Rockets Comparison: Why is Indiana doing so good?

[nWo34Life]

They lost 3 of their best players and they're 10-4? They are suppose to be sucking, yet they have one of the top records in the East.

Why is their offense running smoothly? They don't have the quality center like we have in Yao, but they are doing something right. I know the East isn't very much competition, but still....

Speak amongst yourselves...

[jediknight94595]

They don't have Van Grumpy. :D

[Rocket River]

Originally posted by jediknight94595
They don't have Van Grumpy. :D

they have Rick Carlise

Rocket River

[mfclark]

Before dismissing it as an Eastern Conference thing, look at who Indiana has played since the suspensions...

Orlando -- L 83-86
Boston -- W 106-96
Minnesota -- W 106-102
Charlotte -- W 82-77
@Seattle -- L 95-103

They lost to two of the better teams (thus far) in the NBA; heck, most teams are losing to Seattle right now, and the Magic are no slouches either. They beat a decent Minnesota team, a poor Boston team, and a mediocre Charlotte team. So yes, it partially is schedule that has helped them to go 3-2 since the suspensions took effect, but it is also partially the team and coaching.

Rick Carlisle is one of the better coaches in the league, perhaps not known for his ability to relate to players but moreso for his game planning. Austin Croshere seems to be one of those players who falters when he is not a focal point but blossoms when the offense runs around him as a first or second option. Fred Jones and Jamaal Tinsley seem to be coming into their own, and they have a couple of capable fourth-fifth options (James Jones seems to be doing alright, while Scot Pollard, when healthy, provides a nice post backup).

But, the effectiveness of these players comes largely as a result of them not being put into situations that expose their weaknesses, meaning that the credit should go to the coaching. They are a well-coached bunch that should win the majority of games against lesser opponents and remain competative in many games against better teams (though falter and lose a good number with time).

They will gradually fall to Earth -- note that of that 10-4 record, they were 7-2 at the time of the trade -- but it shouldn't be a hard crash nor anything that keeps them out of the playoffs. A team at about 22-20 when Jackson and O'Neal come back is about what should be expected, with a nice run to close the season not out of the question.

[DaDakota]

They have team players, and more importantly a PASS FIRST PG who makes the game easier for everyone else.

DD

[twhy77]

Originally posted by DaDakota
They have team players, and more importantly a PASS FIRST PG who makes the game easier for everyone else.

DD

Barrett, Barrett, Barrett (everyone chanting), Barrett, Kam, Barrett! !

[Doctor Robert]

Total record: 10-4
Before suspensions: 7-2
After suspensions: 3-2

Since the suspensions they have beaten Charlotte, Boston, and Minnesota.

The Pacers used teamwork, superior 3-point shooting and a relentless point guard to offset talent deficiencies.

[YallMean]

They are making shots, and everybody hustles. They caught a bad night of Minny and a bad night of Boston too. So they got a little bit luck. This indy team basically is a new team right now, team around league hasnt figured out how to play them yet. That Harris kid is serviceble and he will see minutes even after J.Oneal comes back.

[Doctor Robert]

[mistake]

[SwoLy-D]

Because the EAST sucks more than my Kirby vacuum cleaner...

[YallMean]

Tip for you, it's free. :cool:

The door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesmen has been the butt of many jokes. But unfortunately, the customer is seldom the one who walks away laughing. Best rule of thumb: never let any salesperson or solicitor into your home. If you ask someone to leave and they don't do so, call the police. It may seem harsh but it can avoid many problems, like those catalogued below.

Even a 15-year-old can see through most of the Kirby pitch, as Andrew recently demonstrated.


Originally posted by SwoLy-D
Because the EAST sucks more than my Kirby vacuum cleaner...

[SwoLy-D]

Originally posted by YallMean
Tip for you, it's free. :cool:

The door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesmen has been the butt of many jokes. But unfortunately, the customer is seldom the one who walks away laughing. Best rule of thumb: never let any salesperson or solicitor into your home. If you ask someone to leave and they don't do so, call the police. It may seem harsh but it can avoid many problems, like those catalogued below.

Even a 15-year-old can see through most of the Kirby pitch, as Andrew recently demonstrated. Thanks. But I really DO like this vacuum cleaner. It sucked the SALT right out of my carpet! HONEST! ;) AND I never asked them to leave... the wife likes it as well.

[tim562]

Originally posted by twhy77
Barrett, Barrett, Barrett (everyone chanting), Barrett, Kam, Barrett! !

Hahaha, I agree. Okay everyone join in...

Barrett, Barrett, Barrett Barrett, Barrett, Barrett

I must say Sura is going to improve this team some. He can drive and dish, something we have really been missing. Only problem is, he can't play 48 minutes so here we go again...

Barrett, Barrett, Barrett

[tinman]

Indiana has heart.
They would go beat up anyone who would throw a beer on a teammate.

If someone hit Mo Taylor, Yao would do nothing. Tmac would do nothing. Charlie Ward would yell out verses from the bible. Juwan wouldnt do anything cause it would affect his read to achieve commercials. Mutumbo is the only one with heart.

I think Tmac has heart but he hasnt shown it yet.

I'd take Ron Artest and Jermaine ONeal anyday.

[tim562]

Originally posted by tinman
Indiana has heart.
They would go beat up anyone who would throw a beer on a teammate.

If someone hit Mo Taylor, Yao would do nothing. Tmac would do nothing. Charlie Ward would yell out verses from the bible. Juwan wouldnt do anything cause it would affect his read to achieve commercials. Mutumbo is the only one with heart.

I think Tmac has heart but he hasnt shown it yet.

I'd take Ron Artest and Jermaine ONeal anyday.


Amen to that - We need a Kenyon Martin type of player. An enforcer. Someone who doesn't just shake his head and run back down the court after getting fouled hard.

[tinman]

Originally posted by tim562
Amen to that - We need a Kenyon Martin type of player. An enforcer. Someone who doesn't just shake his head and run back down the court after getting fouled hard.

Also this team doesnt look like they care about each other. Steve, Cuttino, Cato, and Yao seemed like they enjoyed playing with each other.

[kaleidosky]

Originally posted by tinman
Also this team doesnt look like they care about each other. Steve, Cuttino, Cato, and Yao seemed like they enjoyed playing with each other.

Tinman, I finally agree with you on something. I wish I saw some empassioned high-fives or chest-bumps or screams even. No heart, no joy, no love for the teammates..yet. But give it time...those guys had played together for a while. Everyoen doesn't gel with their teams overnight...esp. TMac seems like the kinda guy who takes a little time.

[rockbox]

We need Rudy. Rudy gets guys to play their hearts out.

[JuanValdez]

Indiana is 3-2 since the suspensions. They aren't doing very well. The only impressive game they've had was beating Minn. Over the next 20 games, they will be under (though probably not much under) .500.

[No Worries]

How many of the new Indiana starters were part of the team last year? Continuity is not overrated.

[pacertom]

3-2 is pretty remarkable considering that besides losing their top three scorers to suspension, two starters are out injured (Jeff Foster and Reggie Miller), several of their better bench players are out injured (Bender, Anthony Johnson, Pollard has been in and out).

They are playing with:

PG: One starter and only top 8 player (Tinsley),
SG: the only other guy who was protected in the expansion draft (Fred Jones),
PF: a 10th man that they couldn't give away (Croshere),
SF: a late second round pick from a year ago who didn't make the playoff roster last year (James Jones)
C: a 1st rounder that was the LAST pick (Harrison)

and a bench consisting of Pollard, vagabond Eddie Gill, and free agent scraps.

Carlisle is a coaching God. They have players whose main attribute is knowing what is a good shot and what is not a good shot, and are willing to make passes to get the good shots.

It will be a major accomplishment to stay near 0.500 with this gang, and they may just do it.

The lineup was SUPPOSED to be:
C Foster
PF O'Neal
SF Artest
SG Reggie
PG ----------Tinsley----------

6th man S Jackson
7th man Bender
8th man Anthony Johnson
9th man -------Freddie Jones-------
10th man -------Austin Croshere------


Take away 7 of the top 8 players on any team in the NBA and try to win games.

[pacertom]

put it this way,
suppose that the Rockets had the injuries and suspensions the Pacer have had:

Yao suspended (like Jermaine O'Neal)
McGrady suspended (like Ron Artest)
Mo Taylor suspended (like Steven Jackson)
Juwan Howard injured (like Jeff Foster)
Mutombo injured (like Pollard)
Charlie Ward injured/suspended (like Anthony Johnson)
Jim Jackson injured (like Reggie Miller)
Bob Sura injured (like Jonathan Bender)

This would be your lineup:
PG Lue
SG Nachbar
SF some free agent from the NBADL
PF Padgett
C some free agent from the NBADL
6th man: Weatherspoon


:eek:

[Just B]

Indiana's doing this good simply because they're backed into a corner. That's when anyone is most dangerous. Plus for a lot of these guys this is the only chance they get to be in the spotlight. Like Fred Jones. Most people knew the guy had potential, and this is his chance to show everyone that he's capable of reaching it.

[New Jack]

Carlisle has done a wonderful coaching job. I only wish he were doing it here in Houston.

I remember the summer Rudy was fired, Carlisle was available and the Rockets didn't even give him an interview.

[pacertom]

Originally posted by New Jack
Carlisle has done a wonderful coaching job. I only wish he were doing it here in Houston.

I remember the summer Rudy was fired, Carlisle was available and the Rockets didn't even give him an interview.

Well, at that time the Pacers also turned him down in favor of Isiah Thomas.

Word was that as an Indiana assistant, he worked the players pretty hard and wasn't a player favorite. Of course he went to Detroit and won 50+ with crap while Isiah was not the answer in Indy.

Considering how late he was hired (August 2003) the team winning 61 games should have got him more COY props than he did LAST YEAR, though Sloan and Hubie were also worthy.

[sLaNd B a L L a]

Carlisle's coaching style for the Pacers > Van Gundy's coaching style for the Rockets

[pgabriel]

Originally posted by tinman
Indiana has heart.


Bingo.


It amazes me that so many people on this board don't see what is wrong with the Rockets. The Rockets may not be a complete team, but they have better players than their record indicates. The Rockets were ready to give up Saturday before Sura came in the game. The Rockets have one problem, they don't play hard.

[smoothie]

steve, cat, cato, and mo played together for 5 years. they had love for eachother. thats where the chest bumps, and high fives come from.

also, steve and cat play with heart and pride. not one player has that for us now.