Rockets continuing their tradition of changing the game

Celtics' superteam (kg, the truth, ray Allen) messed it up for awhile, it inspired LBJ later that superstars can select organizations they play for like partners , since then super stars begun to ring each other before summer, teaming up for the trophy of next season. imho thats a bad beginning, a negative change.

 

I tried bumping an old game thread from the last time we played the Lakers to talk about this very thing. Watching Capela get bullied and punked by JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard in a game where Anthony Davis didn't even play was one of the things that I think ultimately made them comfortable with moving off of Clint. The realization that we're never going to be able to win a battle of the big men type of game so instead, let's try to optimize what we do best.

Having that much money invested in a rim running, lob catching center doesn't make much sense when you see several teams across the NBA getting those skills from guys at a mere fraction of the cost. That money needed to be allocated somewhere else. Unfortunately, we haven't yet replaced that skill set on the team with a bargain player, but we'll see what shakes out in the buyout market.

I'll miss Capela, but I do like the idea of trying to recreate what we had defensively and offensively with Prince Luc, Ariza, and PJ from a couple of seasons ago.

 

Add - 2 super high usage PGs playing together on the same team (which the Rockets have now done twice - Harden + CP and Harden + WB)

 

Even Drive and Dish era of Francis and Cutino was a bit different - ONce they got Yao it was pretty good
TMac and Yao was more traditional offense but was the same level of success as drive and dish

Rocket River

 

The Rockets are also arguably the first NBA team to really embrace brand globalization (Yao). Lots of teams with foreign players before that, but the Rockets did things no one else had before like creating Chinese language jerseys and aggressively marketing their brand overseas.

 

With the hella topical avatar to boot.

Someone with the Rockets needs to duplicate that old photo with James and Russ.

Instead of the Twin Towers maybe call them the Two Tweeners.

 

Russell Westbrook directing a “7 second or less” offense is going to be crazy. Not sure if good or bad crazy yet.

 

I'd call that perimeter clear-outs to destroy illegal defense rules....along with Stackhouse (at DET) and AI doing it.

That Rudy offense was one of the big reasons they eradicated illegal defense rules.

 

Good points. There are other things that we no longer have to worry about as well.

Capela being switched on to a PG at the three point line is one of them. It was so frustrating to watch that happen over and over. He wasn’t doing any rim protecting or rebounding out there. Just getting abused off the dribble.

Capela being fronted by a PF like Draymond is another thing I won’t miss. He would get pushed out of the paint and couldn’t do **** but wait for the Harden lob which couldn’t get to him.

Capela being hacked and sent to the FT line is another issue resolved by small ball.

Capela’s defender sagging off him to guard shooters is over as well. Now the opposing center has to guard one of our 3 point shooters.

I’m warming up to this. There’s definitely positives from it. There’s definitely gaps which have been closed by eliminating the slow, plodding big man in the paint.

Let’s see how it plays out. We saw enough with him to realize this team wasn’t winning a championship. Maybe we have what it takes to win it without him.