That is an article from 2009 and is looking at the exact same numbers I provided, just cut them off at the 2008-09 season. Unfortunately, 4 of the next 5 seasons were abysmal (the other was the lockout season he split with Woodson). That D'Antoni was able to string together a stretch of four good years is nice, but I think it should be apparent that his reputation as a weak defensive coach is well earned.
This is how we used to do it: "Come on, guys!" clap, clap, clap! "Come on now!" swirl forefinger in a vertical circular motion "Play harder!" clap, clap, clap! Not sure that will work anymore.
After his stint with Pat Riley, Jeff Bzdelik has had some of the higher ranked defenses. So, this next season won't be all on MDA. A seasoned defensive specialist is going to be on the bench.
the great Phil Jackson always preaches that defensive wins games. Once you play defensive, the points will come.
Run a set play for every 3 harden isos, hit a lot of 3s, hope Beasgod goes off on other 2nd units. 50+ season inc wooooh optimism
Beverley can't shoot? He shot 40℅ last year. We finally have a team of shooters (Bev, Harden, Ariza, Gordon, Dekker, Ryno), which we haven't had in years. If anything, this is the team the McHale schemes (all 3 and key) were designed for. I'm bullish. Of course GSW will win the West, but people saying we'll miss the playoffs are being delusional and irrational. I wanted Vogel, but the more I hear MDA the more optimistic I am Also, when did Mda have defensive personnel? He had Chandler in NY the one year, but let's not pretend Nash and Stat were capable of top 10 defensive production either.
The 2016-2017 Houston Rockets will basically be like that scene in SpaceJam: Bill Murray: "Okay, here's how I see it. Duck? You kick it in to the girl bunny. Down in the post. Then you dish it back out to the guy bunny. Swing it around to Mike, over here. You go to the hole and dominate!" Michael Jordan: "Bill! We're on defense!" Bill Murray: "Whoa ho ho! I don't play defense. Okay, you're gonna have to listen to Mike on this guys, listen up." Except replace Bill Murray with Antoni and Les and replace Jordan with, well, everyone who saw how bad our defense was last year. If the Rockets are able to have a top 10 defense next year with our roster and with Antoni as head coach, then Bzdelik should win the MVP.
I am excited for the shooters. It has been ridiculous for the past several years to watch the Rockets so strongly emphasize three point shooting but then not have anyone that is actually that great at 3 point shooting. I'm not excited for how many games missed with injury we are going to see next season. Let's not pretend that Harden, Gordon, Anderson and old man Nene are great defenders either. So much for Morey saying he was going to focus on defense this offseason.
This thread needs that clip of the Jim Mora rant.... "Playoffs? Playoffs? Are you kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game"... lol
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-oSFYxDGKy8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> What about... the all offense, no defense Rockets. They are who we thought they were <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SWmQbk5h86w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> (RIP Dennis Green)
Harden has proven himself to be a capable defender when he's not shouldering the entire offensive burden. Bev Harden Ariza Dmo Capela has a strong potential as a two way lineup. I don't think we'll be a top 10 defense but middle of the pack is easily obtainable with a top 3 offense.
The best strategy to win games in the playoffs or the regular season is to outscore your opponents. It has been 100% proven that if you score more than the other team you win, EVERY time. You don't even need advanced statistics to know this - it is right there for everyone to see. DD
I think the takeaway is more that if he can get you into the middle of the pack defensively then you can be pretty good and possibly contend. Remains to be seen if he can do that.
I tell ya, good defense is obviously a huge answer to our issues... but 1 thing that would be really nice is if Harden could consistently show up in the playoffs. I feel like he only has a "Harden" game 25% of the time in the postseason... and it'd be one thing if he was contributing in other ways, but if he's not scoring he gets really...sigh...just seems uninvolved. I was really bummed about him and our team after last season. Coach or not, you need players that will fight, that will push, that will challenge themselves. I did not see that in Harden last year, and it left a sour taste in my mouth about being anything eye-catching in this Warriors-Lebron era of bball.
