Totally agree. The rockets need to force other teams to attack the basket. Because we have a big man waiting under the basket. Otherwise, we have to depend on shotting contests, that is Francis and Mobley's fg%.
1 more asst than his avg and the Rockets were almost guaranteed winners. More times than not, you could tell when Francis was really trying to get the team involved and when he wasn't really trying. It has some to do with players knocking down shots, but how many times has it been because he couldn't execute a simple pick and roll. I've seen many times when he had easy asst, but chose to yo-yo the ball and shoot a difficult shot. I've seen many times on the supposed break when he didn't deliver the ball to the right person at the right time which knocked off asst also.
We can all see it from Clutch's stats (thanks, Clutch)... when the Rockets are hitting their 3's (hitting from outside) it changes everything. Just look at EVERYONE'S 3%'s with the W's and it slaps you in the face. We need someone who is consistent from downtown and can at least play average defense. If Cat was consistent instead of more of a streak shooter, and consistently (there's that word again) played D like he did in the second half of the season (which I think he can), even hurt, then we wouldn't need to look for a SG. It's a shame that Cat is probably our prime trade bait. He would be the perfect 6th man for us. When he's hot, he gets his minutes. The problem with that fantasy is that Steve would still be at the one. Instead, Steve is most likely moving to the 2 and we'll get a big point who can play D on the other teams 2's. When you think about it, it's a hell of a thing that we're facing that dilemma. If there were some way to get the tough PF that we need, an Alvin Williams type at the point, and a money shooter from downtown, just damn good role players, without losing Cat... we would have a groovy Rocket World. And Cat would probably be 6th Man of the Year. What a *****. Just my humble opinion. And I know all of these things have been talked about. It's just staring at the season ending stats that gives my head a shake.
These stats tell us what we already knew -- when our players suck, we lose. What's really depressing is that it's not any one individual that statisticsally sucks when we lose, it's all of them. The whole team shoots signifigantly less on their FG%, FT%, 3PT%. Worse, in losses, our starters generally hit a full 10% less FG's, a full 10% less FT's (with the exception of Francis), and about 10% less on 3pt's. Personally, I feel that Steve's lowered number of assists in losses are a reflection of this problem, and not necessarily the cause of the losses. In other words, when the Rockets can't shoot, they lose. That's what it really boils down to. Now, I don't know how this compares to other teams in the league, maybe they behave the same way. But I interpret it this way -- when we lose, we're either playing against INSPIRED defenses, or we're just not showing up. Inspired defenses don't happen very often, so in most cases, it's probably that we're not showing up. This is a problem that rests at the feet of the coaching staff. It's the coaches' job to make sure that the players show up and play in a system that allows them to succeed. You can rant and rail at specific players all you want, but it's the coaches' job to make sure the players are always playing to the highest of their capabilities. Does this mean I advocate getting rid of Rudy right this instant? No. I think he has the capability to get the job done, and do it better than just about anyone available to replace him. The problem is that for the past few seasons, we've been in denial. It's youth. It's the injuries. It's the refs. Rudy needs to realize that while all of these may be contributory, but the fact of the matter is that it is the coaches' job to take action to mitigate these factors. But most of all, Rudy and crew have to recognize for the very first time that there IS a problem. IMO, once they admit that to themselves... then we're in business.
A-Train - I'm surprised you have your hand out of the vaseline jar long enough to type up a researched post, but most Nets fans will tell you that Kidd seemed to have a bigger problem this year trusting his teammates, and tried to do it more himself. Keep in mind that Francis is a much better scorer than Kidd. Kidd is a career - let me say that again, career - 40% shooter. Would I love to have a Jason Kidd on my team? Absolutely. But I wouldn't be open to moving him to the two, as I am with Francis. It's the point guard aspect where Francis really isn't in the same league as Jason. Marbury's FG%, according to your numbers, isn't much different from wins to losses. And if you're trying to compare Francis to someone to show Steve is <i>not</i> selfish, then Marbury was a poor choice. The point a lot of people are trying to make is Francis SHOULD shoot more, but someone to distribute and run plays should be brought in. Facts are facts - Francis' assists, <b>significantly</b> lower than both Kidd's and Marbury's, were at a career low this past season, while his turnovers remained on par for his career. The stat was when Francis dishes 7 or more assists, the Rockets are 22-10 ... yet Marbury and Kidd average over 7, and 2-3 more assists per night than Francis. No one has an explanation for Francis' shot attempts being down, assists being up and turnovers down after December? Are you really trying to suggest there was real improvement? Francis' shot attempts went from 18.2 to 15.1, assists went from 6.0 to 6.3 while his turnovers went from 3.9 to 3.6. The "improvement" is no different than his career numbers, if that. Do executives (who want to keep their jobs) give raises to employees who decide to decrease their output for a month, then "improve" back to their standard? As for implying this was a Francis-hating post, you've got to be kidding me. A STATS post? Tell you what - as soon as the Mobley apologists stop calling me a Francis defender, you can start calling me a Francis basher. The stat was 3 blocks or more. If I had said 4 blocks or more, then the Rockets are undefeated (13-0). The Mavs are also a 60-win team, but regardless, it helps prove, not discredit, the role it plays. Any one in the Mavericks organization, from the ballboys to Cuban, will have no problem telling anyone the kind of impact Shawn Bradley has on their team when he's a defensive presence in the middle. Again, 3 blocks or more. Jazz were 18-7 when Ostertag has 3 blocks or more while the Clippers were 7-9 when Olowokandi had 3 or more blocks. It's a nice dance job, and perhaps you can find a good Mavs/Jazz/Clippers board to present your suggestions, but none of this takes away one iota from the fact that Yao Ming's defensive presence is clearly a key ingredient to future Rocket success.
the rockets are 5 games over 500 when mobley plays but only 3 and 4 games over 500 when steve and yao play.
Clutch, my post wasn't directed at you personally. I was trying to illustrate that Steve isn't a "stats oriented player" as so many people seem to think. Jason Kidd is supposedly the best point guard in the NBA, yet his field goal % difference is 10 percentage points...Is he just interested in stats? The fact is that Steve, Kidd, and Marbury are all the main options on offense, so they're supposed to take the big shots. Just because somebody takes more shots in a losing effort doesn't mean they're greedy. Go through the NBA stats, and you'll notice that most go-to players take more shots in losses than wins. Stockton, Nash, Bibby, Miller...all these "pure point guards" that everybody seems to have hard ons for, they can just pass the ball to the main offensive weapon when the team is down. Steve, well he is the main offensive weapon. ...and about the field goal attempts...If you'll notice, during that same time frame, Yao's field goal attempts went up while his field goal percentage steadily went down. Early in the year when Yao was shooting 55-60% from the field, everybody was saying, "Man, if Yao was getting more shot attempts, he'd be unstoppable!". Well, he did get more shot attempts and didn't make the most of them. If Steve was so greedy and stats oriented, why wasn't he taking more shots when Yao was shooting poorly? Now, is Steve better at shooting guard? We'll probably find that out next year. Is running an offense and being the main scoring threat too much for him to handle? Maybe...To call him greedy and stats oriented, though, is just an undeserved slap in the face. ...oh, and I've switched to baby oil.
To me, it has always been about the need for consistent team defensive intensity. I'm sure the stats would make more sense if this were the case. Better team defense, Yao gets more blocks. Non-existant defense, Yao gets more fouls.
Great Thread, thanks. Count me in the Steve column. I like Steve believing he is a superstar, and I like it that 'he's a guy who desperately wants to win and tries to carry the team on his shoulders when they're losing'. Count me as one who wants SF to regain his superstar hippity hop strut. Count me as one who wants SF to stay at the Point, but that there should be a Point Forward added to the roster, ala Kukoc or younger (please) Odom. Count me as one who believes that SF's problems may be that he is deaf to coaching but that coaching is not getting SF to listen!
Now there you go. I think you are on to something. The biggest reason that Yao averaged 1 block in the losses is because the opposing teams guards were lighting us up from the perimeter. This team is much better when our guards D up on their opponent and don't give them the jumper. It forces them to try to dribble and drive around us, and waiting at the rack is a 7'5" praying mantis. Clutch needs to get some stats on the other teams players in our wins and losses. I bet we would see that the opposing teams guards shot a very high percentage and had a very high point total in our losses, and there were more 3 point shots taken and hit than in our wins. I know Cat played defense at times. I saw him dog Kobe one night. I saw him put in some effort against the big time guards. But Stevie's man to man perimeter D was/is non existant. Stevie was constantly hanging out down low hoping to get boards and dribble up the floor. He plays way too far off his man on the perimeter and consequently if his man had a good shooting night, which was more often than not, than the Rockets were in trouble the whole night. That's why I say, the recipe for winning defense is for the guards to body up the opposing teams guards and force them inside to our big men. That's why I don't want to see Cato get traded unless we are getting a stud defensive inside player back, because we need that interior D. The ability to block shots and avoid fouls becomes extremely important when you are playing at playoff or championship level, because if the guards are smart, they will funnel the dribbler to his weak hand and force him to have to try to go down low.
You Yao apologists are ridiculous. If the opposing guard's get to Yao and Yao picks up fouls or can't get rebounds, then its still the Rockets' guard's fault. Gimme a break.
I'm not saying it has to be the guards fault . But how many times that average guards like Boykins having a career nights against Rox guards ? And why do those average guards get to Yao or getting open shots so easily? In the same time, I don't remember many average centers having career nights against Yao. It's quite clear to me that parameter defense played a big role in winning and losing during the season, if you call me a Yao apologist for that, so be it.
Personally, i prefer Jergen's Lotion...remeber the old Hues Corporation song, "Rock the Boat?" "So I'd like to know where, you got the notion, to start...with Jergen's Lotion!"
IMO this thread just proves once again anyone can put any spin they won't on stats. For instance, there is also a stat out there that shows when Yao scores 20+ points the Rockets have a losing record and when Francis and Mobley score 20+ each the Rockets have a winning record. But I think most of us agree that Yao needs to touch the ball/shoot/score more, he and Francis need to be the focal points of the offense and Mobley less of a focal point. So what does the stat mean? I have no idea...I think it's just one of those flukey things (coincidences) that's out there. Another stat is Francis' assist...did you guys realize that Francis would be the leading assistman on the Kings team, yet HOU is second to last in the league in assist and the Kings are first (or second). What does that mean? Well, my guess is it's because they have OTHER guys on the team in the four-five assist average range, while the second-leading assistman on the Rockets averages less than three. So it could be said the "pass the ball" problems can be more related to OTHER players not named Francis (and Yao to a degree) and/or the offensive scheme itself (the ISO). Again, a spin I could put on stats. I liked the post by the member who said "Wow, the Rockets actually play better in wins and worse in losses." *haha* Classic. Forgive me if it isn't word for word correct, but a great response because in the end that's what it comes down to...when they play well they win, when they don't they lose. Great research done Clutch any rate -- and a truly welcome thread @ this point. I'm sure there are some really, really important stats you showed us, but I think some of them are meaningless. Also, the whole "All Francis cares about is stats" opinion you have kind of walks on thin ice. When Francis was named player of the week for the second time this past season he won by not having a great statistical week. And there have been a number of games when Francis has taken only a few shots (hence, his FGA being down significantly from the first-half of the year) or scored a few points; ppl in the BBS would sometimes plead for him to shoot more in games (including his coaches). And what about the season series with the Suns? Marbury went out of his way to "prove he was the real All-Star, he didn't have to get voted on" and owned the individual statistical battle with Francis, but Francis' team owned the TEAM matchup, 3-1. He was wildly inconsistent I thought when choosing when to score and when to set others up. But I'm like some others who don't think he's a stat-filler by fault (meaing he's just talented enough to do it, but not b/c he's trying to do it). So pretty inconsistent, sometimes not always making the best decision? Sure. Selfish, and a "let me get this rebound or this point for my own success?" I doubt.
So the Rockets are better trading Francis and Yao and keeping Mobley. *lol* *sarcasm* Again, just one of those stats we can spin however we want.
Good points made, but I have to say...a little more than THREE shots less per game for Francis after December is pretty significant when you think about it, though. There were a lot of ppl who watch basketball for a living -- the bball "experts" I mean -- said Francis should take quite a few more shots than his season-ending average of 16 per game. BTW -- just to clear something up, Clutch -- do you think Marbury is selfish?
