[Stop Beating Themselves] Consistency: Turnovers, Rebounding and Defense

The problem is not in the lack of action.

It's in the mind, in the soul. These guys have an internal problem. They know they can grab more rebounds, play harder defense, take care of the ball. They don't want to do what they were doing a year ago.

That's an ego problem. I don't think it's only about one or two guys. I think some of these guys have irreparable chemistry issues and the ones with the least asset value are going to be traded.

 

Basically.

This same exact team with better execution and discipline would have the 2nd or 3rd best record in the NBA.

It isn't a lack of talent, it is a number of small things killing the Rockets.

Box out, communicate on defense, get out in transition, make definitive cuts to the basket.......

You would think they have never played together.

 

I think the effort last night was actually better than a majority of the season... remember they had lost 3-4 in a row.

A lot of it IS coaching, someone like Thibs never would have let it get this far.

 

Solve it. If you can then you wear the 'genius' crown.

WTF is with this group this year? Only the locker room knows and all we can do is guess.

Joyless play, joyless watch.

Give me the 6th seed (or better) [and a legit chance for a run] or gimme back the pick, and let's start over in November.

 

I agree with you to a certain extent but isn't a coach responsible for motivating his troops? And for JBB being their defensive coach while under McHale he's got to be embarrassed for how these guys play on that end of the court at times.

 

Defensive rebounding has been a problem for 2-years running. It's a personnel and scheme issue.

 

And that's starts with them, the players!

You can decide how much effort you're gonna to put in.
You can decide if you're gonna run back the other way on defense.
Are you willing to do so or not?

In the words of J.B. Bickerstaff, the Rockets have chosen not to.

 

Exactly! That's why I'd take the 2008, 2011 or even the 2013 Rockets over this squad. Far less talented but far more hard working. I do not see hustle in any of these players on a consistent basis. The fact that a guy like Montrezl stands out should tell you everything you need to know about this team.

 

It's absolutely an internal issue. Each of these players have decided internally that they were happy with last years results and have decided to not bring the same intensity and drive that they brought last year. I've watched this team through good and bad and never been as disgusted as I am this year with the Rockets.

 

Every player has his own intrinsic motivation to be on the court. If that motivation is to win, then a good coach can shape it into something positive.

I have no idea what Harden's intrinsic motivation is. I just hope it isn't the money - because that is uncoachable.

 

If that is the case, then McHale was right all a long.

Coaching does play a part to an extent. A strong enough coach can motivate or bench and eventually trade those players that do not respond.

Thibs... Jeff VanGundy.... Popovich are a few off the top of my head that motivated successfully and when that didn't work got rid of the guys that would not buy in.

 

Yes, the coach is responsible for motivating his troops. But these players are supposed to be professionals. They are paid to do a job. They aren't kids needing the coach to constantly say, "Great effort, great job. Clap. Clap."

I think the motivation issue is part coaching part players. Real motivation has to come from within.

 

for Harden, defense is just a walk in the park... literally.

 

Right, except this same group of guys has been motivated in the past.... hell only a months ago they were coming back from 20 point deficits against the Clippers and fighting the Warriors to a near standstill without 2 starters in Golden State.

 

I disagree. You think Harden would even try those sorry ass pocket passes if we had Thibs or JVG as our coach?

 

This. It starts with the players.

So they couldn't play for a lax "player's coach" but now they need a drill sergeant to "push them" so they can "play their best ball".

Fine, then get a drill sergeant in here but no "I'm tired! I play too many minutes! You're working me/us too hard!"

They don't want no drill sergeant.

Harden's already complaining about minutes. 38-40-42 would be the norm under Tom Thibodeau.

Spoiler

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bickerstaff says a couple of Harden TO's were due to fatigue (he played 42 mins tonight) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockets?src=hash">#Rockets</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Joshua Reese (@MrJoshua) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrJoshua/status/684236591791869953">January 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

You guys are looking at terrible rebounding mechanics and disguising it as poor effort, being lazy, not caring, etc.

Being able to rebound actually takes talent and is a skill. Our players are terrible rebounders because no one is coaching them on how to do it properly. This is on coaching.

 

I feel kJ and montrezl can give us the fire papanikalou and black gave us last year. Truly underrated what youngsters can do for us especially seeing as we get lit up by one play most nights