Solid Sonics dismantle Rockets Payton's 18 assists direct crisp display By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle In the eye-candy world of television highlights, the Rockets whipped the SuperSonics on Tuesday night. There were the usual Steve Francis flying reverses and Eddie Griffin blocked shots. The Rockets even had a late run to offer false hopes and foolish thoughts. But in the boring, colorless world of stat sheets and standings, the Sonics just made nice, simple passes and wide-open shots. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. Jump shots on which shooters did not have to jump. When the Rockets offered their usual collection of highlights and the sight of a 7-5 center, the Sonics yawned, spread the court and passed the ball. The highlights did not amount to much, the 7-5 center amounted to less, and Gary Payton racked up a career-high 18 assists to guide Seattle to a 104-97 win at Compaq Center. The Sonics' clinic was so impressive that they did something perhaps more remarkable than building a 22-point lead or making better than 60 percent of their 3-pointers. They inspired the Rockets to preach passing. "Rudy (Tomjanovich) just said he knows we can do it, and that's what he wants us to do," Rockets guard Moochie Norris said. "I mean, that was basketball. It was incredible to watch. We have to move the ball like that. We have to create for each other. We went to help, and they found the open man no matter who it was. It was a clinic." Payton in particular calmly picked apart a Rockets defense that until Tuesday had been among the league's stingiest. It helped that his array of shooters were so dependable. But Payton was so in control of the Sonics' offense, he could make just seven of 21 shots and still dominate the game. "We tried several different tactics," Tomjanovich said. "They had an answer for every one of them. They just really played the game the right way. "We started out with a designated guy (helping against Payton). He figured that out. We said we were going to stay. He took us and spun a couple times. We said, `OK, let's give him a whole different look and zone him.' And that worked for them, too. "I just thought the guy was fantastic. Out of all the teams I've watched -- and I've watched a lot of games -- they are the most efficient offensive team I've seen so far. "I have to give the guy credit. He was a master." The Rockets shot their way back in the game late, cutting a deficit that had reached 22 in the fourth quarter and was still 17 with 3:40 left to just five with 30 seconds remaining. But they lost it in the third quarter. Some of the Rockets' problems in the third quarter were simply the result of the Sonics' phenomenal shooting. In a fitting statement about the difference between the teams Tuesday, the Sonics shot a better percentage in the third quarter from the 3-point arc (62.8 percent) than the Rockets shot at the free throw line (25 percent). Yao Ming was outplayed by Jerome James, an Italian League, Yugoslavian League and Harlem Globetrotters refugee. Yao had his second scoreless night in his four NBA games, missing his only two shots in 15 minutes and collecting more fouls (four) than rebounds (three). A Seattle frontcourt of Predrag Drobnjak, Vladimir Radmanovic and Rashard Lewis made all eight shots they attempted in the third quarter without taking anything more complicated than an open jump shot. After the Rockets led 47-46 at halftime, the Sonics blew open the game with a 17-4 third-quarter run in which they made 10 of 13 shots while the Rockets missed a dunk and four free throws and made just two of 14 shots overall. Francis remained as unstoppable as he had been through the season's first three games. Though limited by foul trouble to 35 minutes, he finished with 33 points on 12-of-22 shooting and added 11 rebounds and nine assists. Cuttino Mobley had a late flurry of 3-pointers to finish with 22 points. The Rockets even found Griffin's range. After making just 23.3 percent of his shots in the first three games, Griffin was 10-of-15 for 23 points. Norris, who had been making 17.6 percent of his shots, hit five of nine for 10 points. But the best development for the Rockets might have been a comeback keyed on ball movement to rival the league-best passing with which Seattle built its lead. With most of the 10,018 that made it out for the Rockets' second home game already on their way home, the Rockets outscored the Sonics 17-5 in 3:10 of the fourth quarter. The Rockets shot well, but sharp passing generated almost every late basket. Mobley capped the run with consecutive treys to pull the Rockets within 102-97 with 30 seconds left. Forced to foul, the Rockets sent Radmanovic to the line, and his first attempt hit all of the rim before falling through. With another free throw, he took the lead to seven to finally clinch the win. Another point had been driven home much earlier. "We need to learn how to just catch and shoot the ball," Mobley said. "They were getting easy shots that anybody, even high school kids, can make. "I think we need to take a page out of their book. They're driving and kicking and catching and shooting. You're not always going to get layups. We have to learn to do what they're doing." No. What we need to do is learn how to pass the ball. Instead of driving on 4 guys how bout mixing in a pass. People are saying this on this BBS, on the radio stations, national and local reporters, hell just about everyone is saying this. Is the coaching staff just not telling him. I don't get it.
I think that Mobley is saying the same thing, just a little differently. I believe he means they have to learn to catch and shoot the ball....and not try to get to the rack every time. I have been touching on this in my silver lining thread. The Rockets need some lessons like this...the difference I see this year is that I actually think they are learning. DaDakota
Maybe Cat meant that when a pass comes out to you and you have an open shot, "catch and shoot". I saw a couple of hesitations by Francis, Mooch and other guys yesterday. I don't think Cat is taking on the mantra of shoot first, pass later. I am guessing that he means if he and Steve were to dish out the ball, the Rockets have to learn how to catch and shoot (like Seattle yesterday). Late in the game, Griffin did that well. But that was it. Maybe this is where Nachbar comes in? One other thing: Kenny can't really handle the ball that well. Every single one of the passes that came to him was bobbled or fumbled. And does he have a hitch in his shot? It seems like the ball doesn't really roll of his fingertips when he releases it. When his little drive/spin move isn't working, his jumpshot isn't very reliable. Oh well, something for me to watch for in the next game.
When I read this article especially the end quotes by Mobley, it got me thinking about this one part. "I think we need to take a page out of their book. They're driving and kicking and catching and shooting. You're not always going to get layups. We have to learn to do what they're doing." It's nice to hear this and maybe I am over analyzing, maybe Mobley is just referring to their (steve, cat, and moochie's) practice of driving into the lane and heaving up prayers, but I think that this thinking will perpetuate the problems we are having on offense. It's a good idea to drive and kick, but we need to vary our offense. Occasionally maybe Steve and Cat need to try and let Thomas, Ming, Griffin, establish the post. What little I saw of the game, (thanks Charter Cable Greenville, SC for dumping League Pass this season in favor of NHL Center Ice) on ESPN2 look-ins, I saw Francis dribbling into double team after double team and ignoring obvious post attempts by Ming who had clear offensive position. Maybe this was the only play but from the reaction on this board I think that this happened more than once. The problem with driving in and kicking out is that you have taken away one of your better perimeter shooters by having him drive in, which means that your chances of having the kick out and shoot work correctly has diminished. I am not saying that this practice is completely wrong, but relying on it for most of your points is bad especially when our small forward position has been a little weak lately on the shooting and even PF (griffin did finally have a good game, but he has not shown yet for any length of time that he can shoot this well consistently). The post on the other hand allows more players on the perimeter who can shoot. Should we post all the time? No. Our strength is not there yet, but if we do not attempt to develop it we will be relying on driving and kicking to players who shouldn't be standing on the perimeter trying to shoot shots they don't have the skills for.
To catch the ball don't you have to pass it? I guess in Cat's case it generally is catching the ball and then shooting it, so maybe he should work on improving the 2 elements of his game.
I think this article is very encouraging. They are admitting that they shouldn't dribble the air out of the ball, but instead, pass the ball and shoot. Just like the Sonics did last night. I think this was actually a good lose for the Rockets. They can learn from this early in the season. This game will help.
The Rox may or may not be a playoff contender. One thing is inarguable, the whole team is still a work in progress not a polished product. The sooner we all come to these terms, the less upset we will be watching them.
talk about a hatas interpretation... please read the last sentence of the article Mobley: <b>"We have to learn to do what [Seattle is] doing."</b> Why not make that the title of your thread. Damn hata btw:....nice erroneous title to the thread. He said "catch and shoot." That is exactly what Seattle did. It requires player movement and passing to get into a situation where you can catch and shoot. And by extension, it means if you don't have a catch and shoot, don't shoot or drive to the hole, keep passing or drive and kick. The basis of the Passing Game is no dribbling except to go straight to the hole or to get away from you defender to open a passing lane. You either shoot right away or pass.
I am not sure if the Rockets will get anything from this game. I hope they will. But every televised game I saw of the Rockets last year degenerated into alot of our offensive plays mainly consisting of a dribble fest with one guy on our team driving into the teeth of the opposition defense and throwing up a circus shot. They lost last year doing this, why couldn't they have learned it last year? Are they that slow?
Great post DaDakota. I too see the guys making an effort to pass more, and get players involved more both with passing and away from the ball. They really do seem to be trying. Sometimes the old habbits creep up. Also because this new style of ball movement is completely new to the Rockets as a team, they don't really do it all that well YET. The Rockets lost to the Pacers and had 17 TO's. In the Denver win they almost as many TO's(16) but got the win. In that Denver game they were definitely trying more ball movement, and that's when a lot of those 16 TO's happened. Francis has been getting many of shots in the flow of the offense, though there have been times when old habbits and bad decisions appear. However to say he's the reason for any our losses is a gross exageration. Just look at how much more fluid things ran with Steve FRancis on the floor against the Sonics, and how poorly they went when Steve was on the bench with foul trouble. The third quarter is a great example. That's when the Sonics really won the game.
I didn't get to see too many games last year but considering the catastrophic number of injuries they had I assume it would have been hard for lessons like that to really sink in. Especially since they had done well the year before, the natural way to think would be "if we can just get healthy, we'll start winning again." This year, I think they're being forced to learn that even being relatively healthy, they still have a lot to learn about winning. It's painful to watch them play like they did last night but I am optimistic that they'll start to outgrow their bad habits.
I hope your analysis is right because this start is disappointing in effort if not in results, 2-2 is not a disaster but the way we've lost and won has not been very impressive or entertaining except for Steve Francis.
The 3rd quarter is an example of what? The Rox were up by 1 at the half and down by 9 went Francis went to the bench with his 4th foul. Don't try to pass the entire 17 point swing off to his absence 'cause 10 of them were when he was on the court.
I am still confused. Looks like they (Rudy, Cat, Mooch, etc.) know what they need to do. They are just not doing it. Why? It is too hard for them?
There is a sign of hope... A quote from Rudy....on the Sonics... "We tried several different tactics," Tomjanovich said. "They had an answer for every one of them. They just really played the game the right way. And then Norris's comments... "Rudy (Tomjanovich) just said he knows we can do it, and that's what he wants us to do," Rockets guard Moochie Norris said. "I mean, that was basketball. It was incredible to watch. We have to move the ball like that. We have to create for each other. We went to help, and they found the open man no matter who it was. It was a clinic.
Mocchie needs to hang this quote above his locker and keep reminding himself of it. Surely hes not a hypocrite.
