Our core is stronger (More talented) than theirs was. Rockets can mail it in sometimes and still win, but that won't work in the playoffs. So where we are in the standings should not really impress anyone, we would be higher with a real second unit. I know we've had injuries but with a contributing bench, it wouldn't matter as much. I want Morey to do some magic by trade deadline. Otherwise next year might be our year because I cant see us winning it all with our defense, poor post passing and weak bench.
It's definitely not going to be this year, that's why people need to calm down. Morey has already said that the realistic goal for this year is 2nd round. Evaluations will be based around that. Our bench needs obvious upgrades and Morey is working on it. This year is just about having fun. This is the "honeymoon" for our core of players. Next year is serious business.
Good Point, The way I see it is with a couple of good shooters, more touches by Dwight (without the team standing and watching him, but making cuts) and a real defensive buy in by the whole team we can get to WCF.
After the failed TT experiment, our bench would have had 2 of our starting lineup from last year. Caspi, Garcia, Smith and AB (won MIP one year). That is pretty solid and I feel it is unfair to critic the bench production if we really haven't seen it for a substantial amount of time. It is also very difficult for any coach to deal with a constantly changing lineup due to injuries not only for game time but also practice. I know, were talkin bout practice Then when injured players start coming back to the lineup, adjustments have to made again. This aspect of coaching is sometimes overlooked. You might be undervaluing this portion when you state that the record is unimpressive especially when your playing in the WC.
Aren't the Rockets like 7-1 this season on back to backs? I would think fan worry over player minutes would definitely not be an issue this season.
The Bench was really good early in the year before half the team was injured. So I guess I'm not willing to play your little game that one or the other of McHale or Morey has somehow failed. Both Morey and McHale have been a huge success this year. Daryl found the best talent and fit with the cap space available after he signed Howard. McHale had his rotation set and it looked damn good prior to the injuries. Lin Garcia Casspi Asik was a good bench. Garcia has definitely slipped from what we expected but he is only signed through this season and then DM has the MLE to address the need for another 3 point shooter.
Our bench has won us multiple games this year. Against Memphis twice and Utah once which are the games off the top of my head that I can think of. We have good players on our bench when the team is healthy. But look who is currently in our rotation: 3rd string point guard - AB 4th string center - DMo The lack of depth has also created some issues with what McHale likes to sometimes do. AB/Lin/Bev combo had started to get some minutes and was doing good things prior to Lin hurting his back and then Bev breaking his hand. The Lack of point guard depth has limited the number of minutes Lin can get at SG which forces Garcia to play more minutes at shooting guard when he was mostly just backing up Parsons at the SF early in the year. Dwight is forced to stay on the floor for more minutes since you have no idea what you are going to get from DMo. He was really good against Memphis but one of the main reasons we lost momentum against New Orleans. The Bench can not be truly graded until it's all healthy.
Absolutely. And to think that the Rockets have gotten almost nothing from Asik, their third best player, this season. Morey and McHale have done a magnificent job this season. As the Rockets defensive rotations improve, they will become a frighteningly good team. And as of right now no team wants to play them. SAS especially.
Yeah dude, the Pacers and Clippers are terrified of playing the Rockets. I'm sure Carlisle and the Mavs are tired of bullying McHale too. I understand you are trying to express your opinion but you should stop making ridiculous claims, including inaccurately calculating McHale's win% in the other thread.
Really? What team wants to play an opponent who is sporting a 21-11 record? Wouldn't every team prefer to play a worse team than the Rockets? What I said makes logical sense. After all, they are tied for the sixth best record in the NBA.
Whatever you say man. If the Rockets were to match up with the Spurs in the playoffs right now-- who cares about the records. No one would/should feel confident in the Rockets in that series.
Right now the Rockets sport a 6-2 record against the Southwest, arguably the toughest division in the NBA. And if the Spurs and the Rockets matched up in the playoffs, no one would be confident of the Spurs in that series. So what exactly are you trying to say? Other than argue against a perfectly sane and logical statement?
Its not baseless my friend, Mchale and Sampson already done it in the past, even going back to last year when tony d was with the rockets. there is truth to what to what i'm saying, your the illusion one. there are many games when lin wasnt shooting well, lin did not stay to even finish the game. stop hatin foo
Even Lin says it in the post game interview that he thanks the coach for letting him play through it in the 4th quarter.
Every important Rockets player seems happy and satisfied with their role. That is the most important thing that McHale has brought to the Rockets. It simply cannot be overvalued.
You do know Greg Smith finished games over Asik too right? Even Thomas Robinson had an opportunity to finish a game last season. But yeah I guess I am "hatin" on Lin because I don't agree that McHale hates Lin or whatever other narrative you spin. If you are a Lin fan, then you should follow Lin's footstep and act more like him, and less like Carmelo Anthony or Raymond Felton.
Asik? It has little to do with McHale, and more to do with circumstances. Every player on this team that deserves to be a starter is a starter, minus Lin and Asik. If the difference were McHale, then Asik would be where Lin is in his attitude as far as coming off the bench. The difference is personality. Lin is more allowing, patient, and content to do what is best for the team. Asik is not. If Lin were Steve Francis, we'd have TWO disgruntled players. So, yes, in the case of McHale it is a "quality" tremendously overvalued...
1. Great defensive adjustment by coach. Eric Gordon was scorching hot so the team blitzed all his pick and rolls. He was totally taken out of the game at the end when the Rockets made their run. 2. Great play calling on offense with the Lin-Harden pick and roll (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/65398/houstons-improbable-midrange-winner). The play was not run earlier in the game, which made it harder for the opposing team to figure out what to do. This resulted in Harden being able to score on Roberts and Rivers. 3. Coach kept the players mentally engaged after a slow start and a frustrating first 3.5 quarters. This enabled the team to fight back hard. Coach McHale is excellent.
