Small ball stinks..who is with me?

I've asked myself why Rudy would go small when it is an inconsistent offensive scheme. My thinking is that why the hell else can Rudy go with. The zone rules mean that teams can cover the basket so well that it is difficult fot the slashers on this team to attack the basket. We have no low-post threat, save Kenny Thomas. So small ball is the only direction Rudy can go, it sucks, yes, however this season isn't about winning anymore, its about finishing up and gearing up for next year, and beyond to when we move into the new arena.

 

Small ball stinks ... I prefer bigger balls.

 

I prefer bigger balls also...

 

i hate small ball. The worst thing about it is that guys who can be real effective -- guys like langhi, Torres, and Griffin -- suffer over on the bench because theres only two positions open when the Moochie factor is in effect. Moochie, Mobley, and Francis get stuck guarding bigger forwards, and usually need support, leaving major gaps in the defense. Moochie guards nobody in particular out there, which forces all kind of awkward switiching for his teamates.

On offense the ball is taken out of Francis hands, leaving Moochie the controller and flow setter of most possessions, which usually means more stagnation within the offense. When the three guard line-up is implemented, any spurts of flow seem rare, standing around is more common, and good shots seem harder to come by.

So yeah, it totally sucks.

 

Don Nelson understands when to play "small ball."

RT has fallen in love with it, especically down the stretch. With Moochie and his matador defense, plus simply abandoning the interior game, we are playing with fire. I don't like it.

See Scottie Brooks
See any other short guys who can ordinarily hit FT's

Dallas Rocket

 

Death to small ball. And STAY dead. you damn vampire!

 

I didn´t had the chance to see many Rockets games, only the highlights, so maybe I´m wrong, but it seems to me that most of the times the Rockets have those scoring droughts is when they are playing the 3 guard lineup. Sometimes this works, but not always. Also, I agree that Moochie shouldn´t play that amount of time (I can´t remember who said that). I think that he´s a good backup, not a player for 25-30 min per game, because he isn´t consistent, even if he has some really good games. When he´s playing well, let him on the floor more time, when he´s not, only play him until Steve is rested. This is the way you play your backups, that´s why they are called backups.

 

Yes the small ball most go!!!
Anytime you have Stevie on the floor he should be running the point. And having Cat play SF just doesn't cut it. We are a short team as it is already. Playing Moochie 28 mins a game is way too much. How many other backup PGs get more than 20?

 

Georock,

Now that possible treatments for Steve's condition have been found, maybe we can include Mooch in an off-season trade....?

Not that it would ever happen. I like Mooch. I don't like the 3-guard lineup.

 

Agreed. If the smal ball lineup is so useful, why doesnt Rudy just do it the whole game and even start the game with that lineup? If anything, it might be better than anyway as the other team will have less time to adjust.

 

I also like the energy that Moochie brings every time he´s on the court. And neither me likes the 3 guard lineup.

But I won´t trade Moochie, because I think he´s a good backup for Steve, and personally I don´t think Tierre could be the answer. I think we have good backups for the next season in every position except C (at least Willis resign). Moochie, Oscar (please Rudy, let him play more), TMo and two from Griffin/Kenny/Mo (depending on who starts).

I agree with DD, our starting five should play the last part of the game, at least someone from the bench is having a great game and one of our starters isn´t playing well (except Steve, stars should play in the final minutes of every games even if they are 0-20 from the field).

 

I could be wrong but everytime i see RT do that at the end of the game i just start wondering if he wants us to loose or something. Its hard to concentrate on the offensive end when you cant make any defensive stops because you are overmatched.

 

DaDakota,

We finally agree on something, this option sucks and that's why we have lose 18 out of 24 games by less than 5 points. We don't have any offensive rebounding down the stretch and can only go one-on-one and hope Steve, Cat, or Overpaid can hit the shot.

We shoot what, 43% as a team, as a result, we lose 6 out of 10 games.

Rudy and Larry are lost. Other teams are constantly posting up our small ball lineup. Richardson was KILLING Cat on the post up last night. Don't forget Bonzi Wells.

 

I like small-ball. For one, it puts Francis in the SG slot, where he belongs. For another, it forces defenses to find some speed to match up. We're not going to beat anyone with our inside game, and small ball forces the defense to stop our perimeter game.

As for the last minutes of the game, Dada, which do you want: the starting 5 or the best 5?

Starting 5:
Francis
Mobley
Griffin
Thomas
Cato

Best 5:
Francis
Mobley
Griffin
Thomas
Norris

Oh no! That's small ball! Or do you really think that Kelvin Cato is a better player than Moochie Norris?

 

I like three guard sometimes. With the current roster and playbook, no.

 

Smallball and especially Moochie, are the main reason I haven't been here in a while. It's all I can do to watch the Rocks' right now, I don't think I can stomach talking about them. I get so frustrated with the lazy turnovers and the same damn high pick play being run every time down the court. Moochie dribbling for 20 seconds and then bending over backwareds to try and pass out to the 3 point arch as the clock runs out has got to be the most popular but least effective play in their book.

I am a diehard Rocket fan and will continue to be but this is getting old. As much as I love Rudy, he needs to try plan B. My only hope is that he's tanking for next year. Their is no excuse for the lack of discipline that his players show. Their id definitely no excuse for his rotations. when you are running a 3-guard set, ballhandling should be an advantage. Instead I see confusiuon and a playground style that would embarrass any junior high coach.

Everyone wonders why the stands are empty. I don't. Every time Stevie bounces it off his foot while trying to go between his legs with no one gurading him, I am in danger fo launching my remote through the screen. They run the same damn pick every almost every time down the floor. It takes our guards 7 seconds trying to get out of the double team that the pick creates. It's moronic. Can no one see that it's not working.

Has anyone noticed how hard our guys have to work for every basket. Then on the other end you see uncontested drives and simple post moves turn into easy baskets. The inmates are running the asylum. It's starting to give me migraines during each game. Perhaps that's the problem with Stevie.

Bench Moochie. Make Cuttino spend the rest of the season passin without taking a shot. Forbid Stevie to use his lethal cross(turn)over. Teach Kenny how to roll off a pick. Make Eddie work on a post game. Stop running 3 guards.

This is what I would pay to see the rest of the season. At least then I would know that the Rocks' will be better next year.

Nice to be back

 

Rocketsauce,

Well said. I can't see Riley or Jackson or Van Gundy putting up with these follies. Either Rudy is in over his head, or can't control a young team, or both. Regardless, it's UGLY. And if we are diehards and hate to watch it...well no wonder the arena is empty. And I don't buy the "tank" theory; it ain't Rudy.

Our offensive and defensive approaches are boring, predictable and largely ineffective. Why haven't we taken advantage of young legs?? Why don't we press? Why don't we push the ball? Do our guards get paid by the dribble? We are too much show and too little substance.

Well I feel better now..........maybe a little

Dallas Rocket