ESPN: Rockets spend two days trying to instill confidence

sammy · Nov 24, 2015

A lot of basketball is mental. We've been pressing. There's a lot of added pressure when things aren't going well.

I think the Rockets will get things right. All of the negative people are gonna be jumping up and down while pretending that they never freaked out.

RedDragon01 · Nov 24, 2015

Get it all out, Clutchfans. Get it all out.

It's natural for you to be angry, to feel betrayed. It's natural for you to lash out even after reading positive signs of change and progress. It's natural for you to be irrational about everything the team is doing now, from coach to player, owner to gm, whether it's good or bad.

Just know in the back of your head that this is a good sign. It's a glimpse into some of the things this team is doing differently to turn things around. You may not like reading it because it isn't what you would do if you were in their place, but that's ok. There are more knowledgeable people than you responsible for figuring it all out.

So be irrational now. Be upset. But once we find a little success after taking steps in the right direction, from practice to in-game changes, try to relax. Try to enjoy the parts of this season that aren't all bad. One day we're going to break out of this mess. Then maybe you can start thinking rationally again.

Then again, this is Clutchfans...where you are smarter than everyone else, so why isn't anyone listening?

KlutchQT · Nov 24, 2015

Y'all are really convinced JB has said "the hell with defense" based on this blurb?

joeson332 · Nov 24, 2015

KlutchQT said: ↑

Y'all are really convinced JB has said "the hell with defense" based on this blurb?
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HeyDude · Nov 24, 2015

Richie_Rich said: ↑

Rockets G James Harden says he will be more focused on encouraging teammates

Quote:

With the Rockets determined to rebuild confidence as a way to regain their shooting touch, Rockets guard James Harden said he has made a point to be more encouraging, especially lately.

“That’s my job, every single day to encourage to make sure everybody is in good spirits whether you’re playing good or bad,” Harden said. “The positive energy feeds off and that’s how we grow as a team.

“We’re not winning games, but I think these last couple of days, the energy has been good. We’ve been playing much harder now. We got to get our in-game stuff, coverages defensively, we got to get those right. But the effort is there and I like where our head has been at.”

:grin:
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What the hell happened to this team??

davidxhz · Nov 24, 2015

HeyDude said: ↑

What the hell happened to this team??
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this team is going to the lottery baby, enjoy the ride

RoxxxPhan · Nov 24, 2015

Mediate Sun!

J.R. · Nov 24, 2015

Slowly but surely, Rockets rebuilding their confidence

HOUSTON — Meet the new boss, same as the old loss.

In three games since the trapdoor swallowed up coach Kevin McHale, the Houston Rockets have been beaten twice and squeezed an overtime win out of a 30-foot prayer toss by Corey Brewer at the end of regulation time.

It's a slow process, this turning a ship around. And if it weren't, it might be an even bigger indictment of the principals.

"I think our effort is getting a lot better," said forward Terrence Jones, as if that were something to brag about.

Let it be noted that All-Star James Harden says he's been more inspired on recent nights by the sight of interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff standing up on the sidelines throughout games.

So perhaps if Bickerstaff could rise and remain on his tiptoes from opening tip to final buzzer, the Rockets might find it within themselves to eventually creep back above .500.

As it is, they are not the only so-called Western Conference contenders to be underachieving grandly. Not as long as the Los Angeles Clippers are losing seven of nine games, blowing 23-point leads at home when they had the defending champs on the ropes and also bouncing off the walls of their Staples Center locker room following a dismal loss to the Toronto Raptors.

But nobody is even whispering that the skids are being greased up for Clippers coach Doc Rivers, certainly not as long as the Clippers' president of basketball operations is Doc Rivers.

Time was already running out in the stacked West, according to Rockets team owner Leslie Alexander and general manager Daryl Morey, which is why making a move at 4-7 was merely responding to five alarms blaring at the fire station.

There may also have been the matter of dousing the notion of a house going completely up in smoke, which might have been noticed by a certain Kevin Durant.

It's a long season, said the Rockets players, which is what you always say when you haven't pulled your weight so far.

The front office and the still-new coach have a plan to get every one of them paddling again in the same direction, from tweaking the attitude to making changes in defense and the starting lineup.

"It's to get back to who were were and who we've been, who we were when we had our most success," said Bickerstaff. "Last year, we were a five-, six-(ranked) defensive team in the league. This year we're near the bottom.

"We have to be aggressive defensive. We've got to turn people over. We've got to protect the paint. We have to protect one another."

Since swapping coaches, the Rockets have had their best three defensive games of the season, based strictly on opponents' field goal percentage. It has been pointed out that even with a 1-2 record in the new era, the team has played harder and not gone into total surrender mode. One takes satisfaction in the first small steps.

Yet it is also hard not to notice that the Rockets still fell behind by 17 to the Trail Blazers, 20 to the Grizzlies and then lost to the Knicks on a 9-3 blitz over the last 82 seconds at home.

With Thanksgiving yet on the horizon, it may be early in the 82-game NBA schedule, but maybe not quite as early as it seems for Bickerstaff or the Rockets.

For one, it would be out of style and character for Alexander and Morey to stick long-term with a dues-paying assistant, however competent, unless he overwhelmingly knocks it out of the ballpark. That will mean a speedy and abrupt turnaround. That might mean getting to The Finals. Alexander is a star-chaser of the highest order and will always pursue the biggest name and headline-grabber available — i.e. Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Jeremy Lin, Harden, Dwight Howard, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Adelman, McHale.

For another, despite everything he says about belief in the current roster as championship caliber, "Shufflin' Daryl" is always looking ahead to the flying leap at his next move. That is Durant next summer and that means this team this season pulling its act together to look like an inviting destination. Why would Durant want to try to form a Big Three with the Odd Couple?

For that to happen, Bickerstaff will have to fix the dysfunctional relationship between Harden and Howard on and off the court. Let's be clear: theirs is not a seething dislike between the pair of stars, but a grudging lack of respect that is like lead in the sneakers that holds the entire roster down. There is no way Durant wants to step into a tempest.

Morey's offseason deal to bring in Ty Lawson to ease the ball-handling duties and burden on Harden has been a bust. Bickerstaff's first personnel move was to replace Lawson the starting lineup with 38-year-old Jason Terry. No. 2 a year ago, Harden is leading the league in isolation plays as the rest of his numbers from last season are down across the board.

Meanwhile Howard's field goals and shots attempted are the lowest since his rookie NBA season more than a decade ago. At the same time, a cautious approach physically has forced Howard to sit out four games in back-to-back situations. There is hope that he'll get clearance by the weekend.

So the search for signs of progress starts small.

"I think our head is in the right place and our confidence is getting back," Harden said.

It's up to Bickerstaff to get them all on their toes.
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Taking - and making - shots in practice instills confidence in Rockets

As Monday's practice became longer than any of the games in an already long season, the Rockets kept firing away.

J.B. Bickerstaff had a long list of problems he could have addressed in his first extended practice since taking over as interim coach, but he knows that when the Rockets shoot the ball, they need it to go in at some point.

So they shot and shot. And not just in drills in which they walk around the 3-point line as an assistant coach sends passes to them with no defender in the room.

The Rockets ran to shots and ran their offense. And they just kept putting the ball up in the hopes that when they do so at night, when the lights are on and the statistics count, more of their shots will go in.

"Shooters know they're going to go through slumps," Bickerstaff said. "They know the onlyway to get out of slumpsis to take more shots. Sowe built in today in the practice a ton of game-speed system shots so the more they see it go in, the more confidence they'll have."

The idea of getting a basketball team to put the ball in the hoop is far from novel, but the Rockets are not in position to seek originality. In the past week, they made significant strides defensively. They played and competed harder. But the shooting remains too shaky for other improvements to lead to wins.

The Rockets, who play Memphis on Wednesday at Toyota Center, made just 37.8 percent of their shots Friday against the Grizzlies and went more than eight minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter. For the quarter, they made just two and shot 11.1 percent.

Overall this season, the Rockets are making 41.5 percent of their shots, better than only the 76ers and Lakers, who are a combined 2-26. The Rockets are last in 3-point shooting accuracy, making 29.6 percent of their attempts from deep while taking more 3s than any other NBA team. Entering Monday, the Rockets had missed more 3s than 18 teams had taken.

But Bickerstaff maintains the Rockets are taking the shots they made before this season began with clanging rims.

"We're going to live with 3-point shots," he said. "We're going to get to the paint enough. We're going to get fouled. We want to make sure when we're taking the shots, we're taking them with confidence. We're not just taking them because we say, 'These are the shots we want.' "

But the issues have not only been from the 3-point line, where the Rockets are taking a significantly smaller percentage of their shots than they did last season.

Across-the-board woes

Through nine games, the Rockets led the NBA in points in the paint per game. Over the last five games, they have fallen to 11th, mostly because while getting there as much as ever, they have been missing, indicating their shooting issues could be as much about attitude as aptitude.

"Just got to make some," said guard Corey Brewer, who is making 30.3 percent of his attempts, 21.6 percent from 3-point range. "We're finally getting the shots we were getting last year and we want to get. We're actually moving the ball now. We're playing faster.

"We have to get our confidence back. We've been struggling all year. Now, I feel like we're getting in the flow. Once we start making shots, we're going to be tough."

Rebuilding that confidence was the goal of much of Monday's practice and, many players believed, the key to finding the shooting touch.

The last time they had three off days between games, they fell into a four-game losing streak that cost Kevin McHale his job as coach. They believe they have made important strides since. But to get those improvements to show in the standings, they know they have to get better at the most basic part of the game: putting the ball in the basket.

Practice at game speed

"These two days helped us a lot," said guard James Harden, who has made 38 percent of his attempts. "Just had to get a good practice and run through our offensive sets for some pace and some speed and go get the shots we're going to be getting in the game so when those shots come in the game, we're comfortable enough to shoot them."

They hope they also will start to make them.
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thejav · Nov 24, 2015

If they just started to practice at game speed than this is one ****ty franchise.. you would think getting paid millions of dollars to put a ball in a circle would instill the confidence needed to atleast play hard..

DaonlyLA · Nov 24, 2015

They need to dust off that Old Rudy T Playbook! Inside out.. Dwight needs to be the first Option inside and he needs to dominate! then kick out to the open 3 point shooters, Harden and TY can either slash to the hole of dish to the open Man and of course Harden take the 3.. then get back and play hard nose Defense!

KlutchQT · Nov 24, 2015

Certainly sounds like practicing at game speed is new. Have these fools just been shooting around at practice, or...?

rocketsballin · Nov 24, 2015

DaonlyLA said: ↑

They need to dust off that Old Rudy T Playbook! Inside out.. Dwight needs to be the first Option inside and he needs to dominate! then kick out to the open 3 point shooters, Harden and TY can either slash to the hole of dish to the open Man and of course Harden take the 3.. then get back and play hard nose Defense!
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you would think its that easy but its not. they step on the court and suddenly become r****ded as f***!

so i should keep dreaming that'll never happen! rockets gonna chuck those threes like ww3 bout to start! have to get there 3pt totals up.
isnt ariza close to breaking the record for 3pt bricks in a career?

Will · Nov 24, 2015

Does anyone here believe that if our shooting from 3 increases from 29% to 34%, it will cascade over and fix the rest of our offense? Serious question. I don't believe it. But maybe I'm wrong.

dobro1229 · Nov 24, 2015

RedDragon01 said: ↑

Get it all out, Clutchfans. Get it all out.

It's natural for you to be angry, to feel betrayed. It's natural for you to lash out even after reading positive signs of change and progress. It's natural for you to be irrational about everything the team is doing now, from coach to player, owner to gm, whether it's good or bad.

Just know in the back of your head that this is a good sign. It's a glimpse into some of the things this team is doing differently to turn things around. You may not like reading it because it isn't what you would do if you were in their place, but that's ok. There are more knowledgeable people than you responsible for figuring it all out.

So be irrational now. Be upset. But once we find a little success after taking steps in the right direction, from practice to in-game changes, try to relax. Try to enjoy the parts of this season that aren't all bad. One day we're going to break out of this mess. Then maybe you can start thinking rationally again.

Then again, this is Clutchfans...where you are smarter than everyone else, so why isn't anyone listening?
Click to expand...

If anyone follows my posts for the past however many years, I think you'd generally the one calming everyone down, and being somewhat rational.

But if this piece doesn't make you roll your eyes, and chuckle a bit, I don't know what to tell you. We don't need pieces coming out to tell us "Now we are going to try hard"... just freaking show us. Wasting effort with puff pieces about how we are going to practice hard, and talking about getting confidence back are just insulting to the fans who are actually following the team and investing their time & effort into the team.

Your confidence, and your effort in practice just doesn't do anything to validate the blatant lack of effort on defense (or just straight up giving up on that end), the lazy turnovers, and the lack of being able to hit wide open shots, or at least take better quality shots when the three's aren't falling.

Its just insulting that we hear this from the team as if to tell us "Applaud us... we are NOW trying hard, and getting our confidence back"... just show us that you care on the court during game time.

rocketsballin · Nov 24, 2015

dobro is absolutely right. i mean wtf, there's no sensible reason for every single shooter to be so terrible at their job.
terry had a good start shooting the three now he's contracted w/e the **** these guys have

look at the %'s, they dont lie. wtf is that? jones is the only guy shooting a good % from three! TERRENCE JONES! and im pretty sure thats a fluke, begginning of the season high

"instill confidence"? i dont have the words for how terrible this team is
its like they became so bad they got stupid as hell and decided to put this crap out

this team is un-f**kin-believable right now. thats one word i can think of
and dont get me started on dwight. 5 shots first half, 0 2nd half. do they even know who he is?

cheke64 · Nov 24, 2015

Will said: ↑

Does anyone here believe that if our shooting from 3 increases from 29% to 34%, it will cascade over and fix the rest of our offense? Serious question. I don't believe it. But maybe I'm wrong.
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Its a big cluster****. This is what happens when management belittles coaching. We ruined Harden, we spoiled him. We made him into the Indominus Rex and now its known and hes outta of his cage. Cant hold him accountable, responsible or tame him.

Deuce · Nov 24, 2015

basketballholic said: ↑

2. They ARE NOT getting enough clean looks from 3. I don't care what they say. All you gotta do is watch the games. That's more bologna. They're taking rushed, quick 3's, not getting set properly, don't have any rhythm and Harden is just vomiting out pull up 3's with terrible, terrible accuracy. They're taking the wrong looks from 3. They are simply not getting very many good looks from 3.
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This has always been one of my biggest gripes. And it stems from an offense that hasn't evolved.

The Rockets took the league by storm last year primarily because of Harden's improved game. The cross over dribble paired with the step back jumper. All year he exploited teams with that. But it got exposed by the Warriors in the playoffs and now more teams are sagging back and crowding the lane.

There is no weakside action and everything is stagnant.

Further, the Rockets "fast break points" have dried up. Rockets NEED those points to succeed. I personally feel fast break points should be considered "value add" to the offense and not core. This over reliance on FBP just highlights the shortcomings in the half court offense.

NeonTiger · Nov 24, 2015

Tank for Ben Simmons

Deuce · Nov 24, 2015

Will said: ↑

Does anyone here believe that if our shooting from 3 increases from 29% to 34%, it will cascade over and fix the rest of our offense? Serious question. I don't believe it. But maybe I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

It will fix the offense to a certain point via better spacing. But for this team to take it to the next level in the playoffs the Rockets must continue to evolve their offense in the half court set. Harden ISO generating all the points will only get you so far.

heypartner · Nov 24, 2015

Will said: ↑

Does anyone here believe that if our shooting from 3 increases from 29% to 34%, it will cascade over and fix the rest of our offense? Serious question. I don't believe it. But maybe I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

I guess we could assume it would get us back to last year, but no real improvement from last year. And our defense is worse.

I suppose one way to look at it is just look at Harden and Lawson. If Harden can start shooting 40% from 3 and Lawson can get close to his 40% in his first two years in the league, then ask yourself what would that do to their game. I can't really ask myself that question without first thinking it's a chicken and egg proposition. Can they shoot 40% in the current offense, or would the offense first have to change to get them better looks?

My answer would be the latter.

10% of our FGAs are contested 3s. That is the highest in the League next to the Lakers. Although we get the most open 3s as a % of total FGAs, we scramble too much and are too predictable on offense such that the defenses got our number and are created many contested 3s. That has to change.

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ESPN: Rockets spend two days trying to instill confidence

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