ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Spurs 2/1/2012

Defenses figure out how to guard KMart. Thats the main reason why the offense cant get anything done. They settle for bad jump shots that lead to teams like the Spurs getting out in transition. Getting easy points in transition is good way to blow a lead quick.

Its not that difficult to diagnose, and Im sure McHale know damn well whats going on in the second halves. The Rockets NEED post offense badly. All this talk makes me miss Carl Mandry.... Mr. 4th quarter post offense machine.

 

Day after losses - SUCK !!!!

 

Landry was a 4th quarter beast. Miss those days.

 

Well, I'm always late to these things... but a real issue that's been with the Rockets, through "superstars" (a la Francis, Yao, McGrady, etc.) is that you have to have consistent confidence from positions that matter. And that means all positions, as in any one game any given position may be where the team has an edge. When leads get lost and it comes down to crunch-time, you have to have players that can truly FINISH. I would maintain that that is equally important as skills. Maybe that is the definition of a superstar. In other words, a lot of success is in the head of the player. Was Larry Bird super athletic? No. Was Robert Horry a superstar? No. And just about anyone on this forum could think of more than a few players who, while not a superstar, can be good finishers. How you turn that switch on in someone's head is the trick. They have to believe they belong on the court with everyone else, no matter WHO is on the court... even Michael Jordan. It's a Vernon Maxwell mentality. As soon as coaches can get the players to really feel that way, they will turn a corner in their consistency.

 

I agree with everything you said except for that last line. That Vernon Maxwell mentality is innate. It part of a person and not something that can be taught by a coach.

The consistency issue is basically an issue with focus and having belief in the team. That can be imbedding by coach who is good at inspiring his players, however, though even the coach can only do so much here as well.