article link Rockets intrigue Riley Heat coach had staff study what makes them tick Ira Winderman | NBA Columnist March 16, 2008 Yes, Pat Riley has been watching. But worried? Nah. That doesn't mean he's not impressed. With the Rockets' winning streak at 21 following Friday's victory over the Bobcats, Houston finds itself second to one — the 33-game winning streak of the 1971-72 Lakers. Among those who played in support of Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Jim McMillan, Wilt Chamberlain and Happy Hairston on that championship Lakers team was a reserve forward who contributed 6.7 points per game off the bench. That forward very much feels his team's record winning streak is secure now, and forever. "I don't think that record will ever be broken," the Heat coach said. "I'd be very surprised." But that doesn't mean Riley isn't a big fan of what Houston has accomplished, especially as it perseveres through the foot injury that has center Yao Ming sidelined for the season. "What Houston has done is mind-boggling, based on how they started, with also the injury to Yao," Riley said, with the Rockets at one point 15-17. Riley has been so impressed that even amid his team's own season, amid his scheduling of visits to conference tournaments in his dual role as team president, he commissioned a study from his staff about what makes these Rockets tick. What he found was a team playing stifling defense, with the shot-blocking of Yao-replacement Dikembe Mutombo just a small part of the overall defensive equation. "We really studied the numbers the other day during the streak, and you find out they have what we call a lot of perfect-fit guys," he said. "There's a lot of good defenders. There's a lot of role players. There's guys that move the ball. There's one absolute superstar who's only averaging 24 points a game during this run." And that's what has so impressed Riley, in many ways establishing a blueprint for his team's future. It hasn't been all Tracy McGrady, just as Riley knows it can't be all Dwyane Wade in South Florida in coming seasons. What Riley sees is the type of supporting cast his team has lacked this season, the bit players who make a difference. Perhaps the most interesting part of Riley's comments on the Rockets' resurgence is that he never mentioned Houston's stars by name, not once specifically addressing McGrady, Shane Battier or even former Heat point guard Rafer Alston. Instead, he gushed about the likes of Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry and Luis Scola, the type of hustle players Riley so successfully had mined during the best of Heat times. "It's just a good skilled team," he said. "They've got quickness in Luther Head, Bobby Jackson, those three guards are really playing well. I really like Chuck Hayes and his mentality, and Landry and his mentality, and Scola was a great pickup for them. It's hard to doubt them." But with the brutal competition in the Western Conference, Riley isn't quite ready to coronate the Rockets, even though the last three teams with winning streaks of 19 games or longer each have won championships, with the '70-'71 Bucks (20 in a row) and '99-2000 Lakers (19 in a row) joining Riley's '71-'72 Lakers. A month after trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Suns, it still is difficult for Riley to wean himself off the belief that championships are won with anything other than low-post scorers, something these Rockets clearly lack amid Yao's absence. "I think it's a stark adjustment," Riley said. "There's always what we called 'the last leg' in L.A. Because no matter how you move or how many times you move or cut or slash, good defensive teams leave you without an option. A good post-up player really gives you an anchor to really dictate the tempo." Still he has been impressed, very impressed with what Rick Adelman has accomplished in Houston. "But 33 in a row?" he said. "That's a hard one." Ira Winderman can be reached at iwinderman@sun-sentinel.com. He can be heard Thursdays at 5 p.m. and after Heat weeknight games on WQAM (560-AM). Material from Sun-Sentinel interviews, wire services, other beat writers and league sources was used in this report.
Nice article by Riley. What this team has is shades of what the championship Rockets had. We had new comers Horry and Cassel. We had journeymen MaxMax and Chucky Brown. We had the underacheivers in Otis Thorpe and Kenny Smith. We had a CBA guy in Mario Elie. Plus other no-names like Matt Bullard and Chucky Brown. All these guys were super low-ego guys that just went out on the floor and did their job ...very well. The sum was greater than the parts. Not saying this is a championship year, but our championship runs were obviously very special ...and this team has already done something equally special, IMO. The NBA has a champion every year ...but this type of win streak only happens every blue moon.
definatley a good article. man i think pat riley is a great coach so its an honor that he woud respect the rockets so much.
For those of you who don't know Pat Riley is first ever player of Rockets. Drafted by San Diego Rockets in 60's. Btw, good thoughts, everyone is talking about Rockets.
Great article. He did forget this bit that Landry + Scola are doing an admirable job of taking the place of Yao - obviously not as potent, but good enough ... for now.
the rockets, to me, is a a team with nba players who play w/ college players' energy level. we're basically playing how every other team should be playing... i often watch and see players like Carmelo dominate the ball for half the possession to only take a 23 footer. Although he can make a couple of those, it's more sound to just pass the ball around to find a better shot... I think too many players are fundamentally unsound... For example, Stromile Swift has all the talent in the world but can barely set a pick... On the other hand, we have a lot of guys on our team who went to college for 4 years, who had to play within a structured system, and who play to better the team and not to show up on sportscenter... I love the way we play... it's great to watch, and I'm sure every coach in the NBA feels the same way that Riley does... On a side note, I dislike listening to commentators and experts, because half of them aren't even very good. I mean, if they're so knowledgeable, they should be coaching instead of sitting in front of a camera spouting out whatever makes them sleep better at night.
Riley's wondering how he can assassinate Adelman and take over as head coach of the Rockets to take credit for everything Adelman (and JVG before him) has put into place.
