I repeat, the GM has to act now. Most, if not all, of us believe that the Rockets have a group of talented players. So talented that Brooks and Novak have to be sent to the D-League. When a talented team is not performing over quite a period of time, it is unacceptable. There must be a problem. And the problem is obviously the lack of a competent coach. If the GM does not act now to replace him, then the GM himself has a problem, a serious one, I would say.
Act now. Enough is enough.
Jim
· 2 years ago
This Rocket team is a complete waste for fans. The main blame should go to idle-man. Even Jeff V could do much better with current players. At least he wont let the team beaten that badly. My worst fear is that somehow they will get a close win next game, then buying sometime to work on the "system", then lose another 2 games. Then win 1 or 2. It will go on like this for a while. Then Management realizes the season is wasted. It's so pathetic. A team with that much talent could be blow out by a team like a Sixer. At this point. EVEN A BLIND PEOPLE CAN TELL IDLE-MAN IS NOT THE SOLUTION!!!!
Bye bye rocket until drastic changes happens!!
James Ma
· 2 years ago
Wow, how incredibly disappointing this season is turning out to be.
Did you read Fran Blinebury's entry today? I'm beginning to wonder whether he's right in saying that the Rockets are fatally flawed because their franchise is built around two non-leaders, Yao and McGrady. I also thought he was rather bold in bringing out the cultural issues, but he may be right about them. It's also very interesting what he said about Van Gundy being the real leader in the past several seasons. Hmmm....
As big a fan as I am of Yao, I can't help but notice that he isn't an inspiring leader. He just doesn't have the kind of demeanor and personality that gets others to follow him. John, you see these games live and up close, what do you think?
James, I haven't read Fran's blog yet, but I will. I will say this, though. I think when the Rockets drafted Yao, they didn't expect him to be a leader coming from China and all. They just wanted a big man who could be a force and would be hard to defend. I think they have that. But it was imperative to have a leader, and I think they thought they had that with Francis. But he really wasn't, so they traded him for McGrady. But McGrady was never a leader at Orlando, just a scorer, but they hoped he turn into one. He obviously isn't.
I think the problem is that the Rockets never really tried to acquire a leader, and now they see how important it is to have one. They don't always need to be your best player (remember Mario Elie, and Avery Johnson with the Spurs)? I thought that maybe Shane Battier, Mike James, or even Dikembe Mutombo could have been those guys, but they aren't. So now it's time to go find one. -- John
JT in MD
· 2 years ago
I was at the game in philly last night...a few observations for you ... Tracy played like a baby. He seemed disgusted with the other players, was very lazy throughout the first half, walked up the court, let guys go right by him, etc. He needed to be benched early for complete lack of effort. Yao struggled a lot with his shot, but got to the line enough. He was fouled a good bit with no calls from the refs and he seemed to stop trying to be aggressive after that. I was hoping he would just level somebody and get another T, show some fire instead of whining to the refs. He does spend a lot of time directing traffic on the court and communicates loudly on defense. I think the team will follow him when he develops the proper mindset, he just got frustrated and seemed to give up.
Bonzi was very good and showed a lot of energy. Scola also showed lots of hustle and heart. At the end of the game, when the rockets started full court pressure and fouling immediately, the crowd booed a little - the game was lost already. Scola was clapping his hands, pumping up the other players and yelling "COME ON! FIGHT!"
"Idle-man" doesn't talk to the players much if at all during timeouts. He and his staff walk onto the court and talk amongst themselves. The players just sit and mope on the bench. I think he needs to be managing their egos and motivating but is totally focused on other things.
The rox should have begun full court pressure in the 3rd quarter.
Is the season over? nah...
Do they suck now? yeah...
Trade t-mac? yes..but for who? Kobe? ewwwwww...
Good report, JT. -- John
Ben, NY
· 2 years ago
I agree, what they need is someone like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, not Rafer, Steve F.... To have a leadership type of player at guard is so pivotal... if they can somehow either trade or draft someone (although not easy, but that's what GM is for), then Rockets will be so much better with McGrady and Yao. Right now, no matter what they do with other positions, without a capable guard, they are not going anywhere. Hey, who knows, maybe Aaron Brooks is The One... Try him, how much worse can it get with the way they are playing right now.
Yao is really not playing well at all... I think it had to be fatigue again due to back to back games. But if he demanded the energy from the entire team, then he has to step up as well...
I had to change the channel before I would start cursing in front my baby...
Thanks for the blog!
AirChina23
· 2 years ago
The Rockets need Derek Fisher.
That's what I was thinking, too, but he's in LA because the medical facilities there for his little girl. He's not leaving. -- John
kaolin
· 2 years ago
Just read Fran Blinebury and Jonathan Feigen's blogs, and I agreed with what both of them said: Fran Blinebury said Rockets has no leader, and Van Gundy was their leader, that is strange but true. On the other hand, like Jonathan Feigen said, there is no dreaming of a savior. Rockets need to either fight their way out of this or just rot.
The Private
· 2 years ago
John, I don't believe RA is the problem. Thats weak to blame the coach. If I remember correctly, this same team started 6 - 1. Like Red said, they beat the Jazz, Spurs, and Suns. Red said this team always have problems with taking bad team to lightly, even with Van Gundy as coach. I don't know to many posters here, but maybe you can have the better posters do your homepage blog for fresher opinion sometimes. Maybe Red, Pruyen or your Raymond, but Pruyen posts more on Clutch now, so I don't know about him. I really trying to think who else but this bbs does not have to many good posters, not me for sure. Just my opinion.
Allen
· 2 years ago
Don't listen to ThePrivate. We like YOU and want YOU to do the posting. I understand if it is too much of a burden and you need help, but if you are going to bring in help do it for that reason, not because ThePrivate inappropriately assumes that we need a fresh opinion. You and I don't agree on everything - see Rafer - but I like the way you present this blog and you have good insight. Just my two cents. Thanks as always!!!
James Ma
· 2 years ago
Agreed with Allen. I come to this site because I want to know what John thinks. I don't always agree with him, but at least I know that whatever he says is going to be intelligent and articulate.
Jim
· 2 years ago
Private:
What do you mean RA is not the problem? The team under him completely fell apart against inferior team again and again. It will get much worse if nothing happens soon!!! Every single player except Bonzi performed much worse than under JVG. I am not a fan of JVG. But IDLE-MAN is far worse than him. He may be a good coach but NOT the coach for current Rocket players. Even he completely change the players to suite his system. The best we can achieve is the later stage King. And even this could take a few years. The trend and speed of deteriation speaks loudly. Bring back JVG if that is the best we can get. I am a Yao fan. But I never been that disappointed to him as now. His unusual vocal and pathetic performence sends the clearest signal to the Management RA is killing this team!!
All Comments
Act now. Enough is enough.
Bye bye rocket until drastic changes happens!!
Did you read Fran Blinebury's entry today? I'm beginning to wonder whether he's right in saying that the Rockets are fatally flawed because their franchise is built around two non-leaders, Yao and McGrady. I also thought he was rather bold in bringing out the cultural issues, but he may be right about them. It's also very interesting what he said about Van Gundy being the real leader in the past several seasons. Hmmm....
As big a fan as I am of Yao, I can't help but notice that he isn't an inspiring leader. He just doesn't have the kind of demeanor and personality that gets others to follow him. John, you see these games live and up close, what do you think?
James, I haven't read Fran's blog yet, but I will. I will say this, though. I think when the Rockets drafted Yao, they didn't expect him to be a leader coming from China and all. They just wanted a big man who could be a force and would be hard to defend. I think they have that. But it was imperative to have a leader, and I think they thought they had that with Francis. But he really wasn't, so they traded him for McGrady. But McGrady was never a leader at Orlando, just a scorer, but they hoped he turn into one. He obviously isn't.
I think the problem is that the Rockets never really tried to acquire a leader, and now they see how important it is to have one. They don't always need to be your best player (remember Mario Elie, and Avery Johnson with the Spurs)? I thought that maybe Shane Battier, Mike James, or even Dikembe Mutombo could have been those guys, but they aren't. So now it's time to go find one. -- John
Tracy played like a baby. He seemed disgusted with the other players, was very lazy throughout the first half, walked up the court, let guys go right by him, etc. He needed to be benched early for complete lack of effort.
Yao struggled a lot with his shot, but got to the line enough. He was fouled a good bit with no calls from the refs and he seemed to stop trying to be aggressive after that. I was hoping he would just level somebody and get another T, show some fire instead of whining to the refs. He does spend a lot of time directing traffic on the court and communicates loudly on defense. I think the team will follow him when he develops the proper mindset, he just got frustrated and seemed to give up.
Bonzi was very good and showed a lot of energy. Scola also showed lots of hustle and heart. At the end of the game, when the rockets started full court pressure and fouling immediately, the crowd booed a little - the game was lost already. Scola was clapping his hands, pumping up the other players and yelling "COME ON! FIGHT!"
"Idle-man" doesn't talk to the players much if at all during timeouts. He and his staff walk onto the court and talk amongst themselves. The players just sit and mope on the bench. I think he needs to be managing their egos and motivating but is totally focused on other things.
The rox should have begun full court pressure in the 3rd quarter.
Is the season over? nah...
Do they suck now? yeah...
Trade t-mac? yes..but for who? Kobe? ewwwwww...
Good report, JT. -- John
Yao is really not playing well at all... I think it had to be fatigue again due to back to back games. But if he demanded the energy from the entire team, then he has to step up as well...
I had to change the channel before I would start cursing in front my baby...
Thanks for the blog!
That's what I was thinking, too, but he's in LA because the medical facilities there for his little girl. He's not leaving. -- John
What do you mean RA is not the problem? The team under him completely fell apart against inferior team again and again. It will get much worse if nothing happens soon!!! Every single player except Bonzi performed much worse than under JVG. I am not a fan of JVG. But IDLE-MAN is far worse than him. He may be a good coach but NOT the coach for current Rocket players. Even he completely change the players to suite his system. The best we can achieve is the later stage King. And even this could take a few years. The trend and speed of deteriation speaks loudly. Bring back JVG if that is the best we can get. I am a Yao fan. But I never been that disappointed to him as now. His unusual vocal and pathetic performence sends the clearest signal to the Management RA is killing this team!!