How many points per game did tjones average before he got hurt? You think when Dwight, tjones, and Canaan gets back the rockets offensive efficiency will not significantly improve?
I am going to do the obvious thing here and point to strength of schedule. But yes the offense should improve once Howard, Canaan and Papa return. Is Jones even close to returning? I doubt it. Mid February? Who knows?
When the Rockets lost it's two post threats (Dwight & TJones) to injuries they became one dimensional and teams were able to take away what the Rockets wanted to do on offense. Since the team started going to DMo in the post the Rockets offensive efficiency and balance has improved drastically.
The Rockets' stats on offense are being skewed this year due to injuries. There's simply no other way around it. And if anyway who likes to talk stats doesn't see the gigantic error term caution there, they have no business talking stats. It's actually really quite amazing that given our injuries (to perhaps the two best defenders at their position) our defense stats are still so high. That being said, however, historically a team's defense is able to hold up better under injuries than its offense. We saw this with the Van Gundy Rockets as well as the Thibs Bulls. So perhaps it is not that shocking.
We're overrating the Rockets since that blowout win against the Grizz. Blowouts can be more mental than ability. The Rockets are still lacking that "north to south" playmaker who carries the team when Harden sits. They also need another rim protector for now and when Dwight returns to stop opposing "north to south" players. Ariza's playing more minutes than last season from day 1 so could add another two way SF too.
We have seen that in the playoffs 2 things happen that will work against us. 1. Refs then to swallow their whistles which hurts a big part of Harden's game - getting to the ft line. 2. Teams see you so many times from both the reg season and playoffs they prepare more against you. In the regular season teams are mostly working on their weaknesses and strengths and adjusting to different types of match-ups. In the playoffs you really are strategizing against very specific plays and tendencies. All I am saying is that this team yes is very good and very impressive, but we don't know if this is even sustainable. The West is stacked and there's only a few games that separates 1st from 7th currently. I think we need another guy who can take the pressure off of Harden if we are going to make a long run. Dragic would be perfect.
We've been winning our back to backs and 3 games in 4 nights!!! Last year we would have chalked them up as schedule losses. This year the team really has taken a no-excuses mentality. Reminds of me of Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes. #Pursuit
I want him real bad. Not sure what the contracts are like and all that, but I hope they can make a good deal. Some of our young players are likely gone if we get him. It is a shame that Jones is hurt because he would be a very attractive piece to many teams. I would like to keep him, but DMo is impressing. I would hate to give up Nick Johnson or Capella, both have potential. Beverly would be tough to let go too, but Goran is better.
Ah...I put the final Steve Francis season out of my mind. Yep. Bad offensive year. But the Rockets were ranked 15th or so with TMac and Yao when they were relatively healthy under either JVG or Adelman. And those teams, while very good and elite defensively and produced periods of excellent play like the win streak (which happened with Yao missing a good chunk of the games) were not title contenders. The current team looks similar. It is just really hard to be champions, or even have a team with a good chance at winning 3 playoff series in the West in order to get to the Finals. All kinds of really talented teams who do impressive things in the regular seasons fall well short-- look at the Clippers from last season. Legit elite players in CP and Griffin, won a bunch of games even with CP out for a long stretch, complimentary pieces in Jordan, Collison, Redick. 2nd round exit.
Eventual champion Lakers AND a Lakers team that had one of the most dominant postseason performances (from v what I remember) after beating the Rockets in 7.
We're going to have a relatively weak SOS all year, as it heavily leans on not just opponents, but b2bs, 4in5s and opponents on the same thing. We have 1 4in5 (3 or was it 4 last year?) and we play teams on the 2nd half of b2bs a hell of a lot this year. After years of having the worst schedule (3 years running), it's probably about time.
We got blown out by double digits in every game in L.A. Even with Yao there's no guarantee that team would have won. Maybe with a healthy Yao and a healthy T-Mac. That teams could have been devastatingly good if those two could stay healthy.
1st round draft pick, a 2nd round draft picks, capela, and the trade exception. I think that should be enough as the Suns won't let him walk away for nothing and it's clear there's no way he's going to fit with two great point guards that already were signed to longer term deals.
