facing them in the playoffs.
8-4 is a decent record. I have no complaints. But if you take a close look at the Nov. Schedule, it is really not that tougher than many originally thought. Let see the current record of those teams Rox have beaten: New York 4 - 9 (Rox played twice) Milwaukee 4 - 8 Chicago 3 - 8 Miami 4 - 7 Washington 4 - 7 Memphis 2 - 9 The only quality team they have beaten is Dallas and they were in a terrible slump starting the season (0 for 4 start and won 7 straight since). So out of the 8 wins, 7 wins are against current garbage teams in the league. They are true garbage, they are blow .500 and they are way below .500. Still, you have to give JVG credit for beating the team he is supposed to beat. He did this consistently throughout his career, even in his bad year like last season. I am just saying the team is not that impressive like their record indicates. To me, it is more like a mediocre team beating all the crappy teams, and it is not a surprise.
But Spurs didn't blew double digit leads and go on minutes without a FG in the 4th EVERY night. Yes, it happens in NBA. But if it happens every night to a same team, it is a problem.
I agree. The four losses are against teams with winning records. If Tmac doesn't find his 4th quarter magic, the rockets will loose against the good teams that know how to close out a game. That problem with the rockets collasping is still there. And if the rockets don't get their act together, next month will not be a good month.
The Retort: 1. A fan board is a "FANtasy." Talk about who "knows" more basketball is irrelevant. Because on this board we are ALL coaches, general managers, and players. And that is a FACT. And that is the fun of it. Too negative, too positive, NOT THE ISSUE, "fun" is the issue. The only issue. You don't laugh at the crazy comments, the tortured grammar, the wild off the wall rants? Folks, this is pure entertainment. I love it. 2. JVG's personality is a problem. You know it, I know it, the whole world knows it. He will never be a popular coach with the fans. Not even if he wins it all. I promise you. 3. The Rockets have too many "nice" guys. They don't have a mean streak. At times aggression is hard to come by. This is why guys like VSpan, Sura, and Wells are so wildly popular. The one time Wells went into the game he virtually got a standing ovation. Crazy. 4. Brickathons have been far too common in recent years and when they start, fans go nuts. This is why Novak is so wildly popular. 5. Fourth quarter melt downs drive fans crazy. 6. Realistically, the Rockets are fortunate to have the record they do, and if they don't continue to jell and correct their problems, they won't have it long. Overall, I am optimistic. I really like Hayes' contribution, and I seriously believe that VSpan could have a major impact. TMac has got to come around, and in some ways he is looking better and better. Many of us are really frustrated with the Wells situation because he could add so much. 7. Happy Thanksgiving, a great break, enjoy!
Whining about the whiners? Come on it is Thanksgiving !!!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone !!!! 8-4 is not all that shabby, but we should be 11-1.....ooopssss....it slipped out... DD
Very motivational thread and it puts us in a good light. However, I still think that loss to San Antonio was unacceptable. 9-3 or BUST!
How about we lost at least 2 games that we could have easily won stupid mistakes like that will not get us a championship and thats what I'm worried about
(sarcasm - Canoner I'm with you) Eddie Murphy in BH Cop: lalalalalalalalala I can't hear you! (fingers stuck in ears) No reason for some people to listen to valid concerns - Gundy has it all under control. BTW I heard a rumor that Gundy told Novak to get ready and have his parents fly in for the Bucks game 'cause he plans to actually play Novak for about 4 minutes in the 2nd quarter of that game. It will be Gundy's way of thanking Steve for hitting so many 3's in practice all year long. (sarcasm off).
If the same thing happened for last year's team, I would be very happy. But this year's team deserves a MUCH better result.
