Official Houston Rockets Preseason Watch And Discussion Thread

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting magnomonkey:</div><div class="quote_post">I think we're trading Mo somewhere, bcus my cousin told me in Chicago, the tv commentators were talking about how JVG was show-boating Mo, so he would draw interest from anyone. Just my 2 cents.</div>

Personally, I think Spoon is a better backup PF than Taylor. He's a good offensive player when he gets the ball, and he's a better rebounder. I think we should trade Taylor and try to upgrade our point guard situation, if the opportunity is there.

 

The Revenge Of The Franchise!

October 23, 2004. <font color="red">Houston Rockets</font> @ <font color="blue">Orlando Magic</font>

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In his first game against his former team, Steve Francis came out shooting.

Francis scored 16 of his 17 points in the first quarter, propeling the Orlando Magic to a 93-72 victory over the Houston Rockets. </div>

Recap ll Box Score

Points Leader- Maurice Taylor with 18
Rebounds Leader-Bostjan Nachbar and Ryan Bowen with 7
Assists Leader- David Hawkins and Tyron Lue with 4
Final Score- 72-95

Current Record- 3-2

 

Yao should have been the Rebounds leader and points leader last night...

 

One thing I wonder about Yao's performance last night was how he did against Cato. Did Yao show aggresiveness against Cato's physical defense? I wasn't able to watch the game so it's up to one of you Houston dudes to keep me up to date again. Thanks.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">One thing I wonder about Yao's performance last night was how he did against Cato. Did Yao show aggresiveness against Cato's physical defense? I wasn't able to watch the game so it's up to one of you Houston dudes to keep me up to date again. Thanks.</div>

Early on he did. He scored 7 points in about 5 minutes, against Cato. After that burst, he didn't get a whole lot done.

 

Ah. Then I guess that it's another case of Yao's inconsistent play again. Last season, he also had a knack for having fanatastic first quarters, and doing next to nothing in the second half. It's his Achilles' Heel IMO and if he can't put up points for us to win down the stretch, whatever amount of points he scores in the first three quarters won't do jack.

 

Is this game today against the Spurs on channel 51? I checked the rockets site and they listed the preseason game to be on Local Channel 51, but when I checked the info on the tv on my DirectTV, Channel 51 didn't have the game listed on there.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting l2emix:</div><div class="quote_post">Is this game today against the Spurs on channel 51? I checked the rockets site and they listed the preseason game to be on Local Channel 51, but when I checked the info on the tv on my DirectTV, Channel 51 didn't have the game listed on there.</div>

It's playing. There must have been a mixup with the guide or something.

 

Good god, this game was horrible. No shooting touch. The rims were to blame here. And the refs. Rockets couldn't buy a call. DEKE'S FINGERWAVE GETS A TECHNICAL?! WHAT TYPE OF CALL IS THAT?! ITS DIKEMBE MUTUMBO! COME ON, HE'S BEEN DOING THAT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER! I did not like Ward's effort. All it was, was that he get's burned by Parker, misses a shot, flops and gets the call, offensive foul, tries flopping but it don't work. McGrady and Yao weren't that bad. TD only had 15, but still. Boki was the only performance I was proud of. He's becoming more Peja like. Shot clock winding down, pump-fakes, drives, fadeaway --- SWIISH. 3/3 is not bad at all. He drew some good fouls, ran the floor well. Wouldn't be suprised to see him start tommorow. I had to say I was mad at JJ. He took too many shots. Tracy and Yao should be the only ones trying to create for themselves. Mo Taylor's 3 point workouts haven't gone well either. I'm getting all worked up because, JVG treated this like a regular season game, but the players didn't. We scored under 70 points in a "regular season game." That game was ugly, thank god Boki could make a shot -- unlike everybody else. Deke missed a dunk, Yao.. that wasn't a good game. His rebounding was superb, but when Giniboli stole the ball 2 times on him, that's just not funny. Disappointed overall, I think the game-plan is gonna be different tommorow. Just my 2 cents.

 

Well, this game wasn't a very good sign for Rockets fans. Van Gundy played his starters heavy minutes, and San Antonio sat down its starters for the 6 minutes of the 4 quarter, and we still couldn't come back and win the game.

Good things from the game:
- I actually think Ward did a pretty good job in this game. He played scrappy defense, and hit some outside shots.
- Nachbar had his best performance, but that isn't saying too much. He doesn't have any ballhandling or passing skills, and his jumper is VERY inconsistent, but he showed that he can do some other things. I don't know if he did enough to earn a regular spot in the rotation, though.
- Yao did a good job on the boards, and seemed a bit more energetic on defense.

Bad things
- McGrady had a horrid shooting night.
- Like last year, the Rockets did a poor job as a team of getting the ball down to Yao. Why the hell does Van Gundy's system take for freakin' long to set up the offense? What's so complicated about dribbling down the court and passing the ball down to Yao? What's the purpose of all this dribbling and passing along the perimeter? It drives me CRAZY!
- Turnovers are still killing us.
- Spacing was terrible which resulted in poor, rushed shots and turnovers
- Rockets starters were outplayed by Spur's reserves. Not a good sign.

 

Damn...i feel bad abt our 'team'..we're not gelling at all..making only 6-24 shots wow..steve wouldn't do that.. do you guys think weisbrod or ssissybrod is saying this right now? "who's got the butt of the trade now?" ..i've always seen magic this year as a great team and they've proven it so far this preseason..steve's so good and they're lookin great as a team..even their bench has turkeyglu and nelson and hill. wow..what happened to yao's center of the offense theme..it hasn't worked all last season..and neither has it worked so far this preseason..we shouldn't have blamed it all on steve and cat..

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">Damn...i feel bad abt our 'team'..we're not gelling at all..making only 6-24 shots wow..steve wouldn't do that.. do you guys think weisbrod or ssissybrod is saying this right now? "who's got the butt of the trade now?" ..i've always seen magic this year as a great team and they've proven it so far this preseason..steve's so good and they're lookin great as a team..even their bench has turkeyglu and nelson and hill. wow..what happened to yao's center of the offense theme..it hasn't worked all last season..and neither has it worked so far this preseason..we shouldn't have blamed it all on steve and cat..</div>

I just think the offense that the Rockets run is too complicated. In the Golden Age of the mid-90s, Rudy knew how to get the ball to Hakeem. Everyone else moves out so the middle isn't clogged, and you go straight to the entry pass. Very simple. It pisses me off when Yao looked like he was in position, and the Rockets just pass the ball around the perimeter away from him and Yao has to abandon his position and go set a pick for Charlie Ward or Jimmy Jackson.

 

Calm down, T-Mac hasn't played since the Bulls game so his shot isn't probably his best weapon(last night). Just watch this game tonight


Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets
(We'll redeem ourselves I hope)

 

Saw the highlights of the San Antonio-Houston game this morning on NBA TV Daily, and all I saw of T-Mac was that wonder three he made with the clock ticking down. I also didn't see Jim Jackson at all, and Yao got tangled up with Nesterovic and had a hyperextended arm. Not good at all. However, I like that fact that while we did lose by 10 points, San Antonio didn't score over 80, which is very low. However, we only scored 69, that's the bad part.

 

DENVER NUGGETS VS., HOUSTON..

WTF BS IS THIS? Yao Ming is sitting this out. lmao real deal last 2 games my <strike>a**</strike>.Mutombo is going to be out also...

<font size="-2">You know we censor swear words for a reason... - Trip</font>

 

Hah, offensive start...sorta like Mavs vs. Kings game. Pretty cool.

 

Score is now 65-65 tied. 1.00 left in 3rd quarter.

 

This game was not at all pretty, I would've let Boki take the last 3 pointer. Lose by four with Yao sitting out. JJ needs to stop shooting.. my god, I know he had 18 points, but seriously. Juwan Howard was the bright spot here. Tracy did well too, though he still struggling. According to him, he always struggles in the preseason. Boki was all hustle, JVG tried running plays for him, but it seems Ward can't do anything right. I'm starting to hate that guy. They call him a veteran, and he still doesn't understand that flopping on a 'charge' doesn't work against PGs that can burn you. I was hoping JJ started at point, McGrady, Nachbar, Howard and Deke. I knew Yao wouldn't play, it's better for him to get the rest for his elbow. Plus, they said he'd be back for the Detroit game, were gonna need everybody in that one. Lue did well, also. He lead the team really, he's a great super sub.. always active, and hustling around. 'Spoon did superb also, matching up with waaaaaay bigger guys. He gave up 4 inches on Camby, but still out-rebounded him. No more mess-ups now.. it's time to go to work boys.. Just my 2 cents.

 

Ward has impressed me much more than Lue the last few games. His defense is better and he runs the offense more intelligently, IMO. I don't like that Van Gundy is telling Mo Taylor to shoot more jumpers. All those jumpers drove me crazy last year. If he can hit those jump shots at around a 47% clip, ok. But last year he was under 40% on jumpers, and it killed us.

I wish Van Gundy would run more. I was really hoping that he'd pick up the pace from last year, but again we're last in the league in scoring (for preseason) so I guess we have more ugly-ball to look forward to this season.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting magnomonkey:</div><div class="quote_post">This game was not at all pretty, I would've let Boki take the last 3 pointer. Lose by four with Yao sitting out. JJ needs to stop shooting.. my god, I know he had 18 points, but seriously. Juwan Howard was the bright spot here. Tracy did well too, though he still struggling. According to him, he always struggles in the preseason. Boki was all hustle, JVG tried running plays for him, but it seems Ward can't do anything right. I'm starting to hate that guy. They call him a veteran, and he still doesn't understand that flopping on a 'charge' doesn't work against PGs that can burn you. I was hoping JJ started at point, McGrady, Nachbar, Howard and Deke. I knew Yao wouldn't play, it's better for him to get the rest for his elbow. Plus, they said he'd be back for the Detroit game, were gonna need everybody in that one. Lue did well, also. He lead the team really, he's a great super sub.. always active, and hustling around. 'Spoon did superb also, matching up with waaaaaay bigger guys. He gave up 4 inches on Camby, but still out-rebounded him. No more mess-ups now.. it's time to go to work boys.. Just my 2 cents.</div>
nice recap of the game! Thx!