The season in previous years always started at the end of October so with the 2nd week over, I'd like to think today is a fresh start and we can hopefully start to play some real basketball. We are 5-2, but I think even with some positive signs, we are far from where we should be. We are currently just not playing particularly well with these injuries, short rotation and not running the type of offense and defense I'm guessing the coaches would like to see. We are 14th in both offense and defense rating and 24th in pace! Compare to that last year's 3rd in pace and 2nd on offense. The Warriors are still 1st in comparison. The shortened pre-season definitely has something to do with it. Injuries, different line-ups with already 4 guys sidelined at different points in CP3, Ariza, Nene and Gordon. It's difficult to get in any type of rhythm when you have to change things up on the fly. Another issues is the referees not giving Harden calls he would usually get. We are adjusting, but I'd like to see us get back to our usual game, which we are not playing. Our pace is way too slow, which is mainly on our coaches and Harden. The times we can get out in transition and just refuse to do so is a big issue and Harden refusing to take the ball out like a diva waiting for someone else to do it and just walking the ball up so slow is killing us. Then we have guys settling for contested shots, not cutting enough except for Mbah (coaching problem) and taking too many threes when they're not falling. We're also just missing open shots, but that's fine. Harden needs to get back to his mid-range more. The main positive is we are attacking the basket a lot more! Gordon has found his legs, Mbah can get to the rim when he wants to, Capela has improved to put the ball on the floor and Harden is of course still the man in that regard. Once he starts getting calls again, he will be back to his usual 30 PPG. He is at least adjusting to it and still getting enough points for us to win. Assists are a bit down, but as a team it's solid. On defense, there's the problem of communication, playing 4-on-5 with Harden losing his man and not rotating over, double teaming when it's not necessary and again someone not rotating over, not guarding the perimeter (same problem last year) and not running back in transition. What we do have this year is some great individual defenders in Mbah and Tucker, as well as Ryan having some great stretches, Harden playing well at times and Capela & Black doing work on the opponents' bigs. I do think with us having more defensive minded players we should be able to run even more. When you get a stop, you can get out and run. We are great at rebounding this year, 1st in defensive which is a major problem last year, so our next step is to get out and run when we get a rebound. I haven't seen it enough, but am positive we can get there of course. Go Rockets!
No contenders? We keep losing to Memphis and we play them another 2 times before half the season is over...
Are you a wizard?! Season starts tomorrow. "What we've done up to now doesn't count," D'Antoni said. "We've got a new team tomorrow. When you put that big of a rock into a pond, there's big waves. ... We have to endure the next two or three games and smooth it out as we go along."
I don't like to start threads... does anybody know our first game when we will wear our alternative jerseys.
