We know it's happening. Does anyone else? Has anyone seen this problem addressed in the press? by the press? by the coaches? by the players? by anyone other than BBS members? I can't recall anything in the Chronicle saying that this was a facet of the game that was being worked on or talked about in practice/lockeroom. Usually when you have a problem that is plaguing a team you hear a little more about it. Quotes that you aren't going to hear anytime soon: "We've been working on our movement without the ball." "We are trying to get our team assist number up." "I was happy with our unselfish play." "We were really clicking out there. We were all on the same page." "Did you see me pass first?" "I think I dribbled a little too much." "We have been starting our isolations almost at mid court so the double team is less effective. We have come to realize that this is actually the exact same thing as bringing the ball up the court quickly except it starts at midcourt. After additional game tape review, we realize that if we carry that idea even further we could start the offense even before the defense takes position by starting the isolation quickly while under the opposing team's basket. What we are trying to say here is that we have developed this revolutionary isolation play that is very similar to the fast break. Actually it is a fast break. The "iso-motion" as we like to call it starts immediately after a rebound, when the ball is transfered up the court quickly giving the isolationist (dribbler) the opportunity to draw the double team right before he reaches the basket while he is running as fast as he can. When he is doubled (if it is a 2 on 2 "iso-motion") he can dish the ball to the open man for an easy basket. If this doesn't create an easy basket, then we can use this new play we are still polishing in practice we like to call "iso-pick with an iso-roll..."
Doc Rob, Great thread, and sarcasm duly noted. Now here are some quotes you will hear in the Locker room. Francis " Yeah, I had 8 turnovers, but I got 10 assists too, so that gives me a solid 5-4 Assist to Turnover ratio." Mobley " Sure we lost but I got mine." Moochie " I think I need to dribble a little bit longer, that way the other team has a couple fewer possessions per game." KT " I will never pass to that 19 year old kid, coming in here with all that God Given ability, that ain't right...(grumble..grumble)" Francis " What do you mean it isn't a mismatch if my guy scores as much as me, I can jump higher can't I?" Moochie " On defense how far do I backpeddle to the bleachers?" EG " If these fricken mental midget guards don't start passing me the Rock, someone is going to get a knuckle sandwhich." DaDakota
Nice post Doc Rob. It may not be much, but a few games ago Steve was actually talking about trying to get his assist numbers up. It was in the chronicle.
Rudy: That damn Dream is holding up our fast break. He never crosses the time line. Oh, he isn't here! Cat: ME and Steve are the leaders on the team. The rest of the guys, they just follow us into the lottery. EG: These older guys hang on the rim and jump around after every shot. Why don't they act liked they have scored before?
One of the largest problems I have seen with the play of this team is how long they take moving the ball up the court. In the Nets game, Jason Kidd moved the ball up the court quickly and Moochie would slowly move the ball up the court taking around 6 seconds each and every time. After that, we would move the ball around and hardly anyone would get it. On average there was probably around 2 passes each trip down the court for us. The Nets would average around 4 passes. No isolations for the Nets. The Rockets need to face the facts that we are not going to be good at all if we dont pass the ball around. Every single game we have, weve been hard to beat. We havent done that very often at all this year and thus, we lost.
The team does have some problems with passing the ball, I agree. But don't blame Steve. His turnovers are down over last year, and everyone had been saying they wanted him to shoot more, that he was passing too much or too reluctant to shoot last year. He should shoot more, because he is our best option to score. Steve should play more defense, and his teammates should also learn to catch and execute the plays better. Steve still needs work on his passing game, but it's not the reason that our record is so horrific. It's one of the lesser problems on this team right now. I guess because the team is losing, everyone wants to find somebody to blame, and as a leader, Steve has to take his share. He's not the floor general he should be yet, but the guy is not only still learning how to play in the NBA he's learning a new position. Give the guy some credit for improvement made, and give him time to grow.
Steve averaged 3.31 Turmovers a game last year, this year it is 3.65. Down you say? I have a bridge for sale, you buying? DaDakota
I stand corrected on Steve's turnovers being down. Though I still think he's playing with more control. It seems like last year he would get so excited and pumped up that he couldn't control himself. I will say that playing with a steadier lineup will improve anyone's turnovers, and that hasn't been possible this year. I think early on in the year his turnovers were down. I still have to say the 'selfish' play is the symptoms, and youth and injuries are the real cause that will be corrected.
Give it up guys. 12 different starting line-ups. No consistency. No way Steve could've averaged less turnovers playign with so many different starting line-ups, being in and out of it himself. Next year. That's all we look forward to. Actually, the offseason.
Good point! All summer I was hyped waiting for the regular season to begin, and now, I can't wait for the draft and Rocky Mountain Revue. I knew we would not be an elite team, but I expected so much more than where we are now. For some reason, though, I still watch every game as though we are still in the playoff hunt.
Every year the Rockets are always talking about chemistry. Rudy making excuses talking about different lineups is the reason for his team not playing well. It's time to quit making excuses and start doing some coaching. Question? If Jason Kidd was our starting pt. guard would this team be better.
