HeyP, I think I read in one of your posts that we don't transition very well due to the outlet pass or the guards and forwards being the main rebounders. If I'm wrong forgive me. I don't understand if that is the case why guards like Kidd and Payton who rebound well can get into transition and fast break while teams are still trying to get back in position for defense. IMO Francis does not look to push the ball at any point during most games. As I have said before, he immediately runs down the wings and does not get into the middle of the floor on fast break opportunities. I don't ever remember seeing a fast break run like that except in the college game. Guards are always taught to get the ball in the middle of the floor to make the defense have to adjust. The Rockets run terribly. This is highly frustrating to me and it is contrary to what Rudy says not that difficult to do. Moochie runs alot better in transition than Francis. It appears Francis wants to settle for the half court game/high pick and roll/ or his favorite baseline move on the left side of the floor. I know that you know that teams have scouted the Rockets by now and you have not seen Steve get that baseline move which results in a poster type dunk nearly as often this year and I honestly don't believe he will get it nearly as often unless it's late in the game and the defense has a let down. I simply want to see easier baskets, via transition and penetration. ------------------
Teams that really push tempo don't even need a rebound. There's no way on earth Kobe should have time to clown with the front row fans after he makes a basket. Transition BBall takes place before the outlet or the rebound - it's a mindset. On the other end of the subject, if we are gonna gang rebound maybe somebody needs to clue the Rocks that reasonably skilled Jr. High kids can PASS the ball up the floor quicker than pros can dribble it. Since I'm venting, can we learn fastbreak lanes and spacing? Maybe even some secondary breaks??!! Someone's gonna have to scrape me off my ceiling if we get there. ------------ GATER [This message has been edited by GATER (edited November 20, 2000).] [This message has been edited by GATER (edited November 20, 2000).]
No, I said "getting the outlet", not outlet pass and not who rebounds. Someone else tried to simplify it by saying it was a rebounding problem. I agree with you more; who rebounds is not the issue as long as you have several horses, but let's discuss. Guards are not told to always go to the middle of the floor (except the 6'9" Magic). What? you think defenses don't know that and won't go to the middle of the floor, too. Right-on about Francis not pushing it, or even asking for an outlet. He usually slows it down in the backcourt or sprints and leaves someone else to get it up court. I would say our problem is WE HAVE NO STRUCTURED OUTLETS. Blindly running up the court, instead. Give me a cut to the ball please!!! This is a symptom of teams who also do not have strategies for the secondary break. They feel it is a lay-up or 3 or nothing. If you believe in your ability to score while the defense is still not fully set and incapable of double teams, just get the ball down court, and do some quick motion looking for backdoor cuts, good low post position, drives and dish.! That takes practice, and we probably are not doing it very well in practice. That's my guess, because (as you say) Rudy has been quoted as wanting to use secondary transition. But, definitely, don't underestimate how hard it is to get good outlet position on a consistent basis in the NBA. <font size="1"><font color="> [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited November 20, 2000).] [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited November 20, 2000).]
Hey P, I guess my next problem is, why does Rudy want only secondary transition games. We have enough horses and I hear him saying push the ball on the sidelines during games. Is Steve just ignoring those instructions or does he simply not have the knowledge of the game or the ability to effectively run a fast break that does not conclude with him getting a dunk? ------------------
don't ask me. I am thoroughly frustrated with our lack of ability in transition. I'm not ready to say it is a failing to not push it via the dribble. Keep an eye on the outlet players, that's where I saw the problem in the recent Suns game. They are not getting open.
HeyP, you may as well say it's because of the lack of pushing due to the dribble, because that's exactly what it is. Also I agree about the outlet players. I thought about the starting lineup and Walt, Dream, and Mo are not players that really run the foor. Obviously Dream doesn't anymore, but the second team along with Francis still in the game can and should run more. By the way, what happened to the trapping defense and half and full court presses I talked about during the preseason and saw a little of in the first few games? Is it all because Cato is hurt? It sure would help to employ it a little to get a few easy baskets and give other teams something else to worry about. What ya think? ------------------
you are probably right again about Cato. He certainly was out front on the half-court trap. We didn't see enough of it though to see its success.
