Yao Ming Mania - Latest Comments in Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

andrew — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:42:49 -0000

Can anybody make a suggestion to Yao and McGrady that they volunteer a salary cut so that the Rocket Organization can use it to hire more fire power for the next season?

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

arthurko from LA — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:12:47 -0000

hey everyone, arthur from LA chiming in. I couldnt help but cheer for the Rockets in that game 4 even though I don't want them to move on without Yao. It was close and I witnessed Scola getting robbed on 2 fouls, horrible. Tmac has always been full of talent but lacking a basketball head and killer mentality. I think that's what makes the difference between him and Kobe. I would love to trade Tmac away but who would the Rockets even be able to get?
The shining part of the Rockets for me right now is absolutely Luis Scola and Carl Landry. Those are 2 rookie studs who will go a long way for the Rockets. Have better health Yao!! Then the Rockets can make a long run!!

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Daniel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:53:39 -0000

I applaud your enthusiasm JW, but I think the Rockets really don't have a chance with their current roster. Our "stars" are good, but they're both 40 minute players. In big game situations neither of them show up at all. The team needs another player who can come in and be the team's best player because its obvious you can't win with Yao and McGrady.

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

JW — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:32:31 -0000

Mutombo should be there for the rebound. Landry is a rookie and for the mistake he made (not blocking out Okur) I can take it. But not Adelman's decision not putting Mutombo in for the potential missed free throw. Bad refs, bad calls what can I say. when you have two rookies, your chances are really not that great. Another year is wasted. Let's hope we'll go furhter next year.

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

BOBBYNYC — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:32:38 -0000

John, as much as I love T-MAC, I mean I love the guy, I honestly do, but the Utah fans are right, he is overrated. The reason why he is settling for so many jumpers is because he feels he is not able to beat by his man off the dribble any more. Being tall myself and having my share of back injuries in the past, I tend to fake the jab step towards the rim but only to settle for a jumper. The reason being is that I don't have the blazing first step anymore. And I strongly feel that is the problem T-Mac is having. It doesn't mean he is no good, but he's not great anymore because of his injuries but he is still good. Unfortunately the Rockets want a championship now so I think it's best that Houston trade away T-Mac and start looking for another guy next to Yao. But here's the other problem John, Yao's been injury prone the last 3 years! There's no saying that he's even gonna finish up next season! Aiyaya! HELP! But true that, Yao's still a keeper though cause of his size. I do like the toughness that Scola and Landry brings. Maybe we can break up the Nuggets tandem cause it's not working out for them too and bring AI to team up with Yao? Whatcha think?

Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been on a plane most of the evening. Regarding bringing Iverson to Houston, I just don't see it. I like his toughness, but he would create a logjam at point guard. Although he can score, his shooting percentage is low and they would still need a shooting guard. After the season is over, depending on if McGrady doesn't turn things around real quick, I'll start proposing some possible names of replacements.

John

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

RICHARD — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:16:45 -0000

A guy getting pay $19 million per year should pratice his neck off in htting the free throw. come on, 57%????? i can do better that. But Tmac is a good playmaker. give him credit for that....granted, nobody is perfect but if you're the superstar of a team and getting $19 million a year, you should practice more.....it just shows that Tmac don't care enought to win games.....

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Daniel — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:51:25 -0000

John, did you notice how our "stars'" inability to grab a key rebound has cost us each of the last two series against Utah. Last year it was Yao notting getting it done in game 7 to give us another possession, and this year it was McGrady doing it in game 4 leaving us down 3-1. I'm really starting to wonder if these two, even if healthy, are capable of leading us all the way. Both guys put up big numbers, but they're about the most ineffective big numbers ever seen in the playoffs.

Also, you can add Bobby Jackson to the list of guys who are as good as gone. He's an expiring contract so he'll either be packaged, likely with one of the 2 guys you mentioned to bring in a new starting pg(Hinrich hopefully) or traded by himself for more help up front.

I analyzed last year's Game 7 loss against Utah play-by-play, and I cut them some slack for not getting those late rebounds becausethe ball bounced so crazy, I think it was more bad luck. This year it's completely different. There was no excuse for them not to grab that missed free throw.

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Wilson — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:46:41 -0000

Next season:

YAO + SCOLA + AB + LANDRY = ROCKETS NBA CHAMPIONS!!!

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Kumar — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:53:14 -0000

Can someone give McGrady the heimlech maneuver cuzz he's constantly choking...

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Wendy — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:20:44 -0000

I still feel it's not over yet. But John's analysis is dead on, couldn't agree more. It should have been 3-1 for us, well.

Anyway, now it's back to Houston! Somehow I feel another game 7 is in the air.

Let's see how this series plays out, and hopefully Morey can make the right conclusions and act on it.

Go Rockets!

Wendy, thanks for the compliment. I think Morey will make the right conclusions. That's why I think he'll try to do what I mentioned, if possible, and Leslie Alexander has proven for many years he's willing to take chances to do whatever it takes to win. Great example is JVG. The guy won 50+ games last year, but he wasn't good enough, so they got rid of him. -- John

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Kaolin — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:55:13 -0000

I think the Rockets were resilient and fought hard in the whole game. The refs called every foul on the Rockets and let the Jazz get away with a lot of things, the commentator Rick Carlisle said it multiple times. They are not perfect, as a chon story points out, the lack of attention to detail cost them the game. But again, they are a team with many new players under a new coach, with 3 Rookies playing important roles, missing their best player, and 3 starters (McGrady, Alston, Battier) with some sort of injury. They still fought hard and had a pretty good chance at winning and I think they should be given credit for that.

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Allen — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:27:50 -0000

Observations and responses to the above points:

With all due respect for your basketball acumen John, I respectfully disagree on many points, although I agree with you on some.

1) We all need to be damn glad to be here in the first place, let alone playing a defending WCF team this close. Every game has been close, all without the best (well arguably as well as D-Ho is playing) center in the game. Granted, Yao in the game makes it impossible to defend the Jazz (boozer + okur), but still, you have to account for that 20 points.

2) While I agree with you that Tmac has regressed in terms of shooting % and fourth quarter performance, I don't think your trade scenario makes any sense. No team in their right mind is going to trade quality players for a star (not superstar) player who a) can't hit free throws, b) gets paid too much, c) disappears in 4th quarters, and d) can't shoot anymore. I'm sorry but there are just no teams willing to do that. Tmac is not only past his prime, but he is now far overvalued. The only way players like this exit their teams is through free agency (yes I am aware of the Pau Gasol or Shaq situation, but I think that is by far the exception rather than the rule).

3) Here's where I will agree. The bobby jackson trade may not have been the best idea. While I do like B jax, and Bonzi was a fat lazy SOB, we could really use Bonzi's rebounding in this series, along with his post game with Yao out.

4) The offense simply flows and functions better with Rafer. There shouldn't be any question about that. Brooks is not ready to start at the point, and chances are he will be a career backup as he is far better scoring than running plays. I do think he is the Rox backup of the future.

5) The clear thing is this - we need better passers on this team in general. The only passing we get is out of Rafer and Tmac, Tmac moreso. That isn't going to cut it frankly. No team gets away with less playmakers than the Rox. That is one reason why I am wary of letting Tmac, our ONLY playmaker, go. Yao can't carry this team, we know that by now, and if Tmac, for all his flaws, goes, we will have, mark my words, the most stagnant offense in the league. Rafer is a decent deliverer of the ball, but he isn't a playmaker. Yao is an overrated (yes I said it) passer, clear from what we saw when Adelman stupidly tried to make him a playmaker earlier this year at the expense of his brilliant scoring ability. And noone else on the roster is even close, so even if we trade Tmac for another star (highly unlikely), that star would have to be able to pass like Tmac, and honestly, how many players in general pass as well as tmac does? Very, very few. And the ones that do are guarded by their teams. This whole scenario really makes me wish we had someone like Lamar Odom or Luke Walton, guys who have a knack for passing the ball (maybe we could make a run at Odom when Bynum comes back!?)...

6) Head is gone. You are right, problem is his market value was far higher last year.

7) I doubt we will have 5-6 new players. Teams rarely undergo that much change. Hayes may be overrated (agreed), but he has little market value and we still owe him money. I think there is still a role, albeit dwindling, for him on the team. If Yao was still playing (a disturbing trend that he isn't) I think Hayes would have a better role.

*All that said, I understand your frustration and I feel it too. The only thing is, I knew this was going to happen as soon as Yao went out. Everyone did. You don't win in this West in the playoffs without stars. Period. We salvaged what we could this season, and I will give the whole team credit for even making the playoffs. You take Nash from the Suns, or Duncan from the Spurs, or Dirk from the Mavs, or Paul from the Hornets, and those teams have a tough time making the playoffs in this West. Problem is, Yao can't stay healthy. I really hope he isn't the second coming of Bill Walton (although I don't think Yao is that good yet). Take care, and thanks for everything in terms of coverage! We all appreciate it very very much.

Allen, thanks for the thorough post. Regarding #1, this team has not lived up to that great team we've seen during the 22-game winning streak. If they had just done that (pass the ball, make free throws, make great plays in the clutch, not make so many stupid mistakes, etc.), even if they had lost, then I think Rocket fans could have accepted that.

I think Regarding #2 and #5, my suggestion to trade McGrady was only IF they can find the things I mentioned in the post, which I think is going to be difficult to do since players of that caliber are rare. So chances are he’ll be around to play with Yao. He might be a little more effective with Yao, but he’s not going to become a clutch player with Yao because he hasn’t been that over the past few years when Yao has been healthy. We’ve seen what he does under pressure with Yao, which ain't much.

Regarding #4 (Aaron Brooks), I think I mentioned that he won't be a starter (Rafer will), but it's time for him to be the backup point guard as you mentioned. — John

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Vince — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:39:01 -0000

Common, give them one full healthy season John. I think this young team deserves that much after all they've done this season. Besides, do they really want to enter the second round this year with a injury depleted team facing the new Lakers? I agree with maybe a few bench changes, but please let the core players get one solid season together. Besides, no one would've blamed them this year for not making it to the playoffs in the first place, let alone getting home-court despite playing a overpowering team.

Vince, my suggestion to trade McGrady was only IF they can find the things I mentioned in the post, which I think is going to be difficult to do since players of that caliber are rare. So chances are he’ll be around to play with Yao. He might be able a little more effective with Yao, but he’s not going to become a clutch player with Yao because he hasn’t been that over the past few years when Yao has been healthy. We’ve seen what he does under pressure with Yao, which ain't much. -- John

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

GameNight — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:12:53 -0000

I agree with you John - enough is enough. I'd like to see McGrady gone as well next season. If only he is half as tough as Yao mentally. Scola is fine but this series shows why Spurs did not use him - Ginobili is a more deadly weapon and can create his own shots, especially down the stratch.

Who knows what shape the Rockets will be in next season, but they have to undgergo a major overhull.

Enjoy reading your post.

Thanks, GameNight. I appreciate it. -- John

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

Rocketswillbegone — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:26:03 -0000

The Rockets, especially McGrady, missed too many free throws. They dont deserved to win this game.

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

James — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:16:36 -0000

Hi John,

Great post -- very thought provoking. Regardless of whether one agrees with you or not, your willingness to take a bold, clear stand and ability to articulate the reasons behind your thinking are admirable qualities. As always, thanks for the consistently great work!

James

James, thanks for the compliment. - John

Re: Mistakes in Game 4 mean big changes could be 1 loss away

AirChina23 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:25:36 -0000

Hit your goddamn free throws!