The cure to our cold shooting streaks starts with DEFENSE

As we've all observed, sometimes the team goes cold shooting-wise and we just can't buy a basket. Even a simple Howard layup will miss, like tonight not scoring for over 4 min in the 3rd Quarter against Minnesota. We worked our way of it though, with strong defense and then easy baskets in transition and that seemed to get us back in the game.

This is what I feel is different between the team now and earlier in the season, when we would drop these games. The team is able to tighten up the defense, get some stops, and turn that into some good transition offense. Some of those passes tonight were just awesome to watch. This is what Howard's elite defense is able to buy you, and to a lesser extent, this is also the teams willingness to run, and to an even lesser extent(don't want to start a flame war) Lin's passing game. He had 4 of his 7 assists during this stretch with the quick transition passes. That Tjones pass was pretty awesome too.

Whenever we get cold like this, I think if the Rockets can tighten up the defense and get the stops, our fast break offense can always keep us in the game, even when the other team plays solid half court defense like the Wolves did in the 2nd half. Even a team with a great physical defense like Memphis can't run with our fast break.

 

I agree, but it was our defense that led to those transition baskets. We got the stops and guys were running down to the other side before the Wolves could get back. Those transition baskets are easy and ultimately, I'm saying that's the cure when you can't seem to make a shot.