<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The question being whispered at Toyota Center after Wednesday's Rockets practice session was the same one some have wondered about for several days. Which is going to arrive first? Houston fans to their seats? Or the start of the second quarter? Standard policy in this space traditionally has been, who cares if the fans show up or not? Let the Rockets' marketing department worry about all those empty seats. But the home-court advantage, or lack thereof, has become a part of the Rockets' playoff story. They know they stole two games in Dallas. But they know no team is more vulnerable at home than they are.</div> Source I think some good points were made in here, like Jeff Van Gundy said the fans can help you throughout the stretch of the game, but they aren't going to bail you out if you play 45 minutes of bad basketball. It's an interesting read about our fans that attend the games, not all of them obviously but the majority. Also a question, what does it mean when they talk about the fans being there in the second quarter?
I know this thread is about the home crowd, but I just have to say how much respect I'm gaining for JVG. It's probably old news for Houston fans, but JVG is just saying the right things to his team. He keeps his team's focus on themselves, rather than what's going on around them. He's telling them how homecourt or no homecourt, what really counts is what the team does. Rocket's fans have to be happy with JVG.
Yeah...Van Gundy is the absolute man. He is 100% focus all of the time, and really any success we have is owed to the superior preparation he gives the players. Last night I really thought H-town was going to win - I was sure JVG would put the right players in at the right ime to make it happen. But, the players turned off the intensity and that has got to be killing Van Gundy. As far as home court goes...I think the Rockets fans in Houston are casual at best. On our sports radio shows, people will call in and talk about the pathetic last place Astros when the Rockets are playing awesome ball in the middle of an intense Interstate playoff matchup. I'll be at the game on Saturday...but if the reg season games hold any bearing ... The 'Library on LaBranch' nickname will undoubtedly hold up for the Toyo Center.
Another great JVG point was when he was asked if he has outcoached AJ, he said that it "ridiculous" and that he is trying to coach his team NOT against the other coach. You might say it was just coach-speak, but I happen to agree with him.
Yes our home crowd quite frankly, sucks!!!......I swear even when the rockets were going on their run last night, the crowd was quiet......let's return to our real home....American Airlines Center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes our home crowd quite frankly, sucks!!!......I swear even when the rockets were going on their run last night, the crowd was quiet......let's return to our real home....American Airlines Center.</div> That could be right. While the Rockets didn't exactly get a lot of support from the homecourt, you can't forget that Dallas was 29-12 on the road during the regular season. What the Rockets should do is just play their best every game, not just away ones because you want to prove the home crowd wrong for cheering against you.
They even suggested on the radio that we boo the rockets to encourage them...LOL........the Dallas fans make our home crowd look pathetic.
I usually end up being the only person in like a 10 seat radius that is actually cheering. Everyone else just lies around and drinks their beer. Thats it, they watcht the game with dead silence. This is an emotional team and i think we could be a deadly home team if our crowd just stepped it up a bit. All they ever get excited about is those t shirts tosses. Then the whole stadium is on their feet.
its not that the stadium is empty, its just hte lack of involvement the crowd brings, which is almost none. last time i went to the game it was me and 4 of my friends at the game on teh top level, and it seemed as if we were yellign chanting and cheering the rockets on more then all those other peopel who were in the stadium. alot of peopel attend, but whether or not they want ot get involved with it is on the fans. the staff of the stadium, the mascot, the announcer, the power dancers, almost eveyrone who works there, tries really hard to get the crowd into the game and its just not working. as funny as clutch the bear is nobody pays attention to him so its not the question about whether if the fans make to their seats at the start of the game or during second quarter, its just how much teh fans love the rockets, and by judging from what ive seen, all they are there for are free big macs.
Yep, I was at the last game agasint the Grizzlies, and i sat about 6 rows behind the goal, and I was on my feet pretty much the whole game going crazy, and some asshole actually told me to sit down. I don't know whats up with the houston fans.
I know what you mean about people asking you to sit down. Everytime the announcer says "Alright Houston it's time to get up and get loud for your Rockets!....I want everybody in the house up on their feet!" I stand up and clap, but I'd say 85% of the people in the section just sit there sitting on their hands like they're watching a movie or something. I actually feel guilty about it, which is totally wrong. I can tell people behind me get aggrovated sometimes, but it's not my fault that they aren't real fans. Something is definitely wrong with the crowds these days. I understood it when the Rockets were mediocre, such as last season when they finished 45-37, had some players that tended to make frustrating decisions both on and off the court, gave away a lot of close games, and just overall were hard to get behind 100%. That's not the case now though, and for some reason the fans don't realize it. The team we have now is a great group of guys that are full of heart and give their blood, sweat, and sometimes even tears to bring something special back to Houston. It just seems like we don't appreciate them, and by "we" I mean all the fair weather fans, who give "us" a bad name. All we can do as real fans is buy tickets, and tell other real fans to buy tickets, until the real fans have pushed out the majority of casual fans...the ones that should really be watching at home, where nobody cares if they are quiet. Anyway, I'll be at Game 4 tomorrow, standing some of the time, cheering most of the time, and believing all the time. Hopefully I'll get some help.
Its sad to know that our fans are so quiet.. I'm jealous to watch the nets-heat 3rd game where net's fans were so loud even though they're down 0-2 in the series.. And right now Phily is playing Detroit and their fans are also very loud... =(
Maybe it's just my strange personal preference, but I don't like fans like the ones in the pictures. They tend to be annoying and not necessarily the most educated fans. They might be good for making noise, but they get on my nerves. I don't have to paint my face and wear a colored wig to be louder than those guys. As a player, if I looked up and saw a fan dressed like that it would just distract me and probably take my mind off of the serious nature of the game. Is it just me?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sniper:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe it's just my strange personal preference, but I don't like fans like the ones in the pictures. They tend to be annoying and not necessarily the most educated fans.</div> Whoa be careful there. I myself am not the type of person that would paint my face or wear outrageous clothes. But I dont mind these type of fans. They bring energy, start chants, and are constantly cheering.(which is a problem for some Rockets fans) Im pretty sure it also makes the players feel good when they see what the fans are willing to do to support them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JuLiO-R-:</div><div class="quote_post">Im pretty sure it also makes the players feel good when they see what the fans are willing to do <u>to support them.</u></div> Or to get self-recognition, maybe get picked for some contest, win a prize, get an upgraded seat, at least get on TV... There are MANY reasons why people get "dressed up" and supporting the team is merely one of them.
To be honest, I don't care if the fans dress like that, they're the ones i've seen make the most noise, now whether they are "true fans" or just people who are dressing and acting like that to be seen on television or posted on the Rockets website, it doesn't bother me...I don't know that person, they're just doing the job that the true fans should be doing whether they are well educated or not. We want the crowd to make noise right? Well the ones that wear face paint, the ones that act like idiots are the ones that make the most noise. I don't think we should be picky about our crowd, we need as much as we can.
I agree with Dan Lee, as long as they make as much noise as the rockets need then it will be totally fine. Right now i think the oonly thing that can drive the crowd crazy is if we get a quick lead or make spectacular plays (hit consecutive threes or dunk on bradley again =) ).. Btw, are those supporters in pictures above were in the game thursday? Because i think usually if people dressed up like that it will attract TNT to shoot them but it didnt happen. If they weren't in the game then its useless cause we need them to cheer during the game..
