Just out of curiosity, who are the big name free agents(assuming they don't sign extensions) next summer? Anyone other than Dragic? I almost don't wanna count Love or Aldridge cuz they're both likely to resign with their current teams. And don't anyone tell me Durant's contract is up in 2016. If Morey is gonna sit on his hands in order to maintain "flexibility" for another year and a half for that pipe dream, he should be fired on the spot.
5-2 with basically three starters out. What more could you want? God almighty is not going to be coaching the Rockets anytime soon.
Just for context, the Rockets defense has been 1 point better per 100 possessions in their last 11 games when Dorsey is in the game versus when he is off the court (granted Dwight hasn't played much...but I don't think Dwight is a good comparison for many players defensively). His man-to-man defense has improved from the beginning of the season when his man was shooting near infinity to down to 44% over the last 5 games. As a guy coming off injury with little work in training camp, he is getting much closer to being where he needs to be defensively. Offensively....rag away. He's almost getting worse if that's possible.
You do have a good point. But what does it mean? Is Dorsey better than Black on defense? That is the only reasonable interpretation I can come up with.
Not necessarily, but I do think that has been the case lately (very small sample size), barely. Black has been playing more minutes against better competition. It means that against backups, Dorsey is providing adequate rim protection and that the Rockets don't have to worry about defense completely falling apart with him in there. Offensively, he's very limited to the point that he is unplayable any time the Rockets let their opponent get into the bonus early in a period. When opponent is not in the bonus, he is merely horrible at this point.
Dorsey is who he is I guess. I do not hold it against him. Or Morey. I want to have hope for Capela, but I do know that is akin to hoping to win the lotto. Perhaps the Rockets get well soon.
Capela has put up a lot of blocks, but he hasn't had to guard anyone in the D League (not to say he can or can't...I just haven't seen him in this situation). I see him more as a guy next to Dwight in the future grabbing up defensive boards when Dwight goes for the block and Dwight getting the board when Capela goes for a block. With seeing Dorsey and Black's play, I think the Rockets will be adequate at backup center once Dwight gets healthy. I'm not a fan of Jones's, but Rockets are really thin at PF right now. Rockets really need a PF that can play defense and stretch the floor as Howard, Black, and Dorsey all suck shooting the ball. Motiejunas has been playing well, but good teams will be able to take advantage of the Rockets if they have two guys on floor that have no range to their game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets">@HoustonRockets</a> GM <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> joins <a href="https://twitter.com/LanceZierlein">@LanceZierlein</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/adamclanton">@adamclanton</a> NOW. Listen here: <a href="http://t.co/uLujJFrg1k">http://t.co/uLujJFrg1k</a></p>— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsTalk790/status/542314665976414210">December 9, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> I'm dying to hear what DM has to say, but I can't listen from overseas. Anyone who did?
Until JR posts the transcription---verbatim, mind you---I did catch a little of the interview on my way in. They talked extensively about Donatas flipping that switch, gaining his confidence and playing so well. Daryl said Donatas wanted very badly to play well (perhaps implying that he was "pushing") and that he carries the weight of a nation, given that basketball is his country's main sport (he said there are two such countries in the world; and the other one is....?). So Lithuania and its media watches and dissects DMo's every move. James Harden should be good to go tomorrow, although you never know until you actually get out there and play how your body will respond. DH12's return, Daryl says, is probably "sooner rather than later", but no exact date. Canaan probably out another week. TJones is improving but no timetable set. Papanikolau wasn't mentioned while I was listening, sorry, had to go to work. Morey apologized for not having clearer timetables for players' returns but only Canaan has an injury that you can really say, "OK, twisted ankle? It'll take XYZ days." The other injuries have their own mind, so to speak, especially TJones with his nerve issue (bruised, or whatever it is). CALLING ON JR!
Thanks for the summary! So still no Howard vs GSW The other country of course is ... the Philippines!!
Like I figured. They'll hold out Dwight and Canaan another week since they feel they can go 2-1 in these upcoming games with Cousins out for the Kings and Denver being a beatable opponent.
