Steve Francis: From NBA baller to mic balla

Steve Francis, the former three-time All-Star point guard and co-Rookie of the Year who spent 1999-2004 and 2007-2009 with the Rockets, must be REALLY bored. After a nice NBA career that saw him average 19 points, 6.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds in the red silver – ultimately being honored as one of five Rockets for the organization’s Team of the Decade (2000s) – “Stevie Franchise” has pretty much stayed on the low, residing in Houston and showing up at  Rockets game every now and then.

Little did we know he was spending some time in the studio as well.

Wednesday, Francis’ hip hop debut – “Finer Things” – was released. Widely panned and mocked, it did not exactly take the world by storm. But don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself:

Oh, well. What can you do, right? Atleast Rockets fans will always have this:

Does Marcus Morris fit into the Rockets' plans? After his rookie season, the jury is still out.

BY: KYLE ADAMS

SPACECITYSCOOP.COM

TWITTER: @KYLE0788

If you would have told me before the season started that the Rockets’ second- round pick from 2011, Chandler Parsons, would play in 63 games and start 57 of them, I wouldn’t have believe it.

If you would have told me before the season the Rockets’ first-round pick and 14th overall selection Marcus Morris would only play in 16 games the entire season, I would think you were insane.

But that’s exactly what happened this season. Morris started the season on the Rockets’ bench, but on January 2, and only three games into it, he was sent down to Rio Grande Valley of the D-League. In his first game in the D-League on January 6, Morris recorded 33 points and 16 rebounds. He played in 11 games, started nine of them, and averaged 22 points and 8 rebounds in 30 minutes a game. Morris returned to the Rockets on January 16, but did not see any playing time and was reassigned to Rio Grande Valley on February 3. The former University of Kansas star had three double-doubles, scored more than 30 points three times, and had more than 15 rebounds twice. After putting up huge numbers in the D-League, he returned to the Rockets again on February 20 and will finish the season with the team on Thursday against the Hornets.

After his stellar play in the D-League, most people expected to see first-year head coach Kevin McHale give Morris a legitimate shot at cracking the rotation. Not the case. McHale only played Morris sparingly, mostly for a few minutes early in the second quarter or in garbage time. He’s only hit double-digit minutes twice in a game, with the most being 16.

Giving a top pick inconsistent playing time, and sending him down to the minors more than once, is not the way to develop a rookie. It could affect his confidence and backfire in a significant way. I understand that the Rockets are deep at the forward spot, but Chase Budinger is most likely not in the Rockets’ future plans. It would have made sense for the Rockets to trade Budinger at the deadline and fill his spot with Morris, who boasts versatility and deft offensive game that Budinger lacks.

When Morris was drafted, people used the word “tweener” to describe his style of play. It’s much more of a backhanded compliment, essentially saying that Morris is not big enough to play power forward and not quick enough to play small forward. I think it’s safe to say, after watching Morris play in the NBA, he is going to be a small forward. He is a poor man’s Carmelo Anthony. He has a nice touch with his shot, can shoot the jumper, and can fadeaway if he has to. He struggles from deep, but so did Anthony when he was a rookie. I think with hard work in the offseason, Morris can develop his range. He also has a similar post-up game to Anthony. He can back you down and shoot over the top, or spin off you and lay it in. He can also slash to the basket at times. He is a decent free throw shooter.

The biggest thing he struggles with is his defense, which also reminds me of Anthony. He isn’t the most gifted athlete, but he should be able to defend better than he does. He needs to give more of an effort on defense and spend most of his time working on it in the offseason. I’m not completely sure if he fits in with the Rockets and their future, only because we haven’t seen enough to judge. He only averages 6.5 minutes a game. If the Rockets get a deal that blows them away, I think they would part with Morris, if it’s for a star player or to move up in the draft and potentially draft a future star.

What the Rockets should do is part with Budinger, and give his job to Morris next season. Have him back up Parsons, which could be a great one-two punch. Parsons plays great defense, and Morris could come off the bench and replace him with a potentially great offensive game. McHale needs to put more trust into him. If you give him consistent minutes, he could gain confidence, and the Marcus Morris that we thought the Rockets drafted could appear. It would be idiotic to draft a guy first overall and not give him a legitimate shot before moving him. The Rockets should see what they’ve got first.

Is he the next Carmelo Anthony? Maybe. Maybe not. But you won’t know unless you give him an opportunity.

After being in 6th in the West just a few weeks ago, Goran Dragic and the Houston Rockets cemented their fate Sunday with their loss in Miami and will miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

The nail was finally drilled into the coffin on Sunday. Needing nothing short of a miracle (winning their final two games, Utah losing both of its two, and Phoenix splitting its two), the Rockets could have extended their season for at least a few more days when they visited Miami to play the Heat, who were without Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Instead, Miami posted a 93-85 comeback win in spite of falling behind by 13 in the first half and trailing by 6 with 6:31 left, putting the Rockets’ season out of its misery for good.

In what has been par for the course during this horrific skid in which they’ve dropped seven of eight games and fallen from 6th to 10th in the West in a matter of weeks, the Rockets – again – collapsed. Terribly. They were outscored 31-19 in the final stanza, falling prey to LeBron James and a cast of has-beens and wanna-bes. It was the kind of year in which a second-round draft pick, Chandler Parsons, paced the Rockets in a do-or-die game. Fitting, no? Parsons posted a career-high 23 points and played admirable defense on James for most of the game, drawing incredulous praise from the Heat television broadcasters. But it was not enough; ironically enough, Parsons was the lone highlight in the game, just as he was one of few this season. The Rockets shot 46 percent to Miami’s 41 percent; however, the Heat had a distinct advantage in free throws made (22-11) and outrebounded Houston 48-37, including 17-7 on the offensive glass. Same story, different chapter.

So, Houston will once again be watching the playoffs from home, likely ending up – again – 9th in the West, which is good, but not good enough. The mediocrity continues as they will miss the postseason for the third straight year in spite of boasting a record of at least .500. Yes, 2012 goes down as yet another failed try with owner Leslie Alexander’s ill-fated “rebuilding without tanking” premise, in which hopes of keeping the Rockets competitive means keeping fannies in the seats. Just for Mr. Alexander’s knowledge, the Rockets’ ranking in the NBA in attendance the last few years: 22nd this year, 20th in 2010-11, 19th in 2009-10. He’s not even fooling the lukewarm fanbase. So as Rockets fans look to point fingers for blame, the primary culprit is Alexander, not Morey. Not even coach Kevin McHale’s laughable rotations or shoddy knowledge of X’s and O’s can be pointed at. The failure of this season starts and begins with Alexander, who refuses to do the only sensible thing, getting better sooner than later by bottoming out and starting from scratch, which, really, would allow Morey to do what he does best: build a team at a sensible cost.

The issues for the Rockets are pretty much the same as they were when this season started, meaning little was done to actually address the needs. There remains no true go-to offensive player, a lack of interior scoring, shoddy rebounding and porous frontcourt defense. This year’s version was the epitome of mediocre: 13th in offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) and 17th in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). And you get the feeling the team realized their ultimate fate even before the Miami game, when two of its top perimeter threats in Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry were declared out for the rest of this season. Certainly that gave a good indication of where the thinking was amongst the Rockets’ braintrust.

So where do we go from here? Well, with only one game remaining against New Orleans at home on Thursday, the Rockets will begin looking toward the future. Marcus Camby and Goran Dragic will be unrestricted free agents. Courtney Lee will be a restricted free agent. The futures of Luis Scola and Martin in the red and silver have never been more uncertain. McHale will be closely scrutinized. As talented of a motivator as he is, he failed remarkably in preparation down the stretch, never making the adequate adjustments (or adjustments at all) and showing poor handling of his rotations.

There is a common thinking that this summer is the year the Rockets will finally do something with all of their acquired assets and acquire that star players they so desperately need. The most popular names floating around are Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Eric Gordon. The team will have two picks in the middle of the first round. Options are available for Houston. Rockets fans have said the last few summers have been the most important for the franchise, only to be let down with the lack of activity, or, more importantly, the lack or urgency. But with the Rockets again having failed for the playoffs, and with this bitter end to the season in which they were charging for homecourt advantage through the first round of the playoffs just a few weeks ago, it can be assumed that GM Daryl Morey will act once and for all.

One can only hope.

Rockets fans: What would you like to see done this summer? Which direction should the team go, and how would you want this team to look next season? Do you fire McHale? Should Morey be gone? Should Scola and Martin be traded? Should Lowry be gone as well? What do you think?

Patrick Patterson and the Houston Rockets failed to secure their playoff berth,

BY: MICHAEL GUTIERREZ

SPACECITYSCOOP.COM

TWITTER: @MG_713 

In an unbelievable turn of events, immediately after a four-game road winning streak, the Houston Rockets lost six straight games, all but crushing their playoff hopes.

Let’s take a closer look at each game to find the cause of the Rockets’ (32-31) abrupt fall from 6^th in the West to 10^th over a matter of a little more than a week.

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Vs. Utah (103-91): This game was actually pretty interesting. Although Utah would win by a twelve-point margin, there was never any breakout quarter for either team. Instead, the Jazz won each of the first three quarters, but never by more than six points. The Rockets actually won the fourth quarter by a point (which was too little, too late). Also, surprisingly, the Rockets totaled more rebounds (with 46), while pulling in seven more offensive boards than the Jazz (42 total). Add that to the fact the Rockets had three fewer turnovers (8) and only two fewer assists (17), the loss ultimately boils down to a mixture of an inability to keep their opponent under 100 points (will get back to this), and lack of shooting efficiency.

Houston put up nine more field goal attempts than Utah; however, the Jazz were able to convert on 40 to the Rockets’ 31. Even more ugly, Houston went 4-for-20 beyond the arc, with an atrocious .200 3-point percentage on the night. On the other side, the Jazz connected on 6-for-14 from distance, posting a respectable .429 average. The key evidence being shown by the Effective Field Goal Percentage (this statistic adjusts for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth one more point than a 2-point field goal), where the Jazz finished .172 higher than the Rockets. Even more, Utah’s offensive rating was 13.4 points higher, giving one answer to why this game swayed in Utah’s direction.

The other answer came on the defensive end, where Houston is 9-23 when its opponents score over 100 points.

Vs. Phoenix (112-105): This matchup mimicked the Utah game in several ways, but had a new twist to it. The Rockets won the first and fourth quarters by 12 points combined, but a new third quarter swoon had presented itself. Going into the half, Houston held a four-point lead before the Suns came to life, outscoring the cold Rockets by 16 points in the third. In this case, Houston was outrebounded on the defensive end (by nine), but, again, won on the offensive side (by four).

However, it would be on the offensive side of the court where the Rockets would struggle yet again. Starters Courtney Lee and Chandler Parsons finished the game with horrendous offensive ratings; Parsons would have a team low (at 62) and Lee was hardly better (69).

The Suns just flat-out shot better than the Rockets in every way. They recorded a higher True Shooting Percentage (with a .079 differential) and Effective Field Goal Percentage (.093). From beyond the arc, it would be more of the same, as Houston went 4-for-19 with a .211 percentage. Shooting efficiency, again, being Houston’s Achilles’ heel, with the Suns going 8-for-18 from three-point land (.444).

Although a different game, it was the same result as the Rockets yielded another 100-point game.

Vs. Denver (101-98): Right off the bat, Houston came out looking for redemption, heading into the half with a six-point lead. Then, the dreaded third quarter did its job in being a sand trap for the Rockets. In almost identical fashion to the Phoenix game, the Nuggets pulled away in the third, going on a 37-point uproar, only to be matched by a low 19 points on the Rockets’ behalf. Again, the Rockets put up more shots (going 32 of 87), while connecting less than the Nuggets (41 of 83).

They would also have the same outcome of racking up more offensive boards (by three), but slightly losing the total rebound battle (by four).

Houston, being in a slump, continued to post lower shooting numbers than its opponent. While connecting from behind the arc was in the Rockets’ favor (by .135), overall, they still scored lower in both True Shooting Percentage (.098) and Effective Field Goal Percentage (.093). The poor shooting and 10 fewer assists were due to the Rockets’ inability to put the ball in the basket (most often a result of lack of ball movement), as Denver poured in another 100-point game.

Vs. Denver (105-102): If you haven’t figured the common denominator yet, this game might help you out a little bit. After Houston stole the first quarter by 11 points, Denver took the next three quarters to close the game. Care to take a guess which quarter was lost by the highest margin? Yes, it was the third.

Getting back to similarities, rebounding was roughly in the same territory as the other losses, but this time the Rockets (with 48 total) held the slight edge over the Nuggets (41). Despite the end result being a loss, somehow, the Rockets won the turnover battle as well. With only one fewer assist and fourteen fewer shot attempts, the Rockets were able to hang in this game, as opposed to the previous game against Denver. However, the lack of ability to connect from the 3-point line (.276 percentage) was enough cause for a fourth straight loss.

Vs. Dallas (117-110): Finally, we have a turn of events. Both quarters in the first half finished even, and it was the Rockets who grasped the lead (by six points) going into the fourth. Unfortunately, the Mavs, as they always do, went on to secure a victory over the Rockets, winning the final quarter by 13 points.

As stated before, this loss had some turns compared to the previous. When looking for the difference maker, you won’t find it in shooting efficiency. Rather, you’ll need to take a peak at the lack of a bench and inability to get to the free-throw line.

The Rockets’ bench was beyond awful, with every player having a negative plus/minus.  The secondary squad of Chase Budinger (-14), Patrick Patterson (-11), Kyle Lowry (-17), and Samuel Dalembert (-4) was vastly outplayed by a Dallas’ bench including Jason Terry (+14), Vince Carter (+20), Brandan Wright (+7), Ian Mahinmi (+9) and Rodrigue Beaubois (+5).

Houston, also, was not able to keep Dallas from the foul line, totaling 11 fewer free-throw attempts. No doubt, losing 12 points at the stripe was just too much for the Rockets to overcome, losing by seven.

Vs. New Orleans (105-99): The nail in the coffin. With the New Orleans Hornets being considered a bottom-feeder, this seemed like an automatic win for even a struggling Houston team.

To begin, the Rockets played pretty well going into the second half, only giving up 42 points, but more importantly, scoring the basketball to keep pace (leading by eight).  Then, it was immediately back to old habits.

In the garbage can, where the Rockets’ recent third quarters belong; they could only provide 13 total points, meanwhile giving up 26, to head into the fourth.

Unlike the other games, rebounding was not in Houston’s favor, with New Orleans racking up 17 more total rebounds (at 57). Also unique to the current losing streak, the Rockets held the Hornets to only .200 percentage from the 3. Even so, when it was all said and done, the Rockets, again, finished with a lesser offensive rating, and six fewer points.

With almost every stat being neck and neck, it’s the rebounding that sets itself apart in this game. Although the Rockets improved in this loss (as compared to others), giving up 13 more defensive rebounds is hardly a way to close out such a close game.

**********

The way the recent six-game skid has come to fruition for the Rockets, it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint one aspect that’s entirely to blame.

The Rockets have fallen from 17^th in the defensive rankings after the four-game road win streak, to 20th, giving up an average of 107 points on 49 percent shooting over the stretch of their current six-game losing streak.

With that being said, the Rockets just haven’t found a way to retaliate on the offensive end, when the opposing teams breach the century mark.

This late in the season, that’s usually where having a superstar comes in handy.

Kyle Lowry and the Rockets have laid down during a critical point of the season while their opponents have hovered tall.

They didn’t defend. They didn’t shoot well. They were outplayed (again). They were outcoached (again). And now, with three games left in the regular season, the Houston Rockets have finally gotten what they deserve: a ticket out of the postseason for the third year in a row, in spite of sitting nicely at 6th in the West just mere weeks ago.

Houston’s sixth consecutive loss, this time via a 105-99 overtime decision in New Orleans to the hapless Hornets, finally put the nail in the coffin on what will be remembered as one of the worst collapses in franchise history. On April 9, Houston was 32-25, eyeing the fourth spot in the West and homecourt advantage through the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets were coming off an inspired 4-0 standing on a remarkable road trip that included stirring rallies against the Bulls and Lakers. Goran Dragic was the talk of the town, and Kevin McHale was being hailed as a precious Coach of the Year candidate.

Fast forward 10 days …

Now the Rockets are 32-31, having dropped six straight, including clunkers to the likes of Utah, Phoenix and, yes, the Hornets. Houston is now 10th in the West, a game behind Utah (which holds the tiebreaker over Houston) for 8th. The main suspects? A shockingly inability for shots to find the basket (and the consequential disaster of still firing away from distance) and horrific rotations by McHale that primarily consists of playing neither of his stud defensive bigs (Samuel Dalembert or Marcus Camby) down the stretch of games and instead going with the undersized frontcourt of Patrick Patterson and Luis Scola that features one defensive stalwart (Patterson) and one offensive talent (Scola) but neither that can compete at a high level on both ends.

Yet, it’s tough to not be surprised. It was widely known that not having a consistent inside go-to threat would ultimately cost the Rockets, especially when their top scorer Kevin Martin decided to go MIA this season. And while it would be reasonably fair to hail the Camby pickup at the trade deadline, the bottom line is this: When Camby was acquired, the Rockets were 17th in the NBA in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). Guess where they stand now? That’s right. Seventeenth.

Through all of this, it’s easy to point fingers. But it’s important to keep in the mind the following: It would be unwise to point blame at GM Daryl Morey. Morey is essentially under orders from owner Les Alexander to “rebuild without bottoming out,” meaning Alexander is content challenging for the eight seed in the West and getting the 13th or 14th pick in the draft and chalking that up as a “success.” He continues to delay the inevitable, because Morey has even admitted that the Rockets are doing something not done before in rebuilding without completely tearing it all apart and building it up again. This nonsense is Alexander’s doing, and until he wakes up and realizes that he is significantly holding his franchise back, things won’t get better. And I assume it’s only a matter of time before Morey may even consider fleeing, seeing as his boss has unreasonable vision.

McHale is also to blame. His rotations have cost the Rockets wins, specifically against the Nuggets and Hornets. For someone who apparently believes in protecting the paint, his unwillingness to play Camby and Dalembert together when Camby was healthy, or even play at least one at all times, is mind-boggling. There is no way he can convince me that a frontcourt of Scola/Patterson is a sound recipe for winning basketball games. Dalembert has been the most misused Rocket all season, boasting an underrated offensive game while having several standout rebounding and shot-blocking games, yet always watching from the bench when it matters most. Inexcusable. Even when Camby was out due to injury, as was the case against the Hornets, Dalembert should have taken more minutes – a lot more, especially in crunchtime. McHale has failed in the one aspect that determines even a competent coach: putting his players in the best position to succeed.

So where do the Rockets go from here? Well, with only three games left, I’d like to see Kevin Martin get back in there and try and boost his trade value. It’s clear he has no future in a Rockets uniform, and the Rockets better think of playing him often in these last few games as some sort of audition. I’d also like to see major minutes for Marcus Morris and Greg Smith. Both of those young men have bright futures and could be central figures, particularly Morris, who has a unique one-on-one offensive game not unlike Carmelo Anthony. Camby should take the rest of the season off to rest his sore back. Lowry should follow that thinking as well. Scola should also be held to a game plan where he cannot shoot the ball unless he stops his man from scoring. (Just kidding on that last one … kinda). I’d also like McHale to get a clue somewhere along the way as well. That’d be nice. Your reputation as a championship player can only carry you so far.

Either way, it’s not pretty. This has been a dramatic, rollercoaster of a season … and it’s all for naught, just for another ticket in the middle of the first round. Even the draft can’t salvage this team. The Rockets’ ownership of the Knicks’ pick will give them a slot in the 15-18 range of the first round. Their own pick will be either 13 or 14. And they won’t get Dallas’ pick this year, which is unfortunate in what will be an absolutely loaded draft.

Another disappointing year for the Rockets. Even more disappointing? It’s now a horrible trend of mediocrity for a franchise that has quickly fallen toward the bottom depths of the NBA.

Luis Scola and the Houston Rockets have lost a complete grasp on things within what has been a dynamically horrible collapse.

Five losses in a row. Six defeats in their last 10 games. There’s no telling who or what the Houston Rockets are these days, but we do know this: any hopes of a playoff spot is on life support, if not already dead in the water. And they have no one to blame but themselves.

Just a few weeks ago, the Rockets were sitting 6th in the West. Rockets fans were talking about possibly upsetting the Thunder or Spurs in the first round, and who could blame them? Houston posted impressive wins in Chicago and L.A., and even managed to cause a blip on the national radar, with analysts praising the Rockets as a darkhorse in the West. Their offense was clicking on all levels, and the defense – though still well below par – was at least showing signs of progress. Things were undoubtedly headed in the right direction.

But with their 117-110 loss to Dallas on Wednesday, in which they surrendered a ghastly 39 points in the fourth quarter, Houston now sits tied with Phoenix for 9th in the West, a half-game behind Utah for 8th, with four games left.

Even after rectifying their shooting woes against the Mavs, the Rockets’ defense – their Achilles’ Heel all season – proved fatal, allowing Dirk Nowitzki to simply take over at will. Nowitzki scored 31 of his 35 points in the second half, willing the Mavs to their seventh straight win over Houston, which fell in spite of hitting half of its shots, including 42.9% (12-for-28) from 3-point range.

Through their current five-game losing streak, the spunky Rockets have displayed a remarkable letdown in confidence, tightening up late in games and panicking once opponents even get the slimmest of leads. How does a team that beat the Bulls and Lakers on their home floor lose to the Jazz and Suns at home? Your guess is as good as mine, but that’s how this season has gone, and perhaps we should have seen it coming.

At this point, it’s tough to have an optimistic outlook. If there was a game that could have eased fans’ concerns, it would have been a win on Wednesday, on the road, against a hated rival, with their playoff lives desperately hanging in the balance. It was the definition of a statement game; one in which the Rockets could have earned back their swagger once and for all. It didn’t happen, and we can no longer look at stats, numbers or trends to try and find reasoning behind their dramatic collapse. The Rockets have simply folded. They have been thoroughly outplayed and outcoached when it has mattered the most. The players have reacted instead of acted, and a coach like Kevin McHale – boasting all the playoff and championship experience in the world – has done nothing to help his team adjust to pressure and expectation. From top to bottom, the Rockets have shown their true colors at a great time of need, and it’s been nothing short of discouraging.

Goran Dragic and the Rockets find themselves in a precarious position with five games left in the regular season.

The Spacecityscoop.com staff recently tackled some interesting topics regarding the Rockets, who, with five games left in the regular season, are 9th in the West.

Staff writers Hiren Joshi, Kyle Adams, Michael Gutierrez and Ramzy Kawaja, along with editor Dennis Silva II, offered their opinions on what has been a heartbreaking late-season collapse so far for Houston, which is on a four-game losing streak.

1. What are we to make of the Rockets’ four straight losses at this time of the year? Big deal or no?

HIREN JOSHI: Big, big deal! The Rockets prior to this debacle went 4-0 on what was considered a crucial road trip. They had that “we have nothing to lose” factor, and those can be some of the most dangerous opponents in the playoffs for top tier teams. For the Rockets to suddenly lose four straight games at a time like this is shocking to me. It’s hard to explain how chemistry at such a high level can suddenly disappear and make the team look like they hadn’t played together in weeks. During the 4-0 stretch, you got the sense that this team may have something special going for themselves. No, they won’t win a championship, but can they cause an upset? At the time it sure seemed like it was plausible. Within a few days, it now looks like even if the Rockets get into the playoffs, a sweep may be in the midst.

KYLE ADAMS: I think it’s a big deal. I think anytime a team loses four in a row, it’s huge. They’re digging a big hole and burying themselves in it, especially this late in the season. They can’t afford to drop anymore games, or they will be watching the playoffs from the couch.

MICHAEL GUTIERREZ: It’s a big deal. Falling to ninth (in the West), with only five games left, is very dangerous territory. Still have to play in Miami and Dallas, so you can basically chalk up two more losses. The Rockets did exactly what they couldn’t afford to do, which is take their playoff fate out of their own hands, with reliance, now, on other teams faltering.

RAMZY KAWAJA: It’s a huge deal actually. The Rockets lost any margin for error that they gained from sweeping the four-game road trip. Winning three out of the next five might not get them in the playoffs.

DENNIS SILVA II: Very big deal. Not only because of the timing, but because they don’t look like the same team from a couple weeks ago that plummeted through the Bulls and the Lakers. It’s a relatively young team, so it’s not too surprising to see them whimper in the midst of pressure, but it is shocking to see their confidence and swagger all but gone.

2. What has been the biggest reason behind the Rockets’ recent poor play?

HIREN: Coaching, fatigue, and confidence. Over the last four games, Kevin McHale’s rotations have confused me. He has thrown the Luis Scola/Patrick Patterson combo out at the end of crucial games, and it has been catastrophically disappointing. When the Rockets collapse the way they are, McHale’s “quirky” rotations start to look like pure luck. The dreaded third quarter has haunted this team lately. They have been outscored in the third, 122-77, in the last four games combined. That leads me to confidence…. where is it? It looks like Patrick Patterson has lost a lot of it. Players have cooled off, and the way the Rockets are built, various guys must step up on various nights for this team to be successful.

KYLE: I think it’s multiple things. Poor coaching by McHale; sometimes the five guys he puts on the floor leaves you scratching your head. Kyle Lowry not playing consistent after coming back, but still getting consistent minutes. A lack of urgency on the defensive end. Marcus Camby being out. Getting beat up in the post.

MICHAEL: They just, simply, weren’t hungry enough. It’s no coincidence the opponents were all fighting for a bottom playoff seed as well. Every team is equally tired, and the Suns, Jazz and Nuggets all showed the urgency. The Rockets didn’t. They had to know they were getting the opposition’s best effort, yet, as a team, they couldn’t rise to the challenge.

RAMZY: Not being able to adjust after halftime. Getting away from what makes them successful, like ball movement and pushing it up the floor. The Rockets are a jump-shooting team. Missing long jumpers ignites opposing fast breaks. If they miss, they lose.

DENNIS: The Rockets have simply lost their shooting touch. Everyone goes through a slump, but it’s coming at the worst time for Houston. Not only that, they compound their poor percentages by continuing to jack up 3s and not attacking the rim. For the most part this season, they’ve shot straight. But when they’re not, the fact that they can’t defend and don’t get to the free-throw line become so painfully obvious.

3. What are your thoughts of Kevin McHale’s coaching during this recent skid?

HIREN: I was never a huge fan of the McHale hiring. He’s a player’s coach and an all-around nice guy, but is he head coach worthy? All year, McHale has shaken up his rotation, and early on it cost the Rockets some wins, but as the season progressed, it got better. McHale was forced to start Goran Dragic and Courtney Lee, and has done the right thing playing Chandler Parsons as a starter. Now it seems like luck has ran out, and players are gassed. The end of games are now seeing Patterson and Scola, with no Samuel Dalembert or Camby in sight. What is the logic behind this? Scola won’t come up with big rebounds, and Patterson clearly needs tutelage before earning crunchtime minutes. McHale does deserve credit for getting this bunch prepared and competitive with not much training camp time, but during this recent skid his adjustments have been poor. Ultimately, the head coach takes the brunt of the responsibility, and McHale’s Coach of the Year mentions have faded really fast.

KYLE: I think it’s been the worst it’s been all season. He falls in love with certain players (Chase Budinger, Scola, Lowry, Patterson) at times when they are off. He keeps them in when the guy behind them or in front of them is on. Doesn’t make any sense. He continues to use the small lineup with Patterson and Scola and they get killed on the boards.

MICHAEL: To be honest, it’s hard for me to knock the guys’ methods at this point, considering the Rockets have done as well as they have with the obstacle of McHale being a new coach in a lockout season; overall, I give him a lot of credit. I’ve never agreed with all his in-game decisions, but even in the losses, his approach has been consistent.

RAMZY: I’m losing confidence in Kevin McHale as a head coach. Though he has an ability to motivate and teach technique, he has shown that he isn’t capable of recognizing matchup advantages and disadvantages. Also, his rotations don’t make sense.

DENNIS: I don’t think he’s too competent from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but he’s a fine motivator. You can tell guys love playing for him, and that means something. But, overall, I’d give him a C. He has a lot to learn about handling rotations and drawing up plays.

4. With the playoffs a slim shot, though still possible, should the Rockets tank and now aim for their best bet in this year’s draft?

HIREN: Should the Rockets let go? YES. Will they? NO. Owner Leslie Alexander has made it no secret that tanking is not an option. While it’s an admirable decision, I can only assume GM Daryl Morey is at a crossroads with it. It’s like that unusual proverb, “Have one’s cake and eat it too.” The Rockets have done everything they can to stay competitive, while trying to fix the overall problem of not having a superstar. It’s hard to say this is a realistic approach, and while the Rockets do tend to beat teams they have no business beating, is it worth those wins for an eighth seed, or a lousy draft position? It’s the mediocrity factor, of not being terrible and not being amazing. At some point, you have to pick a side, and if it means suffering for the future, then you live with it.

KYLE: I thought before the deadline that if they couldn’t get the big man they desperately wanted, they should just tank. This draft is going to be one of the deepest in years. But they’re all in, even though it’s for the wrong reasons of continuing to fight every year for the eighth spot. I say they should just go for it now that they’re this deep into the season.

MICHAEL: In the Rockets’ case, any lottery pick is worth more than a brief playoff appearance; however, to aim for and miss the playoffs again would still be a massive letdown in its own right. With no star to build around, the Rockets should chase the highest pick in the draft possible until they do. The refusal by Rockets management to “bottom out” just seems to be delaying the inevitable.

RAMZY: They shouldn’t tank, but they shouldn’t feel pressured to make the playoffs either. Fans should curb their expectations and accept a first round pick as a nice consolation prize for not making the playoffs.

DENNIS: It’d make no sense to start tanking now when it won’t matter much. The Rockets should have been doing that this year, with the opportunity for multiple picks in the first round of a loaded draft. For a team that likely won’t be in the playoffs, we still don’t know what they have in Marcus Morris, and when you don’t know what your prized rookie can bring, that’s discouraging. There was a wasted opportunity to bring him along sooner than later, because I feel his scoring, size and versatility could have really helped this team.

5. Yes or no: Do the Rockets make the playoffs?

HIREN: Yes. The final five opponents for the Rockets are the Mavericks, Hornets (twice,) Warriors and Heat. Beating the Mavs will be no easy mission, and while the Hornets are playing much better with Eric Gordon in the lineup, I do think the Rockets can win both meetings. The Warriors game is another realistic win, and depending on the Heat’s decision on who plays and who doesn’t, the Rockets may luck out. It may be a very short-lived playoff appearance, but it’s what the Rockets set as the overall goal, and I wouldn’t mind seeing them accomplish it.

KYLE:  I think they need to win out. The Suns have a tough remaining schedule, but the Jazz’s schedule is easier than the Rockets’. They can’t afford to lose any more games after this four-game slide. They have to turn this into a five-game win streak. Wins against the Mavericks and Heat would be huge.

MICHAEL:  Have to say no. Utah owning the tiebreaker over Houston is the ultimate key. The Suns’ tough schedule should be too much for them to overcome; meanwhile, the Jazz could easily go 3-1, which should cement them in the playoff race. Best likely scenario for the Rockets would be a 3-2 finish. Even then, it just wouldn’t be enough for Houston to reach their playoff goals.

RAMZY: No. Three of the next five on the road, two of them in Dallas and Miami.

DENNIS: No. The Rockets would have to win out, or at the very worse go 4-1. I think they’ll go somewhere around 3-2. For example, I could see them beating Dallas and Miami, but losing to the Warriors and Hornets. That’s just the kind of season it’s been.

Another game, another collapse by the Rockets.

Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.

Unreal. Amazing. Incredible. Whatever adjective you want to use, the Houston Rockets are falling apart right before our eyes. And it may now be too late to recover.

It seemed not long that the Rockets were cruising, sitting comfortably in 6th in the West and flying high following an outstanding 4-0 road trip that included dramatic wins over the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. They were overcoming deficits with ease, attacking opponents, playing with a distinguished swagger and there was even talk that homecourt advantage through the first round of the playoffs could be in play. That’s how good things were for the red and silver.

Consider all that now just a pipe dream.

Fast forward a week and change later, and the Rockets’ playoff hopes, barring some magical run late that would have to include wins at Dallas and at Miami, are all but dead, seemingly left for 9th in the West for the third. straight. year. Oh, how fun. Another pick just outside of the lottery is what this team needs, right? Another year of “good, but not good enough.” Another year of being Malcolm in the middle. I’ll stress that the Rockets are still very much in control of their own destiny – winning all five of their remaining games would certainly assure them a spot in the playoffs. But their recent play and the fact that they have made life really, really tough means that a betting man would have them watching the postseason for the third straight year.

That’s what Houston faces following a horrific collapse this weekend in its home-and-home against the Denver Nuggets. See, the Nuggets entered the games in 7th and the Rockets were in 8th. Houston could have all but reserved its playoff spot with a win in at least one of the games, which would have given them the tiebreaker against the Nuggets as well as the 7th spot in the West with a handful of games remaining. Instead, it folded. Laid down. Backed down. After surrendering 101-86 on Sunday, the Rockets were bitten again, this time 105-102, on Monday. Now, with five games left in the regular season, Houston is 32-29, tied with Phoenix for 8th (while not owning the tiebreaker) and just a half-game ahead of Utah for 8th (against which it also does not have the tiebreaker). The losses to Denver also broke a tie for 7th with the Nuggets, whom now do own the tiebreaker over the Rockets, as the Nuggets now own a two-game advantage over Houston for the 7th spot. Funny how two bad losses can change the course of an entire season.

You can cite the usual suspects behind the Rockets’ failure on Monday. They stubbornly kept shooting 3s, even though they had shot just a notch above 20% the last three games. After a first quarter in which they led 32-21 and boasted a shocking 20-10 advantage in points in the paint, the Rockets retreated back to their ways, jacking up 3s and allowing Denver right back into the game. The Nuggets shot 9-for-14 on free throws in the first half to the Rockets’ 1-for-1, and that was all you needed to know. The Nuggets – after scoring 60 points in the paint Sunday – scored 50 Monday, and finished with a 20-for-29 advantage in free throws to Houston’s 14-for-17. Rockets fans wearing rose-colored glasses will tell you that’s due to bad officiating, and that was some of the case, especially in the second half. But the real reason is the Rockets hoisted often from behind the arc, missing 21 of 29 triples, which led to long rebounds, which then lead to breakaways. More importantly, they wasted precious possessions in what was ultimately a three-point game.

I don’t want to make it sound like Denver blew out the Rockets for the second night in a row. In fact, the Rockets were right there in the end. They played spirited. They fought, for most of the game. They were energetic. They were aware. They were matching blow for blow until they just wore down with the Nuggets’ relentless attack to get to the basket and score inside or get to the free-throw line. But what’s mystifying is why Samuel Dalembert, who sat most of the second half in favor of Patrick Patterson, was not on the court in the fourth quarter. All he had done through the first 2 1/2 quarters was compile 9 rebounds and 7 blocks, a season-high. In fact, it was his determined defense in the first half, while his teammates were busy misfiring from long range, that kept the Nuggets at bay in the paint and enabled Houston to still hold a seven-point halftime lead. Yet he was on the bench when it mattered most, and then we wonder why Denver completely manhandled Houston in the paint en route to earning a key win. It can be argued that his absence, more than  anything else, in the second half cost the Rockets the playoffs. Even with Marcus Camby sidelined due to back pain, Dalembert was more than enough to hold the fort down, showing as much in a brilliant first half, and yet he was penalized for his achievement. If there has been one Rocket misused this entire season, it has been Dalembert. And that’s inexcusable for a team that desperately lacks in the rebounding and defense departments.

The Rockets simply have to start disciplining themselves. Yes, they’re young and impressionable, but there are veterans on this club who need to lend direction. This is where guys like Kyle Lowry, Camby and Courtney Lee need to step up and have their voices heard. Resorting back to shooting ill-advised 3s after you were having such great success in the paint is something that should not happen. For the fourth straight game, the Rockets failed to shoot straight (42%) while also failing to prevent shot-making (47%). It’s like Houston loves to make things difficult. Right now, that’s costing them, as well as Kevin McHale’s penchant for keeping his best rebounder and shotblocker on the bench at the most inopportune times.

I’ll still hold out hope, no matter how slim. But the Rockets blew a wonderful chance this weekend, and I can’t help but to think that will come back and haunt them. For some odd reason, they’ve let up off the gas at the wrong time. And while I’d like to think that no matter happens, this will prove a significant learning lesson for the youngsters, let’s face it: I think this team will look drastically different next season, so I’m not sure how much it will actually help. What I do know is I hope McHale gets a clue as to how and when to use players, and I hope the Rockets start understanding that living by jump shots more often than not means you’ll certainly die by them. Ironically enough, I read a column on Grantland.com this morning stating how dangerous of a playoff foe the Rockets could be because they “don’t beat themselves.”

I think you’d have a hard time getting a Rockets fan to buy into that line of thinking at this point.

Kevin McHale is just as much to blame for Houston's current skid.

WHO: Nuggets 101, Rockets 86

WHAT: Houston’s third straight loss now has it all alone in 8th place in the West at 32-28 overall. All losses have been to teams the Rockets are either barely ahead of or behind in the playoff race. The Rockets are now a game ahead of Phoenix and 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah for 8th, and a game behind Denver for 7th and 1 1/2 games behind Dallas for 6th. They play the Nuggets again Monday. What’s worse is the Rockets do not have the tiebreaker against said teams: just 1-2 against Denver, 2-2 against Phoenix, 1-2 versus Utah and 0-3 versus Dallas. Odds are building up against their favor.

WHAT HAPPENED?: The Rockets are simply a jump-shooting team that can’t shoot straight. For the third straight game, they were poor from the field, connecting on only 36.8% of their shots, and even shooting a better percentage from 3 (38.5%) than from inside the arc. To compound that, the worst team in allowing points in the paint (46 allowed per game) was no match for the best team in scoring in the paint. Denver scored 60 points in the colored lane and did great damage from the free-throw line and in transition to boot. It was the third quarter, in which the Nuggets outscored Houston 37-19 after the Rockets held a 49-43 halftime lead, that proved the killer. In that quarter, Denver hit 13 of its 20 shots while getting to the free-throw line and canning 9 of 13 attempts. Houston, meanwhile, got nothing inside (of course) and started misfiring on jumpers. The Rockets missed 14 of 21 shots in the quarter, and went to the free-throw line just three times. Simply put, the Denver Nuggets are masters at getting easy points (whether in the paint, in transition or from the line) and the Rockets have to work hard for offense, particularly when shots aren’t falling, especially from deep. For the game, the Nuggets shot 49.4% from the field. Basketball’s a simple game, and the Rockets are making it too difficult on themselves at the worst possible time.

CHASE STARTS HOT, BUT NO ONE CLOSES: If it wasn’t for Chase Budinger, who knows where the Rockets would have been Sunday? Houston’s gunslinger lit the Nuggets up for 16 first-half points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-8 from 3. Unfortunately, he was the only one hitting consistently from deep, and when the Nuggets started tracking him harder in the second half, Houston was really in trouble. Budinger had 3 points on just 1-for-5 shooting in the final two quarters. With him blanketed, and Luis Scola (14 points in the first half; just 5 in the second) having found himself with multiple defenders in the second half, that forced others like Courtney Lee and Chandler Parsons to step up and they didn’t. Lee misfired on 6 of 9 shots, and Parsons missed 9 of 13. Aside from Budinger, the Rockets finished just 5-for-18 from 3-point range.

McHALE FAILS TO ADJUST: Marcus Camby played only 7 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble and then missed the entire second half with a sore back. Many will blame Houston’s fallen second-half defense on his absence, but I don’t buy that. The Rockets were fine without him when building an eight-point lead in the first half before settling for a six-point halftime advantage, thanks to Samuel Dalembert, who had 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks in 12 minutes in the first half. But give Denver credit. They made the adjustments in the final two quarters, particularly offensively when they made more of an emphasis to get the ball in the paint, where the Rockets are weak. Defensively, Denver started attacking Scola and pestering him with double teams, and stuck like glue to Budinger. The problem is the Rockets never countered, and that cost them. That’s on coaching. When opponents adjust accordingly to the Rockets during a game, Houston has not been able to return the call.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?: With games still looming against the Nuggets tonight, and then the Mavericks and Heat later on, nothing is guaranteed. Houston has all but unwound the goodwill from the 4-0 road trip that now seems like a distant memory. Energy is lacking. Shots aren’t dropping. And while the defense has not been strong, that’s not been the big reason. It hasn’t been strong all year, and its recent apathy has been emphasized due to the lack of spirit and shooting. It’s getting really tight for the Rockets, and you get the sense they know it and are starting to think a little more on the court, aware of potential consequences. They’re playing with the standings on their mind, and that’s no way for a young, impressionable club to perform.

Marcus Camby and the Rockets are still in fine position and in control of their destiny even after poor defeats to Utah and Phoenix.

BY: MICHAEL GUTIERREZ

SPACECITYSCOOP.COM

TWITTER: @MG_713

The Houston Rockets took a beating in their last two games against desperate, playoff-hungry Utah and Phoenix, leaving a question to be asked: what exactly did the losses mean?

On Wednesday night, the Rockets were flat-out, out hustled and outplayed (103-91) by a good, but starless, roster in the Jazz. Every time the Rockets made any kind of run, the Jazz had a bigger and better one to counter. For Utah, which was sitting not far behind the Rockets for a playoff berth, it was a must-win. For the Rockets, as huge as the opportunity was to gain distance, it was just that, and not a “do-or-die” match, as they remained seventh in the West.

However, their following defeat to Phoenix on Friday opened some eyes. Again, the Rockets were poor in effort and shot badly, with a defense that again allowed strong percentages for the opponent. It was another opportunity for the Rockets to gain ground on a team too close for comfort in the standings, and they failed. It even cost them a precious spot, dropping them to eighth in the West.

Going back to last season, the Rockets faltered when it mattered most. They would lose crucial games against the Heat, Sixers, Kings and Hornets as the postseason neared, ending up being the team sitting just outside the top eight in the West when it was all said and done. They finished the last 10 games with a 5-5 record, which wasn’t enough to beat out the surging Memphis Grizzlies (6-4).

So, naturally, seeing outcomes like the ones against Utah and Phoenix bring back bad memories many Houston fans would like to forget.

Still, it’s easy to forget the Rockets are not long removed from a dramatic 4-0 road trip that saw wins over the Bulls and Lakers. On that trip, they started and finished strong, closing out games with a passion. It’s also important to remember they’ve stayed afloat with not only a (struggling) Kevin Martin on the sidelines, but with their team leader in Kyle Lowry just now getting back after missing 15 games due to a bacterial infection.  The result has led many to side with one player versus another at the point and shooting guard positions. Whether it’s Courtney Lee versus Martin at the shooting guard, or Goran Dragic versus Lowry at the point, the truth is Lowry’s, and Martin’s pending, return should instead be looked at as added weaponry. Head coach Kevin McHale is going to play the hot hand, meaning, in their return, if they don’t outshine the emerging Dragic and Lee, they won’t be in the game when it counts, period. The team’s whole philosophy of winning off purely team effort, rather than relying on a consistent individual player, has an increased chance of happening with Lowry and (yes) a healthy Martin. The benefit of having the depth the Rockets do is if Martin (who was once a top scorer in the league) is having a poor shooting night, he doesn’t need to be played. McHale has already sat Martin in bulk minutes, and all evidence shows he’ll be willing to do the same in wake of Martin’s return.

With the emergence of Lee (averaging 14.2 points as a starter this season) and Dragic (18.2 points), and with Lowry working his way back in to form, if anything, the Rockets are just that much more tough to beat. As great as it is to see the backups stepping in to starter form, they’ll need rest if they are to continue their high level of play.

Also, with the additions of Marcus Camby, Chandler Parsons and Samuel Dalembert over the offseason and at the trade deadline, the Rockets now boast a roster capable of playing solid defense, giving them a chance to stay in tough, grind it out type of games. It’s a quality the Rockets have earned, and has given the team the balance they lacked a year ago, when they fell short of the eighth and final seed. After barely missing the playoffs being ranked 22nd in points allowed last season, three spots higher at 19^th should be just enough for their fans to expect a better result, as opposed to the two previous disappointing seasons.

Looking ahead to the seven remaining regular season games, four are against above-.500 teams. With no margin for error, the Rockets will have to determine their own fate by winning the game at hand, rather than depending on what other teams do. With the ill-timed defeats to Utah and Phoenix, they no longer have the luxury of sparing a win or two. While the race is too close for any guarantees on Houston’s behalf, don’t mistake this season’s roster with last year’s, no matter how much the recent losses bring forth nightmares of an inability to close out the season strong.

Houston has an opportunity still to do just that, with a home-and-home set against Denver looming Sunday and Monday, as well as upcoming tilts against Dallas and Miami. The Rockets still have a chance at proving they’ve turned the page.