http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/12/running-to-wins-was-rockets%E2%80%99-plan-all-along/ Les seems pretty adamant. So we're looking for an elite player who can execute in the halfcourt as well as run the floor - that does limit choices some. Jefferson is out; obviously Gasol is out (if that wasn't clear before ).
lols...did Les have too much egg nog. So now he is Owner, Coach and GM. "We have the best team ever assembled...and we aren't changing our team for anybody." pretty hilarious
Kevin Love is the perfect fit for this team. All we need is for Daryl to jedi mind trick KAHNNNN into making a deal.
A fast pace offense is also more exciting to watch, which means more viewers, higher advertising revenue, more funds to reinvest in team and pay off the gigantic overhead video screens in the Toyota Center.
Nice article. This part was the most interesting to me: [rquoter] But the Rockets measure their pace differently. Morey’s staff evaluates the number of possessions in which each team gets a good shot before the opposing defense is set. NBA teams get good shots, as determined by the Rockets’ evaluations, on an average of 40 percent of their possessions. The Bulls, whom the Rockets face Tuesday night in a clash of styles, run on just 30 percent of their possessions, based on the Rockets’ measures. Efficient scoring The Rockets work a break or early offense to good shots on 51 percent of their possessions, averaging the most up-tempo possessions and largest percentage of up-tempo possessions in the NBA. They lead the league in scoring, averaging 105.4 points per game. Factoring in their pace, they rank seventh in offensive efficiency. “If we weren’t playing at that pace, our offense would be bottom 10,” Morey said. “Right now, it’s top 10. With our past teams, it was more challenging to play up-tempo — with Yao Ming especially. Now, we’re tailor-made. Guys are good in the open floor. We can wear a lot of teams down. Frankly, a lot of our guys aren’t that strong in the halfcourt. Everything aligned to execute Mr. Alexander’s vision this year. “Even when we had Yao Ming, he wanted us to opportunistically run more. “You can argue who the best coach in the league is, but most people would have (San Antonio’s) Gregg Popovich either No. 1 or in the top three. Even he has found, even with Tim Duncan and an older roster, you have to opportunistically run the floor.”[/rquoter]
in all seriousness...of course Morey is correct. You want to get some half court sets going with most big men who thrive in the low post. Running while doing that will be tough,,,not like Magic Johnson is walking through the door. One tough thing that we will encounter with a half court player is we will have to cool our jets and know when to set up half court,,,and learn how to do it. Basically, we don't practice many traditional low post plays...and it took us about 15 games to learn how to run -- no? We won't learn new tricks, quickly. It will be a learning curve for a young team, that might upset the running even moreso than defenses trying to take it away from us. Hopefully, we get the low post scorer and the learning curve is short and doesn't disrupt the running too much.
it's not like it's anything new. it's callled the fast break for a reason. when you have a player that can draw a foul the way harden can, picking your spots to slow it down should not be that difficult. Run, for it run for it run(ha)
Is Morey saying that Les has wanted a running team for a long time. Then why get rid of Adelman??? If it is true that Les has wanted this for awhile, but accepted that a Yao team would never really be a running team, then this explains his last two firings: JVG said it doesn't win and Adelman told him you can't just wave a magic wand and create a winning running team.
I add maniacal laughter at random points when reading anything, even ingredients labels. I thought it was just me.
running is a perfect style for this fast, young team. i'm all for it. it would be nice to get an elite pf who can run. but, getting a pf who can rebound and pass would be idea for this style. usually, you have your quickest guys sprint down the down in transition, and your pf and c grabbing the rebounds and making that quick pass out to initiate the transition. it wouldn't make much sense to have your pf trying to outrun opponent's guards. so, i'm all for a trade to get Gasol here.
I think people are reading too much into the Rockets pace thing. As Morey said, our players simply aren't cut out to be half court players on offense. That doesn't mean we can't become a half court team should our personnel dictate that. Keep in mind that while we have crappy half-court offense, we also have very good half court defense. Parsons is a great isolation defender. Asik has always been a dominant half court paint protector. The Rockets rebound very well on defense. Overall, this team is capable of playing the grinded, half court game on defense, Just not on both sides of the ball. If they add a post player who can also protect the paint somewhat, then they can become a dominant D, while keeping a lesser version of their transition game. Les may like his pace, but if front office and coaches tell him the Rockets can contend in a different way, no way he doesn't sign off on that.
Interesting thought, except a running team has never won since Magic. How did Nash, Amare and Marion do? The closest was Adelman ... oh, well, I don't think he's coming through the door. maniacal laughter ensues. Like Morey says, we would have to change the "style" of the team to accommodate a serious low-post threat.
