1. We were the LEAST talented team in the West side of the playoff bracket, and at least 6 of the Eastern Conference playoff teams were more talented as well. 2. We had one of the worst benches in the league, the only benches that were worse are teams that either sucked or had a great starting 5. 3. Defense carried this team. 4. Yao and Francis are the only players any other team would envy, that's the truth, they carried this team. 5. Contrary to popular belief Yao isn't ready to carry a team on his own, right now he's almost as good as Rik Smits and we can only hope he gets to be as good as Ewing. 6. Francis sacrificed his game for the good of the team and of Yao. 7. With all that said, considering the lack of talent on this Rocket team; Francis and Yao's season are severly underrated, especially Francis' since everyone has dogged him.
1. I'd say the Grizzlies are less talented than us but they do have a PG with better decision making skills. Name the 6 teams please that are more talented than the Rockets. 2. I agree. 3. I agree, though our offense could've been way better. 4. I agree. 5. I really hope he's not gonna be another Ewing. Another Kareem please. 6. Not that much. It just so happens also that Yao played more minutes this season, took 2 more shots, Francis took 2 less shots (big deal), Francis is still the leading field goal attempter in the team, and his ppg went down because his FG% went down also, not because he took a backseat to Yao. 7. I don't think Francis nor Yao had a bad season. Who said that? Though I must say, 40% FG shooting isn't really that great.
1. I agree, although not 6 teams in the East are better than us in terms of talent. 2. Agreed 3. Agreed, our team failed miserably when games were high-scoring. 4. True. 5. True. 6. He didn't choose to sacrifice it, he was forced to. 7. Yes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post"> 1. I'd say the Grizzlies are less talented than us but they do have a PG with better decision making skills. Name the 6 teams please that are more talented than the Rockets. 6. Not that much. It just so happens also that Yao played more minutes this season, took 2 more shots, Francis took 2 less shots (big deal), Francis is still the leading field goal attempter in the team, and his ppg went down because his FG% went down also, not because he took a backseat to Yao. </div> 1. The Grizzlies go 10 deep, the Rockets go 6 deep! The talent there is about 3 or 4 times better than the Rockets. The only dudes that would start on the Grizzlies that start on the Rockets are Francis and Yao, that's it! The only other one that would get a handful of minutes off the bench is Kelvin Cato, possibly Jim Jackson and Cutino Mobely, I guess. The other 6... Pacers, Pistons, Nets, Heat, are obvious choices, and the Hornets and Bucks are on par or not so far behind... 3. I'm surprised it was as good as it was, especially since Mo Taylor was the only guy who really did anything off the bench... 5. Kareem?? I wish! 6. Yao leads the team in field goal attempts per minute, if he would have played 40 like Francis he would of taken around 15 or so all the while cutting into Francis' shot total. The shots taken aren't the best measure, aside from cutting down his shots, he cutdown the quality of his shots because the offense doesn't really promote penetration which is a HUGE part of Francis' game. You should know how hard it is to create a good shot when the opponent knows you aren't going to drive on him because the offense won't allow it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RocketLaunch:</div><div class="quote_post">1. The Grizzlies go 10 deep, the Rockets go 6 deep! The talent there is about 3 or 4 times better than the Rockets. The only dudes that would start on the Grizzlies that start on the Rockets are Francis and Yao, that's it! The only other one that would get a handful of minutes off the bench is Kelvin Cato, possibly Jim Jackson and Cutino Mobely, I guess. The other 6... Pacers, Pistons, Nets, Heat, are obvious choices, and the Hornets and Bucks are on par or not so far behind... 3. I'm surprised it was as good as it was, especially since Mo Taylor was the only guy who really did anything off the bench... 5. Kareem?? I wish! 6. Yao leads the team in field goal attempts per minute, if he would have played 40 like Francis he would of taken around 15 or so all the while cutting into Francis' shot total. The shots taken aren't the best measure, aside from cutting down his shots, he cutdown the quality of his shots because the offense doesn't really promote penetration which is a HUGE part of Francis' game. You should know how hard it is to create a good shot when the opponent knows you aren't going to drive on him because the offense won't allow it.</div> 1. Miami Heat more talented than Rockets? Please do elaborate. 3. It was more because of JVG's defensive scheme than individual defensive talents that turned the Rockets into a good defensive team. 5. Read my other thread about Kareem wanting to teach Yao. 6. If you know the offense isn't made for penetration, which is a HUGE part of Francis' game like you said, then why would you want to keep Francis here and shoot 40%?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Miami Heat more talented than Rockets? Please do elaborate. 3. It was more because of JVG's defensive scheme than individual defensive talents that turned the Rockets into a good defensive team. 5. Read my other thread about Kareem wanting to teach Yao. 6. If you know the offense isn't made for penetration, which is a HUGE part of Francis' game like you said, then why would you want to keep Francis here and shoot 40%?</div> 1. Well, I said on par, still there starting 5 consists of 5 top 10 picks; Odom top 5, Grant top 10, Wade top 5, Jones top 5, Butler top 10. Again as is with most teams the only guys that would start on the Heat that start on the Rockets are Francis and Yao. There bench is pretty thin but still had more than one guy who contributed in Skip and Halsem, the other Butler wasn't that bad either. 3. Oh my bad, I was talking about their offense... True their defense was a team defense for the most part but it took a lot of individual effort, with a couple of guys earning some respect (votes) for the All-NBA Defensive teams, Francis and Cato. 5. I already did... 6. Cause he'll improve, he was adjusting and getting better as the season wore on and I think he'll be better next season... Don't forget his injuries either, he's a pretty decent 3 point shooter but his wrist and elbow effected that big time... If he doesn't improve, he's screwed...
1. The title "Top 10 picks" don't mean crap. Look at Olowokandi, nuff said. Also, you said the Heat are "obvious". Nice cover up though, I still don't think Miami's talent is better than the Rockets. 3. Ok. 5. Kareem is better than Ewing. Why would you want Yao to be like Ewing and not Kareem who's clearly more dominating than Ewing? 6. Improve on what? Penetrating? Why should he improve on penetrating if the offense isn't made for him to do so? If you're talking about improving on shooting, why would you want him to improve on that when you can get other players who are clearly better shooters already?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">1. The title "Top 10 picks" don't mean crap. Look at Olowokandi, nuff said. Also, you said the Heat are "obvious". Nice cover up though, I still don't think Miami's talent is better than the Rockets. 3. Ok. 5. Kareem is better than Ewing. Why would you want Yao to be like Ewing and not Kareem who's clearly more dominating than Ewing? 6. Improve on what? Penetrating? Why should he improve on penetrating if the offense isn't made for him to do so? If you're talking about improving on shooting, why would you want him to improve on that when you can get other players who are clearly better shooters already?</div> 1. Well all of those top 10 picks have played or are playing like top 10 picks, not like the Kandi man. That's fine, but again only 2 of the Rockets starters would move into their starting line up, and their bench is about as bad as ours, how is that more talented? 5. I'm hoping for Ewing because as of right now Yao's as good as Rik Smits, if he gets to be as good as Kareem that would be a dream though... 6. Improve on fitting his talents into the Rocket's current system, if Jordan and Kobe could fit their talents into the triangle offense, Francis should find a way to fit his into this one. Of course I'm not saying he's going to have as much success as those 2 other guys but he can improve...
