Questions for the Rockets

Good questions

I think fatigue is definitely playing a role in both Steve and Yao's performances. I've seen a couple jump hooks by MoT. His shots are a function of the offense that Van Gundy is running. For the jump hook to work, MoT has to have a favorable matchup against the opposing team's PF and he has to be posting up down low, which hasn't happened as much this year because of the emphasis on getting the ball to Yao down low. Mo's post ups are limited to when he is in the game with Cato and has a favorable PF matchup.

I think Yao's passing has decreased because of the emphasis for him to make moves and score down low. Instead he is holding the ball and getting it ripped away. Bad move.

Ditto in the pick n roll. I think we should use it as our base offense until somebody stops it. It looked unstoppable against the Lakers.

 

I really like these questions. Anybody have any theories?

 

what about the half court alley oops

 

I can't answer any of the questions except this one!

Posey!!!!!!

Now Piatkowski just runs around...
Taylor can't finish an alleyoop. Jackson can't. Mobley can once in a while. No one can throw it for Steve. Posey was like our fast break...exciting...now it's just Cato!

Steve's jumper..hopefully gets better..he makes like 40%.
Mo Taylor's hook! That was like automatic last year! This season..he uses more fakes and like spinning to get to the basket.
Yao's passing...yeah that's gotten worse.

FATIGUE! I think they are tired..

 

IMO, I doubt that it's fatigue. At least it is a poor excuse for a pro. Big man like Yao can't even use it, how can Steve?

I don't think Steve is taking the same shots. He does not finish strong at the basket like he used to. He takes more jumpers which he is not best at. Most of the J he misses come from 1 on 1 dribble outside. He makes more when he comes off picks. Steve just needs to adjust to the shots he gets in this offense and how the defense plays him.

Mo still hit some jump hooks when he starts from the low post. He plays with Yao more now and he positions a little further from the basket and faces up more. He used to not hit many J last season so defender backs off him. He is hitting them now. His FG % is better than last yr, so I wouldn't worry about him.

Yao had some passes that looked great the first few times you saw them. The defense knows about them now. They shadow the cutter so there is no opening for the over-the-head pass or the bounce pass to cutter thru the lane. I only remember a few this yr. Yao is also told to go 1-1 more so there is less opportunity for them now.

We do run the PnR up top with Yao since the Lakers game. He was rarely open. Denver, Seat, Phi's big men do come out further than Shaq. Yao did get a few outside shots, some he missed, some he hit. (I have time-off for the holidays so I taped and watched all 3 games a few times)

 

Yea, i think that defenses have gotten smarter with the cutters.
Even on my high school bball team, we're told never to trail the cutter, to stay between the cutter and the person with the ball.

 

What cutter? It's usually Yao get the ball in the low post, everyone stand and watch and wait (for the pass). It's so damn boring. No movement at all.

 

STeve is just missing from everywhere this year.
I think it has to do with concentration. I don't think he is as focused as he needs to be, it is obvious ssince he seems to get frustrated a whole lot of times. He is not mentally in the game as much. Even though he still steps up at big games in times.

Mo is not using his hook as much, but he is using other moves and shoots from outisde more like someone else said.

Yao is not passing as much because there are no cutter. STeve and cat and JJ are all 1on1 offensive player or spot up people. Cato is not a cutter neither.
There is really no one to pass to. Rox needs guys like matt harpring who is good at playing w/o the ball. Or they just have to practice and practice set offense that emphasize cutting to the basket.

 

I get tired of watching Yao get the ball downlow inside, and holds onto it for a 5 seconds before he makes a decision on whether he wants to dribble it or not. I wish he'd make a decision immediately after he's gotten the ball so defenses that are scrambling around trying to cover their defender don't have time to catch up to them and don't have time to double and triple team Yao. Quicker decisions from him would help this team get much better shots.

 

I am sure you know u exaggerate a little ! ... 5 seconds ?
The longest he holds is when he has to wait for the player who fed him the ball to cut and clear.

Other times, he holds the ball a sec or 2 to see if the double team comes. If he puts the ball on the floor everytime right after he catches the ball and opp come with quick double team, he will lose it.

On the other hand, if he holds the ball too long, he allows the double team to come at him and the other 3 rotate to cover.

I don't think he should be predictable either way. Mixing it up is the key, keep the defense off balance.

 

How can Yao make a pass when he does not have his hand on the ball? How can he pass if no one want to move and just stare at him to go one on one when he got the ball with 3 seconds left?

 

1. Francis’ jumper- I think this is due most likely to Francis' early lack of confidence on his role in the offense. He had to question whether each shot he took was what JVG wanted. During the recent few games, you've seen him be more comfortable and become more adapt and choosing his spots and shots within the offense, which is evidence of his growing acumen of the offense

2. Mo Taylor’s jump hook – He still uses it from time to time, yet teams are putting bigger defenders on him because they know he is instant offense in the post. I think he's doing a great job of adjusting and learning how to slither within holes in the defense. He's also learning how to use his body a lot better, while also showing no signs of losing his long range touch. He is one of the Rockets' MVP's of the season so far.

3. Yao’s amazing passing – Due to constant double and triple teams, opponents are using their length to close slits in the offense. Also, I dont think players are cutting as hard as they used to. The fact that teams are now aware that he is a great passer is also a factor in this.

4. Pick-n-Roll – Actually yes they are still running it a lot. Besides the 1-4 set, the pick and roll is their most used play. The reason Yao isnt pasrt of it is because there is only ONE Shaq, so he is able to use his height against all other teams. Why have him shooting 18 footers when he can score easy layups? You only involve Yao in pick and rolls when his opponent is the same height/bigger than he is.