Rockets 2009 Playoffs

[popanot]

Most of the time I feel the Yao bashing we hear a lot is unwarranted. However, I can certainly see why people get upset with him. Yes, he got into early foul trouble, but he played like a total wimp last night when he was in game and has got to be one of the weakest (especially in the hands) big men of all time. Get a frickin' contested rebound or hold onto the ball in traffic once in awhile, Jeezus! Adelman should have just left Landry in the game and only put Yao in to spell him when got tired.

I disagree the Rockets are outgunned by the Lakers. The Rockets problems were mostly self inflicted last night. The ~19 turnovers, missed FT's, and over-dribbing is what killed them - not LA's offense or overpowering play. They can let Kobe get his points, but they cannot let the others like Odom and Gasol get easy baskets. Yao was letting them do whatever they wanted to in the paint and was pretty much a stiff.

As a side note, not factoring in Kobe and Gasol/Yao and Artest, I'd take the Rockets roster over the Lakers roster. If the Rockets take care of the damn ball they have a good shot at beating the Lakers, IMO.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Most of the time I feel the Yao bashing we hear a lot is unwarranted. However, I can certainly see why people get upset with him. Yes, he got into early foul trouble, but he played like a total wimp last night when he was in game and has got to be one of the weakest (especially in the hands) big men of all time. Get a frickin' contested rebound or hold onto the ball in traffic once in awhile, Jeezus! Adelman should have just left Landry in the game and only put Yao in to spell him when got tired.

I disagree the Rockets are outgunned by the Lakers. The Rockets problems were mostly self inflicted last night. The ~19 turnovers, missed FT's, and over-dribbing is what killed them - not LA's offense or overpowering play. They can let Kobe get his points, but they cannot let the others like Odom and Gasol get easy baskets. Yao was letting them do whatever they wanted to in the paint and was pretty much a stiff.

As a side note, not factoring in Kobe and Gasol/Yao and Artest, I'd take the Rockets roster over the Lakers roster. If the Rockets take care of the damn ball they have a good shot at beating the Lakers, IMO.

That's the point. Kobe makes the difference. The Rockets only have one good one-on-one player and that is Yao and he is easy to deny and easy to double. That means the 4th quarter is spent with Aaron Brooks dribbling or Ron Artest shooting contested jumpers. Every once in a while it works (game 1), but you can't win 4 games like that.

The Lakers meanwhile just run their offense and if it doesn't work Kobe raises up for a 50/50 jumper over Battier or gets a teammate an open look. The Rockets may have the deeper roster (especially at PG) but it's irrelevant. They can't close because nobody on the roster creates shots. Maybe (and a big maybe) brooks in a year or two if he learns to stop dribbling so much and learns to run the pick and roll.

[HPF Bob]

Don't forget the NBA is a fixed league. It's going to a Kobe-LeBron final. That's what the suits want and the order has been passed down to the refs to make sure it happens.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Don't forget the NBA is a fixed league. It's going to a Kobe-LeBron final. That's what the suits want and the order has been passed down to the refs to make sure it happens.

I really wish the NBA suits would look at the census data from China...Yao in the finals would be the best worldwide rankings the NBA has ever seen.

[Joel]

i never thought i'd say this, but watching artest dribble in traffic makes me miss mcgrady.

ugh.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Joel

i never thought i'd say this, but watching artest dribble in traffic makes me miss mcgrady.

ugh.

i was thinking about that last night. Artest dribbling is like watching two fat people...well you know. He's just doesn't look graceful, or even athletic, when he's dribbling. He likes to dribble a lot and go nowhere while running out the shot clock slightly less than Mac. It's frustrating as hell, but at least he gives you consistent effort and defense...which is why i haven't gotten sick of him yet.

[papabear]

....oh and how is it possible that Joey Crawford still has a job, much less being assigned (rewarded) to playoff games. He freaking shoved a player last night. If a player, well most players, did that they would be suspended...Crawford will probably be calling games in the finals.