Have an opinion on the new Rockets uniforms, Jeff Van Gundy's coaching strategy, Yao Ming's role in the offense or anything else Rockets-related? Share your thoughts with us. Your comments may end up on the home page of rockets.com!

April 30, 2004
The Rockets were so close to beating the Lakers (excluding Games 2 and 5) that we could have been up 3-2. We have that kind of potential, but we need to hone in on the talent and be more consistent, like Jimmy Jackson. The biggest thing to work on is, of course, reducing turnovers. I think this team is great the way it is, and little trading should be done during the offseason. Keep all the starters, Mo, and Boki. The rest of the guys have played too little for me to judge them accurately. Worry less about who to trade and focus in on how to get better. I have a feeling that the Rockets will make it all the way next year!
--R. Nguyen, Pasadena, TX

April 29, 2004
The Rockets were fun to watch all year. The Lakers could have been had but things just didn't quite work out. I thought that the Rockets really stepped up to the challenge. Hopefully, this is a stepping stone to future success, I can't wait for October! Congratulations to Jimmy Jackson on a fine season. Toledo, OH is proud of you.
--Joe Zalewski, Toledo, OH

April 28, 2004
Let's get ready for a serious championship run next season. Great players perform when facing the biggest obstacles and Steve Francis has done just that these playoffs. I'll be the first to admit that I thought he just didn't fit the system and maybe it was best for him to move on. Watching these playoffs and seeing the way he is laying it on the line, he definitely has my full approval. Lead your team [Franchise]; win or lose this series, the way you've played against the"Mighty Lakers" I can almost guarantee you you've won over the hearts of all true Rockets fans.
--Trey Love, Houston

April 27, 2004
Win or lose in LA, we are very proud of the Rockets and how they've played this series. We were huge fans during the championship years, and think this is the first step toward another run at the title. While we may not get past LA this year, we have done very well. With just a few different bounces, we're up 3-1. In any case, you guys have the talent and intensity to make one more run. Give 'em (heck) in Game 5. Don't give up and don't back down!
--The Fordes Family

April 26, 2004
I want to appreciate Nachbar for returning the favor back to Malone in Game 4. Man I really enjoyed watching you knock Malone down so keep up the good work.
--Reji Thomas

April 23, 2004
To win Friday the Rockets must get the first entry pass from Francis to set up the play before the 14-second mark. We know the dribbling on the three-point arc until 10 seconds or less is not going to work. It doesn't give Yao much chance to post up and get second chance shots. Keep the turnovers to <10 per game. If Steve and Cuttino have more than three apiece, we lose. If you shoot three's, you better make at least 43% of them, because of the lack of offensive rebounds. You also have to hit at least 84% of your free throws and shoot over 44% from the field against the Lakers. Jim Jackson should be freed from some of the rebounding by Cato to get up the court for open threes.
--James Pritchett

April 22, 2004
The best way for the Rockets to beat the Lakers is to play with confidence. How do you beat a bully? You go right at him. The Rockets must play with the mindset of 'what do we have to lose anyway?' After all, the Lakers are the favorite, and the Rockets are the underdog. No one expects the Rockets to win, so why play scared? The Rockets must stop playing not to lose, they must play to win in order to have any chance. If they get swept by the Lakers, it's time to trade everyone except Yao. Yao has to be the foundation of the team for the future.
--Fred, Houston, Tx

April 21, 2004
I like what the Rockets were doing in the first half on Monday night. When the Lakers pass the ball to Shaq, double team him so that Yao doesn’t have to pick up early fouls. When the Rockets attack, let Yao post up and go right into Shaq every time even though Shaq might block a couple of shots. It is very likely that Shaq would pick up some fouls and have to sit down. That case it should reduce the number of rebounds the Lakers get and open some space for other people to attack the basket. When Shaq is out let somebody else set the high pick and roll instead of Yao. He is too slow to get back under the basket to get the rebound after the pick. I think Yao just comes out to do the pick and roll too often even when Shaq sits down.
--Ray, Toronto

April 20, 2004
Offensively, the only way the Rockets can win in the playoffs, or in any game for that matter is for Yao Ming to do well. Forget worrying about Kobe, Payton, Malone or Shaq. Yao just needs to be a FORCE. By FORCE I mean: the other team is FORCED to let Yao score because of his position, or Yao FORCES the Lakers to double team thus leaving other talented players open, or FORCE the Lakers to foul Yao. Do any of those consistently and the Rockets can win.
--Halston - Dallas, TX

April 19, 2004
Saturday night's game was something to be proud of. The Rockets played with a lot of heart. They were horrible on offense, but they contested every shot in the second half. Yao may not come around this year or maybe even next year, but he will one day be the MVP of the league and bring us another championship. I want to also thank Van Gundy for preparing the Rockets for Game 1 like he did. That was a well-coached game. I think we can do some damage in the playoffs if we stay within ourselves and stop turning the ball over. We also need to shoot the ball with 5-7 (seconds) on the shot clock rather than 0-4. I don't understand the shot selection. Why pass up an uncontested shot with 10 on the shot clock to throw up a prayer with one second? But like I said, Van Gundy showed me a lot on the way he coached (Saturday) and he is a defensive mastermind.
--Bobby

April 16, 2004
So now it's come to the moment I have been waiting for. Yao against Shaq. I wanna see Yao make some noise in the playoffs. Yao needs to understand the difference between a playoff game and a season game. It's much different and I'm sure he will catch on soon from Pat Ewing. I know this will be a very tough matchup for the Rockets but just like Francis said they shouldn't care who they play, taking every game like a one-game series. If the Rockets go into every game with this kind of attitude and composure they will come out on top.
--Brian, CA

April 15, 2004
With the start of the NBA playoffs, things are looking good for our Rockets now that Karl Malone is injured. If Yao can play with the same intensity he played with during the regular season against Shaq, it'll open things up for JJ and Cat behind the 3-point line. Stevie doesn't need to score 30+ points in this series, we just need him to average 12+ assists a game, not turn the ball over and score points when the opportunity is there for him. Scott Padgett can play a huge role off the bench if he's effective with his three-pointers during his minutes. The key advantage for the Rockets will be at the PF position now that Malone and Horace Grant will be out for the series. Look for Mo Taylor, Spoon and Cato to punish the Lakers throughout this series. This is finally our chance to prove to Bill Walton and all those other commentators that the Rockets are for real and not a team still in the rebuilding years. CLUTCH CITY is back, GO ROCKETS!
--Arthur Merla, Houston

April 14, 2004
I have been a Rockets fan since the first year they won the championship and have watched some of the best players the Rockets have ever had. It was a major blow to everyone when Rudy left coaching. We all understand why. The main thing we need to remember as fans is that ANY change will upset the (team). Van Gundy is an excellent coach. Steve, Cat and others need an adjustment period as well as Van Gundy. Sure, it has been a year now and we have seen some ups and downs. But we have seen a good team get a lot better. So, think about the positive things that has happened with the team and let the negative go! This team will go far and become a very elite team in the NBA. So, let's relax and enjoy the remainder of the season.
--Terry Walston, Granbury, TX

April 13, 2004
Finally, the game I have waited all season for. I was wondering when Van Gundy would start playing his bench and quit playing his starters till they drop. I was so frustrated on days when the starters would have so many turnovers and not be able to hit a basket to save their lives. I get sick and tired of seeing slow hands and feet. Nobody wants to watch that! I totally enjoyed watching Padgett and Nachbar get a decent amount of playing time. They brought alot of energy to the game and showed they are worthy of more time. Mark Jackson was absolutely fantastic. He showed what an experienced and cool head can do. He had accurate passes, no technicals, and used good judgment. I would like to see Mark Jackson playing at least two full quarters every game. To sum things up, I would like to see the bench get more playing time period.
--Sherry Neal

April 12, 2004
As Steve Francis goes, so go the Rockets. While his athleticism is second to none, his choices and actions leave a lot to be desired. Since the point guard is supposed to be like the coach on the court, it is up to Steve to see the floor, and to orchestrate the rest of the team so that the team concept is always in play. Steve dribbles way too much laterally, and many times the excessive dribbling causes turnovers. Challenge Steve to make at least 10 assists in each game BEFORE he starts "doing his own thing" with the ball. This way you have challenged him to get other people involved and it may open his eyes to the bigger picture. On Yao Ming, he needs to be reminded CONSTANTLY to keep the ball high, when it is fed to him down low, and to NOT take even that one dribble. He gets too many balls stolen from him once he puts the ball down where the defenders can swipe it from him. Adding pounds to his frame will help a lot!
--Michael Burr

April 10, 2004
I know that (Steve Francis) is hearing a lot of negatives in the press right now, but stay positive. For every one negative you hear I guarantee that there are five people like me sticking up for him. EVERYONE is going to have a down year every once and a while. This is his. He will be OK and everyone should get off his back and remember that we asked him to pick up his defense and he did that wonderfully. We asked him to pick up his assist-to-turnover ratio and he has done that. Naturally something had to give. Just be patient with him and see. He will become the most feared point/shooting guard in the NBA. He is definitely the most exciting. My son and I think he is the lynchpin that will pull the Rockets through. Also, last year at this time the trade requests were for Cat. Good thing management is a lot smarter than some of the impatient fans.
--Jeff Crenshaw

April 9, 2004
We need to use stop wasting the shot clock and start moving better without the ball. Steve's one of most athletic players in the NBA, but he needs to tone down on the turnovers and stop wasting the clock. Finally, I don't understand why Yao Ming doesn't take baby hooks every single time after he gets the ball close to the basket. His actual hooks (further away) are pretty low-percentage shots but his baby hooks will go in pretty much automatically (if he gets better positioning). I mean, who's gonna block it? Shaq? Bradley? NO ONE. Also, Yao should never need to dribble the ball after being fed inside, just catch the ball high (so no one can steal) and put the ball in with a baby hook or slam it down in the opponent's face.
--Sean Zhao, Houston

April 8, 2004
The Rockets probably just played their best game of the season! Steve Francis played the best game I have seen him play with Van Gundy. He acted more as a point guard than a mix because he had 11 assists and took only five shots. That is what I'm talking about! I love the Rockets and Stevie Franchise is my absolute favorite player. He played the way he needs to for the Rockets to seal their playoff seat, and the combo of Jim Jackson and Cuttino Mobley on the perimeter is enough for Francis to get the crossover and then pass the ball to the wide open three-point specialists.
--Justin Thibert

April 7, 2004
I hate to say this but if we lose the playoff spot then it would guarantee a trade, which is a GOOD thing. JVG too, should be considered fair game - using only five starters like that without any idea of how to use the bench is idiotic. why even have bench players then? The reason why the Grizzlies can go where they are is because they are unselfish and the reason they are unselfish is because EVERYONE knows he will get playing time. JVG is NOT a good coach. Good coaches DO NOT just bring in over-the-hill guys from the only team he has ever coached. Oakley and Jackson WERE fine players but now? JVG just isn't very creative.
--Jay Chou

April 6, 2004
I have to admit the Rockets gave a full effort against the Kings on Sunday but Francis should have called a timeout to stop the clock. They were down by three and he drove all the way to the basket and missed so I blame Van Gundy for this. I understand that Francis wants to win so bad, but he just needs to play his game and not worry about losing. Now that Padgett showed some of his toughness I expect some more minutes from him and maybe even extend Wilks's minutes a little, now that Taylor is injured.
Brian, CA

April 5, 2004
It's only now, during a (four)-game skid, that I realize exactly how important Kelvin Cato is to the Rockets. The losing streak had coincided with Cato's injury. Despite his low scoring, Cato is vital to the team because of his defense and rebounding. The Rockets defense has not looked as good lately without Cato anchoring it.
--Joshua, Magnolia, TX

April 2, 2004
The Lakers game was tough to watch, but you have to be proud how the Rockets still stuck around. It seemed as though Yao wasn’t pushing back on Shaq. We’ve seen Yao get aggressive against other players lately with much success, but he was timid with Shaq. The announcers on last night’s TNT broadcast commented on Yao falling away, which is one of his shots, but it seemed like Shaq did a great job. I still feel that Yao should have put his shoulder down and taken it to Shaq. Props to Cat for a great game. He made Kobe’s defense look horrible. He picked up a lot of the slack for Yao, but he couldn’t carry the team the entire game. Cat is the most dependable player in my eyes. Let’s give him the respect and praise he deserves.
--Tom - Missouri City, TX

April 1, 2004
Since the Rockets like going up against halfcourt teams, the Lakers should be a win for them. In order to beat the Lakers again, you need to jump on them early and not let them back in it at all. Of course Shaq and Kobe will continue to put up big numbers but if you play solid defense I think you have the advantage. My advice would be driving to the basket early to get Shaq in foul trouble. Don't worry about the defense of the Lakers, I know they play it tough but put them in foul trouble. Your perimeter offense will also be a threat to them since they don't like defending beyond the arc.
--Brian, CA