it's all about pace. if you're running and gunning the entire game, it makes it tough to slow that momentum and lock-in the defense on key possessions.
He does have lapses but I don't believe they are always his fault necessarily. I've seen Asik throw up his arms in a "wtf guys" kind of motion countless times, making me think the communication isn't there. I'm sure Gibson, Deng, Rose & Thibs screaming from the sideline handled the main communication for Chicago, and he's probably not getting that here, heck you rarely see McHale or Sampson on the side. This should probably be Asik's biggest priority, becoming a leader on the defensive end because we certainly don't have one right now. This also might be a reason T-Rob is getting minutes already, because as much as he looks confused out there, you can see he's actively communicating and trying to learn out there when he can. One moment that stood out to me was him giving Greg Smith advice or pointers while waiting for a free throw.
Asik is a great pick and roll and help defender. His positioning is awesome and he's quick enough to show hard and recover to his man to help his man. It's just the Rocket's defensive philosophy matches there offensive one. Don't allow the three and lay ups, but let them shoot the long two all day. That's why on certain PNR plays, Asik plays it soft, as they try and bait the ball handler into a long two jump shot.
How often have we seen Asik help on a slashing defender, jump straight up in the air to contest the shot, and don't get whistle for an offensive foul? Usually when a defender leaves the ground, it's almost an automatic offensive foul but the way Asik put his hands high and straight up in the air, he rarely gets called for it.
Thought (most likely not sound ones): - Person is being asked to do to much and his defense is lacking because of it. Or has his role has changed? (think about Kobe's statement last year) Asik, Lin and Parsons should be the back bone to a soild defense. Asik and Lin look fine... -We are so young and team defense take time to learn plus the team is forever changing (which is a good thing). -McHale has lost his defensive coaching base he said he had at the start of last season --> we will just out score the other team. -"Timmy O" may be the answer at back-up center and make the topic mute. Rockets ...or... POF Carl he is gone. YOU are one of the best poster on here --> don't forget that.
Yes but it's called an offensive foul most of the time still because the defender doesn't look like he's straight.
Interesting question. Our offense is "read and react", so we don't execute that many set plays. Our defense has issues. Our substitution and in-game calls are questionable most of the time. I wonder why?..
Our offense is a top 5 offense and critically acclaimed by the professional analysts in the league. Our defense is questionable, but not as bad as people here want to make it seem (we've hung around 20-22 in Defensive efficiency all year). We play a bunch of 1st and 2nd year guys. Durrrrrrrrr I wonder why... Historically, look at how young teams perform on defense. It's not that hard. People complaining about substitution patterns are literally the most idiotic of all people on any fan board. You are at practice? I mean, TJones is in a sling, and people here are STILL asking why he isn't getting minutes ahead of Trob..... I wonder why fans of the Rockets before this year are frustrated with this board.
Thank you for your polite response and for not attacking me because of my join date. Looking at last year's threads, the questions about rotations aren't exactly new. Also, if our offense is up to our players, our defense doesn't seem good (granted, loss of 2Pat hurt us there) and our subs don't make sense, why don't we hire Bonzo the Clown as a coach? I am sure he would charge us less.
i don't think his statement is out of the line. harden has a habit not moving his feet instead reaching out and trying to strip the ball. parsons sometimes spent too much energy on offense and became less effective on defense end. we need a parson to play a role like battier. lin was gambling a few times a game. sometimes, he got burned and sometimes he stole the ball. another thing i notice about his defense. he tended to play much tighter d when a game went deep. our pfs played average d before the trade. now they played almost none d. asik is only one we all agree on. don't need me to repeat.
Not just Mchale, Kelvin Sampson, the defensive coach, should be held responsible for the poor defence of the team.
