This. What's up with g.smith setting that pick if he doesn't pick his man? Time to try other options. I felt g.smith got us closer to win the game than Asik for this game. My problem is distribution of minutes. You throw a cold player in crunch time or take a hot player out the game. Morris isn't a pf. Our front court was getting outplayed by Davis.
I've been wondering myself. They said they didn't have a chance to set some plays for Lin. But Lin had a full month of training camp with them. Unless all the plays set for Lin involved exclusively KMart and Lamb and the future picks, I don't really know what they did for a whole month there. It's not like they knew all the time they were going to get Harden just before the season started.
If you look at the Rockets offense it quickly falls into a recognizable pattern. Harden impacts every game immensely. If 2 or more other players step up and have really good games the Rockets win. If only one steps up the Rockets lose. This is not Harden's fault, nor the coaches fault. It is a lack of talent, consistency, or focus on the part of the rest of the roster. How do you fix it? The young players will mature, develop their skills and step it up in crunch time. Or Morey will fix it. :grin:
If you have not seen the Rockets development since the beginning of the season you must be blind. Or have forgotten to turn your television on. LOL
I agree with you 100%. Just want to add that the Raptors have won with one scheme--blocking or slowing down Lin or whoever guarding Calderon. When Calderon ran a PNR, it was not just the pick blocking Lin, there would be another player in the neighborhood coming up to block Lin from behind the first screener. When Calderon ran around without the ball and Lin was chasing him, there would be another or some times two other Raps players coming up to block Lin. This was how Calderon got his open shoots or effective assists several times today. Watch the game again at least for the last 1:20 on the clock, see how Anderson stick his hand out waist high to block Lin when he tried to follow Calderon. On several occasions like this, I can see there was a touch on Lin with hands, but the refs just never call them. The reason we lost today was not just role players shot too much. It was also how the Raptors have disintegrated our defense and created those open shoots for themselves.
It really is simple. Over night the Rockets had to transition from a Lin based offense to a Harden based offense. Or do you want to waste Harden's unbelievable talent having him run around screens to try to get open? That is never going to happen. The opponent will always have a man on Harden. And who is better blowing past defenders from the 3 point line in the NBA? Harden will be a super star in this league by the end of the season, if he is not one already. The future of the Rockets is with Harden. Fit in or hit the road. As it should be.
I agree with you completely. But for you to blow past defenders from the 3 point line, you need space. And how do they achieve this? By asking everybody to stand around 3 pt line. So you expect other players to sacrifice. Both pg to be shooting guards, and have both Morris, Ppat and Jones to stand out there and shoot. And my next question to you, what happens when Harden can't go by his man? Which happened many times. Have you seen any screens, back screens, or sets or cuts? NO. Have you ever seen a ball passed to an open cutter on the lane this year? NO. Have you noticed Ppat set high screen and ever wonder what Asik is doing? I have no problem with Harden running pnr at all and we score a lot out of that play, but there will be team defenses designed to stop that. Because of that, we need more balance, more sets. And this is where I see Mchale failing.
since when is running around screens to get open such a bad thing? this eurostep into 4 defenders and pray for a foul offense may get him an impressive stat sheet, but the team will go nowhere. have we all forgotten how he stunk up the court in last years finals? lets not act as if he is a polished superstar. he has a lot more to learn.
100% agree. nobody would fault harden for finishing a possession with a eurostep drive to the basket. he is the best player, so the ball will find him. but often times he holds the ball, draws down the clock and then he goes. wth? when has this ever worked in the long run?
Nice take. But the crux of the matter is to have other Rockets players step up and be a threat. They do not have to do it every night, but at least two of the roster has to do it every game. If Hardens teammates do not step up Harden is left with a 1v5. Only about 100 times to Asik. And the real issue is that as Harden drives the entire defense collapses. There is no opening to cut to the basket when the opponent has 5 players within 12 feet of the basket. Yes I do expect other players to sacrifice. The best shots in basketball are the FT ... at the rim ... the three point shot and ...............................................the mid to long range jumper. And if the players cannot adjust to the system I expect Morey to step in.
it won't, but every super star has to have have reliable iso, I don't mind Harden over doing it this season since wins don't cound.
I don't mind seeing delfino shoot. What really bothers me is when he tries to create his own shot, or dribble too much. GAH!!!
harden's iso is predicated on getting to the rim and getting fouled. if he were posting and had a fadeaway then it wouldnt be as bad. he gets shut down bad when he is doubled up high. and since he has no post game, he can only get the ball high. double him everytime and voila, easy win.
Also cringe when Delfino tries to pull off Nash like passes, he thinks he is a much better player than he is.
Word. Delfino should not try to create for himself or others. Stick to shooting which is something he is pretty good at.
