Here are some per game categories that the Rockets ranks very high after 4 games: Defensively: Points allowed: 1st fg% allowed: 2nd Rebounds allowed: 5th Assists allowed: 5th Steals: 6th Blocked shots: 7th Offensively: fg%: 2nd Our worst category: Turnovers: 3rd most in the league
To be number one in FG% offensively and number 2 in FG% allowed is pretty amazing. The team is taking high percantage shots and it shows. If the Rockets could keep those two stats around that area all year and cut down on the turnovers they could be dominating.
Does anyone remember where we ranked last year in these categories? I know our defense has been spectacular, but our offense has still been quite craptacular. Our offense was a bigger concern last year to me than our defense. These two things were the biggest problems 1) The turnovers have been one of the things that have killed us. Yao, Steve, and Cuttino need to take better care of the ball. This year the team as a whole still can't keep a handle on it. Turnovers equal extra scoring opportunities for the other team which means more work on defense. 2) Our field goal percentage is definitely looking a lot better than last years, but last year it was one of the things that caused us the most problems. Will it resurface again like it did in the Memphis game or will it be more like the last two games. Just somethings I remembered that I want improvement in.
27th in the league in offensive rebounds per game. 7th in the league in defensive rebounds. So if you look at the bright side of that we are playing good defense and causing oppenents to shoot a poor percentage. (we are second in nba in field goal percetage allowed). And we are making a high percentage of our shots so there is little chance for offensive boards. (we are second in the nba in field goal percetage. I'd say we are looking pretty dang good right now.
To be fair - we are 2nd in the league in FG%! Our big problem is the TO's - perhaps that's part of a new system? We didn't have many TO's in the Bulls win (until garbage time that is)
What's even more amazing is the fact that we haven't had Pike, Griffin, and E. Griffin play yet. Pike would add to the fg% and 3pts, and the Griffins add blocks and steals. When we finally get our offense set (you can tell we are no where near where we should be in our offense, we stil see a lot of iso from cant and Mo) we should be an even better team.
DR, I'm saying top 2 in the west. check this out. heres some all time defensive records. Im gonna go ahead and say this team comes really close to breaking the fewest points allowed record(note that was only 50 games during the strike season). I still think this team can break that. NBA Almanac NBA Regular Season Team Records DEFENSE Fewest points allowed per game, season 83.4 Atlanta (4170 in 50 gms) 1998-99 Most points allowed per game, season 130.8 Denver (10,723 in 82 gms) 1990-91 Most consecutive games, less than 100 pts allowed, season 28 Fort Wayne (10/30/54 - 12/30/54) 24 Detroit (12/15/96 - 2/1/97) DEFENSIVE FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Compiled since 1970-71 Lowest opponents' field-goal percentage, season .402 San Antonio (1631 of 4061) 1998-99
If the Rockets maintain their position in the top 4 in the league in terms of FG% Against and Point Differential, there is no question they should be a top 4 West team. Right now, the team is at a +13 pt differential which is absolutely insane. A differential of that type is extremely difficult to maintain but iirc from last few yrs around +9 or so should be near the top of the league nowadays. I understand that it is very early in the season for this (it takes atleast 40-50 games if not more to really start getting a gauge of where your team stands in these categories), but the Rockets were never once this high in terms of pt differential last yr. Their FG% Against was top 10 all season, but their point differential was always +2 at the most b/c their offensive efficiency was a joke last yr. At the beginning of the season, I wouldve thought anyone crazy that believed top 4 is possible, but looking at the struggles of Minnesota and Portland, in addition to Sacto battling age and lack of depth, it is possible. Its funny how the NBA works, the T-Wolves had clearly inferior talent last yr but everyone understood their roles extremely well and just played hard. This season, they insert three one on one players to surround KG with and all of a sudden their efficiency is long gone.
Btw, if the Rockets finish top 4 in the West, there is no question that Jeff Van Gundy should be the Coach of the Year.
its a vast improvement from last year but just to be objective, we did play the bulls, nuggets and grizzlies who arent known to be precision shooting teams.
Let's not get too excited, since we've played only one team so far with a winning record last year. Obviously, there's a whole lot to be excited about this team defensively, but I don't think we should be taking team stats very seriously until after we've played games against good teams. A team stat that I will be watching will be Assists. We were really poor in assists last year, and I'd like to see us improve in that area since it indicates both ball movement and shooting, areas we've needed work in. Presently, we are 21st in assists at 18.5. I'd like to see us average over 20 apg which would put us in the middle of the pack.
Texas, you will get no arguement from me. I am here watching the Mavs / Wizards and I am thinking that the big teams should just hurt the Mavs. Again the last trade was an error.
