Bandwagoner. I was onto Delfino's importance before it was cool: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=229592&highlight=Groin
Definition of a cagey vet who probably isn't all that great of a player but really knows how to play the game.
I think you read it in a reverse way. in def it is the lower the better. CD's rating is 1.02 (Asik's rating is 1.03). That is according to this stats makeup, he is indeed the best defender in the team.
I'd say he's pretty important. He really spaces the floor which allows our offense to be more fluid. He opens up driving lanes for Harden and Lin.
Very important piece to our success. He's a huge X-factor when games are close. Glad we have this guy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Carlos Delfino is launching 8.7 threes per 36 minutes. Prior career high: 6.4. Houston's shot selection in line with front office wishes.</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/287612882181570561" data-datetime="2013-01-05T17:33:49+00:00">January 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Huge! 8==)~ As someone pointed out, it really spaces the floor and allows Harden to penetrate. With his quick 3 point trigger teams play further out in the perimeter helping us in our quick up tempo game. Delfino is the perfect fit with the current rockets.
Awesome, another "Unsung Hero" Thread. :grin: Delfino has been a great surprise. 1) When he's on, he can single handedly keep the Rockets in a game 2) His spacing and 3 point threat are crucial, as is evidenced by the Rockets struggles when he is not in the game (the games he missed) 3) He has decent play-making abilities and can bring the ball up the court (not that we want him doing that much, but with the second unit, its payed dividends) 4) He's aggressive and can get the steal 5) His Defense is WAY underrated. I think he actually plays good D 6) He is a very good finisher. Coach trusts him to be on the court towards the end of a quarter/game. Not quite Tony D levels (serious here) but I'd trust him to take the last shot of the quarter/game behind Harden & Tony 7) The ladies call him Del-FINE-O = ticket sales
You gotta respect Delfino. He is the one guy who just knows how to play. He plays with confidence on the court and I think the youngsters see that and are receptive. He is fearless, that's the attitude you should want. He takes a lot of bad shots sure, but he's not afraid to take them, and rarely does he really shoot you out of games.
Well, I think the key is, he doesn't lose confidence in his shot. Most "bad" shots I see him taking are actually good ones/open ones that aren't falling (yes, on occassion, he tries to go ISO-Kobe ball--that IS bad) and it makes him look bad because he'll go 0/5 from 3 point land or something. BUT the crucial thing is he'll come back the next game and fire from the exact same spots and make them. The young guys can learn a lot from that approach. He has a short-term memory and knows that those shots start going in. So as a result, we get a Delfino who scores 2 pts one game, then 20 the next. The key there to temper the inconsistency is to have McHale and the coaching staff aware of when things look off and keep him on a short leash.. or change the game plan slightly where he is cutting to the basket etc (which he can do too)
Yesterday when our team was falling apart in the 2nd Quarter he came in and knocked down a couple threes and showed he wasn't phased at all. He's an essential part of this team. What an awesome role player.
I may be wrong, but it seems like Delfino only shoots those "bad" shots when others aren't doing anything. When others are creating, he does his usual setting up at the 3pt line. When he's creating, he does tend to pass if he's not open. But there are times when the offense gets clogged down, and Delfino will just put up a contested 3.
