Griffin scores more than Kenny even without all the iso touches. If we didn't run that crap offense around Kenny half the game, he wouldn't score ten points.
Statistical validation. From NBA.com: Team Rankings (out of 28 teams) Assists 1.Minesota:25.969 28.Houston:18.091 You can't play good team ball being rank last in the NBA in assists. If the Rockets were ranked #1, they would be a dangerous team to play against. They would also be able to compete with the top teams in the West.
I looked at those assist rankings last week but figured, don't put too much emphasis on the assist rankings by team. There's always some team out to disprove you like Chicago at 11(I think they are a worse team than us, at least when we have Steve Francis playing), Utah at 2(a sort of grade inflation or the Stockton effect), San Antonio at 25(I think they are a bit better than *most* of the other teams in the league.) The low assists just means the Rockets love the ISO like a cat and catnip.
I looked at those assist rankings last week but figured, don't put too much emphasis on the assist rankings by team. There's always some team out to disprove you like Chicago at 11(I think they are a worse team than us, at least when we have Steve Francis playing), Utah at 2(a sort of grade inflation or the Stockton effect), San Antonio at 25(I think they are a bit better than *most* of the other teams in the league.) The low assists just means the Rockets love the ISO like a cat and catnip. This team is a whole lot of a difference than the teams above. If this team was rank in the top five in assist. I guarantee you will see a much improved team.
Great take, Jeff. The thing is, passing is not inherently unselfish at all. The value judgement of "selfish" is irrelevant -- Jordan is the most 'selfish' b*stard in the world, but he knows how to pass the ball. If nothing nothing nothing else, a selfish player should learn to pass because it creates uncertainty in a defender. If everyone KNOWS Mobley is going to shoot, it exponentially reduces the number of options that a defender must guard against. If Mobley and Thomas become a better passers, better at finding the open man, defenders have to sag off and pay attention to the periphery. It will give them more room to operate. Mobley especially must learn to pass, not because he takes to many shots, but because it will give him higher percentage shots. Thomas is not going to be a huge part of our future so he can do what he wants, I really don't care. Its not about Mobley being a bad guy or Thomas being a selfish guy; its about a skill they have not honed. John Stockton, Hakeem, Jordan and -- especially -- Clyde Drexler knew this: having a wicked court vision and a dead-eye-bullet-pass is just as scary for a defender as a quick first step. Way scarier, actually. Loved those backdoor passes to Chucky from Clyde in the first quarter of every game 1995-1997; it used to gives opposing coaches nightmares. CBFC
Thomas is not going to be a huge part of our future so he can do what he wants, I really don't care. I really do think Kenny is the odd man out.
Every one that watches any Rocket's games and sees any player not pass the rock when he is defended by all the players on the other team gets frustrated or pissed! Granted the coach can't be blamed for everything that happens on the floor but he does deserve some blame. The one thing that gets me is that Rudy and the Rockets organization keep talking about chemistry. They sign these players because they want to keep the team together, but some players don't pass the ball to one another. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't good chemistry or just chemistry is having all the players on the team playing together. Passing the ball to the open man no matter who he is. Playing unselfishly and putting the team first rather than anything else. Being 28th in the league in assists will never get you to the playoffs much less a championship. The only thing I can think is that after everything the Rockets have gone through things can only get better.
