No need to panic........It's a very simple explanation

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Thats where we differ in opinions. I like the fact that he took some bad shots, believe it or not. With Tmac out, he has to score atleast 15-20pts a game. The fact that he tried to create his shots doesn't bother me.
</div>When a player needs 17 shots, including 8 three point attempts, to get to that 20, doesn't say anything to me. The fact that Yao Ming, the first option, took just 3 more shots than Anderson, tells me more. I watched the game too, and Anderson was trying too much to be something he isn't. With McGrady out, we don't need someone to take all of his shots. Anderson tried to do that with mixed results, but I had thought that it would be better for the shots to be spread around among every player instead of having just Anderson try to be McGrady here. He can't be at his best productivity in that role, and it has shown in the time that McGrady was out.

 

I am looking forward for Tmac to come back.. why?

1. defences will be forced spread out.. allowing others to take better shots
2. tmac will show the guys how to do a proper pick and roll with Yao
3. tmac will bring a little more confidence to the others
4. rafer will go back to what we got him for... to distribute the ball
5. we will have a 4th quarter closer now.
6. DA will go back to his normal role instead of taking the burden of Tmacs role.
7. Stability, since the other's got used to playing with Tmac instead of without him
8. Yao won't have so much of a scoring burden
9. Rockets are a better team now that they have played the last 3 games without him.

I am not worried.. the Rockets have been close in all their games.. unlike the Sonics ... we just need Tmac to get over that hump.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I can't believe what i'm reading, The team doesn't play well and first person you blame is Yao well excuse me but KG has great numbers but can't get his team to the playoffs does that mean he's crap? KB, LBJ and T-Mac in Orlando as well as others had the same story but are you saying that they're not that good?</div>

Umm I was responding to Rock's previous post that no one in the upcoming 8 or 9 games can stop Yao, which is a ludicrous statement at best. I'm not blaming Yao, in fact he played the best in these last few games, but I'm sick of people thinking he's an unstoppable bball god. If he can't put up monster numbers against PJ Brown or Battie, what makes you think he will against Duncan, the Wallace's or JO? If nobody can guard Yao, as Rock so often says, then his numbers should be way better, especially with TMac out.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Tell me which part I exaggerated. All I did was post some numbers up and clear concise facts. I could care less if he was aggressive, aggressiveness does jack when you don't have the soft touch or skills to finish around the basket such as someone like Iverson. I'll agree that he played with good energy, but he just forces up the shot way too much and isn't really that good of a shooter. Half the time he would drive into the lane with Mourning and Haslem there only to throw up a crazy shot. We could have a much more effective team if he would just differ it to someone else like Howard, Swift, or Yao in the low post since that's where our real strength lies but instead he forces up at least six shots which really take the team no where but a turnover. I don't know about Wesley starting, but I do know that Wesley made all his shots last night and was more effective than Anderson.</div>
He didn't force up 6 shots . Your talking about maybe 2 or 3 shots, and one was late in the game. The other two were with the shot clock running down. Being that we don't have our main playmaker, it's very common that people are put in awkward positions to make plays. With Tracy, those shots would go to him.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Thats bull. Let me paraphrase you. "Anyone can shoot twenty shots a game and score twenty points." Oh how quickly we forget. We have better options in my opinion than Anderson and passing the ball around to get everyone to score around ten points seems like a much better solution to me. No one other than Yao needs to score twenty plus points, if everyone does their job and provides us with about eight to ten points each we'll be fine.</div>
Simply basketball knowledge, that's all this is. I'm not praising Anderson's play, but I see positives in his energy. Without our star player, DA is the 2nd option. Unfortunatley, he's still getting used to that role. Your idea that "everybody can score 10pts and that's all" is unrealistic. The Rockets are fine. The only player I'm worried about is Wesley. If we had lost Tmac at the allstar break, we'd be winning these games. Give the players time to adjust, you guys are to critical so early

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Umm I was responding to Rock's previous post that no one in the upcoming 8 or 9 games can stop Yao, which is a ludicrous statement at best. I'm not blaming Yao, in fact he played the best in these last few games, but I'm sick of people thinking he's an unstoppable bball god. If he can't put up monster numbers against PJ Brown or Battie, what makes you think he will against Duncan, the Wallace's or JO? If nobody can guard Yao, as Rock so often says, then his numbers should be way better, especially with TMac out.</div>
Sorry for the double post, but you can't be serious. This is where you have lack of knowlegde. Whether Duncan, PJ Brown, Battie, BEN WALLACE, or JO, Yao has ALREADY dominated them before. Yao has bad games in which his energy and second effort is low. All Rocket fans know this. So it's times where he can't catch the ball, or even get a rebound. But as far as defenders, nobody can stop Yao one on one. I contribute Yao's bad games more on Yao than anything.

<font color=""Red"">Well, since you acknowledged its a double post, shouldn't you edit it in? - AznxBaller</font>

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He didn't force up 6 shots . Your talking about maybe 2 or 3 shots, and one was late in the game. The other two were with the shot clock running down. Being that we don't have our main playmaker, it's very common that people are put in awkward positions to make plays. With Tracy, those shots would go to him.</div>
Anderson's played what, four regular season games? Like you said, he isn't exactly familiar with the system so how's it possible that he's already put in an awkward position without McGrady? In fact, he should actually do well in this situation since its fairly similar to the one in Portland. All I know is that Anderson had around six shots that were not needed- Yao established low post, someone else open, or it was way too early in the shot clock.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Simply basketball knowledge, that's all this is. I'm not praising Anderson's play, but I see positives in his energy. Without our star player, DA is the 2nd option. Unfortunatley, he's still getting used to that role. Your idea that "everybody can score 10pts and that's all" is unrealistic. The Rockets are fine. The only player I'm worried about is Wesley. If we had lost Tmac at the allstar break, we'd be winning these games. Give the players time to adjust, you guys are to critical so early</div>
All what is? Your reasoning is really confusing. I see positives in Bowen's energy as well, does that mean thats really something that great? Without our star player, I think everyone should pick up the slack a bit to make sure it doesn't effect us that much. That reasoning isn't unrealistic at all. It happened two years ago with Hubie's Memphis Grizzlies when they really only had Gasol as the number one option with a fairly deep team who all could score. The Rockets will be fine, but not until players figure out everything on the team first. Still, does that mean I can't critique Anderson's game play? The "don't know the system" argument doesn't mean anything when he's not hitting open jumpers or not deferring it to Yao when he's on a pick and roll.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">According to you, no one can stop Yao.

The thing about DA is that I noticed he tended to force shots. While it's true that lack of chemistry caused it, DA forced a deep three with about 1:30 left, and put up some other shots which were questionable, especially with more than just a few ticks on the shot clock.

I'm not panicking at all because I was mentally prepared for it.</div>


Dictionary.com's definition of ustoppable:

Difficult or impossible to preclude or stop

Well now.

Game 1: 25:14Minutes, 10-16 FG, 10 Rebounds, 4 ASSISTS, & 1 blocked shot. 22 points total. Wow all in 25:14, look at each one!

Game 2: 36:37 Minutes, 8-22FG, 4-5FT, 14 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 7 BLOCKED SHOTS!, 20 points.

After the fight Yao went 0-7, before that he was 8-15. WOW LOOK AT THOSE REBOUNDS AND BLOCKS!

Game 3, Stevie: 5-6FT, a shoddy 4 Rebounds, 4 Blocked shots, 17 points. All players have there off nights. That night he was probably excited to meet Francis. Still 17 points and 4 rebounds is good.

Game 4: 33:19 Minutes, 10-20FG, 14 rebounds, 3 ASSISTS, 1 blocked shot and 24 points.

Wow. Hes averaged: 21PPG, 11 RPG, 2 APG, 3 BPG.

He improves every year. IF you have watched Yao closely, you would see that he is unstoppable when he calls for the ball. When they feed him the ball w/o him really calling for it (because he is tired) he usually cant finish the move and misses the shot.


i am not saying Yao is unstoppable, but he is getting DAMN WELL CLOSE.

 

I like what I've seen out of Yao so far this year...if he can get his FG percentage to improve, it will be his best season thus far.

 

From what I saw DA and Alston are coming in with their transition playmaking and that is at odds, not to mention too fast for the system that Jeff VG has set up going through Yao. HOwever, they are a decent team. Forget records. Houston are better than their record would indicate. Golden State are 4-2 and from what i've seen they look like a below 500 team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">From what I saw DA and Alston are coming in with their transition playmaking and that is at odds, not to mention too fast for the system that Jeff VG has set up going through Yao. HOwever, they are a decent team. Forget records. Houston are better than their record would indicate. Golden State are 4-2 and from what i've seen they look like a below 500 team.</div>

Houston is definitely better than their record, but they don't play well down the stretch in close games. Unfortunately, this appears to be carrying over from last year in the playoffs when Houston repeatedly blew strong leads in the 4th quarter. Yao gets tired and that ends up grinding the whole offense to a halt. It wouldn't be such a big deal if we could play good defense and rebound late in games, but for whatever reason that starts to break down as well. McGrady will help when he comes back, but I'm really starting to miss the playmaking, rebounding, and defense of Sura and James right about now.

 

It's simple..........We're missing our finisher. Tmac is the guy who takes over the game in the clutch. Without him, some relativley new players are forced to be in positions they might not be quite yet accustomed to. We're better than our record, and expect us to snap outta this little slump.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sorry for the double post, but you can't be serious. This is where you have lack of knowlegde. Whether Duncan, PJ Brown, Battie, BEN WALLACE, or JO, Yao has ALREADY dominated them before. Yao has bad games in which his energy and second effort is low. All Rocket fans know this. So it's times where he can't catch the ball, or even get a rebound. But as far as defenders, nobody can stop Yao one on one. I contribute Yao's bad games more on Yao than anything.</div>

I'll respnd to to what I understood from this unintelligent and unknowleadgeable post. First off, it's the NBA. It's not a one-on-one isolation street game. If it was, guys like Kobe, LBJ, VC, TMac, Pierce, KG, etc.,etc. would score on EVERY play. In fact mpst players in this league could break down even the best defenders one-on-one when they're on offense. That's why teams play TEAM defense with help and double teams. So congrats to Yao for being such an UNSTOPPABLE one-on-one player. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean Jack.

So just because Yao has one or two good games against these guys means he owns them? There's a reason why TD, KG, JO and Shaq are MVP candidates and Yao isn't. <strike>Honestly, I wonder if you know anything about bball at all...</strike>

So if Yao has a bad game it's his own fault and not because of the defender? Well, I'll agree with that, but he isn't unique in that aspect. Most players will have bad games once in awhile because of mental preparation.

I'll end off by asking this question: If Yao is so unstoppable, and all these elite players can't guard him, then he shouldn't he be averaging a lot more, be the outright MVP, and his team record higher than 1 and 3?

<font color="red">Personal attacks will not be tolerated. ~Locke</font>

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll end off by asking this question: If Yao is so unstoppable, and all these elite players can't guard him, then he shouldn't he be averaging a lot more, be the outright MVP, and his team record higher than 1 and 3?</div>I never said he was a MVP candidate, or the best player on the team. But he is easily the 2nd best center in the league. Yao can score at will, on ANYBODY. That's not the problem. The problem is he sometimes doesn't have enough energy to take more shots. So he can have 12pts against Ben Wallace, and he'll be like 5-7 from the field. That's not technically shutting anybody down. That pretty much sums up Yao's biggest weakness. But I think he's working on it.

By the way, did anybody mention that Yao is averaging 21pt and 10rebs this year (exactly my predictions in the Rocket forum) Hope he keeps up the good work.

 

Couldn't you say that strong, tough defense causes someone to play with less energy and aggresiveness? I'm sure that anybody who has ever played C or PF would agree that physical and great defense wears on you throughout the game. Having to fight on every possesion causes players like Yao to tire and lose the will to create every time down the court. I agree that Yao's main concern is probably a lack of energy and desire, but that is not all on him. Great defense causes those things to happen, so I think its really one-sided to say that he isnt being shut down. In fact, i would say that that is the definition of shutting down, since defense is about more than making a big play every possesion. It's about wearing down the offense every time down the court, and at this point in Yao's career it's happening to him a fair amount.

One more thing, if Yao could score at will, he would be getting the ball every time and he would be challenging Wilt's single game scoring record. Yao is without question an amazing talent, but NO player is unstoppable. Everybody overrates their favourite players, but you gotta be realistic and see that Yao isnt god.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">When a player needs 17 shots, including 8 three point attempts, to get to that 20, doesn't say anything to me. The fact that Yao Ming, the first option, took just 3 more shots than Anderson, tells me more. I watched the game too, and Anderson was trying too much to be something he isn't. With McGrady out, we don't need someone to take all of his shots. Anderson tried to do that with mixed results, but I had thought that it would be better for the shots to be spread around among every player instead of having just Anderson try to be McGrady here. He can't be at his best productivity in that role, and it has shown in the time that McGrady was out.</div>
lol........You guys are halarious. Your distaste for Derek Anderson becomes more obvious by the minute. Everybody on the team plays bad, and you seemed obsessed with DA's play. With Tmac out, we needed somebody to become a playmaker, so Anderson was forced to take shots that Tmac normally takes. How can you harp on Anderson's play, and give Wesley a pass. EVERYBODY in here knows Wesley has been TERRIBLE, yet you seem to downplay it, and overreact when players you don't personally like have played better.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys are halarious. Your distaste for Derek Anderson becomes more obvious by the minute. Everybody on the team plays bad, and you seemed obsessed with DA's play. With Tmac out, we needed somebody to become a playmaker, so Anderson was forced to take shots that Tmac normally takes. How can you harp on Anderson's play, and give Wesley a pass. EVERYBODY in here knows Wesley has been TERRIBLE, yet you seem to downplay it, and overreact when players you don't personally like have played better. </div>
Wesley didn't take 17 shots. The most he's taken was like six. Anderson isn't a playmaker, period, he should know that. The more he tries to be something he isn't, the more he's hurting this team. Instead, I think Anderson needs to pass the ball a bit more to say Yao or create shots for other players. Apparently, not "everybody" think Wesley is "terrible". False statement. I'd say he's mediocre, or maybe average. Right now its not like he's hurting the team, he doesn't take too many shots if his shot is off and his defense has been about average. Its true I don't like Anderson, but first of all, lets think about what reasons Anderson gives me which makes me not like him. Its not like I just don't like him as a person or anything, that would just be plan stupid.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Wesley didn't take 17 shots. The most he's taken was like six. Anderson isn't a playmaker, period, he should know that. The more he tries to be something he isn't, the more he's hurting this team. Instead, I think Anderson needs to pass the ball a bit more to say Yao or create shots for other players. Apparently, not "everybody" think Wesley is "terrible". False statement. I'd say he's mediocre, or maybe average. Right now its not like he's hurting the team, he doesn't take too many shots if his shot is off and his defense has been about average. Its true I don't like Anderson, but first of all, lets think about what reasons Anderson gives me which makes me not like him. Its not like I just don't like him as a person or anything, that would just be plan stupid.</div>
Anderson has been a playmaker in the past, why wouldn't he be now? He may not be as effective as Tmac, but he can breakdown the defense and get other guys involved. Your not being reasonable when you complain about his 17 shots. The guy is learning the system, and probably was told by coaches to be more aggressive with Tmac out. He had a bad shooting game, but we're going to need him to be aggressive like that in the future. Wesley on the other hand, can't even finish a simple lay up. The guy gets on the fast break and just doesn't finish easy baskets. When teams double off him, his only option is to throw up bricks, because if he tries to dribble he'll get the ball stolen. He's a one dimensional offensive player, vertically challenged, slow, and it seems his "GREAT" defense you and Locke vouched for in the offseason, doesn't exist anymore. Look for Anderson to have a breakout game any time now....................

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Anderson has been a playmaker in the past, why wouldn't he be now? He may not be as effective as Tmac, but he can breakdown the defense and get other guys involved. Your not being reasonable when you complain about his 17 shots. The guy is learning the system, and probably was told by coaches to be more aggressive with Tmac out. He had a bad shooting game, but we're going to need him to be aggressive like that in the future. Wesley on the other hand, can't even finish a simple lay up. The guy gets on the fast break and just doesn't finish easy baskets. When teams double off him, his only option is to throw up bricks, because if he tries to dribble he'll get the ball stolen. He's a one dimensional offensive player, vertically challenged, slow, and it seems his "GREAT" defense you and Locke vouched for in the offseason, doesn't exist anymore. Look for Anderson to have a breakout game any time now</div>
If he was a playmaker, Anderson certainly has lost it when he got to Houston. From what I've seen in his playing and the boxscore, his playmaking is seriously non evident. He's almost averaging just as much turnovers as assists and nothing really screams anything great about him. If he gets other guys involved, pray tell me why's he's only averaging 2.7 assists? Learning the system has nothing to do with how you shoot. You still retain your shot and your stroke so its not like you're losing anything. Until Van Gundy says to the media that he told Anderson to be more aggressive, I'll think otherwise. If its true Wesley can't finish a fast break, well then he won't. Instead, he'll be the player to pass it off back to the another for the assist. No big deal. His defense still exists, just not as great as it once was, but its not as bad as you make it seem. In fact, in the last game against the Celtics, he had three steals. Really says something doesn't it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">lol........You guys are halarious. Your distaste for Derek Anderson becomes more obvious by the minute. Everybody on the team plays bad, and you seemed obsessed with DA's play. With Tmac out, we needed somebody to become a playmaker, so Anderson was forced to take shots that Tmac normally takes. How can you harp on Anderson's play, and give Wesley a pass. EVERYBODY in here knows Wesley has been TERRIBLE, yet you seem to downplay it, and overreact when players you don't personally like have played better. </div>
Since when does playmaking involve taking shots? TMac was a playmaker not because he took a lot of shots, it's because he was able to spot other open shots and help others make plays. That's why Jason Kidd, Nash and Andre Miller are the top playmakers in the league. If you chuck a lot of shots, that's not playmaking, that's hogging the ball. Guys like McGrady and Kobe can do both effectively (ie, taking 20 shots but still getting 7 assists and getting other guys easy buckets). In that Miami game, all Anderson did was shoot. He didn't pass it off much, and he looked to shoot first before passing, unless it was a set play for Yao or anything. He also hasn't shown me that he can create for himself; most of his game is forcing up shots or driving to the lane and putting up an off balance shot.

Also, why are you still hating on Wesley? He's been solid for the past three games and I don't see the defensive deficiencies that you rave about. At least he's not hurting the team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Since when does playmaking involve taking shots? TMac was a playmaker not because he took a lot of shots, it's because he was able to spot other open shots and help others make plays. That's why Jason Kidd, Nash and Andre Miller are the top playmakers in the league. If you chuck a lot of shots, that's not playmaking, that's hogging the ball. Guys like McGrady and Kobe can do both effectively (ie, taking 20 shots but still getting 7 assists and getting other guys easy buckets). In that Miami game, all Anderson did was shoot. He didn't pass it off much, and he looked to shoot first before passing, unless it was a set play for Yao or anything. He also hasn't shown me that he can create for himself; most of his game is forcing up shots or driving to the lane and putting up an off balance shot..</div>
First off, your exaggeratin his shot selection. He did take some bad shots, but they were all at the end of the shot clock. Plus, on a Rocket team with no Mcgrady, he's the only one I feel can make a play on the perimiter with the shot clock running down. He has taken good shots, but he just isn't hitting them. You can't have it both ways. You want to exaggerate Anderson's play, even though he's learning the system. Then have the nerve to call Wesley's play "solid" when it's obvious to EVERYBODY the guy sux, and has been a HUGE dissappointment. I'm not worried about DA, he's going to have a very good year once he gets comfortable in the system. Will you say the same for Wesley?

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, why are you still hating on Wesley? He's been solid for the past three games and I don't see the defensive deficiencies that you rave about. At least he's not hurting the team.</div>
What team have you been watching????? Wesley has been blocked, stripped, and pushed to the ground MULTIPLE times. When our starters go out, he hasn't done anything. He had one decent game, but the rest have been TERRIBLE. A blind man can see that