[SI] Why the Rockets are emerging as championship contenders

Who was that guy who started that thread after like 20 games showing how we are the same defensively as last year, and thus Dwight doesn't improve our D and there's no way we will improve because after 20 games we play how we play? Anyone remember that thread?

 

Does anyone else get a sense of dread or deja-vu about statistical offense being effective. Imagine if they call this the Run & Shoot offense?

I'm actually fascinated by the fact that guys like Battier/Parsons & other "heady" guys are able to get buy in on what is effective for the other guys that are simply athletes.

Carry on . . .

 

Awesome article. Gets me even more hyped up for this team.

 

It's about time for the Rockets to win some statement games against the other top contenders to validate us as a really threatening contender:
@ LAC (must-win seeding determining game)
vs MIA (We-are-as-good-as-you game)
vs IND (We-are-as-good-as-you game)
vs POR (must-win seeding determining game)
vs LAC (must-win seeding determining game)
vs OKC (You-don't-own-us game)
vs SAS (must-win seeding determining game)

Also the Rockets should beat every non-playoff teams in the remainder of the season.

 

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=247307&highlight=asik

There it is, user was trugoy

Here is another doozy:

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=246397&highlight=asik

 

This article gave me petrified wood.

 

The reason the Rockets lack the championship talk is because they have not proven anything yet in the playoffs.

The playoffs are the benchmark by which people go by.

If the Rockets look decent in the playoffs, people now have their benchmark for how good the team truly is. So if they improve next year, people will know they have improved how well they will do in the playoffs, too.

 

They still have a lot of little problems. Not even close to a well oiled machine that is needed to be World Champs. Someone needs to step up.

 

Why do people use PPG as the one big barometer for defense? Obviously keeping opponents scoring less is a big part of defense, but high opponent/low opponent scores are also a product of pace.

Why don't more commentators/analysts/writers just use points per possession?

 

thought this part was very interesting given the perception we just shoot 3s and don't play inside/out.....

"That approach has created the illusion of three-point reliance. In reality, however, Houston has the inside-out balance to rival that of any team. Along with leading the NBA in three-point attempts, the Rockets rank third in the percentage of points drawn from free throws...they are fourth in percentage of points scored in the paint. In tandem, that means “easy points” account for the greatest cut (68.4 percent) among prospective playoff teams. In that framing, the Rockets’ three-point variance is simply a way to pitch an already effective unit over the top."

 

Oh my.

 

Every team needs to be prepared for the inevitability of iso basketball — it’s a failsafe option for when other plans fall apart and means for attacking mismatches directly. But Harden is guilty of bleeding the clock dry with dribble moves, only to then dump the ball off to a teammate with a 24-second violation looming.

Haha.

 

Someone force Charles Barkley to read this piece.

 

Just put on the teleprompter.

 

The Rockets are fun to watch on the box score via phone.

Put her down for 2 minutes and were up double digits and the Rockets have caught fire.

They need one more shooter though.

 

Oh, you mean like this?????

 

I like the picture in the article. I wonder what they could all possibly be looking at?

 

Jeremy Lin telling Kevin McHale what play to run.

 

Great, now I need one of these to view the BBS...

 

Damn fine piece. Intelligently researched and written.

If you really enjoyed the article, try reading it again with Morgan Freeman's voice doing the narration.
You might never be the same.