Youth is obviously a factor. Lack of well executed plays during crunch time is a huge factor too. The free wheeling and dealing offense is fine. But when you get to crunch time, like in the playoffs, the other team is not going to let you run. So you have to have an effective half court offense. And the Rockets half court "bread and butter" offense is simply Harden ISO. ISO is never an efficient way of scoring even with the elite players. With Harden, he still has some maturing to go when it comes to carrying the team through close games.
I wish we had more plays to throw into the mix. We use our youth to outrun and gun only on fast breaks. Why not tire the defense to death with a lot of motion on offensive sets too?
Well if all the minutes played are of the same importance or relavance I would agree. But we're talking situational or pressure scenarios during the game. We all know certain players rise to the occasion while others don't, not having a consistant lineup adds another variable to the scenario. If Lin, Asik, Parsons and Harden are your core/best players there is certaily a learning curve that winning time minutes would help advance for the playoff push.
Yeah, its a combination of things most likely, but off the top of my head, I would point to style of play. Your talking about a team that plays at a frantic pace, getting easy points in transition, getting points early in the shot clock by pushing the pace, relies on the 3 point shot, doesn't have any offensive plays to call at the end of games, and the pace lends itself to terrible defense. So.... -If the Rockets are shooting the 3 ball well, and the other team struggles at getting back on defense... the Rockets usually blow that team out. -If the Rockets are shooting the 3 ball bad, and the other team is disciplined on the defensive end.. The Rocket are usually going to get beat pretty bad. Not much in between meaning... not that many close game situations to prepare for. This is a system setup perfectly for this team to beat the teams they are supposed to beat, occasionally upset a good team on an off night, and lose to the disciplined contending teams. They aren't setup to win close game unless lady luck lends a helping hand, and the Rockets make big shots over a good defense. So, in short, dont expect the Rockets to look exceptionally well against good teams in the final 3 weeks of the regular season. They might have a few games they beat someone they are supposed to if they get hot, or Harden goes off for 45+, but I dont expect them to win playoff style games going against teams that play solid disciplined defense. Next season, I think they will incorporate a system more similar to that of San Antonio with more tactical schemes into the regular flow of the game. You will see some major changes to how the team approaches the defensive end, and naturally the young players will just get better at the mental part of an NBA defense. This team was never expected to truly be a playoff team this year... this style just lent the team a better chance to win more games during the regular season.
I agree, and I think that's one reason McHale has been experimenting with the rotation. Run and gun doesn't work as well in the playoffs as teams tend to work harder on defense.
There was that video on espn talking about how elite players really up their play during the crunch time, especially when they are down and close. Harden's getting there but for what ever reason he's not getting the support he needs to either deflect the defensive schemes against him or to score when he passes. The Rockets need another person to rely on in crunch time. There may already be such a player on the team or the Rockets will need to get 1 in the off season.
No defense and we are getting outcoached. McHale and his coaches get it in their heads that their best defensive player and the one that ends being tied for third in scoring on the night can sit out most of the second half. As good as Robinson and Beverly were playing defensively, even combined they didn't match Asik in scoring or rebounds and both wind up having played more minutes individually is absurd especially given how close the game was in the second half. A case can be made for leaving Lin out for Beverly (not a good one IMO but a case nonetheless) but not playing Asik more and having both Garcia and Delfino out on the court to jack up contested 3 point shots is just plain foolish.
What are the three consecutive rookie errors? I can recall only one. That's when the opponent was about to commit a backcourt violation, you had to foul him.
Whatever happens this season, don't buy too much into it. This is still a building a process. We are the youngest team in the NBA right now.. the fact we should mame it into the playoffs show just how much potential this team has, but don't expect a real playoff run. Just remember this team is a future team, don't let what's happening now get you down so much.
These are the only two. People overrate coaching on here lately it's annoying. Talent and experience >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Coaching. Have people even actually looked at some of the coaches of the currently playoff bound teams.
The key flaw is that this is not a team with experience and as several failed NBA players have shown throughout the years, talent alone is not a recipe for success without the leadership to put the talent in situations where they can succeed. Why else have the Lakers taken so long to get good this season? Or teams with top picks in almost every draft like the Kings, Bobcats and Wizards have been bad for so long despite having top picks in several drafts and teams like the Spurs, Jazz and Nuggets despite not always having top rated guys are always in the playoffs?
I'm not suggesting coaching makes zero difference, but you DO need talent, particularly super star talent. Phil Jackson is a great coach but how many rings would he have won if MJ and Kobe never played for him? And for the record, I don't see McHale as a long term coach for this Rockets squad now that we are seriously a piece or two from being a contender. BUT I'm much more worried about our talent than the coaching. Quite frankly the Kings, Bobcats, Wizards, and perennial bottom dwellers just don't have much talent to build around. Just because you get a lot of high picks, it doesn't ***** if you can't draft high caliber players. As for the Lakers, chemistry mostly.
