The team lost two playmakers (Lin and Parsons) who were 2nd and 3rd on the team in assists/game last season. As much as people will argue Ariza is a serviceable replacement for Parsons, he is not a ballhandler. Anyone else concerned with the offense? What's the over/under on McHale saying the ball was too sticky?
we can send mchale to the ' basketball academy for forwards who want to learn to coach and make plays gooder' for the summer.
Our offense will run on Harden and Dwight. Ariza is a 40% 3pt shooter (while shooting 8 per game). Our biggest problem was defense. Ariza and Nick Johnson will help shore that up. I don't think we're done filling out the roster.
biggest problem with the office this year will be lack of outside shooting. Parsons was teams best 3pt shooter and harden was the worst. Now ariza and beverly are gonna have to make up the difference.
Ariza is a better 3pt shooter than Parsons. Parsons shot 4.7 per game at 37%. Ariza shot 5.7 per game at 40%. While playing better D too.
You would think this would be obvious, but for some reason it goes unused for long stretches of time.
Ariza and Parsons are practically the same player for our purposes. Lose a bit of offense for more defense. Asik didn't do anything last year. Lin is replaceable; Morey just need to find us some veteran guards. For this team to improve, Terrance Jones needs to step up this year and becomes a near all-star.
In all honesty we need a facilitator that is significantly better than Lin, Parsons, Beverley and Harden are/were. Harden is good at it but he's forcing the issue, that's not his primary skill. He's not as good as a LeBron or McGrady at creating for others. We need a player who is naturally inclined to create for others. Rondo would fill that role but we need to add someone realistic. Even an Andre Miller would add an important wrinkle.
WAS defense (and McHale). Now it's defense (we still have Harden ), offense, play-making, more ISO-centric, ... I think their biggest need now is a play making PG. Without one, it's basically now literally ALL on Harden (and a few POST up here and there with Howard). Not a good formula.
When you lose two playmakers that should mean less ISO. Hopefully Mchale incorporates a system where we use everyone to the best of their abilities.
On the Rockets, he played as one. Parson was the 2nd highest total assists man behind Harden. Ariza is half the player maker Parsons is.
I imagine it'll be pretty much the same as last season...we ran everything through Harden and Howard anyway. The real issue is if Harden continues to get the foul calls he got during the regular season. If it's like the Portland series then we're screwed. Harden is very streaky and when he's cold Parsons or Lin would generally take over more...or Harden would get his via fouls. Without another playmaker if Harden's cold, which happens more often than one would like, and if the referees swallow their whistles, the Rockets are in for a really bad time.
