Here's a report from nba scouts found on: http://www.nba.com/preview2006/hou.html {at bottom of page} - Assuming their all healthy, you’re going to really have to stop McGrady. Even though Yao is a main issue too, if you can get at McGrady you have a chance. - The basketball IQ of that team, albeit very good already, will go up a lot just by having Shane on the court. The defensive mentality that he will bring is going to be the biggest asset that he has - The way to beat them is really put some athleticism after them and make them play long periods of defense that takes McGrady out…run him through double screens, run him through staggered screens off the baseline and make him chase his man around. - Make Yao get up and down the court a little bit and have to worry about help side on the transition and all that kind of stuff. -- Western Conference Scout Yeah, not to mention they have Bonz to deal with now
I'd say these 2 are pretty accurate. I imagine the Rockets will continue to struggle with teams like Phoenix. And I don't necessarily think it's athleticism that's the issue, its just pure out quickness and speed. Yao, Shane, Wells...these guys are all athletic in their own way. I mean Bonzi average over 10 boards a game, in the playoffs, against the Spurs...you don't do that by just being smart and boxing out, not when you're a SG. But they still don't have the up and down the court speed of a Phoenix, and in the past those teams have been able to get early leads and go on to crush the team. The great teams are able to play successfully at multiple tempos. Granted, last year's team just didn't have the talent, but even still, they struggled at pretty much every tempo except 1 - as slow as possible. The question is can the type of athleticism acquired in the offseason lead to not just a more talented team, but a more robust team.
Probably both. Not only are they able to control the tempo, they play great at every tempo. Thinking about the Spurs 2 years ago, for example. They averaged just under 92 ppg in the first two rounds, but against the Suns, scored 104 a game...but then in the Finals notched it all the way down to 85. The Heat frankly weren't that different. Over 100 ppg in each of the first two rounds. Against the Pistons, under 90 ppg. Against the Mavs, more than 90, but less than 100.
teams wont be able to run tmac around the court too much b/c they actually have other players that are capable of guarding good guards and forwards
There is one kind of team that should be able to beat the Rockets. Any team with really, really good penetrators could get Yao in foul trouble. It wouldn't be easy, but were I building a gameplan to beat the Rockets, I'd go right at Yao with an athletic guard on every play.
Wouldn't Battier be put on the guard then? He may not stop him from penetrating, but chances are he'll slow down enough to not be able to run right into Yao. The Rockets will still have a tough time with fast, mobile teams. They can play the slow-tempo, they can play the mid-tempo, but they don't have enough talented speedsters to play the up-tempo. The Mavs and Suns will be our big problems this season. I suppose the best way to beat us is to leave our one weak link open while alternating doubling Yao or TMac. With our current lineup, we probably will have at least one weak link on the floor at any given time. With the starting 5, it's Alston, who can't knock down the 3. Similarly, you can leave Howard open to throw up jumpers all night, let the young guys try and do something, and so on. The key for us then becomes ball movement. If we can keep the ball moving fluidly between our players, it will break down the opposing defense. And like m_cable said in his thread, making sure we can set up Yao on the post - committing to the re-post. That alone could break down a defense.
This sounds like the generic game plan for almost all NBA teams. They really need to hire this guy as a glame plan specialist.
I have to disagree that the rocks are going to fall to Phoenix. With our new crew, we should have no problem playing against them. Kirk Snyder, Luther, v-span, mcgrady are all quick players. I think the new Yao is going to own Phonix's interior D, however, Amare might own us in the same way because no one in our crew can defend him, if we play small, I guess Yao would have to defend against him, which is not possible. and Battier is not the answer to Amare either. Overall, we will have no problem scoring against them and we should beat them handily in the playoffs. Phonix is an extremely overated team, look at how they did in the playoffs last year. Heck, even the Lakers play them competitively.
That doesnt happen everygame, the great teams can play at any tempo and more often then not they dictate the pace. You just gotta be good enough to win in the games you dont
I wonder if this team can be successful with a really small lineup without any of Yao, Mutombo, or Howard on the court. If a team goes small, can a lineup of Battier, Snyder, McGrady, Bonzi, and Rafer run with them for 10 minutes or so and beat their ass while Yao gets some rest? Then maybe bring Yao in when he's fully rested so he can bust up the inside.
it's hard not to struggle w/ teams like Phoenix, then again, mismatches go both ways, Lakers and Clippers have both played Suns well last year. Slow it done, give it a big man, and shoot a high %. With the number of options Rockets have on the post, it'll be better this year. I sure hope so.
