BTW, I wrote this message and emailed it to GATER, that plagiarizing biatch! Really though, this is the best AND simplest evaluation of our problems. Too bad for us right now that our perimeter defense sucks so bad, even as we have become more reliant on guards in the lineup. GATER, do you agree with me on this point? I trust your opinion on this more than my own.
You keep spouting off this 20-game garbage, yet you never back it up with any statistical evidence. Winning breeds confidence, which breeds consistency. Once things start to click. which probably won't be until at least after the New Year, this team is going to take off. I don't want to see you posting here at that time though, because apparently the NBA season is only 20 games long.
No having a good record is ok, since we have a new coach, a new system, but what new did we see? The same old starting players as the last year, but the worst coaching job. As frustrated as anyone, we just have to wait a good change soon.
You make a lot of sense there, and I pretty much agree with your conclusions. Athleticism, speed, and versatility in today's game is a must. I think that's an area the Rockets tried to address in this past offseason as best they could. Mike James, Steve Francis, and Aaron Brooks were acquired to juice up our backcourt. Scola isn't exactly Kevin Garnett, but he at least is a significant upgrade over Juwan Howard. Bonzi Wells is sucking right now, but in terms of adding some quickness and versatility on wing, he was a good resigning for the Rockets. If I understand you correctly, the biggest blunder of the current Rockets management was the Battier trade and holding on to Chuck Hayes. You think we'd be better positioned for a championship run with Gay/Swift (two superb athletes) rather than Battier/Hayes (good team defenders and "efficient" but very limited offensively), right?
Right. The season is 20 games long...right. As far as statistical evidence...you're correct, I don't have any. But I continually hear players, coaches and GM's repeat this line over and over, so it's not like I just pulled it out of your vagina. 20 games/18 games is basically a quarter of the season. It's enough to start drawing conclusions about this team as it is currently. And right now, we know that this team doesn't look any further along than it did against the Lakers on opening night. There's been no consistency in anything that's happened so far this season. You don't just all of the sudden start to win and then have that breed consistency either. It's actually vice versa my friend. And to just assume that this team is going to click and "take off" is wrong. Don't get me wrong, it could very well happen and we all hope it does. But right now, the Rockets could just as easily end up down the toilet as they could get hot and make a run.
P1S2 - Thanks for allowing me to use your e-mailed data! My opinion FWIW has been unwavering since Barry, Sura and Wesley aged right before our very eyes. You can get players like Chuck Hayes, Shane Battier and to some extent Rafer Alston to play excellent team defense. No problem and we've seen them be among the leagues' best at it. But playing good defense...above average...noteworthy... 1on1 D requires some form of athleticism...be it the strenghth of Ben Wallace, the quickness of Iverson, the sheer length of Tayshuan Price or hand speed of Kobe...I have an admitted predjudice but just don't see that in any Rocket not named Yao or McGrady. And neither of them is exceptionally fast on D. Guessing correctly and taking a charge IMHO is not good defense. It's smart but not noteworthy. The point that I have contended for over 2 years is that long, strong quick athletes can play the passing lanes, provide enough weakside help to a slow Yao and rotate to the perimeter that the focus should be on better 1on1 defenders. Good athletes can force TO's which lead to easy transition baskets which saves mileage on your superstars. Again, not trying to "rain" on anyone's optimism but paraphrasing Jon Barry during last season....the Rockets have assembled personnel that wouldn't work in any one else's system.
RA and Van both acknowledged the need to start Hayes and even Rafer. And most of you guys think you are all superior than professinal coaches? What we lack is intensity and you are all bashing the top two hard working players.
If you don't have what you need to do something, try something different. Try a 2-3 zone. Try a 1-2-2 zone. Try a box and 1 or triangle and 2. Rockets aren't good 1 on 1 defenders and the help defense of the past few years is gone. So either improve and emphasize team defense more, or knowing Adelman...just continue to sit there. If you're gonna do the latter anyway, at least give a different look.
1on1 D is important insofar as it contributes to the overall team defense. If a player can get stops on his guy, I don't think that matters so much if his team is still giving up a ton of points per possession. Battier and Hayes aren't imposing 1on1 defenders. You may even say they're average. But when they're on the floor together, our overall defense is significantly improved. I think you underestimate what they provide on that end. It's not just drawing occasional charges. They are both our most versatile defenders, and collectively they force a good number of turnovers. In terms of providing help defense for Yao, I think Chuck does a better job than any PF he's played with. And Battier is one of the better wing players at blocking shots as well (he had 3 in the last game), in addition to the charges he draws. I think what you're looking for is more athletic defenders that can pressure on the perimeter and force stops that will lead to transition opportunities. Even though Chuck and Battier are good at helping their team get stops, they aren't the types that will swoop in for a monster block or steal and take it coast to coast for a bucket on the other end. Great teams know how to translate good defense into good offense. That's something we've never done well.
not to toot my own horn, but i've been saying that since the preseason.... so i totally agree with you. hell, i stated a few times that i thought it could take us until the allstar break before this team hit it's stride. but people want instant gratification... what did you expect?
Effort. Intensity. Intelligent team defense. Attention to detail on both ends. Beating teams you should beat while still learning and adjusting. That has nothing to do with new players or new offense. So are those things too much to ask?
Gater, I agree that the League has changed quite a bit since the Lakers dynasty. You see teams like Dallas, Golden State, and Pheonix have success with interchangeable athletic line-ups. These are the type of teams which give the Rockets fits. As much as this is an athletic league it is still a big mans game. It always will be. Besides MJ and the Bulls, You must have a post presence to succeed. SA is a great example. Not the most athletic but they are athletic enough. Our problem is that Yao is not athletic by any means. He has cinder-blocks for feet. Honestly, I do not think the Rockets can win a championship with Yao Ming b/c he is not athletic enough. If games were 1 quarter long and played every other day then Yao would be the G.O.A.T. p.s. Why in the world does Yao Ming get more minutes than TMac...And no I'm not a Yao hater. He is actually my favorite player. I love rooting for the guy.
Lack. Of. Effort. There's no excuse for Kings to blow past Wells and James for layups. There's no reason that Tmac is settling for jumpers, while Kings players can drive into our lane anytime they desire. It does seem that the players are on cruise control, and they're in the "wait and see" mode, with no sense of urgency. The lackadasical performance by majority of the Rockets players on a nightly basis is alarming. Almost as if they're going overboard enjoying the Van Gundy-less style of coaching. You can blame it on RA all you want for not being a motivator. When you're getting paid millions to do your job, that's should be enough motivation. I'm not worried about records in December, or PT of the players, or how Yao might rack up T's faster than Rasheed Wallace. I'm worried about Heart.
Well put, couldn't agree more. But just remember, the things we see and are calling out are being pawned off on "adjusting"
Jeff, always nice to see you post.. and yeah, I definitely agree. I've been telling everyone I know outside clutch to just wait until January. If there are still no improvements, then start complaining and wondering. Until then, there are too many new variables to allow for short-sighted thinking.
We have to wait til January for the Rockets to quit leaving the man with the ball? We have to wait til January for the Rockets to close out properly? We have to wait til January for the Rockets to play with intensity? We have to be wait til January for the Rockets to actually look prepared going in to a game? Everything else may take a while to get down, but when you're missing the intangibles and fundamentals like taking care of the ball and NOT breaking down defensively...there's no excuse.
Yes it is wearing thin but then what is the alternative? There is none - they are committed down this path and it's too late to turn back now. You simply have to give Adelman time to get his way of doing things working here. After all, they went over 12 years of the CD era with no results so is it too much to give Adelman at least the entire season before you burn him at the stake?
You all know that we are already 6 games back, right? I am all for patience. But to get a 4, 5, or 6th seed and then get eliminated again in round one defeats the purpose of getting a new coach in the first place. We are not all counting on getting that type of seeding and doing a 1995 playoff run, right? There are examples when a first year system/coach took a team to a championship/deep in the playoffs. I expect the same from this version of the Rockets. We are not rebuilding. No need to allow for growth. If healthy, system or not, this is a deep second round team...which is no better or worse what I expected from the JVG last year. And supposedly, this team is deeper than before...better...stronger...faster...(cue in the Six Million Dollar Man theme)
No excuses! This team is a veteran team with 2 star players in their prime, playing together for the last 3 years. Plus, the Rockets does not have the time to wait and see like before. They have 3 years to contend for the championship because Yao and T-mac only have 3 years to play at a high level. This year team will be in the playoffs, but will be bounced in the 1st round unless they improve their offense and Yao steps up and takes charge.
