That is unfortunate. I think the Rockets should then look to sign a couple if tier 2 guys to support KPJ/Green/Smith. Throw some money at Myles Turner and Andrew Wiggins on contracts that expire when we got to start paying the kids. Those guys would hopefully help this team start winning when they need to next season.
HC said he kept it plain vanilla on offense and defense because of how young and raw the players were. Not exactly saying, "I had no system." Corrosion is correct, it's up to the players/shooters to make their shots. Silas didn't shoot the ball for them. In theory the system worked, even if it was watered down and plain vanilla. Silas implemented his system at the beginning of the season with Theis setting screens and rolling like Kleber while Wood played the Porzingis role. Unfortunately Green/Porter were not good initially at PnR like Hardaway/Brunson/Doncic and Wood hated that Porzingis role. Got Theis removed by shooting 24% from 3 during a stretch after game 8 of the season. *Tate/Kenyon not wanting to shoot 3's mucked up everything. Ironically, Wood now, is brought in to play......wait for it..... that Porzingis role now with the Mavs. Crazy turn of events. *Tate wanted to drive rather than shoot, because he didn't trust his 3-pt shooting. League knew it too. Again, not on Silas.....play was designed for open man to shoot the ball. Same as with Rudy T and the same philosophy as with D'Antoni.
I think this is largely true, although all those open 3’s could also be by the other teams design. Leaving guys open that can’t shoot 3’s is a fairly frequent strategy (see Westbrick), but I do think Silas’ offense should create those open looks as well and why Jabari was such a perfect fit.
Oh no doubt. One can see me saying this constantly for years. Defenses have been behind the offenses for years; but often adapt. Defenses are getting smarter and smarter. Designing who will be left open by way of scouting and who will be helping pack the paint (defensively). I've seen the Cowboys/Oilers/Texans NFL teams go from 3-4 defense to 4-3 defense over the years and back. Each time having to make wholesale changes because the 4-3 and 3-4 lineman and linebackers need to be bigger or quicker.*This is my beef with drafting Best Player Available, sometimes it's forcing a square peg into a round hole. Not every player fits every system. I draft for fit more. I said Orlando should draft Banchero when the draft order was set.....why, because they needed a Big who can create his own shot and they had spot shooters on the wing in Wagner and T Ross. In the end they did what I said. Drafting BPA that fits. Tate was brought to the Rockets when the Rockets were still contending and coach Weaver brought him over. Rockets couldn't afford anyone. Wood and Nerlens Noel were going to join the team; but Wood asked for a more than the $10M originally planned. But is it the fault of Silas that Tate can't shoot? You don't bring the Houston Gamblers or Houston Oilers "Run-n-Gun" personnel to run the old Packers "Sweep Right-Sweep Left" always run game......and you don't use the Packers old time run only game to run the Houston "Run-n-Gun" passing mostly offense. [Talking Football] Silas was dealt a poor hand from the beginning because of money restraints and Wall calling off screens constantly in year one and Wood refusing to set screens in year two. Thus, the incoming of Jabari and Tari. Hopefully the beginning of no more Vanilla offense and defense. Tate is scheduled to start.....but you often see me post: Porter/Green/Jabari/Tari/Sengun as eventual starters. Some have EG instead at SF. Bari offers rebounding and blocked shots though.....something EG lacks. But EG makes almost $20M and people don't want him sitting on the bench. Again money dictating player personnel usage. Why? Because I don't trust Tate to hit 3's until I see it for more than the first 20 games of the season. Players often work on their shooting in the off season....only to Recert back to old habits. I trust Bari/Tari more for opening spacing; which is essential for every system of every team in the NBA nowadays.
Key word continues. Spurs had to trade Kawhi. Pops wouldn't trade to Western conference team. Had to play DeRozan who doesn't shoot 3's....until that road ended. Coaches hands are sometimes tied. Forced to play players for one reason or another. Build trade value as we saw with House, Nwaba, and now Eric Gordon and Tate. Sometimes the GM or owner has a say in the matter. Jerry Jones has a GM and coach......but ends up doing what he wants. Bypassing said GM and said coach.
yes this is Silas’ year to prove it as much as KPJ or Tate or anybody else on the team. He has been given a rock solid foundation on which to build. If the team does not improve, especially on defense this should be it for him. I’m not that concerned about how many wins, although I think that probable ends up in the 30-35 column, but really how much they improve on their weaknesses both as a team and individuals.
I'm in agreement on 30-35 wins But last year I thought 25-30 wins and they played House, Nwaba and let Wood go solo (allowed him to save energy on the defensive side) and stuck Green in the corner most of the season. In the end neither Wood nor Eric Gordon was traded because they didn't want a late first round pick.....but then traded Wood for a late first round pick....WT*? Not sure if the Rockets are in it to win it or tank for Wembanyama? We shall see.....to be continued
You use that money on legit stars. It can be used in a trade just like it can in free agency, the only difference being that in a trade they have to attach assets to reap the return.
That's where you are wrong ..... because it wasn't just the "bad shooters" who got those open shots but literally everyone on the roster. EG had the highest frequency rate of "wide open" with 34.8% of his total 3's taken were "wide open" according to NBA statistics. No one wants to leave that guy open.
Not a fan of the pinstripes but always liked idea of navy, red and white uni. There was a poster on CF that had a sweeter design. That said, last seasons throwback was worlds better than the original with giant dildo on front.
I am not a cap expert, but I have us as having ~63m in cap space next year, with the ability to clear another 10m pretty easily. Since the free agent class is pretty weak, I would make a play to push free agency out one year. Here is where I am leaning: - Sign Myles Turner for 25 million a year. - Trade cap space for Tobias Harris and future assets. -Sign KPJ to something in the 12-15 range, with lots of incentives to push it too 18-20m KPJ / TyTy Green / Christopher Harris / Eason JSJ / Tate Turner / Sengun / Garuba Toss in a 2023 top five pick (Wemby, Scoot, Whitmore, Black, Whitehead, Smith) and I think you are ready to ascend.
No need for Tobias either. The 2023 draft is quite deep and exciting. The Rockets could get a better player than him at 1/ 8th of his value.
…..sometimes fans keep making excuses for bad coaches. Oh yeah, Silas was FORCED to play Tate. Gimme a break!!!
….until next year when you and many others on this board promote JUST one more year of tanking. You all will say “we’re almost there, just need one more top five pick…..”
Playing defense and spacing the floor is not like playmaking. There is generally a synergistic effect. Though if Rockets got Turner, I'd expect Sengun to play about the same amount initially. Only reason not to sign Turner is if team feels Smith will gain enough mass to play center and start over Sengun.