<a="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6239701.html">http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6239701.html </a><br><br><br> <quote>A year to the day after the Rockets’ 22-game winning streak began, they revisited a far less enjoyable part of last season. They hope similar pain leads to similar progress. Last season, the day after blowing a fourth-quarter lead and losing to the Philadelphia 76ers at Toyota Center, the Rockets held a locker room meeting to discuss the issues that had been dogging and defeating them. “Everybody with their opinion could say what they think,” Yao Ming said. “I said what I think. And Dikembe (Mutombo) said something. And Chuck Hayes spoke. Shane (Battier). Almost everybody. We just tried to connect with everybody. “I feel a lot better after today’s practice, a lot better.” The meeting itself was different. The Rockets did not practice that day last season. Thursday’s meeting began as the sort of daily video review common before every practice. It evolved, however, into an opportunity for many players to literally stand and be heard. The other great difference was that while last season’s summit was about general topics such as goals and resolve, this season’s covered more “the mentality” sought, and specifically, a return to the defensive determination they had valued for the past five years, but which has been cracking for weeks. “When we looked at the film ... we liked the shots we received late in the fourth quarter against Philly; we just didn’t like the defensive effort,” Rafer Alston said. “When you need your best effort the most and need each other the most, the intensity and the attention to detail just wasn’t there. “We’ve been one of the top two or three teams in this league defensively. Right now, we’re giving up 50 percent shooting every night. We have to get back to a defensive mentality. It gets away when you don’t practice and drill things. You lose sight of how you want to defend.” Opponents shooting well The Rockets’ past three opponents have combined to hit 49.8 percent of their shots as the Rockets have slid to 11th in opposing field goal percentage. Though that does not tell the whole story because they lead the league in opposing 3-point percentage (33.3 percent), it does represent a considerable drop from last season. Opponents are making 45.2 percent of their shots against the Rockets. Last season the Rockets held teams to 43.3 percent shooting, second-best in the NBA. It was the fifth consecutive season in which the Rockets were first or second in field goal percentage defense. They were in the top five in each of those seasons in points allowed. A better measure might be points allowed per 100 possessions, a statistic that goes to the purpose of defense — keeping the other team from scoring — but discounts the statistical advantage of just playing slowly to limit the number of possessions and points scored. The Rockets rank in a tie for fifth in points allowed per 100 possessions (104.6). Still, there is a reason coach Rick Adelman has said for weeks he is seeing “slippage.” “Defensively, especially, we’ve got to be more in tune as a team,” Adelman said. “That’s always been the strength of this team, but right now we’re just defending on reaction and not thinking ahead about what’s coming. We’re not defending the ball; we’re too worried about our own man.” Missing stalwarts This is not unexpected given that the Rockets play more young, inexperienced players (Von Wafer, Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks) and that some of their better defenders (Battier and Ron Artest) have been sidelined or slowed by injuries. “It’s a combination of having young guys out there and putting a Band-Aid on the roster all season long,” assistant Elston Turner said. “We’ve prided ourselves on the defensive end the last couple of years and we’re not that same type of defensive team right now,” Tracy McGrady said. “We’ve got to get back to it. Offensively, yeah, we’re struggling. We’ve struggled in the fourth quarter, but we got some great looks in the fourth quarter (Wednesday) and they just didn’t fall. But we can play defense, and that’s something that we haven’t been doing.” They said the same thing last season after a home loss to the 76ers. </quote>
What excuse? They stated the problem; the players took turns in stating their opinions on what's wrong with their D. This is the reason why it's a good thing to have good off-the-court players. Look at some other teams with knuckleheads or young players. They either blame their coach for everything or blame a teammate.
just wanted to say i really enjoy ur posts on the bbs and ur insight and thoughts are dead on. ok. moving on lol
Korea, They have been talking about their problems, and how they are committed to solving them, well, they are not stupid, they know what their problems are....just do it...stop giving it lip service, get out and do it. Thank you very much......you are clearly a smart, intelligent person, with an eye for the truth. DD
I have to disagree with you again... I truly think they are clueless on what their problems are, or at least the cause of the problems. For example, you had Rafer blaming the offense (specifically Artest and Tracy) when in reality our defense was the bigger problem. He was a problem in New York; he let Nate cut easily to the basket for layups. I think once everyone pitches in (this sounds like this meeting was a first for this season), then players will take upon them self and play smarter.
I think the committment to running the offense was poor, and the committment to running the defense was poor. All symptoms of a team without an identity and which players do not like each other. If you are committed to doing ANYTHING to help the team, you do EVERYTHING to help the team. This team looks like a bunch of individuals to me, not a team.....too much "ME" and not enough "WE"..... Just do it....stop talking about it, play hard, play together and watch how easy the game becomes. DD
I don't get how you could respond with that to what you bolded. He meant that they couldn't practice when they were on the road every single time and when all your key players are out almost every single time you had a practice. (Note that at one point (I think at midpoint) we played the most road games) We played great defense last season. And as far as I know, Rick was the coach last season.
I DO, ive been a member of clutchfans for a while and dont really post that much, but im in here every day reading everyones opinion, ohh well im from Puerto Rico and i live in florida, ive been a fan of the rockets since the 94 championship, and been die hard fan ever since. ok, so im gonna try to voice my opinion more... but i mostly agree with everyone here, its tough to take in, but thats what being a fan is, sticking with it through adversity and not be jumping in and out of the bandwagon.
Exactly....welcome aboard and post away, that is what this BBS is for....a place for fans to cheer, vent, scream, and moan....... But at the end of the day hoist a beer for hopefully a championship season. DD
Actually, I think this is very good. Anytime we stop, examine what is holding us back from what we're meant to be, take personal responsibility for our failure and success, THEN do something to correct our path ... we are the wiser. There's an old Jewish proverb that goes "the prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive proceed and pay the penalty." Just doing something isn't the answer, if you don't know what you are doing wrong. The coaches knew, but the players needed to see it for themselves, and take ownership. ... this is good.
I think the difference is that I was doing it tongue in cheek (See the winky guy), I think Rush actually believes it. DD
How can it be bad, or pointless, that they are clearing the air? DD of course you have to have the actions to back up the conversation. But we (and every media outlet in the continental US) have said it for the past month... There was something going on with the team off the court that was problematic on it. So I would rather they spent some time getting on the same page and understanding each other than just muddle through and "think" they each individually know what the problem is. Tell me, Mr DD Corporate Guru, did you not have production meetings or progress meetings within your company? You know that communication is essential.. or you wouldn't have 47K posts on the bbs!
