Yao Ming Mania - Latest Comments in Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

Luckyme — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:24:18 -0000

I remember that game well. Despite the loss of the game, TMac was all smile as if he won the duel. Like you said, the bb game is a team sport of 5. But I think Yao's play is too much to the other extreme. He should attack the basket more and try to score himself instead of kicking the ball out to his teammates especially when their shooting is off.

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

pryuen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:48:35 -0000

Geeeeeeeez, how Rockets fans will have no problem with the egocentric way that Ron Artest played towards the end of the game with Lakers??

He just played completely out of control, not playing in accordance with game plan, wanted to out-duel Kobe Bryant. If he thinks he is as good as Kobe, which he isn't, and if he wants to take over the game and be a hero, then sorry, he failed miserably as demonstrated by his 4/16 FG% 0/8 3-pointer%.

He reminded me of TMAC. There was this game with Dallas Mavericks back in 2004. And TMAC was having this duel with Dirk Nowitzki. He scored 48, and Nowitzki did better than him.....53, and Houston Rockets lost to Dallas Mavericks in over time. And TMAC just did not realize it was him that lost the game, and he was still all-smiling and said how he enjoyed the duel with Nowitzki.

They should always remember basketball game is a team sport for 5.

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

Wendy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:52:50 -0000

The thing with Artest is, he can win us some games and vice versa. Against the lakers, he lost the game. Because of his stubbornness. He didn't put his abilities in use. Kobe manipulated him, knowing that he will get provocated andthrowing away the offense. Kobe succeed. What I'm afraid is, that in play off situations, this type of Artest will show up.

Artest is good, but he need someone on the team to keep him under control. I hope Adelman can.

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

NYCBOBBY — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:36:52 -0000

All you guys killing Artest are the same ones who are gonna love him when he wins us a whole load of games. I had no problems with his duel with Kobe. In fact, it reminded me of the 90's NBA. Hard physical in your face one on one. You can't back down from a All Star like Kobe, and Artest was in his grill all night. You can't give Kobe too much respect and that's exactly what Artest tried to do. It's just unfortunate that he took some uncalled for shots but the game was to be had in the closing minutes against the best team in the league. Two reasons why the Rockets lost. Artest took a gamble trying to steal a looseball from Kobe. Kobe took it and left Artest in the dust and nailed a 3 pointer. The second reason with the game either tied or Rockets down by 2, Yao asking for the ball in the low post couldn't block out his man and Gasol steals it from him. Yao needs to learn how to hold his man down if he wants the ball in crunch time!!!! Go watch some video or Duncan or something. Doesnt he know he needs to hold his position with his shoulder and not with his back??? There is absolutely NO WAY I would entrust Yao with the game on the line. 3 Times in a week he has shown that he can't do it. Utah game, Denver game and now the Lakers. He needs to show me he can do it in a pressurized game. Artest doesn't have that consistency in the crunch in the playoffs. They are going to have to do it by committee ala the Spurs. I don't know if they should start with Yao in the post because that's the root of our problem in the first place. The reason why Adleman uses Yao on pick and rolls is he wan'ts his speedo guard to get into a mismatch with the opossing center. However, Yao lacks an element like someone like Garnett would use, which is top of the key jumper or drive to the rack. I think during crunch time, unless Yao fixes his box out deficencies, should go to pick and roll first. If you use Yao for the pick and roll you have less options if Yao gets the ball, but you get the speed mismatch between our PG and their Center. If you use Scola or Landry to pick and roll, the mismatch lessons in degree but you have more options if Scola or Landry gets the ball. I think we should use our Fowards for the pick and roll. Our PG breaks down their Foward, or can dish back to our Foward for more options. If we drive in and draw a swarm of defense, the ball then can be lobbed to Yao who is already parked near the block. But in any case, we do need a closer to fill McGrady's supposed role. Closer by committee only works if you have a legit star player like Duncan and vicious scorers like parker and Ginobli. I am not sold if it would work here. Too many deficencies. I think we pull the trigger this summer and get one in Ben Gorden. He can be had because he's with the bulls. They already have their guy in Rose. Gorden can create his own shot, is super quick, can shoot from long range with accuracy and will draw double teams. Who is with me on this one?

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

Glenn Fayard — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:08:16 -0000

God, just watching the ESPN Gamecast was infuriating. 0-8 Artest? Lunacy. And, yes, panicking over such an anomalous situation is silly, but he can't shoot like that. Rockets weren't missing McGrady, they had a bad acid flashback.

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

Wendy — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:55:11 -0000

The Chroncle (Feigen) is busy defending the benefits of Artest, but from what I saw, I blame last night's loss on Artest. Had he sticked to the offense and not wasting the shotclock McGrady-like (0 - 7 on 3s?) we would have won. Certainly, especially after AB tied it at 86-86.

I hope someone steps up and kick his butt when he starts 'taking over' again.

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

airchina23 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:14:46 -0000

Well said, John.

Re: Rockets learn more in loss to Lakers

pryuen — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:55:20 -0000

Well, it was a game that the Rockets could have won.

Yeah when the game was on the line, there was no one on the Rockets that can close it out the way Kobe Bryant did.

But this game was lost due to the 2Rs.....Rick Adelman and Ron Artest.

This is another vivid example of Rick Adelman's laissez-faire coaching style and slow and stupid decision making.

He just stubbornly sticked to his starters and his rotation come what may, and did not make prompt on-the-fly adjustment as required.

The Rockets had a 11 point lead into 3Q created by the second unit. The lead was eaten up slowly by the Lakers when the Rockets starters were being outplayed by the Lakers in the early part of the 3Q.

If Yao Ming was ineffective due to the change of defense strategies of the Lakers, why could Rick Adelman not just sit Big Yao, and switched to the small ball roster, playing Luis Scola and Carl Landry, who did a marvellous job in that 2Q, piling up a 11-point lead?

He just sat there and did NOTHING !!!

And Ron Artest thought he is as good as Kobe Bryant in that 4Q. He was trying to duel it out with Kobe, and was trying to take over the game, and was not following the game plan, but missed his jumpers/3-pointers consecutively; 4/16 FG% 0/8 3-pointer% was horrendous. He seemed to forget basketball is a team sport, and it is not about personal glory. He let me remember Tracy McGrady.....same type of egocentric player that tends to play out of control.

But again Rick Adelman did nothing......

If a sports writer like Jonathan Feigen can provide/suggest solutions on how to close out a game when the opponents' defense tightens up, why can't Rick Adelman come up with winning combinations/solutions???