Definition: Solid- do your job and execute the play, make a good decision, avoid unforced errors. Is JVG building a smarter team? Last season JJ was solid. Yao was next, but still inexperienced and still making some poor decisions and unforced turnovers. Cat was weaker- still not executing at times and turning the ball over, but he was better than Steve and Cato. Cato- was erratic, especially taking jump shots and running set plays. Steve- as the best player and PG was poor on decision making, passing and unforced turnovers. Would you say that JHoward, TMac, CWard and Deke are more solid type players? Sura may not be considered as such. I think we will have way fewer unforced stupid turnovers this season and be a much better team in the fourth quarter. We lost alot of games late last season. (even though we played much tougher in the playoffs) We really gave 2 games away to LA with unforced errors in the playoffs. Our biggest improvement this season could be in how we finish games.
I don't see how we could be much worst than last year, especially in the turnover department and the stupid shot area.
Everyone hates ugly slow down defensive grind it out BB That is JVG's mo half court- inside out, get the good shot If one of the pg's can run the offense without making mistakes, and if Yao can catch those entry passes without getting stripped. And if TMac IS willing to play team ball. We could have a special season. Because if we have at least the same defensive effort we did last season, I see us scoring at least 5-6 more points on avg. I am starting to believe if we play smart and Yao and TMac stay healthy we could actually contend. Are we that far from SA and Detroit?
Thanks for defining me, but as to your question I will give a resounding "YES!" This is by far a "smarter" team. We should be able to run plays in less than 24 seconds, unlike last year. Shot selection will surely improve, it couldn't get much worse, and turnovers should decline. If not, I am going to be real disappointed. During the Francis era, the Rockets fielded some of the dumbest teams I have ever seen at any level. The same mistakes year after year; it was almost unbearable. I am expecting huge improvements.
Defensively, it is difficult to think we will be as good as last year. That is unless, ofcourse, T-Mac turns out to be a better defender than Cat. Ofcourse he has the tools, but we'll see if he knows how and when to put them to use. Aside from that, we lost a shotblocker who played 25 minutes and gained one that will play around 15. So we're definitely going to have less blocks. I think our shooting is pretty much the same, while hopefully our defense at PG will offset our loss of defense at PF. Yao and JJ are constants. How much better is Ward/Sura/Lue than Francis/Marc Jackson? If this year's PG rotation is an 8 defensively, compared to last year's 6, and our PF rotation is a 5 compared to last year's 8, then T-Mac needs to move our defense up a notch at SG to make up the -1 difference. Our offense will improve, no doubt. We have better scorers at C (Yao will shoot more), SG, and PF. JJ is constant. While I don't expect our PG postition to score much, I think they will do it much more efficiently, while making everyone else's scoring easier as well.
We don't lose any blk. Cato 1.39 blks in 25 minute Mutombo in 15 minutes 1.89 x 15 / 23.4 = 1.21 blks + Howard's blk Wade/Sura/Lue probably will be better defensively than Francis/M.Jackson.
I think we will be better defensively, just because we won't have as many turnovers. It was incredible how good our defensive numbers were last year for a team that averaged 15 TOs / game.
this team looks to be a much smarter team right away, that alone will give us 4-5 extra wins over last years team. as much as I loved francis and cat whenever they felt that plan a wasnt going to happen they went into 'iso' mode and tried to do it all themselves and it lead to unnecessary turnovers. also there was countless times when yao was calling for the ball when he had deep position (usually after an offensive rebound) and the guards would jack up a long jumper instead. with ward and sura we have two pgs that know that they arent the stars or sub-stars of the teams they are the role players and they have a particular job to do and they go out there and do it. ward may not be flashy but he is a steady pg that knows the jvg system which is a huge assest. sura also is a good playmaker and a good slasher as well. a lot of course depends on how tracy plays. in a way i find his situation to be analagous to jordans situation. (I AM NOT SAYING HE IS AS GOOD AS MJ!!) but micheal went threw his first few seasons in the league scoring at will and being the man, but his teams never went anywhere until he bought into the team concept and finally got a second star player in scottie. its similar to tracy's situation right now. i think he's been humbled in a ways from playing in orlando, getting all the personal accolades, but considered a loser because his teams never went anywhere (trust me if he had 3 rings like kobe did i dont think there would be as many ppl saying that kobe is hands down the better player, imo i think kobe is slightly better than tracy right now because of his defense, but i think tracy has the potential to be without a doubt the best sg in the league this year) it seems since tracy wanted to come to houston and play alongside yao that he realized that what has to do to be a winner. that speaks loads on its own. despite what was said by francis that he bought into the jvg system it didnt really seem to me that he truly did and resorted back to the rudy t days whenever he wanted to. which was fine back then, but not now because francis as the pg wasnt playing to the current teams strengths. everyone on the teams knows what their roles our (outside of gaines it seems) on the team and the sooner they start camp and playing with each other the better so that this team can gel together. even on paper this team looks like a team that can have good chemistry and thats hard to say that on paper a team can have good chemistry
Anyone got a scoop on Weatherspoon? Has he lost weight? The guy couldn't dunk last year. Noone wants to take his contract on, but Weatherspoon could be a nice spot up shooter at the SF position. It's a bonus if he can contribute this year.
One big thing I hope changes is that last year during the first 3/4 of the season, Yao would run down the court and get up against his man low in the blocks, anticipating the ball being pushed and getting the entry pass early into him. We almost never did this. Yao fought for position immediately once in half court. Rarely did the pg make the early entry pass or swing it quickly over to the wing for the small forward to make that pass early in the clock. If you watched the Lakers when they were champs they got Shaq involved as soon as possible within 2-5 secs after getting across the line. If we can get that pass in to Yao before his defender has time to adjust to his lean or fight around his close off arm and front him, Yao is going to average 22+ This will really put teams in a bind to double him and will give him many more opportunities to pass out or spin to the basket. Also Yao needs to be out on the high post enough to knock down the 18 ft. shot and also give TMac some space to cut and drive. If we cut down on turnovers, and execute smarter we could contend. I am the happy optimist now that the offseason has totally worn me out.
This is a reason why the Rockets should start Ward. Ward is a very good shooter, and he has experience with passing into the post. Mark Jackson's good years were with the Pacers. The offense with the Pacers revolved around running screens for Reggie Miller. Rik Smits was the second or third option depending on whether Jalen Rose was on the floor. Yao is 1st option. Charlie Ward can dish to Yao early on, get the ball back, and then shoot the 3 pointer. Sura has absolutely zero experience with passing into the post, and he shoots the 3 pointer at a poor percentage. One of the most effective plays last year was JJ passing to Yao with Yao passing right back to JJ when the defense collapsed. JJ would can the 3.
I wouldn't say Cato should be blamed for stupid shots. Apparently, VG was encouraging him to shoot more (from a Cato quote some time bacl). Rudy T never let him shoot so much -- and for good reason.
Watching Ming fight for position, which takes tons of energy, and having an awkward, offbalance shot jacked up from the perimeter used to absolutely make me crazy. And it didn't happen just one or two times. I think that is gone. Much of Ming's fatigue came from poor decisions. I think that is gone. It is imperative that the team make the best of Ming's efforts, not that he should always get the shot, but if he establishes position inside then that must be the first option. If teams blanket him inside, then give TMac some target practice and that is exactly what is going to happen.
It's amazing how high your expectations of this team is after Steve was traded, did he really have that negative of an impact on this team? It seems so.
Let;s see two things 1. Earlier passes to Yao. If he gets a the position, pass to him ASAP...no questions asked. 2. How TMac plays OFFENSIVELY. I really dont give a crap about him playing awesome Defense. If he takes care of the ball and get quality shots off, other team wont be fastbreaking aganist us at all.
Yeah, remember that one interview with JVG on that new york station after the trade. One of the first thing he mentioned was how good T-mac will/should be on defense.
