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[Chron] Jeff Bzdelik sees path to fixing Rockets' defense

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by cdrive, Jun 3, 2016.

  1. dmoneybangbang

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    Frankly, we were trending very positively on the defensive end in the McHale/Harden era until this season: from 16th in '12 (Harden's first year), then 12th, then 6th, then an abysmal 20th. While I agree that bad habits and etc. did add up, that doesn't explain everything.

    This season's team didn't like playing with each, didn't believe in each other, and couldn't put egos aside.

    The arm chair psychologist is a tough gig to pull off.

    LOL. He has a MBA from MIT. If you think the bolded is true then I got some ocean front property to sell you...
     
  2. shaggylambda

    shaggylambda Member

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    Its simple really. You spend the summer with coach K and Team USA, and you are the MVP runner up, you team makes it to the conference finals, you have a career year. You spend the summer partying with the Kardashians and you get what happened last season.
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. saleem

    saleem Contributing Member

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    That is my biggest concern, I don't think that Harden will put in the work needed to make a big comeback.

    His career might end up like McGrady's, as a scorer who never won a NBA Championship ring.
     
  4. Jontro

    Jontro Member

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    I thought MerGady played pretty good defense. He shut down a young LerBon everytime they met when he still wore a Rockets uni.
     
  5. Nook

    Nook Member

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    There are certainly trends and a lot of parroting when it comes to defense in the NBA. Everyone reviews tape now and can see what works. The real issue when it comes to coaching of the defensive end is prioritizing, you cannot emphasize and stress every "truth". Some defensive coaches emphasize forcing turnovers, others getting back ASAP to prevent easy transition baskets or open higher percentage shots. The second important factor is that come coaches can get players to buy in more easily. The Rockets got a coach in charge of the defense that has a reputation of being able to make adjustments and getting players to buy in. He isn't Thibs, but other than Ron Adams a 2-3 others, he is about as good as you will find that isn't an NBA head coach. He is also not afraid to let's players and coaches know if their effort isn't good enough.
     
  6. saleem

    saleem Contributing Member

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    He did play good defense for the Rockets, but he became inconsistent even before his back injuries.

    I have nothing against McGrady. Harden is our star player, and we can't win until he makes the changes needed to lead the team.
     
  7. RudyTBag

    RudyTBag Contributing Member
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    McGrady did NOT play good defense. He was VERY similar to Harden. Huge offensive load and he could really only defend when he was locked in. Battier to the rescue.
     
  8. coachbadlee

    coachbadlee Member

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    It's D'antoni. Of course he won't. Defense is his rival.
     
  9. rocketsballin

    rocketsballin Member

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    40 lashes per botched defensive assignment? spiked whips, like what the jews did to jesus. none of that sissy leather whip crap. BLOOD DEMANDS BLOOD!
    and im not looking at harden. IM LOOKIN AT YOU BIG GUY! MOVE YOUR FKN FEET AND BLOCK SOME FKN SHOTS!
     
  10. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    Battle Fight
     
  11. basketballholic

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    That attitude will not work. These guys aren't slaves rowing in the hull of a slave ship. They're not going to respond to that because they don't have to.
     
  12. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    This is not to ignore James' defensive shortcomings, of which there are many... but to try and look past that and understand it.

    To me, the team's best defenders regressed a lot in that area this season, which when then combined with James shortcomings, made him look foolish in that regard.

    I'm speaking to Dwight and Ariza.

    On Dwight, he athleticism, double jumping, covering multiple people, etc. just wasn't what it once was. Definitely, the team around him doesn't help... but where as before he took care of a lot of those mistakes, he didn't nearly as much. He wasn't aggressive defensively. It was like he knew he didn't have it quite so much anymore, so he would lay off that extra foot. He was also fairly non-existent on pick and rolls.

    On Ariza, he just couldn't stay in front of people as well. Something was just have a click off all the time. He might get a deflection but couldn't grab the ball.

    Dwight is gone (99%), and even if he stayed, I think his issue is as much his athleticism as anything. Put him on a slower paced team with better defensive fundamentals and that will obviously help. But he's done as an elite defender. He's done as a big you'd want switching on PnRs, etc.

    Ariza... one can hope, can have a bounce back year defensively. But his age is creeping up on him, too.
     
  13. dharocks

    dharocks Contributing Member

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    This is complete nonsense.
     
  14. justtxyank

    justtxyank Contributing Member

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    LOL you guys are ridiculous.

    Does Steve Kerr bench Steph when he plays crappy defense?
    Do they bench Westbrook when he gets lazy on defense?
    Did any coach bench Kobe for the last several years of his career where he was a bad defender with a good reputation?
     
  15. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    Actually it is true, JVG had to inspire him to play in the playoffs as he might not get another chance.

    McGrady did not play as bad as Harden on D, but he was no great defender.

    DD
     
  16. GMNot

    GMNot Member

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    Defense is mostly desire and the willingness to expend the energy. (Coordination, size and speed are assumed; although Chuck Hayes proves there are exceptions to generalizations.)

    Schemes may vary as to rotations, etc. Mistakes will happen.

    Offense will always seem more fun to most players. Some, who are defensive specialists, and who know they aren't key offensive players, will take pride in that role. It's how some players get the playing time they do.

    Because offense is more fun, no matter the defensive "philosophy," there will always be a tendency to take the foot off the defensive pedal if offense is going well. Players believe that they can outscore the other teams and spend less time utilizing defense to widen leads.
     
  17. chenjy9

    chenjy9 Numbers Don't Lie
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    T-Mac's D wasn't as bad as Harden's blatant inattention at times, but he coasted on D a lot too and similarly to Harden, could play really good D when his attention was on it. How many times have we seen Harden make key defensive plays in clutch moments? Sneaking in for a rebound, steal, or block? Keeping in front of opposing guards or a big out of the paint? That's what makes it especially frustrating about Harden sometimes as Rockets fans. We know what the Beard is capable of provided he has the energy and attention span.
     

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