Comments on: Rockets’ season ends in heartbreaking Game 7

By: Arlovski

Arlovski — Tue, 08 May 2007 00:47:17 +0000

JVG can stay only if he changes his offensive scheme. He needs to play 5 on 5 as opposed to 2 on 5. With 2 on 5, the utility of the role players are diminished and fatigue comes into play for both Yao and TMAC. With 2 on 5, defense is a lot easier. Just concentrate on the two superstars and that’s all. I dont think there is need for any roster change. Depth can be prepared by playing the bench players more mins during regular season in garbage mins. Mid-range jumpers should be employed as opposed to strictly inside or 3-point.

Maybe Rick Carlisle is a good fit. Billups would be a good fit as he is an excellent half court point guard.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 07 May 2007 15:01:50 +0000

I am just as disappointed as everyone else about the lost to Utah. I also agree that the Rockets need to get a better coach and a point guard to move to the next level. We need to trade for superstar point guard or try our luck with getting a rookie point guard from college. Yao and T-Mac are both superstars, but they don’t have the confidence when it comes to playoff time. That is why they need a championship experienced coach that can take them to the next level. It was tough to watch the series between Utah and Rockets because Utah knew exactly how to stop Yao. It’s like the saying in Dragon: Bruce Lee story ” I read you book, I know all of your moves.” It seems that Okur and Boozer read the Yao’s playbook and could tell his every move. The rockets right now are like the Kobe and Shaq Lakers before Phil Jackson came to town. They have talent, but don’t know what to do with it. Yao has about 3-5 more years to win a Championship considering that he’s already 27. He needs to create a new arsenal of moves other than the fade away jumper. He need to develop his hook shot or take it strong to the hoop for dunks. He can also be a three point shooting threat like Okur if given the chance. I was hoping that JVG would design a play in Game 7 that would allow Yao to do the pick and roll for Tmax on the Three point line and Tmac would set Yao up for some three pointers. I don’t understand why Yao can’t be a three point shooting threat like Dirk or Okur since he has a soft touch on his shots. Yao needs to become an unstoppable force both on the low post and out on the perimeter that way the defenders are always on their toes. I’m looking forward to see Yi Jian Lian come into the NBA, but don’t think that the rockets are going to trade for him.

By: ruth o.l

ruth o.l — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:36:23 +0000

hello rockets players,
this was a very sad ending to a great year. I would like to thank each one of the players for an exciting year. I know you guys are a great team and play well together, however I was very disappointed when we lost against utah. Even though the season is over I will continue to support the rockets , see ya in 2007-2008 season.

By: Soap

Soap — Mon, 07 May 2007 00:47:29 +0000

A few years ago in the finals the Lakers were annihilated by the Pistons. The Lakers had Shaq and Kobe, and almost everyone expected them to win. Well, they didn’t happen. The Pistons, a much more athletic team, simply outworked and and outrun the Lakers, winning in a relatively easy fashion.

The Rox and the Jazz were 4 and 5 seeds. They were evenly matched, and they were only 1 game apart in the win column. What made a difference in Game 7 was the athleticism and the reserves that the Jazz had over the Rox. As Steve Kerr wrote in his today’s column, the game has changed in the last 5 years with the implementation of Zone Defense and the removal of Hand Checking. As a result, the low post guys like Shaq and Yao don’t post threat as much as they used to be, and offense is often initiated by guards. All the elite teams have guards who can penetrate and break down the defense. In the Rox team, only T-Mac can do that and he doesn’t do it nearly enough. Besides, he can’t possibly do everything himself.

In order to reach the next level, the Rox management has to rethink its approach of building the team. In the old era, 3-point shooting and defense won championship. Not anymore. Not with the new rules. Yao and Tmac need help.

By: James Lee

James Lee — Sun, 06 May 2007 22:31:38 +0000

Boozer won the game for the Jazz pure and simple

So it’s simply amazing to me that in all 7 games, JVG never did any thing to change !!!!

If it’s broke , fix it moron !!!

Now go into the sunset and take that grumpy, sullen, unhappy face with you !!!

By: Wilson.

Wilson. — Sun, 06 May 2007 20:33:06 +0000

You need more than 2 players to win championships in the NBA!!!

Remember when Kobe and Shaq lost all those playoffs games before Phil Jackson came to coach the Lakers???

The Rockets should keep Yao Ming and TMac and hire a championship coach…maybe Rudy T.!!!

Also, try to get Jason Kidd or KG!!!

By: monster

monster — Sun, 06 May 2007 17:29:05 +0000

On the Rockets losing the 1st round again all I have to say is that JVG system does not have a future in today’s league. He is terribly incompetent at offense. His defense is full of holes that he is counting on effort alone to mend. In this 7 game series he elevated Boozer from an all star to a super star. He does not like zone defense because he does not know how to implement one when his career depends on it. You don’t have to be a zone defense only team. But when needed you will have to do whatever that works to get your defensive stops. I bet JVG is still privately blaming Yao for not being able to stop Boozer. Looking at how much help Okur is getting to slow down Yao, you get a sense that JVG does not have a clue how to slow down Boozer. I am no fan of Sloan. But I think Sloan is better at both O and D than Van Gundy. Neither will have success other than getting to playoffs.

By: monster

monster — Sun, 06 May 2007 17:11:09 +0000

I agree that the league finally got what it wanted - high flying offense. After all NBA is a business. What make sense in terms of profitability will be the rule. All the rule changes are all about profitability.

For teams that wanted to play small they will need all star point guards and athletic players that can run. That can be their biggest weakness too. Take Nash out of the Suns they are just about average among the top 10 teams. Take Davis out of the Golden State they have no chance to beat any playoff teams. I think the league, at some point, will have to seek some balance. It is in danger of getting people tired of reckless small ball in a few year. After too much chaos fans will want see more organized play.

Having said that I do believe the era of Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Van Gundy is over. The Mavs are the only team that can play both half court and run and gun. Unfortunately, they not super good at either. I think the future belongs to teams that are balanced at small and half court games. The Spurs are in the middle of that transition. The Pistons are somewhat playing that style. I will bet that the Pistons will beat the Suns in 7. Pure small ball will win games but not championships.

By: Kramer76

Kramer76 — Sun, 06 May 2007 12:24:33 +0000

I highly doubt that the “defense wins championships” mantra will change.

In Game 7, the Houston defense collapsed. I vaguely remember something like 55-65% FG in the first half and it dipping to about 50 by the end of the game.

For one of the league’s better defensive teams, Houston simply did not get the job done. And if you think the Spurs will lose that easily to the Suns, I would just say that Denver had similar scoring firepower ( barring 3 point shooting ) and lost 4-1. As for fearing the Warriors for the next several years… I wouldn’t be so sure considering our luck the past decade or so.

I completely agree with what you said about the bench. Houston can win with Tmac and Yao both on the floor playing their best ball. But how can you expect them to keep producing when Yao has to contest every single one of Boozer’s jumpers and William’s drives and Tmac gets doubled every possession by different combinations? Only Battier and Alston, a big maybe, are worth resigning after tonight’s performance.

I just think that Houston had too many injuries this year to really develop a deep bench. Stars will get their minutes.. but the bench needs some playing time too. If Houston stays healthy next year and can develop its bench some more, we might see a different team…