I talked about this in the game thread and was going to make a long post with videos but I don't feel like it anymore... Lol Basically the Rockets problem is simple. The #1 play in basketball is the p&r. Wall is arguably the fastest player in the league, he has great vision, and is a pure PG who wants to be CP3 or Nash but he's basically forced to be Westbrook on this team. Just go back and watch Wall highlights from every game since his return. If they run a p&r, literally 9 times out of 10, the Rockets player slips it. They literally never touch the guy at all. Wood never ever does it. Tate does it like 2 out of 10 times. Even Cousins does not do it much. The only one who does it is a 6'4pf who is on his last legs and can't score so it kinda defeats the purpose. The only other guy halfway consistent is House. Wall is pass 1st and likes to dissect a defense. I hate it when I see guys like Wood slip it every play because usually it's selfish. He doesn't care about freeing the guard, he just sees every p&r call as his time to score. What these guys don't realize is that they would score even more and get more shots if they set the pick. What happens nearly every time is the guy slips the pick which leaves 2 options. It's either going to be a super high degree difficult pass from Wall because you didn't make the defense change at all or most times the play just resets and starts from there again. Now you just wasted almost 10 seconds, Wall is now behind the 3pt line with his defender right in his face because you created no separation for him, literally every player is covered with the defense being able to have all eyes on the guy with the ball so now what? All Wall can literally do is make a basic pass to a covered player, shoot a 3, or iso one on one. I see guys like D-rock saying it's selfish basketball but that's literally the reason why. If they set the pick then everything changes. Wall would dominate. He's either going to have a step so he can speed to the basket, or he's going to make a great pass to the big or the corner 3 over and over again. Wood could get 3 or 4 more attempts per game if he set the pick and they would be easier buckets. Wood is great and is putting up great numbers but alot of his baskets can look difficult. It's a credit to his skill that he still scores but the baskets would be way easier with the pick. The same with Tate. Wall would tear up defenses in Silas system with that 1 adjustment. That's why this team is struggling. You basically have 1 playmaker and you took away his greatest asset so guys like House have to help be playmaker since everyone stays covered. IMO, Silas is killing his own system by allowing this. I've seen other coaches do this also. They basically let the players decide what to do instead of him enforcing the pick. I'm disappointed in him, Wall, and the team. Wall himself should tell the guys that he prefers this. Players should have enough iq to realize this themselves. This play is why Wall is always at the top of the league in assist and you are taking away his best asset. The team would look night and day. No matter how well Wood, Wall, or the team plays, they are capping themselves. As great as you think Wood is now, he would go to another level. It's not because these guys are thin or scared either. Wood sets screens off ball all of the time. It's just philosophy. If it doesn't change then go back to starting house for Tate and just run the P&R with Wall & Tucker or House. Sad. Oladipo would probably look better with some real picks also
Wall only fan I see. Its Wood's fault. Its Silas' fault. Its every single Rockets' players fault. Is Wall ever at fault?
Problem is CWood is Hurt. He is 1-4- 1/3 of our offense. Add it up. Without his scoring we have barely gotten over the 100pt mark. If we have him, our defense has a chance with his length plus his scoring ability. Without him, an out of shape Boogie gets murdered. The guy can barely jump. We just don’t have enough talent out there. Plus our back court is is still healing from injuries. What else do you want? We already saw a healthy team beat down on other teams. There’s nothing you can do but develop our young players. Hopefully KPJr. And Ray Spaulding who could get some burn this season.
He's free already... He has the green light to run the team as he seems fit... But he greatest attribute is his A+ cheerleading when he sitting out games ..
No, it’s hardens fault for hurting his feelings.. wall has to understand once Wood returns he needs to stop freezing him out. This is Christian Wood team
I agree. Cousins doesn’t move well enough, rolling to rim on one leg. Tucker is grounded and only 6’5”-ish Wood doesn’t set a good screen or window of space to receive the pass in the paint. _____________________________ Looking at Charles Bassey coming out of college this season, he sets good screens, seals his man, swings like a revolving door, keeping man on his back side when posting up (and when rolling to rim in PnR at times). The roll man needs to show his hands and present a target. As a PG I use to aim for my teammates chin. So if the ball goes through the hands or my teammate doesn’t get their hands ready, I use the chin and chest of my teammate as a backstop. Plenty of teammates have been upset......I would tell them, “that teaches you to get your hands up.” PG can’t announce what they are going to do and telegraph everything. There needs to be silent communication. Jeremy Lin had A’Mare and Tyson Chandler in New York but could lob it to D-12/Capela worth a flip. He was more a bounce pass-shovel-wrap around pass by defender. Finding out Wall is much the same. If you look at highlights of Wall with Gortat in 13/14 Wall lobs the pass but Gortat was more of a gather and layup guy than a hard dunk with the lob. I’ve seen Wall more comfortable lobbing the ball in fast breaks rather than in the half court. Harden had trouble lobbing the ball to Capela that first year they got D-12 off the team. Now Harden just does it. No regrets, of course Harden had the keys to the city. More of a risk taker. Wall now how his kick outs down. Kick outs are the safety valve or safety net when a PG drives and gets in trouble. Just needs to just take chances in lobs when Wood comes back. Wood could help himself in the exchange by setting better picks/screens. Here is Wall-Gortat in 2016. Notice Gortat screens make the defender plant their feet. Wall lob Gortat gather.
You are missing the point. The pick is going to open it up for everyone else. It's not for Wall to shoot only. I'm saying that he will pass alot more with the pick. Wood will get more opportunities
Most times Wall has the ball I expect him to shoot Seems like he does..... unless force to pass. Rocket River
that possession with 3 min to go when they doubled him and forced him to give up ball turning it over near the centre of court was hardenesque