Been taking a look at some of the early statistical rankings on the Rockets and find the following interesting: http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2012.html 1. The Rockets are currently ranked 10th in offensive efficiency, 22nd in defensive efficiency. At first glance, this seems to suggest little changed from last year, the team is still a good offensive team but isn't good at defense. However, these numbers are averages generaged over 4 very different games: In the two wins, the Rockets were great defensively, holding the Spurs and the Hawks to under 100 points/100 possession. In the two losses, the Rockets were terrible defensively, allowing the Grizz and the Magic to score more than 110 points/100 possessions. So, the averages are of limited utility at the moment. We'll have to see whether a trend develops. 2. One thing the Rockets seems to have done better is defensive rebounding: They are 11th overall in defensive rebounding %, collecting 75.2% of all available rebounds, after being in the lower 1/3 last season. Sammy D and the new and improved Jordan Hill seem to be paying some dividends. 3. Free throws: The Rockets are dead last in FTA/FGA (showing how frequently a team gets to the line) at .155, but they are also first overall in FTA/FGA at .158. Likely explanation: The team had some referee crews that weren't in the mood of calling ticky-tack fouls for either team. We'll see if this continues. The main victim of the trend: Kevin Martin, who hasn't gotten to the line often. On the other hand, he's been shooting from the field at a high rate (except for game 1) so it's not been all bad for him. 4. Kyle Lowry: Remember when Morey said he liked Kyle's play as starter last season, but would prefer him to play more like he did as a backup? Seems like Kyle is doing exactly this. Two nits you can pick from Lowry's numbers last year: He didn't rebound as well as before and didn't go to the line nearly as much. His rebounding and FTA number are back to or above his pre-starter levels.
Great post CH. The part about lowry is something I noticed last year. I think last year, he paced himself being a 1st yr starter. This year, he knows what its like to be a starter and is picking and choosing his burst to get some of those fouls. Great progress. I hope he does a better job of just playing through the whistle like he has in the early part. Late in games, he really needs to continue to take and make shots vs looking for a whistle. Defensively, they will be hot and cold because they have too many below average defenders. Sam really helps ad if hill plays like he did the other night helps,but scola,martin,chase,parsons are all poor defenders.
4. Lowry's FTM/FGA metric is what will propel him to All-Star status. He's getting to the line so far this year like KMart has got to the line for his career. I like it very much so.
...we have never trailed at home, and we have held teams to under 100 pts at home. ...Thabeet is shooting 100% on the year too.
It is a combination of poor interior defense and perimeter defense. Martin and Bud are letting their guys by them too easily. Jordan with his poor footwork continues to play defense with his hands. I like the presence Dalembert has brought to the team but we are still going to play better perimeter defense to prevent easy layups.
Doesn't help that you have two of the weakest perimeter players on this team starting, plus a not so efficient defender playing 30+ minutes at PF.
Rockets currently have(ranks in terms of PER at each position): PG - #1 Kyle Lowry SG - #5 Kevin Martin SF - #11 Chase Budinger PF - #9 Chandler Parsons/ #16 Luis Scola C - #3 Sam Dalembert/ #14 Jordan Hill not too shabby
We've also played four playoff teams. Strength of schedule won't even out until about 20 games into the season I fear.
Obviously it's too small of a sample size, but if anyone doesn't think we will end up being bottom 10 in points allowed in the paint with the current rotation, they are kidding themselves. With Martin allowing opponent 2s to penitrate, as well as a lack of physical defense in the post, it's almost a given. The truth is that when Scola, Martin, and Hill play together, we are extremely vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball (not just in the paint, but especially in the paint). This is precisely why one, if not all, of those three has to go. Our current rotation is just not a good fit. I fear that LA will be a matchup nightmare for us tonight with Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum.
AND...leading the league in PER. If you're cool with ignoring that whole 'sample size' thing. :grin: :grin:
Dalembert isn’t really making the difference in defensive rebounding right now. His defensive rebounding rate is a little lower than Chuck’s was last year and a lot lower than Chuck’s is so far this season. The main differences are Hill and Lowry. Hill’s got the 6th best defensive rebounding rate in the league, up from 18.0 to a whopping 32.6 right now. And Lowry has gone up from last year’s 9.7 DRR to 20.6 right now (best of all PG's in the league). And yes, this is a small sample size. Hill did have an outlier monster rebounding game against the Hawks, and Dally’s rebounding rate will likely go up to where it normally is once he’s in better shape.
Unfortunately, unless we bring in a great defensive player (like the Celtics did with Garnett) then our defense won't change over night. Especially with a shortened training camp, a new coach, and players who are not known for defense.
I think the biggest statistical change is something you notice watching the games: The Rockets games don't turn into a series of runs. Last year every game it was common for us to be up 10... then suddenly find us down 10... then regain that lead, wash rinse repeat several times during the games. The two games at home we led the entire game, but it was also either relatively close like it was in the first half, or a 10-20 point lead like it was in the 2nd halfs of both of the games. No oscillation from good to bad and back like last year. So while it now means no more coming back from 15 as frequently as we did last year, it also means if we're up 15 we are more likely to keep the lead.
Edit: Also re: bad points in the paint defense. I think that is something that can be cured with defensive chemistry. You had the feeling last year that teams could just drive into the paint on you at will and shoot over anyone in front of them. This year that isn't going to happen as much.
