The streak was great but it cost us too much...

McTracy · Post #1 » by **McTracy** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:23 am

Hi guys, I haven't posted here for a long time but after last two games I decidec to make this (pretty good) for me thread. Well of course the game against Boston was really bad but let's face it - the streak just had to end, we didn't know when. The way we lost was horrible but it wasn't time to panic.

And after NO game I realized one thing, that's why we are losing. The 1st half (especially start of the game) was really good. We played defense, we were agressive and everything worked pretty well. And than since the 3rd (even 4th) it became a disaster. We played no defense, no one was able to knock down shoots, we had no energy.

It is easy, man we are TIRED. The streak of 22 wins in a row was a really great expirence but right now we can feel the results, it costed us way too much. I mean it took a lot of energy from our players. Everybody has tired legs, we are not explosive and we have no enegry. A lot of people are blaming only T-Mac but no it is the WHOLE team. In the 1st half (last 2 games) we played pretty well cause we were pretty fresh. But then after 24 minutes legs were tired agan and we just lost everything.

Look at our offense, we can score only 70 points and it all starts in the 2nd half. Guys can't play well defnsivly, no one is able to knock down outside shoots. It is not only T-Mac's fault, before that he had been playing really well. Right now it is just all about fatigue. It would be perfect to have 3-4 days off - hell we play agan back2back games against Suns and GSW. It would be tough, cause we need to be fresh.

And that's why McGrady is not explosive, he can't make any jumpers. Tired legs...

grond · Post #2 » by **grond** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:06 am

Yeah, they looked somewhat tired. And T-Mac looked very tired. The injury to Landry has a lot to do with it, since, in addition to being an extra body, he's one of our big energy players off the bench. Also, he essentially replaces all of Chuck Hayes' minutes which lessens the strain on T-Mac since it becomes a lot more difficult to double him with impunity. If he ever comes back we'll be in much better shape (damn you Keith Jones, damn you all to hell!!)

Also, it looks to me like Adelman's shortened the rotation a little, with significantly less minutes for Head/Novak. I thought those guys did a good job in their limited minutes of bringing some energy and instant offense. If they're used on the floor with Deke backing them up, maybe their defensive problems can be covered a little.

Um, but for the record, i wouldn't take back a game of the 22 game streak. Good times all round.

McTracy · Post #3 » by **McTracy** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:21 am

grond wrote:Yeah, they looked somewhat tired. And T-Mac looked very tired. The injury to Landry has a lot to do with it, since, in addition to being an extra body, he's one of our big energy players off the bench. Also, he essentially replaces all of Chuck Hayes' minutes which lessens the strain on T-Mac since it becomes a lot more difficult to double him with impunity. If he ever comes back we'll be in much better shape (damn you Keith Jones, damn you all to hell!!)

Also, it looks to me like Adelman's shortened the rotation a little, with significantly less minutes for Head/Novak. I thought those guys did a good job in their limited minutes of bringing some energy and instant offense. If they're used on the floor with Deke backing them up, maybe their defensive problems can be covered a little.

Um, but for the record, i wouldn't take back a game of the 22 game streak. Good times all round.

It is easy to double Tracy now cause nobody can make even open shoot. Tired legs and what's more our schedule is so tough. We don't have time to rest...

Shabi__5 · Post #4 » by **Shabi__5** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:47 am

The main reason we lost these 2 games it's how they were playing the pick n roll on T-Mac.
They are not even guarding the roller and forcing T-Mac to give the ball early.
T-Mac is exhausted and is not creating enough and seeing him drive to the basket his rare these last 3 games.
IMO this tired stuff with all of our players it's more mentally than physically , we had many blowout in the winning streak and a lot of home games we had plenty of time to rest.
It's all mental , we will be aluirght eventually I am not worried , after a high comes a low , then we will be on a high again just before the playoffs.

jove9 · Post #5 » by **jove9** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:07 pm

I don't know if I'd blame the streak for being tired; I'd blame LACK OF SLEEP for being tired. Remember, the Rockets got to NO late (about 3 am).

We could have lost 22 in a row, and the team still would have been tired against NO.

EDIT: Bonzi had something to do with that loss also. Streak or no streak, Bonzi would have killed us.

Rocketz973 · Post #6 » by **Rocketz973** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:49 pm

Every team plays the same schedule we do...so every team is tired. I wouldn't consider the streak costly...especially after it got us in the playoff hunt...we're just in a little slump. A slump we need to quickly get out of. (Spurs lost 4 in a row)

The Lakers lost 4 of their next 6 games after their 33 game win streak was snapped. They went on to win the chip. Not saying i think the same will happen with us but i still believe in this team.

I think we will get back in the groove come Friday.

McTracy · Post #7 » by **McTracy** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:03 pm

Rocketz973 wrote:Every team plays the same schedule we do...so every team is tired. I wouldn't consider the streak costly...especially after it got us in the playoff hunt...we're just in a little slump. A slump we need to quickly get out of. (Spurs lost 4 in a row)

The Lakers lost 4 of their next 6 games after their 33 game win streak was snapped. They went on to win the chip. Not saying i think the same will happen with us but i still believe in this team.

I think we will get back in the groove come Friday.

I really hope you are right

And it needs to stert from McGrady. He needs to come to the court 30 min earlier and he needs to practice his 3s, jumpers especially and free throws, just like he did in the past

Chubby Chaser · Post #8 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:39 pm

You guys should be real here. There is nothing bad that came from you guys going on a 22 game winning streak. Especially continuing to do so after Yao got hurt. Looking at it in any other way is just looking at the glass half empty. You guys won 22 games. Enjoy it. I would as a laker fan. I'd be ecstatic with a 2 game winning streak with Pau and Bynum being out.

Iggyemu · Post #9 » by **Iggyemu** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:45 pm

We went from 10th to 1st. The streak was great period.

BaYBaller · Post #10 » by **BaYBaller** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:55 pm

The lost to Landry has been the had the biggest impact on the offense so far (outside of the loss of Yao obviously). Since Landry went down our offense has struggled because we've become too reliant on the outside shot. This has allowed teams to overplay on the perimeter, and do things like coming out hard on T-Mac from PnRs. Landry changes all of that.

The fact of the matter is as great as they are defensively, you're not going to have a good offense with Deke and Hayes out on the floor together.

Texas Longhorns · Post #11 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:43 pm

I think our "tired" players will get some rest in these coming weeks. We only have 3 back-to-back's left including the one this week. I think we will have plenty of rest before the playoffs.

kevC · Post #12 » by **kevC** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14 pm

The past tense of "cost" is "cost".

McTracy · Post #13 » by **McTracy** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:47 pm

kevC wrote:The past tense of "cost" is "cost".

hahahah i wrote costed. Wow i can't belive

Sorry

KaZiSaiZ · Post #14 » by **KaZiSaiZ** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:24 pm

our team needs a good 3-4 day break from action...... get re energized

KaZiSaiZ · Post #15 » by **KaZiSaiZ** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:34 pm

lol @ costed haha

DEEP3CL · Post #16 » by **DEEP3CL** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:39 pm

Man that streak propelled your team to a playoff spot where as before the Rockets were in danger of probably not making the playoffs. While it was draining and emotional a couple of days off should do the Rockets some good.

Iggyemu · Post #17 » by **Iggyemu** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:35 am

DEEP3CL wrote:Man that streak propelled your team to a playoff spot where as before the Rockets were in danger of probably not making the playoffs. While it was draining and emotional a couple of days off should do the Rockets some good.

Yea dude we got a ton of fans that lose sight of the big picture around these parts. After you lose for the first time in a long time there is a let down factor...mostly b/c you are recovering mentally from carrying something so great for so long. If the Rockets aren't back to themselves by the Kings game I would hit the panic button.

tha_rock220 · Post #18 » by **tha_rock220** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:41 am

ummm that streak is why the Rockets are back in the playoffs. if someone wants to say they took too much out of themselves winning 22 in a row needs to think about what they're saying. the rockets put themselves in a hole by starting the season so poorly, and if they had to wear themselves out to make up for it then so be it.

Post #19 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:44 am

How did it cost us too much?

We came from freaking tenth to first place. Anything less than a 22 game winning streak, we might be right with there 2-3 games of falling out of the playoffs or even out of it completely.

A.J. · Post #20 » by **A.J.** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:46 am

can someone explain to me how the streak costed too much?