Dear Defense, It has been about 2 years since I last heard from you. Are you ok? Has something happened to you? I have to be honest with you I have missed you a lot in recent times and have been thinking of the good old days when you were around. When you were around things weren't pretty, it wasn't graceful and it wasn't really that exciting. The most important thing though was that you were winning consistently and making people happy by doing that. Since your departure several things have happened. Season ending injuries to key personnel, inconsistency in play, the acceptance of mediocrity by those in charge and rotations and substitutions that are very puzzling. There are more things but I don't want to stress you out to much just in case you are not feeling well. There is one thing though that I want you to know. In your absence Offense has taken over and made people forget about you. The resigning of players and the acquisition of other players whose only real skill is offense has lead to the current circumstances where you don't exist. I write this letter to you because I really miss you and want you to come back. If you do come back I am really hoping you would come back in a package of at least 7'0ft tall, no more of this undersized business. I am also really hoping you comeback and bring back some perimeter and team rotation consistency. I don't care if things get ugly again, I don't care if things don't look pretty again and I don't care if it's not that exciting again. All I care about is that you come back and make people smile again. So please Defense tell me where I can find you and please tell me how I can acquire you. Just please come back! Love from Cosmonaut
Is it any surprise that our defense left as soon as Landry got traded? We were still afloat with Landry in the lineup and everything went downhill as soon as he was gone.
The guys don't even try hard on defense anymore, the starters give up 30 pts in the first quarter over and over again. Then the 2nd unit comes in, and they give up the rim too.... There is no committment to the defensive end....last year the team played hard on both ends. I hate to say it, but maybe Rick Adelman has lost the clubhouse..... DD
I want to give Morey until the deadline before getting out my pitch fork but this has gotten a little ridiculous. I understanding having your stars go down but Morey knew this was a weakness, as evidence by going after Chandler, signing Miller wasn't going to solve our most glaring need.
The OP title reminded me of the Rodney Carrington song, Dear penis. Was hoping it was a lyrical tribute. Disappointed.
The Rockets don't have any shot-blocking presence down low, so teams just simply exploit them in that area, and because of that, the Rockets don't scare anybody. Teams don't dread playing them, but look forward to playing them instead just for that reason. Enough said.
DaDakota - I think it could also have to do with the pressure the 2nd unit having to keep up with the other team or having to make up a deficit when the 1st unit didn't fire. Plus we all know since Adelman has been coach the defense has died little by little each year. rockets934life - The Rockets have the assets to get something done at the deadline, we have expires, we have young guys, and we have draft picks. More than ever does Morey need to turn those assets in to gold. JVL713 - If Scola has a legit 7ft defensive presence next to him, I think his defense will be more effective. I love chuck but he is a backup and he isn't really scaring anyone when they go to the hoop. LongHornfan - sorry to disappoint, but if we keep going on like this then perhaps I will
It is dearly missed indeed. I would rather we grind it out in ugly fashion than admit defeated before end of the first half.
Yup, no 7'5" dude to bother high % shots. We can complain all we want about the perimeter dudes like Martin and AB, but bottom line is we need someone down low with size who will protect the rim. Yes, having better defenders than Martin and AB would be good too, but more than that is a legit big down low.
I just wish to show that this problem is much bigger than having a true center/rim protector on defense: The Rockets are: 23rd in 3pt % for their opponents. 24th in Free Throw Attempts for opponents. (Interestingly teams shoot 78 % on FT against the Rockets. That is 29th/30 in the NBA) 23th in opponent fast break points per game. 30th in opponent's ppg from 2 pointers outside the paint. (Yes that is OUTSIDE the paint). Now, I'm not saying that not having a rim protector/true center is not a huge reason for the horrible defense, but there are multiple signs that there are major issues on this team in perimeter defense, help defense, and getting back to prevent fast breaks. I would argue it is a personnel issue with our wings just as much as it is a mentality, effort, and system issue.
