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Serious Discussion: Rockets better now or last year?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by franchise?..NOT, Feb 3, 2005.

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  1. RikQuik

    RikQuik Member

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    35 assists in one game? No way last year's team would have done that.

    No doubt, this year's team is a better TEAM. Last year we may have had more talented players at some positions, but they did not play together nearly as well as the TEAM is this year.

    Plus, we have Gaines on the bench. Who else has a first rounder that can't even crack the top 11 PG rotation (I think Yao would play the point before RG).......
     
    #21 RikQuik, Feb 3, 2005
  2. NIKEstrad

    NIKEstrad Member

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    Well, we were 10-14 at one point, so we're 16-7 since then. That's a .696 winning percentage, which would project us to 57 wins over a season, or around 33-14 right now, which is exactly what Miami's record is. That would put us 1 game up on the Kings for the 4th seed.
     
    #22 NIKEstrad, Feb 3, 2005
  3. glad_ken

    glad_ken Member

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    I think we are better now than last year, but I still enjoy watching Francis and the Magic on League Pass.
     
    #23 glad_ken, Feb 3, 2005
  4. Rollinrockets

    Rollinrockets Member

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    I think better now. Despite the record, that team had been together as a group longer, this team really had to find itself the first half of the season. I think its clicking now and will only get better. By the end of the season, I expect us to have a better record than last year and be right back into the playoffs.
     
    #24 Rollinrockets, Feb 3, 2005
  5. saviorlh

    saviorlh Member

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    Tmac just makes everything look better.......NOW
     
    #25 saviorlh, Feb 3, 2005
  6. PXZ

    PXZ Member

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    You asked the question after we had the best offensive game? Of course, we love this team NOW.

    FYI, we are 25th in the league offensive right now, which is an improvement but Hornets and Nets just plain suck in offense this year. On the other hand, Orlando is 8th and SF3 is in top five in assists.
     
    #26 PXZ, Feb 3, 2005
  7. JumpMan

    JumpMan Member
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    At least 32 wins at this point.

    The overall talent of this team is better than it was at the start of the season and much better than it was last season. Last year Steve Francis was the best passer, this year there are four guys who can pass as well or better than him in McGrady, Sura, Barry, and Wesley. All of those dudes have point guard/playmaking skills, Francis was the only player worth mentioning with those skills last season. Last year there was two good three point shooters in Jackson and Mobley, this year there are four in McGrady, Barry, lately Padgett, and although he's been off for the most part, David Wesley. The only good bench player last season has been a non-factor this season, Mutombo is a real back up center... improved talent has EVERYTHING to do with the basketball the Rockets have been playing lately.

    It's been a joy to watch.
     
    #27 JumpMan, Feb 3, 2005
  8. Pizza_Da_Hut

    Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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    This year, no doubt
     
    #28 Pizza_Da_Hut, Feb 3, 2005
  9. NIKEstrad

    NIKEstrad Member

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    We're 19th in FG% and 15th in 3P%. But if you want to go by PPG, in terms of points allowed, Orlando is the 3rd worst, and we're 4th best.

    Francis is actually tied for 8th in assists, but don't let the facts stand in your way.

    PS- This wasn't our best offensive game. The 124 spot we dropped on Dallas in Dallas was.
     
    #29 NIKEstrad, Feb 3, 2005
  10. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    Record-wise, identical... we were 26-21 at this stage last season and are 26-21 now.

    Shooting percentage then was comparable -- better now though by a half or more percentage point. Opponent FG% is higher now than last season.

    Net-net ... our defense was better last season, our offense is better this season ... and over the last 26 games our offense is much better than it was last season. Since that dismal home loss to Dallas where our offense was abysmal and some fans were letting JVG know he should be let go, the offense has changed completely. We were 9-12 then and have gone 17-9 since.

    Granted schedule comes in to play also ... our strength of schedule (total opponent record percentage from today's date, irregardless of when we played them) for the first 21 games is .509 and it's .471 over the last 26 game period (total for the season: .489).

    Anyhow, I broke down all the numbers last season up to this point, this season and the last 26 games. Check for yourself.

    <table width="660" border="0" cellpadding=2 cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor=#000000><td valign=top colspan="15"><font face=arial size=2 color=#ffffff><strong>Rockets</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#bb0022><td valign=top align="left" width="75"><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>SEASON</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>G</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>MIN</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>FG%</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>FT%</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>3P%</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>OFF</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>DEF</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>REB</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>AST</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>STL</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>BS</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>TO</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>A/T</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>PTS</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td valign=top><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000><strong>2003-2004</strong></font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>47</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>241.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 43.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 75.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 36.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>11.0</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>32.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>43.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>18.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 6.51</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>5.68</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>15.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 1.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 86.9</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign=top><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000><strong>2004-2005</strong></font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>47</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>243.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 43.7</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 77.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 35.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 9.9</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>31.5</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>41.4</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>20.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 6.40</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>4.26</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>14.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 1.5</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 92.6</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td valign=top><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000><strong>Last 26 Games</strong></font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>26</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>242.9</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 45.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 78.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 37.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 9.7</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>32.5</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>42.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>22.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 6.62</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>4.27</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>14.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 1.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 97.4</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#000000><td valign=top colspan="15"><font face=arial size=2 color=#ffffff><strong>Opponents</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#bb0022><td valign=top align="left" width="75"><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>SEASON</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>G</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>MIN</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>FG%</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>FT%</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>3P%</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>OFF</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>DEF</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>REB</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>AST</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>STL</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>BS</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>TO</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>A/T</font></td><td valign=top align=middle><font face=arial size="1" color=#ffffff>PTS</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td valign=top><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000><strong>2003-2004</strong></font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>47</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>241.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 39.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 73.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 35.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>11.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>28.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>39.5</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>20.0</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 8.04</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>4.26</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>12.4</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 1.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 84.3</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign=top><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000><strong>2004-2005</strong></font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>47</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>243.2</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 42.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 74.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 33.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>10.5</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>30.1</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>40.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>20.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 7.66</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>3.96</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>12.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 1.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 91.5</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td valign=top><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000><strong>Last 26 Games</strong></font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>26</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>242.9</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 43.4</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 73.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 35.0</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 9.5</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>29.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>39.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>20.3</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 8.00</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>3.54</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>12.8</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 1.6</font></td><td valign=top align=right><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000> 93.1</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

    <B>Pros</B>

    - For all our 'no starting point guard' woes, we turn the ball over less and pass more - a much better assist-to-turnover ratio. I've studied and studied and for the life of me I can't figure out why this is :D

    - Points per game. We score more than we did last season, and by a wide margin over the last 26.

    - Shooting percentage up. From the field and from downtown. Three-point percentage is down for the season, but over the last 26 substantially better ... and better than last season as well.

    <B>Cons</B>

    - DEFENSE. We held teams to far fewer points last season and opponent field goal percentage tells a big story also.

    - In particular, shot-blocking and rebounding. Steals not really affected, but we lost considerably in blocks and somewhat in boards (particularly offensive). Two words: Kelvin and Cato.


    Another interesting note is the offense has improved considerably without significantly more output from Yao Ming.

    Yao last season through 47 games: 16.1 points on 53.1% shooting, 9.2 boards, 1.79 blocks
    Yao through the first 21 games: 18.1 points on 50% shooting, 8.3 boards, 1.48 blocks
    Yao through the last 26 games: 18.1 points on 56.1% shooting, 8.6 boards, 2.08 blocks:
     
    #30 Clutch, Feb 3, 2005
  11. Willis25

    Willis25 Member

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    One thing about opponent's scoring - as we score more points we raise the number of possessions - that means that our opponents get more possessions as well (I wonder if the ratios are similar - which would tell a lot)

    as for FG% - I think that is kind of telling
     
    #31 Willis25, Feb 3, 2005
  12. cson

    cson Member

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    word!
     
    #32 cson, Feb 3, 2005
  13. Vienna Calling

    Vienna Calling Member

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    ummm... I don't think we have to pay Jon Barry next year. I think his contract expires after this season (We're paying him 1,500,000 this season).

    Maybe you meant Wesley? His contract comes off the books after the 2005/06 season (he's making 4,5 millions this season and 5 millions next season).
     
    #33 Vienna Calling, Feb 3, 2005
  14. thegary

    thegary Member

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    hey falco, are you austrian or do you just play one on the BBS?
     
    #34 thegary, Feb 3, 2005
  15. franchise?..NOT

    franchise?..NOT Member

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    Sorry. I meant to keep him. He signed a lowball offer with the lowly Hawks this year and has shown now that he he is at worst a solid spark plug off the bench for a year or so yet. He deserves and will probably get a much bigger contract next season unless he give us a hometown discount to stay. Hell, his brother and DFish and Hudson and Jones and Alston, ETC......... all got too much money this year. He deserves more than all of them based on contribution to team success.

    I just wonder if we can afford to keep him?.
     
    #35 franchise?..NOT, Feb 3, 2005
  16. shawn786

    shawn786 Member

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    Barry would be willing to Resign with us for another $1.5-2 mill. Hes not one of these players like Hudson and B. Barry that attract alot of attention byu putting up alot of numbers. He does stuff only the home team would know about which is being a leader and making a difference on the court which dosnt show up in the stat sheet.
     
    #36 shawn786, Feb 3, 2005
  17. DanTanna

    DanTanna Member

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    For an old guy Barry should could teach the younger dudes about energy and passion. Same for Sura.
     
    #37 DanTanna, Feb 3, 2005
  18. KeepKenny

    KeepKenny Member

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    We obviously miss Cato defensively, but I think the new rules also play a huge role. Last year, we had JJ, Cat, and Francis all playing really physical perimeter D. This year, they are not allowing that stuff at all. I wonder if the entire league's FG% has improved this year.
     
    #38 KeepKenny, Feb 3, 2005
  19. zhao1109

    zhao1109 Member

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    soon we need rebuild this team. for long term, i haven't seen no light from this Rox
     
    #39 zhao1109, Feb 3, 2005
  20. solid

    solid Member

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    Wow, Clutch, you're like a basketball guru or something! A Bballogeek! I'm impressed.;) So, do you think they are better or what? :D
     
    #40 solid, Feb 3, 2005
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