Chron: Rockets' defense comes under fire

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2443937

Given the talent of the teams they have faced lately, it might be difficult to tell whether the Rockets have slipped on defense or if the offenses they are playing against have improved.

"No," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy corrected. "No it isn't."

OK. Then in the past four games ...

No, it's not just the past five games, Van Gundy clarified.

"Since the All-Star break," he said, "I think our defense has been mediocre."

The Rockets still think of themselves as a tough defensive team. Actually, they think of themselves as the NBA's best defensive team, which belies their mediocrity over the past 11 games.

While the Rockets' offense has seemingly made important strides, the defense has slipped in ways it does not take someone with Van Gundy's perceptions or standards to notice, particularly in the past five games against the SuperSonics, Lakers, Timberwolves, Mavericks and Clippers.

Rockets opponents have reached 80 points in each of the past 13 games, with 12 making better than 40 percent of their shots.

In the previous 50 games, the Rockets held 16 opponents -- including the Hornets, whom they face tonight at Toyota Center -- to fewer than 80 points, with just 20 making better than 40 percent of their attempts.

In the past 13 games, Rockets opponents have averaged 93.2 points on 44.7 percent shooting, topping 90 points in six games.

In the first 50 games, the Rockets allowed 90 points just 13 times as opponents averaged 84.2 points and made 39.4 percent of their shots.

The Rockets have long since fallen off the pace to set an NBA record for points allowed per game, dropping to third in the league this season. And though they still lead the NBA in opposing field-goal percentage, they have recently fallen behind the record pace of the 1999 Spurs, who allowed 40.2-percent shooting in that strike-shortened season.

Rockets opponents were shooting worse than 40 percent until the SuperSonics made 47.9 percent on Feb. 20. The Lakers pushed the season figure to the Spurs' 40.2 standard. With the Rockets giving up 97 points and 47.8 percent shooting in the past five games, they are allowing 40.5 percent shooting this season.

"We have got to get back to doing it. That's what kept us in a lot of games," forward Jim Jackson said. "That's what we built our reputation on as far as playing defense. So we have got to get back to that.

"It's real key, because you'll go through some droughts where you're not shooting the ball and scoring the ball, and you've got to be able to stop somebody."

Even the Rockets' attitude seemed to have changed. Where they had been proud and even boastful about their defense, after a few high-scoring games, they seem to have come to like the idea of winning with large numbers.

"It seems like we've been trying to depend on outscoring people," guard Steve Francis said. "We've been fortunate, but our defense has been something we can hang our hat on all season, and that has to continue for us to get better and be more consistent.

"As a team, our energy wasn't there (on Tuesday). Defensively, they pretty much got whatever shot they wanted early. I thought once we decided to defend late, it really helped us out a lot."

If the Rockets have slipped because they have taken their defensive prowess for granted, the attitude adjustment would not seem too difficult. But they have sprung leaks in a variety of ways.

They still help inside well enough. But their defense on the ball or against the pick-and-roll has been inconsistent enough to force defenders inside and then leave outside shooters open, a failing that cost them the game against the Lakers when they allowed 34 points in the fourth quarter.

The short-handed Clippers were not able to punish the Rockets for four quarters, missing their last seven shots. But the Rockets seemed to realize they cannot rely on such good fortune.

"They had open shots that they missed," center Yao Ming said. "The last couple of games, we have focused on our offense, but we have sometimes let our defense slide. I think that the important thing is that in the key moments of the game, we were able to pick it up and bring our defense when we had to. I think it was something that came from within."

Knowing how to win late had been on Van Gundy's checklist. But the list began with defense.

For whatever shortcomings there have been, becoming a smothering defensive team seemed to have been checked off within the first weeks of the regular season.

"I think the more you play in the West, the better the teams, so you're playing against better offensive teams," Van Gundy said. "I think we also have some guys who do not think of themselves as defenders. We need all five guys out there in a stance knowing what we're doing and then doing it well."