Again, that's just looking at stats. That's merry and dandy, and all, but it's not showing this whole picture. I'm really pro-analytics, but I'm starting to think it's disguising some fundamental issues. If you watched the games you'd see it's not so much about giving up PPG, etc., it's about basic positioning. I'm really curious on how much better our D numbers would be if we employed some type of philosophy there. The Warriors, for example, are far inferior in regards to defensive players, yet so much better. We'll continue to beat the 25 teams below us, but the 3-4 teams ahead of us with better offensive discipline, an actual defensive strategy just penetrate our gimmick styles too much.
It's basically the same team last year Re-loaded. We lost to the Warriors with two of our key players injured. The Warriors were fully healthy. What if the shoe was on the other foot and we were fully healthy and Warriors lacked 2 key players due to injury? Now factor in Lawson, Thornton etc. into the fold. Way toooo early to panic...the Rox will figure it out
I agree and the 1st half without Dwight Howard was basically an even match. We went into halftime down by 3 points I think....2nd half Lawson doesn't play and we start playing our 2nd string more without Dwight Howard and Thornton had an off night. The top 3-4 teams Rox gotta bring it and I think they will with everyone in sync. Rockets at times looked bored in the 1st half and they still silenced the fans either taking the lead or being down by a few points without Howard.
Is this the regular season? No Has our best defensive bigs played? No Am I worried about our defense? No not really, unless Dwight and Dmo are not going to play
Well, specifically, One thing that bugs me is how effective our opponents' screens are and how ineffective ours are. It seems most picks set by the other team kick off a scrambling rotation that eventually leads to an open jumper. Yet so many of our screens have no effect. It takes multiple attempts, eating up the shot clock and increasing the odds of an illegal screen. Two separate problems, i know. Both probably caused by young big men. just a little mini-rant to end the preseason.
The defense hasn't been great. That's obvious. But a lot of it comes from the second half of games where McHale is playing guys who won't get many minutes, and guys who won't be playing at all or even be on the team. Or he's experimenting with different line-ups and rotations. A lot of the problems though on defense seem to be more of a lack of effort and awareness because it's the preseason. Like I said earlier in the thread... I am a little worried about the defense. But I don't think it will look nearly as bad in the regular season. They'll get it right.
I think ppl are forgetting how great dwight Howard is. Wait till he plays everything will be all good. Some of you guys worry too much we haven't even played a game yet smh.
While, I agree that our defense is something to worry about. The Warriors have some of the best defensive players in the NBA at multiple positions. Draymond Green is a legit DOPY contender, can guard 1-5. Bogut is probably better than *gasp* Dwight Howard defensively, if not it isn't that wide of a margin. He had a Defensive +/- of 5 last year equal to dwights best season ever. Defensive Rating of 95. Dwight's never had a better defensive rating. Curry and Thompson are both plus defenders. They are definitely better defensively than Lawson/Bev and Harden. Harrison Barnes is also a really good defender and can guard the 4. AI has always been a solid defender as well.
There individual defensive stats look better than they are because there so good at that end as a collective unit. You can tell me you really think boguts year last season was as good as dwights 3 year run as DPOY? Dwight a beast and makes defenses look as good as the Warriors last season by himslef. Dwight was playing with jameer Nelson hedo Turk and rAsgard Lewis, all bad defenders.
I'm worried about the "chemistry" that I have seen thus far on the team...and as often is the case defense magnifies a teams standing on chemistry. For a team with so many returning players, we look out of joint compared to last year. Yah, maybe its just pre-season...or maybe not. We will soon find out.
I'm not looking at +/- or 2nd half versus 1st half. I'm looking at how we guard basic sets, and our set up against p&r, and a lot of the corner to corner movement. How rotations work, etc. First half, second half, it's still atrocious. Has been that way since McHale has been coach. Any team with a disciplined offense, and enough firepower to withstand 48 minutes of our gimmick offense will beat us(well, no ****). The 25 inferior teams simply do not have the firepower to play at our pace, it catches up to them. The top teams, our defense does nothing to change the way they play. And we have the defenders to make them, we just do not utilize them.
That's not true. Last year the Rockets played very solid defense. And their offense is not a gimmick. The offense is designed to get open shots in the spots they want to shoot from. Just like any offense.
What I was trying to say is the thread was not to diss Mchale (although I'm not a fan), because last year I could see from the start we had the roster for being bad and mean. Dorsey and Tyrick Black were clueless on the offensive side but they were beasts down under and could hold their ground. Even before we got Josh Smith. Beverly was looking mean and nasty, i'm afraid he won't be that hungry after the new contract. This new roster looks much deeper and much more talented, but I don't see fire in anyone there. And again- just comparing last pre-season to this one. I'm sure we'll do good this year, and I know the lesson was to save power and health to May, but I'm afraid this attitude is dangerous and can bite as in the arse
The problem is that the Rockets' guards and (to a lesser extent) wings put too much pressure on the interior defenders. Though this may be by design. So I'm not sure there's an easy fix for it.
worried about it long before preseason. preesason is more about trying stuff out, not perfecting it. maybe they tried a defensive set that didnt work with harden and lawson. wait till reg season. all harden needs is to not do everythin on offense and he'll have enough energy for defense.
Did anyone think that adding Lawson to the lineup wouldn't hurt our defense? Did anyone think not having Dwight in the lineup wouldn't hurt our defense?
I don't think this preseason is much to go on at all... Considering we had no regular rotation in any of the games... It was really just a tryout for the last roster spot that everyone not guaranteed failed. If three weeks from now they look the same on defense as they did the last three weeks then I'll push the worried button
