I just like the fact that we can throw the ball to a PF and actually have a chance to score. Tjones and Capela can't deliver in that capacity. We can't shop Tjones because he plays so sporadic.
You know that depends upon the person inputting the data, right? How about THIS....we are getting the RIGHT people open looks, no longer does it always end up with Brewer shooting it. DD
Definately the x-factor we needed to lift the team. But we just have to accept he will also make some boneheaded plays sooner or later, it's inevitable.
The player tracking cameras collect the data. And The Rockets as a team have been at or near the top of the entire league in open 3s attempted per game. There was never a point where it always ended up with Brewer shooting it. Plain and simple the entire team was missing wide open shots to start the season. We have started to finally make them but it's been happening way before Smith arrived. Ariza has played 46 games. His first 23 he shot 31% from 3. In the last 23 he has shot 44% from 3. That's a huge difference and Josh has only been here for 3 of those. You can do the same exercise with just about everyone. First 23 games Brewer was shooting 27% from 3. Since then he's shooting 33%. That's a big jump. Harden in the first 23 was shooting 31% from 3. Since then 37% another big jump. Plain and simple EVERYONE was bricking wide open 3s early in the year, but for a while now our 3 point shooters have gotten their **** together and it happened way before Smith got here. im not trying to say that I think Smith hasn't made us look better, but a huge part of this 3 game win streak is some fairly unsustainable 3 point shooting. We have been improving all year, but no one shoots it this well for very long.
Yes true, but they were bricking because the offense was not flowing, and they were not getting the ball in the pocket so to speak. Data may show an open shot but they are getting much better looks lately. DD
This is 100 percent true, it makes a big difference that doesent show up in any stat sheet. The offense is just flowing better with some one who doesent need 4 seconds to realize whats happening(Jones) we wont continue this hot stretch but we will defenitly not be shooting as bad as we were early in the season. A good flowing offense also instills confidence and energy which we have seen being picked up lately
He really hasn't played well stats or not, but for whatever reason he has caused others on team to lift their game. The team is starting to get their mojo back. His defense has been solid too
It is hard to argue basketball with purely stats people, if you have ever played the game you know what the differences are, open looks are not all equal in quality. But they look the same to a camera or on a spread sheet. DD
lol. I played from 5 years old through high school. Are there really that many people here who are obvious fanatics that didn't play any kind of organized basketball whatsoever in their lives? I understand what you are saying about open looks having different quality, but that's not the majority of what's happening here. The same play where Harden drives and kicks to an open shooter in the corner is the same exact thing we have done all season. Only difference was to start the season we were missing them and now we're not. And let's not get off topic, originally the post I responded to was you trying to say Josh is the reason we are getting more OPEN looks and therefor making more. All I said and backed with statistical fact is that we have gotten a ton of open 3s all season and well before Josh arrived here all of 3 games ago we as a team had already begun to hit our 3s at a much better clip.
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Ah yes, the statisticians are already in to illustrate that Josh Smith has "not been good" and hasn't helped the 3 pt shooting. Only 3 games in and already discrediting; gotta be some record for when we are undefeated with him, and a clearly different ball-club as well. The ball movement with Josh Smith has been crisp. The team assist numbers (albiet small sample size) illustrate this point, plus eye test. Something to mention is that Smith hits the shooters on the numbers. This is an underrated aspect of basketball; percentages go up and release time goes down. His passes have zip and are accurate. Somebody not named Dwight actually defended the rim and bigs competently. Two-way transition play has improved because of him, which invigorates Brewer and Thornton. While his rotations were subpar against the Warriors, I think the Rockets have to first address the fact that they need to be in the position to face the Warriors deep in the playoffs, in which Smith helps here. He had the best 1-10 shooting game I have seen in recent memory, haha. So, yes, there are more open looks for sure, and something that is not taken into consideration with the distance is where the shooter receives the ball. Yes, most have played organized basketball. There are leagues everywhere; doesn't actually help one understand the game. Can't believe I am siding with DD here in this post, of whom I usually disagree with.
It's like people don't even read. Two posts I made previously in this thread. All I pointed out was that our 3 point shooting has been steadily climbing for well over 20 games now and it wasn't Josh Smith getting here that instantly changed us into a good 3 point shooting team, which is what DD was trying to say earlier in this thread.
Ah yes, those pesky facts just always seem to be getting in the way of narratives. If you don't like numbers, perhaps the video would be better for you? Here are Ariza's 14 made three pointers for the past two games. http://on.nba.com/1S9KIGa http://on.nba.com/1S9L13V Smith is on the court for what, 3 of them, maybe? He assists a grand total of one of them? I am happy to have Smith back, but the reason we are clicking offensively, is because we have been utilizing small ball with Howard out and players have actually started hitting open threes.
Erroneous. Rockets shot 34% from 3 against the Bucks and Mavs, 2 of the 3 games Smith has played in. Sure, the 3 point shot percentage has been climbing (we can't expect them to brick forever) in general, but in the "Smith era" (I guess we can name it this?) so far, cannot make that argument. In addition, 2 of the 3 teams are among the bottom at defending the 3 point line (in which the Pelicans would be even worse without Davis), while the Mavs are at 33.8% (#8). Ariza being hot from three has clearly been counter-balanced by others being cold. I did read, thank you very much. Strawman; didn't mention Ariza. Like I mentioned above in this post, the 3 pt % has not been other worldly in 2 of the 3 games Smith has played in, like it's being made out to be.
