They need to be better at endgame management. Here is where coaches I think need to step in more. Y'all b****ing about endgame isos. They're related to our lack of play-calling. As a coaching philosophy, Morey has instituted a system where the coaches step off from controlling the game. This is for both Rockets and Vipers which everyone knows is the testing-ground for Morey's big ideas. Here is Vipers' coach Nevada Smith explaining the rationale behind it in a recent interview: Smith believes coaches too often try to control the game by calling plays and directing the ball to certain spots on the court, so the Vipers have very few sets. Instead, Smith walked the team through a series of quick actions — screens, cuts, flares, and handoffs — which they combine to produce quick open looks. Each sequence lasted just a few seconds and ended in a 3 attempt or shot near the rim. Showing Kadji the entire Vipers offense took exactly 14 minutes. “It’s not that hard to cover,” one rival NBA exec says, “but if you make one little mistake covering any of the several different actions, they’ll swing the ball to that guy and they’ll hit a 3.” Maybe the most surprising thing about the Vipers is that they get good looks — for all the 3s they take, the shots rarely seem forced. “It’s all based on what the point guard sees,” Jason Young, the team’s 24-year-old video coordinator, tells me. As for designed plays, Young says: “There’s no need for it, not the way we want to play, at the pace.” As Smith says, “If I can have a game where I don’t call out anything, then we played well.” http://grantland.com/features/nba-dleague-rgv-vipers-houston-rockets-future-of-basketball/
That flex play was not just players doing something they've done before. It was a called play. Everybody has to be on the same page. Look at how the 4 waits patiently with the ball. He doesn't dribble. He doesn't look to his left. He doesn't make any move. He waits. Why is he waiting? Because he's waiting for the PG to make his way through so that he can pass him the ball for the open shot. Everybody has to be on the same page. I don't think you have ever played basketball. That flex play out of Horns isn't something you just do without knowing the play call. It's not something you just "read and react" to. That was a specific play call. If you played basketball you would know that a play like that would have to be called. Players don't just magically decide to run Horns through telepathy, and they don't just randomly set a specific set of screens that they figured out through trial and error of playing together. A pick and roll? Yes, that can be done on the fly. A give and go? Yes, that can be done on the fly. A backdoor cut and layup? Yes, that can be done on the fly. A flex pattern out of Horns? That is a called play.
There is no "view". It either is or is not. Both are ways of playing basketball. Basketball requires players to "read and react" and make smart plays. That's what "basketball IQ" is. Even in strict offenses there are opportunities to create and deviate from the set patters to make a smart basketball play. But there are times when even the most free-flowing offenses call plays... even if just to get a stagnant offense moving. Maybe the play ends up breaking down, but now the opportunity to score may be easier because some defenders may be out of position or mis-matched. The Rockets do not have zero play calls. If you have played basketball at a competitive level, you could just watch the video that I posted, or any other number of videos and notice for yourself. It can't be anymore clear than watching video.
You basically described Adelman's philosophy that he's leveraged his entire career for superior coaching success in the NBA, and followed that up by saying hasn't adapted? If I didn't know better, I'd say you had a personal grudge against Rick. I mean, I know you've made several disparaging remarks about him and his family on this site in the past, but I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions about any irrational biases you may harbor. Rick hasn't adapted, apparently, but he has Minny's offense ranked in the top 10, and his last season in Houston produced the 4th best offense in the NBA for that lottery team. I'd invite you to look at the roster of that team if you don't think that is a monumental achievement. If we're to believe the quotes from Morey regarding Adelman's departure, Rick wanting to decide who his assistant coaches were was a major sticking point. Where is the evidence that show Bickerstaff, Sampson, Finch are significantly better than Turner, Sikma, Dunn?
This. Interestingly, this also speaks to Lin's recent slump (or Harden and Howard's occasional offensive struggles) - he is at his worst when he is not making instinctive, aggressive plays. When he plays pensively, defenses set and the offense crumbles. When he plays purposefully and unrelentingly, he (and the team at-large) becomes harder to defend because of the pressure dribble-drives apply to defenses.
First, I think that Adelman is and has been a good NBA coach and I felt his staff was strong. I do not believe that he is a Hall of Fame coach, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't take him over 2/3rds of the rest of the coaches. If Adelman was willing to adapt, he would still be the coach of the Rockets. He did not buy into the philosophy that the Rockets believe in and did not believe in the metrics and changes Morey made.
So, Adelman without any all-stars produces the 4th-best offense in the NBA, while the current Rockets with 2 all-stars produce the 5th-best offense. You're assuming that Adelman needed to adapt to the Rockets' approach to be successful, when there's no evidence to support that. Perhaps if the Rockets were willing to adapt to Rick's approach, they would still be fortunate enough to have him as coach and maybe win a couple more games, which would come in handy right now as they're jockeying for position in the playoffs.
The Rockets have templates, or very basic sets they start their offense from. No, it is not 5 on 5 pick up basketball. Basic sets and curls, picks and rolls are practiced. The difference is that now in the NBA defenses can figure out sets so fast that ideally you need to be able to adjust to take what the defense gives you and to keep the defense from adjusting, you push the pace (which is why Morey doesn't expect his point guards to get many rebounds). To say that the Rockets run no plays is false in that they have plays they can go to, and will do that if the defense doesn't adjust. There are threads on this site from HMMMM breaking down such plays. The difference is that once that PLAY (formation or template is a better choice) is started, anything can happen, there is no definitive scripted end like a Van Gundy play. In one sense it is easier to guard, you know the Rockets won't utilize most the floor but in another sense the Rockets reaction to the defense is spontaneous. It isn't perfect, the Rockets turn the ball over and can get in funks, but they are getting better at running it and are doing very well offensively.
No if we "still had Adelman", we wouldn't have Howard or Harden because he insisted on having greater control of the teams construction, and how is that working in Minnesota? The Rockets have a philosophy that is mailable IF there is evidence to prove that something they are doing is not working and in response to the league changing. Addlman's offense is NOT the same as what the Rockets run now. Is it more similar than Van Gundy? Absolutely. Adelman did not want to adjust and the Rockets made the right decision. They have a far better team now than when Adelman left.
Adelman is well-respected throughout the league for designing offenses to fit his players' skills. Under him, Chuck Hayes even recorded a triple double. That's why players loved playing for him. And his Yao-led Rockets team played differently from his AB-led teams. He ran a kind of read and react based on the Princeton system. His system requires a great passing big (Brad Miller, Chuck Hayes, Yao Ming). The difference with our read and react (under Chris Finch) is that I think Adelman spelled out the options and would actually call sets when he spotted defensive weaknesses. He also famously said not all players loved the freedom; some wanted specific plays called.
Perfect reason why McHale was hired. Hes the ultimate cheerleader, as soon as the team learned to play together, fire McHale chants have stopped.
I think one huge adjustment coaches need to be able to do is what will the team do when our offense is not clicking. Howard is getting pushed around (by Ibaka or Griffin/Jordan). Our 3pt shooting is off. Harden is unable to drive to the basket. Transition game is taken away from us. Those are the games when the team just looks confused and gives up all fight. When defenses take away our strengths, what are our fallbacks? How can we score easier? That's the difference between true contender and pretender. The upcoming stretch will show if we have grown or not. This is also where coaches should earn their keep. Coach your young guys up.
People are still feeling the same about Mchale but at this point to continue chanting would be like beating a dead horse. Right now since we're so close to the playoffs it's best to just hope for the best.
That goes for any team. If you take away penetration, post play and the three then you will struggle. Usually the solution is to rely on defense getting you the win, which I agree with you is something the Rockets need to work on. Winning some games with poor offensive execution is the difference between teams that win 54 or 55 games and 58-60 games. The Pacers game will be interesting because they are the first defense that literally tries to force teams into mid range shots. Their entire philosophy is to cut down penetration and guard the three point line. I don't think it is coincidence that the Rockets struggled against the Pacers.
You're pretty much wrong. All Rick wanted was to be consulted about player moves. That doesn't mean he wouldn't "allow" them. Case in point, Morey trading Rafer without telling Rick. He expressed displeasure, but that could be more about not even being told about the move more than anything. We know he loved Lowry pretty much from the beginning. The only thing that Rick would not tolerate is Morey telling him who to have on his staff. This is all on the record. Even after Morey taking away all of Rick's supposed "control" over personnel, he still wanted to coach the Rockets, as long as he could retain his assistants. Does that not sound completely ridiculous? I mean, if head coaches don't really matter, how much do their assistants?
I don't disagree with that. The Rockets often start their offense with something simple like a high ball screen. One thing I'd say is that most plays have a progression. There could be several layers to a play. First, second, and third options. And then players can also use their basketball IQ to make a smart play that is outside of the drawn-up play. Plays are hardly ever one option and one option only unless a coach is drawing up a play for a shot with 1 second left on the clock and there is only the opportunity to get one pass and one shot.
The only play calling Morey needs to be doing is on the sidelines...off the court negotiations to make this team a championship contender.
See what's happening currently in the 4th qtr of this Pistons game. Where do we go in order to score more easily?
McHale calls a timeout to tell the guys to post up Howard and be ready for kickout pass. Bev scores a 3. Next play, Harden recognizes only Bev is hot so he sets up Bev. That required coaches to coach up the guys how to play the DET defense.
