Like most people I was disappointed in the Rockets offense last night, and like most fans I told myself this is just an aberration. Injuries, new players, it will take awhile before the team is in sync, but once it does it should be pretty good. We hope. That got me thinking. Generally, how many games does a team need to play before you know what they are? I know that injuries and major trades can change the equation, but is there a rule of thumb or a statistical model that answers this question? If there is, when do you think we’ll be able to say, "Win or lose this is what the Rockets are"?
approximately 38 games into the season, in the third quarter of the game in OKlahoma City, everything will click, the planets will align, arest will bring balance to the force.
It's tough to do that with the Rockets, because there's no telling what the health situation will be with the team when the playoffs roll around. Even if all the principle players are available, are they're going to be battling injuries? I think you need to wait until around the All-star break to get an accurate idea of what the team can be. Last year, we all thought the team was dead in the water in early January, and look what happened.
Seems to me that there is no sure statistical model that can tell you this about any team let alone an NBA team. Some teams never find their groove, others find it early and lose it later, some find it after some rough times and then everything clicks. The team did not look that bad to me. I realize we had trouble scoring but it seemed to me we were getting the right shots most of the time but it just was not falling. Their defense was stiffling, they are going to be fine. Its way too early to wring our hands about this team.
I'm not trying to be negative with the question, or really ultra specific on the date and time everything will click with the Rockets. I was really just wondering if there is a number of games, that a core group of players is together and healthy, after which a coach says this is who we are. We can do X well. We can't do Y well. This is how we win. This is what causes us to lose. I know when discussing player's game some say that after the third, or fourth year they are what they are. Their game really doesn't change after that. I'm just wondering if you could apply a similar type of time limit to a team.
I think Coach Adelman already has a pretty good idea of most of that stuff. He knows how we need to play for us to win. He knows we need to be a great defensive team, and a very good offensive team. He knows the offense is "working" when the ball and players are moving fluidly and instinctively in reaction to the defense. He's still trying to figure which lineups work the best with eachother and what rotation to settle on. That won't be known until we get Battier and Brooks back -- probably a month or two in the season that should be clearer. But the ultimate question -- how good can we be in the playoffs? We may not know that answer until we actually get there.
By the all star break when AB will be running the point and Von Wafer will be hitting the three pointers because the coaches then realise that Barry is not hitting enough. That aside I think by 5 games into the season we will have a good idea
It will take some time, but those guys are intelligent and I am sure we're gonna see better offense every single game. It is all about excetucion. Last night was terrible, but maybe as Ron said they were too much excited and didn't have that fun playing...
I guess you never know. Boston charged out of the gate last season and never looked back. After two games this year, LA Lakers look like they are ready to cream every team on this planet. I hope it does not take too long for Rox to be in sync. I will give them at least till All-star break.
I'm getting tired of the SUCK SUCK SUCK - INJURIES- HEY WAIT A SECOND WE'RE AWESOME script from the last 3 years or so.
a month or two i'd say. the defense is on par with last years but i think it will get even better as the months go on.
When your whole bench took only 11 shots in the game, you know the problem is not as simple as the ball not falling.
