Sampson was supposed to be the defensive mind behind the Rockets. When McHale was originally hired, it was under the condition that he was willing to take on a strong defensive Assistant Coach. Sampson was that coach. Without Sampson, I really worry that this team will suffer on the defensive end in terms of pregame preparation, half time adjustments, and line up adjustments. Prior to this game, over his 7 seasons in the NBA Corey Brewer has NEVER scored more than 30 points. His career scoring average is 10 points per game. And he's never averaged over 13 points. It doesn't matter WHO is on your roster, no competent defensive Coach should EVER allow that to happen. This isn't Kobe, Lebron, Durant or Love we're talking about, this is Corey Brewer. Where as the aggressive trapping to force the ball out of his hands? Where was the help side defense to stop his base line drives? Where was the attacking of Brewer on the offense to tire him out and exploit his well documented defensive weaknesses? Where was the substitutions to give him different looks and players with changing speeds and length? Where was the hard fouls to punish him for his drives to the paint? All the ways that coaches can slow down hot players, where were they last night? I'm really starting to think that the departure of Sampson is going to cost a LOT more than many of us realize. Doc Rivers would not have been nearly as successful without Thibs and Frank (his defensive brain trust). PJax wouldn't have gone as far without Brian Shaw. Forget Dwight's and PBev's injury for a moment... could the loss of Sampson be the Rockets' true obstacle to success in the play offs?
Per Johnathan Feigen... http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...evin-mchale-can-he-exceed-expectations-again/ My join date might be 2012, but I was tracking the Rockets since the day they signed Morey as the GM.
Sampson is a defensive coach? Mike d'antoni may do a better job. Its time to show mchale n sampson the door please.
Yah, like JVG would Ever play 2nd fiddle to McHale... This late in the season, I can't see any way to fill the void the Sampson left. And if Sampson was the guy handling all the pregame defensive preparation and in game defensive adjustments, we may be looking at getting absolutely killed in the play offs. Doesn't matter how good your individual defenders on the floor are if your defensive coaching and in-game adjustments aren't sound.
I'm pretty sure if the Rockets lose in Round 1, McHale is toast. He's basically in the same situation as Del Negro was with the Clippers a year ago. He's got a talented team that's on the verge of being a contender and he has this postseason to prove he can lead them to the next level. Especially with some pretty damn good coaches available out there right now.
I'm not thinking the individual losses as opposed to how much of a mess our defense has been since Sampson's departure even in our wins. Since Sampson's departure, here are our game outcomes... April 4 - @OKC 111-107 Win 38/85 FG, 13/31 3pt, 18/20 FT April 6 - Denver 130-125 Win (Overtime) 51/107 FG, 14/31 3pt, 9/13 FT April 8 - @LAL 145-130 Win (regulation) 44/95 FG, 14/32 3pt, 28/35 FT April 9 - @Denver 116-123 Loss 50/101 FG, 11/28 3pt, 12/14 FT April 11 - @Minnesota 110-112 Loss 41/94 FG, 3/12 3pt, 27/40 FT Analysis of the 5 games since Sampson's Departure... Total Opponent FG/FGA - 224/481 Total Opponent FG% - 46.6% Total Opponent 3pt/3ptA - 55/134 Total Opponent 3pt% - 41.0% Total Opponent FT/FTA - 94/122 Total Opponent FT% - 77.05% Total Opponent eFG% - 52.29% Total Opponent TS% - 55.83% Opponent points per game scored - 119.4 Statistics of our current season to date including those 5 games (too much work to exclude them). Per teamrankings.com Opponent FG% - 44.2% Opponent 3pt% - 35.2% Opponent eFG% - 48.9% Opponent TS% - 52.6% (per http://www.sportingcharts.com/nba/stats/team-opponent-true-shooting-percentage/2013/) Net differential Opponent FG% - +2.4% Opponent 3pt% - +5.8% Opponent eFG% - +3.39% Opponent TS% - +3.23% Note that this is a SMALL sample size and easily distorted by single team outcomes. However, it does raise some concerns in terms of the statistics providing evidence to support what I believe I'm seeing on the floor -- ie, a total mess.
NOTHING has changed since I started this thread waaay back. McHale remains an incompetent below average coach. Just unacceptable that some average at best player like Brewer lights us up for 51 and yet McHale says "I don't know what to do" This team's record is a result of the talent Morey acquired and is inspite of McHale not because of this clueless coach.
Why can't they just replace sampson right away, as in an acting defensive coach is there really no one??
Yea, not really when you consider the "current season to date" largely contained our two best defenders and the last five games did not. The logical outcome: McHale suddenly can't coach or Missing our two best defenders is going to hurt our defense. I am going to go with option B on this one.
I can't wait to hear Mchale on TNT's Inside Trax going 'play harder! play harder!' every single timeout during the playoffs.
Yeah option B follows Occam's Razor. Sampson's focus has always been on transition defense, so I guess there is a way in which it is these 2 factors combined. Having Beverley and Howard back will greatly improve our transition defense.
I'm not saying it's not option B, but it could be a combination of both too. Mchale's lineups have been really messed up (yes I know missing two players, and forced to make something happen) but his rotations are a bit off. Also - last year they didn't have bev starting or dwight on the team - and the team still was able to play defense. sports psychology. The presence of dwight and bev probably also made teh team played harder (since they were the energy guys throughout most of the year). once they were gone, they played with little or no intensity. Coach has to also inspire the team too. just saying it may not be as clear cut as option b
