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[CHRONIC] Rockets finding out what works without Yao, McGrady

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Rockets34Legend, Oct 19, 2009.

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  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6674047.html

    Rockets must pick what works

    Adelman sees team weaknesses, likely strengths

    From the start, the Rockets knew things would be rough for a while, but they would have 10 days before the start of the season to put things together. That did not make the rough part easier.

    The first three weeks and six games of the preseason were devoted to experimentation. Coach Rick Adelman took a look at players, combinations and styles, collecting information and making decisions.

    That fit with a schedule with six games in six cities, with training camp moved from site to site. But now the Rockets have time for at least six practices and two home games, uninterrupted by travel or disrupted by experimentation, to put things together in time for the opener Oct. 27 in Portland.

    “We have to start gearing in on what we think are our strengths and weakness,” Adelman said. “Those last two games (in Toronto and Indianapolis) showed us a lot of weakness in the way we were trying to play. This is a really important time frame. We have about nine days, two games and a number of practices to make sure everything is in and we can be everything we can be.”
    Differing styles

    The Rockets' difficulties defensively have been in part caused by using different combinations in the frontcourt, leading to a lack of cohesion and communication not uncommon in the preseason. But they also have been held back offensively, with players bringing different styles and strengths, from Pops Mensah-Bonsu's ability to play above the rim to Brian Cook's ability to shoot 24 feet away from it.

    “It's about finding the strengths of different people and then trying to incorporate those strengths in the game,” Adelman said. “I wasn't sure what was going to be best for us.

    “I think we have a pretty good idea about individual people, what they are going to do. I think we still are going to try to run. We felt that from the start. I think it's even more apparent that if we get up the court quicker and get into our stuff quicker, we have even more of a chance to attack the other team.”

    The Rockets have found that if the motion-based half-court offense does not spring someone open quickly, they are better suited to moving to more traditional pick-and-rolls, the key to their success in the postseason wins against the Lakers after Yao Ming's injury.

    “I think we have to do more of what we did last year in the playoffs when we lost Yao,” Adelman said. “We've been trying to do a lot of movement and cutting. I think with people like Aaron (Brooks), Trevor (Ariza) and Kyle (Lowry) in particular we really have to attack them with quick-hitting pick-and-rolls. If what we're trying to run doesn't work, we have to have that to fall back on.”
    Hayes crucial defender

    Defensively, the Rockets expect to improve by returning Chuck Hayes to the mix after two games spent largely with Hayes out while Adelman looked at his options. Particularly in pick-and-roll defense, the Rockets allowed ball-handlers to move so easily, they broke down the defense to the point perimeter defenders had to leave 3-pointer shooters open.

    “Against Toronto, we let them score 60 points in the first half,” Shane Battier said. “Chuck didn't play. Chuck played in the second half and we were much better defensively. Part of that is we have a lot of young guys. It's all so new to them. I'm confident in the core guys from last year get what we're trying to do. We're trying to get everybody else on the same page. Chuck in the captain of our defense on the interior. He does a great job of communicating, teaching and being loud.

    “We have a lot to work out, especially on the defensive end. It's nothing that's impossible to correct, but we need repetition. And we need to see tangible result of those practices by the end of the week.”

    Some of the progress the Rockets planned for their final week before the regular season might be slowed by Luis Scola's sprained ankle, which caused him to miss two practices and a game last week and Sunday's practice and a game tonight.

    Still, none of the shortcomings are insurmountable.

    “It's big, it's really big,” Hayes said. “We can really get a lot done in this week. We got time. We just have to make the best of it.”
     
    #1 Rockets34Legend, Oct 19, 2009
  2. larsv8

    larsv8 Member

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    Thats good.

    I expect these last two games, Adelman will be using his regular season rotation to start working out the kinks.
     
    #2 larsv8, Oct 19, 2009
  3. LittleWilly

    LittleWilly Member

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    To be honest I think they will experiment with the lineup a bit even when the regular season starts. There are too many variables still for Coach to have a solid lineup.
     
    #3 LittleWilly, Oct 19, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  4. bejezuz

    bejezuz Member

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    If there is one gift that Jeff Van Gundy left the Rockets with, his name is Chuck Hayes.
     
    #4 bejezuz, Oct 19, 2009
  5. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    I thought Jeff also established the low post dominance of Yao and helped bring in guys like Shane.
     
    #5 daywalker02, Oct 19, 2009
  6. larsv8

    larsv8 Member

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    Probably true, but what I mean is you likely wont see much of the benchwarmers anymore.
     
    #6 larsv8, Oct 19, 2009
  7. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    This team has along ways to go before they become Elite.

    There is currently 33 point guards better then Brooks and 38 better then Lowry.

    There is currently 11 shooting guards better then McGrady.

    There is currently 23 small fowards better then Battier and Ariza and 46 better then Budinger.

    There is currently 22 Power Fowards better then Scola and 34 better then Landry and 56 better then Hayes.

    There is currently Howard better then Yao Ming.

    Only Yao Ming cracks the top 25 best players and McGrady dont even crack the top 50.
     
    #7 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  8. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Not entirely. IF better than marginally.
     
    #8 daywalker02, Oct 19, 2009
  9. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    We are a 5th seed in the lottery.
     
    #9 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  10. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    Just saying the kind of money McGrady makes and not a top 50 player today saids alot about how both Mcgrady and yao hold the team hostage.

    We have made no better then lateral moves to get better since we got McGrady.

    Gay turned out to be better then Battier in the small fowards list.

    Scola and Landry was our only real steals and Artest, but that was not enough to compensate for the loss after that Rudy trade in the long term or short term and was basically lateral moves not enough to get over the hump.

    Im all for McGrady being moved for a top 25 player ATM untill he returns to that, but i think in his mind he still believes he is a top 5 shooting guard and he is not, maybe in the playoffs, but contract, age, and tallent he is not anymore untill he proves us wrong. God Barbosa was better then Brooks on that list too Morey should do Amare and Barbosa for McGrady and Brooks this improves the team atleast retools them.

    Rockets don't need to rebuild they need to quickly retool.
     
    #10 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  11. cjtaylorpt

    cjtaylorpt Member

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    ... and where are we getting these numbers
     
    #11 cjtaylorpt, Oct 19, 2009
  12. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    you should check it out NBA 2k10 player ratings is where i got the info.

    Certainly it can't be a lie look at Boston and L.A they have the best player ratings and 2 championships to show for it.

    Rockets no where close they lack those true ratings, it's a team built around 2 injury prone stars and a bunch of youth and role players face it. lolz

    According to the ratings McGrady not even a star any more.

    Amare was better then McGrady and Barbosa was better then Brooks god Morey why did he not pull the trigger?

    The only one i disagree with was Rondo no way was he a top 3 point guard.
     
    #12 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  13. napalm06

    napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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    Unfortunately championships aren't determined off of paper lists, otherwise last year we would have at least been in the WCF with the Lakers.

    Those lists you presented are based off something (presumably scoring) that doesn't represent the true character of the player. You can't put together 5 guys in the top 10 of a scoring list (or whatever it is) and assume that that's what makes a good team.

    As far as Gay being listed ahead of Battier... well, I feel like that's been discussed before around here..
     
    #13 napalm06, Oct 19, 2009
  14. napalm06

    napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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    Now that I read that those are video game ratings, I retract my involvement in this discussion.
     
    #14 napalm06, Oct 19, 2009
  15. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    Yea, then explain why every time there is a new champion in the game each year that team always tops points in overall ratings? That is what it seems like. To be Elite they would need atleast 4 players in the top 50 or 3 in the top 25 and the best they have done was 3 in the top 30, still went past the first round and loss to 7 against the champions who upgraded their team by atleast compared to last season 9 overall points.

    We are shooting for the 5th seed in the lottery.
     
    #15 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  16. DudeWah

    DudeWah Member

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    This joker just said that 33 pg's are better than Brooks. That means that all 29 other teams have a better starting pg and 4 teams have a better backup!! Then he cited his source as a video game. LOLOLOLOL
     
    #16 DudeWah, Oct 19, 2009
  17. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    Yea it's a game ratings overall, but there is probably 33 point guards in the league who average better then 12 points and 3 assist.
     
    #17 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  18. GermanRoxFan

    GermanRoxFan Member

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    not from daryl morey or his staff, i guess...
     
    #18 GermanRoxFan, Oct 19, 2009
  19. Rockets4279

    Rockets4279 Member

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    There is probably 3 teams who has a better back up point guard then we do right now and maybe 4.

    Chicago, Portland, Phoenix.

    This team lacks serious studs outside our injured duo.

    Scola may bairly qulify as a border line stud or very good role player.
    Battier qulifies as a very good role player. These 2 players have peaked out their potential.

    Besides these 2 guys Houston really does lack raw tallent. There is nothing tallented about Scola or Battier they just know how to play and win.

    We have Landry, but he don't get enough minutes to transform into a serious stud and he might get his chance this season.

    Other then that we lack superstars we don't have superstars we have 2 stars who is always injured, but they used to be superstars atleast Mcgrady was, Yao was a borderline superstar.
     
    #19 Rockets4279, Oct 19, 2009
  20. tresimecgredi

    tresimecgredi Member

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    Are your ratings counting "MyPlayer" ratings too? :p
    By the way I think Morey has a lot more ratings to value a player, so I trust him better then 2KSports.
     
    #20 tresimecgredi, Oct 19, 2009
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