They were never blown out. Rockets had an average margin of +0.3 for the first half, same +0.3 for 82 games from last year. Last season, Rockets had an excellent second half average margin of +2.7. This year? Outstanding at +10.3.
when you say the coaching staff's preparation is bad, what do you exactly mean? scouting reports, tape, offensive strategy, defensive strategy? can a coaching staff's preparedness be judged by the point margin in the 2nd quarter alone or by the margin of difference for the 3 quarters and the whole game?
Actually, I think he's showing how the pattern is relatively the same, lending credence to his assertion that the Rockets don't tend to be a good first half team. This is then used to support his claim that the coaching staff is not particularly good at preparing (or motivating) the players for a game, but make the proper adjustments/encouragement at half time to help us seal the deal. I can buy that, though I think it is a bit strong to suggest the coaching staff has ALL that control or power. Fatigue, luck, players' individual motivations, the same factors for the other team, etc. are all in play as well.
one can't simply compare the avg of the first half between 82 games last season vs 3 games this season. doesn't it make more sense to compare the 1st 3 games last year vs the 1st 3 games this year IMO, 1st half at utah particularly 2nd quarter skewed the results. the players themselves were played like crap and we can't simply point to the "unpreparedness of the coaching staff" and the whole "unpreparedness of the coaching staff" can't be fixed during 10 minutes in halftime.. they had a general offensive and defensive strategy before the game and they simply made sure they executed during the 2nd half
I can't tell it what Rockets need to better prepare themselves, but going strictly by the numbers of two halves, the difference is obvious. Unfortunately that 3 games look the same as 82 games. Let me put it this way from statistical point of view. Mind you that this is a small sample size. Play the second half same as the first half, expected record will be 43-41. Play the first half same as the second half, more than 75 wins. Last season with 82-game sample size, Same second half as first half, 43-41 Same first half as second half, 56-36
Wow KuKu, so in your analytical world its possilbe for the team to win all 82 games if the coach prepares them the correct way right? I mean that's what stats will tell you after every game. If the coach had made this or that substitution we would have won the game. Man, after only 3 games already this type of stuff. AND WE WON the games!!! But that's still not enough for some fans. Man oh man when we finally lose a game look out! The sky will come crashing down on our heads. Maybe you have never actually played sports so you don't know that some nights and against some teams (no matter how good or bad they are) you just dont match up well or just start slow. It happens. It's all part of the game.
But these are two completely different line ups. As we've seen posted here and elsewhere on the interwebz, that Howard + Asik lineup isn't that great. Since that line-up is what the Rockets have been starting, it makes sense that the point differential is what it is. It would also explain why the 2nd and 4th quarter differentials are significantly stronger since that's typically when the "small ball" lineups, i.e. single tower lineups, are in full effect. Otherwise stated, the explanation for the slow starts last year is most probably different from the explanation this year.
First half margins... vs. Charlotte +6 vs. Dallas +11 vs. Utah -16 Except for the Utah game, our "pre-game preparation" seems to be just fine. Besides, there were other factors impacting the Utah game (second game of back-to-back, injuries, etc.). I think last year's 1st and 2nd quarter performance shows that we weren't that much superior to other teams...
Basically 1st/3rd and 2nd/4th lineups and subs were the same. So were the halves. They were suppose to be the mirror image of each other. Could be. due to sample size. Exactly. I am not gonna keep driving at current season b/c of sample size, which I mentioned in one of my post, but as for last season..sample size was big enough to say that we came out flat but were blazing away after half time. Bravo for people who can't accept a little constructive criticism, and try psycho-analyzing someone from a few posts!
Trying to do any analysis after 3.6% of the regular season games is like ****ing into the wind. You cannot even get a hint much less make a conclusion. But you might just need a change of pants afterward.
fixed A delusion is a belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary psychotic having or relating to a very serious mental illness that makes you act strangely or believe things that are not true
So your blaming the coaching staff that the Rockets are a +2 in the 1st quarter? I'm guessing they would be happy to accept the responsibility for that.
Dumb as a doornail - someone who is just stupid. Not an insult if someone has reading comprehension problem to understand what a doornail is.
God people. Can we play nice? There is not enough data to make a firm conclusion. Would it be possible to postpone this whole discussion until the end of November?
