By far the biggest and most monumental reason(s) of the demise of our defense

This is one of the reason I was very pro Dalembert last year at the deadline.

 

It really is a combination of many of these ideas, guys. Sure, not having a shotblocker hurts the defense. I ran a predictorial thread on that topic two YEARS ago because teams would challenge the rim voraciously once they scouted us.

That said, transition D is declining also and there has been a change in philosophy there. We attempt to gang rebound, probably in response to not having tremendous length and athleticism in the front court. The obvious problem, as has been pointed out already in this thread, is the increase in fast breaks and quick strike possessions against us.

And yes, having a Brooks/Martin backcourt does put tremendous pressure on a frontcourt. Neither guy can guard a parked car, and our bigs aren't adept enough at protecting the rim to be successful, longterm, with a swinging door in the backcourt.

The answers aren't easy. To me we're a Mr Potato Head team of parts slapped together with little concern for cohesion and balance. Sprinkling on some on again off again Yao, and it is a doomed seasoning combination. This team needs to discover themselves on both sides of the court, with players that know they will be here longterm. Morey needs to address obvious needs (star player, healthy defensive stud center, size in backcourt,) and do it soon. Many will let him off with the reasoning of the upcoming CBA and the ties to Yao, but there are just as many that have seen greatness and will accept nothing less than a dedicated effort to re-achieving it...Yao or no Yao...CBA or no CBA.

That could have started this past draft and, imo, Morey has a failing grade thus far. There are two schools of thought on drafting. Either go for need or go for the BPA (best player available). Considering we have a plethora of 4s, the selection of Pat is a BPA selection. In fact Morey said as much, saying he was the 6th rated prospect on their board. If true, his assignment to D league and subsequent performances there, coupled with the performances of Sanders (whom many clamored for, including OMR) means Morey may have taken neither the BPA nor the need. A damning fence to straddle, indeed.

 

I copied and pasted this from part of an essay I wrote for Friedman's intern contest. Topic was a look at what the Rockets offensive and defensive efficiency ratings may be this season.


In the 2007-2008 season, Adelman’s first year as the Rockets head coach, the Rockets ranked 2nd in defensive efficiency. From that roster, only three Rockets remain on the team today, who in fact also played under Jeff Van Gundy in 2006-2007 (Battier, Hayes, Yao). Dikembe Mutombo, a four-time recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award, played this year.

In 2008-2009, the Rockets were ranked 5th in defense, and only six Rockets remain from that roster (Battier, Hayes, Yao, Brooks, Scola, Lowry). This year Ron Artest, the 2003-2004 recipient of the Defensive Player of the award played for the Rockets as well as Mutombo for a little over half of the season.
Last season, 2009-2010, the Rockets fell to the 17th rank in the league in defense efficiency.


I'd say it is definitely:
1) absence of big men like Mutombo and Yao who change shots in the paint and block shots
2) absence of a Defensive Player of the Year recipient
3) change in coaching style
4) our roster is filled with one-sided offensively inclined players with the exception of a few

 

so basiclly, unless Hill turns into a shot blocker/changer, the defense will not get better? I dont count yao as an option umtil he can prove he can stay on the court.

 

I agree with the op, but teams can defend successfully with size,length,and quickness. A great example are the bulls and even boston to a certain extent. The rockets always had problems in space because of yao, but they were also very good interior because of yao. Also, say what you want about tracy, but teams didn;t post him up and fire over him like they do martin. The rockets not only need more size, but they need big players with size and quikness. Offensively, scola and yao are a good combo, defensively, late in games, pnr with yao and no weakside rim help from scola is always a problem for the rockets. If you cant defend with sheer size, then guys need to be long and quick like atl and chicago.

 

No what counts is not being a 6-12 group of no-hopers, which is what the non-defensive crew now is.

And no, I don't just mean raw stats, brah.

I mean if I looked at raw non-pace adjusted stats I'd think this team was actually good on offense, when, like pretty much all other Adelman Rockets teams, they are middle of the pack on offense, as they were under van Gundy, for the most part.

 

It has a lot to do with coach as well. Our team's mind set is to seek fast breaks whenever possible. However, when most of our team run to the front court when the opponents miss their shots, we fail to grab those rebounds. JVG days, we play half court offense, so guards are responsible to pick up the rebounds as well. I think this is where Jordan Hill comes very handy. He's really the only athletic big we have to secure the rebound with the rest of the team run for fast breaks. Scola can get good position, but he can't really jump. And Hayes....................................