You can't ask for much more.... the Rockets did almost EXACTLY what we should have been hoping for. If you are disappointed, you were asking for too much. Rockets record overall: 8-5 (.62) Rockets record agains teams with better record: 1-3 (.25) Rockets record against teams with worse record: 7-2 (.78) If you handicap the Rockets by removing all the wins against worse teams and removing all the losses against better teams, you are left with a 1-2 record. That ain't bad. At that rate, we are going to the playoffs. Worst News: Francis is still slumping. Best News: Francis is still slumping, and the Rockets are paced to make the playoffs with plenty of room for improvement.
Thanks for that breath of fresh air Doc Rob.. With the exception of the bad news you posted...Im actually fairly pleased with how they did overall. Three things to work on for the next month. 1) SF must move the ball and make those open shots he keeps getting. 2) We must improve our defensive rotations outside. 3) Yao must continue to workon battling thru those doubles...He showed he could do it against Atl....how bout building on that big guy?
I agree. The interior defense got weaker in the last couple of games and the defensive rotation was not quite excuted well. Yao has to move the ball quickly before he get double team. We have enough fire power, but we just need to learn how to utilized them. Great topic Doctor Robert!
there is a delicate line you walk between tough interior defense...and bodying up on the perimeter guys. So far, VG likes to shut down the paint..and expect the opponent to beat us from outside..that may work against a lot of teams...but when you face the top outside shooting teams in the league...it is not sufficient perfect example... Sonics are the #2 3pt team (.348%) and we are #24 in defending the 3. (.364%) we allowed them to shoot 53.3% from outside... A clear breakdown in outside defense....add that to the pathetic shooting from the entire team..and you get what we got. Even if it means that we allow the center and forward to try to handle the paint by themselves...we must keep our quicker players out on the shooters...
Man it's nice to see our overall record for last month. The last week or so of February kind of brought the mood down. I hope we can start this month strong, against a couple of tough teams. ugh...the Grizz rallied to beat the Duncan less Spurs....dangit...
Good Post. I noticed the last couple games, especially in Seattle, that the Rockets were allowing a lot of driving penetration, which can open up a lot of things.
The 2 losses to worse teams were Seattle and Phoenix. We lost to Phoenix at the end of that nasty 5 game losing streak we had, so to me that doesn't really tell us much. I think the loss to Seattle was because JVG needs to develop a better/different game plan against perimeter teams.
yea...I saw that also... I was kinda perplexed as to why they were allowing that when they normally are much better at protecting against the drive. That is one of the hallmoarks of VG defense...they play back on the outside shooters to prevent the drive...and hope that they can get back in time to get a hand in their face when they decide to shoot...but against SEA, they played back and when the drive came...they were a step or two too slow to block it off or funnel it to the baseline as is their wont... It comes back to the fact that their defensive intensity was way down against SEA... SEA has some nice quick players...but they arent that good. we sure made em look like it tho. It became like a card house...take away one of the basic foundations of their game(interior D)...and everything else came tumbling down....they almost seemed to get so demoralized by the ease in which the Sonics were scoring...that they were unable to get it together on the other end. ah hell...I done derailed this sucker...sorry Doc Rob... enought about that game....lets hope they bring it back against the Lakers. EDIT: agreed DocRob....but what?? zone? what are the chances of VG going to a zone? and can our guys run it effectively?
I can't remember if the Rocket's have used the zone this season, we really haven't had to the way we play D, and I don't think these guys have enough experience to run it well. But the zone gives teams a lot of trouble, no doubt. Just a question: Did R. Lewis sign a full contract this season? If so, anyone know for how long and how much? He could fill the 3 spot nice for us.
Im not sure contract-wise...but what a dream... hell...if we had Shard...I'd move JJ to the 2 and Cat to the point...and trade Francis for a decent 4 who plays good at both ends.... and a decent young backup PG but..Im afraid that is nothing more than a pipe dream.
You are missing some important numbers which weigh heavily given the schedule the rest of the way. For the month: Road Record: 1-3 (.25) RR teams with 20 or more wins: 0-3 (.00) RR teams with less than 20 wins: 1-0 (1.00) Home Record: 7-2 (.78) HR teams with 20 or more wins: 4-1 (.800) HR teams with less than 20 wins: 3-1 (.750) The rest of the way, all their opponents (currently) have more than twenty wins: Road: 12 games. Home: 11 games. Extend it back to January, and they are 3-6 on the road against teams currently with better than 20 wins.
