I don't understand where you're going with this. Modern examples alone, do you really mean to tell me that FB teams like Phoenix, GS, Denver, LA and Utah do not utilize their centers when they're playing uptempo? Not only that, what if the center isn't the one grabbing the rebound? According to this logic the center would be utterly useless if he wasn't rebounding then quickly hitting the outlet guys. Also, your comment about the "JVG era" of everybody being too focused on rebounding and not more worried about bolting down the court is suspect too. We've been one of the best rebounding teams in the league during the T-Mac/Yao era. Along with our defense, our ability to crash and dominate the boards helps keep us legitimate. It keeps the scores lower and any game within reach. I don't see a problem in playing like that. I think you're reaching here. If the only thing keeping us from recording more transition and fast break points were Yao's poor outlet passes I think the coaches would have sniffed that one out by now. Outlet passing is a simple, fundamental skill that anybody can improve. Granted, Yao doesn't have the greatest hands in the world but I don't think this is the problem. No, the fast break is not all about speed but just take a look at the effective FB teams around the league. Along with having great PG's, their speed from 1-5 undoubtedly stands out. Speed is arguably the biggest necessity of a run-and-gun team and it's precisely why if we ever attempted to become a FB team Yao's inability to keep up on both ends would stick out like a sore thumb.
they dont run because there arent many players on the team that run the floor well, period. Tmac isnt a fast breaker, nor is battier, yao certainly isnt. Basically you are stuck with alston and scola running a fast break.
Haven't read the rest of this thread, but that is the problem...Yao cannot handle double teams, and it is why he is so extremely turnover prone. It is why he has averaged more TO's than T-Mac the last 2 years despite averaging about 4 less APG and not doing half the ball handling. When you are so limited because of your size/athleticism like Yao is, it is hard to put as much offensive focus on him ala Shaq/Hakeem/Duncan.
Careful.... I was hit hard for even suggesting this kind of thinking... I predicted this team would have to be rebuilt before we win another championship. I backed off, because one thing about truth... you don't have to defend it, just wait for the results. We are not gaining on the Jazz much less the West. My advice to the Rockets is you better come away from this draft with a very good player- all star caliber, even if you need to move up, do it. Rockets at this point you are rebuilding whether you know it or not and whether anyone agrees on this forum.
Agreed. That's why I was saying my fantasy is for us to have second unit with a PG capable of running a FB with some slashers and shooters. [Warning] I'm throwing names out here but let's say if we decided to target T.J. Ford (trade) or Corey Maggette (S&T). Both of those guys are FB style players that you could base your second unit around. With Ford, somthing like..... PG Ford SG (shooter) SF (athletic wing) PF Landry C Scola Or with Maggette PG Alston or Brooks SG (shooter) SF Maggette PF Landry C Scola Just gives you an idea of what I meant. Those kind of units would be great in spurts, bad in others. The point is it directly contrasts our inside-outside style of play with our main unit and forces the defense to substitute and make adjustments accordingly.
22 wins in a row says the Rockets CAN in fact play with the "big boys." Even if Scola, Battier and Alston wouldn't start on other teams in the west, so what? We already have 2 superstars in our starting lineup. They do what they're supposed to do. Scola drops 15 and 9, Battier plays awesome defense and Rafer commands the floor. The start lineup is just fine. Not every team can have 3 all-stars in their starting lineups. Not serious contenders with our without yao in the lineup? Can't get out of the first round? Please. Can YOU take a lie detector test and whole-heartedly believe that if Yao had been healthy for the playoffs that we would have lost to the Jazz in 6? By your standards, there's not a single team in the NBA that would be satisfactory. Maybe you should just root for the western conference all star team every year, then you shouldn't be too disappointed.
that's basically all i'm trying to say. yes drawing double teams is good, but you have to do something with the double teams. yao rarely does; he simply passes back out to the guy who passed him the ball most of the time.
Haha, I remember Barkley saying that Yao Ming (only) makes his teammates better because when he is doubled he always find the right guy. Yao is already a good passer but he has a lot of to improve. What's more CHarles said 'Tracy does not make his teammates better'
Yao actually is averging less TO's than the Dream did in his championship season. What's more as the inside component of the inside-out offense he should be handling the ball much more often than T-Mac. And again where Yao gets into trouble is when he puts the ball on the floor and tries to make an offensive move. If he draws the double and passes out the Rockets are golden. The key point is that if Yao draws a double team that's a net advantage to the Rockets. Somewhere there's a Rocket with nobody guarding him. That's a dream situation for a motion offense and exploiting that is the main reason I think the Rockets did so well after the crappy start they had to the season. Next year they need to continue to learn how to exploit the double team off of Yao--a double team on a big guy in the low post means tons of opportunities for everybody else on the team. That's why I argue that he should be the lynchpin of the offense.
Baloney! Match up the starters on the Spurs, Suns, Jazz, Lakers, Hornets, even the Warriors against the Rockets. Compare and weep, not the same talent level and you know it. Then try the Celtics, the Pistons, maybe even the Cavs and the Magic. Come on. The Hawks and the Raptors may have better starting lineups next season. I like Scola, I like Battier, I don't like Rafer, but they are not big, athletic, or particularly quick. TMac and Yao are not durable and predictable. Your bench consists of two senior citizens, Head, Novak, and a very small PG. This team is not a contender. Duh.
As usual, your posts are dead on but the trading of Yao or TGlass is not something I can see happening because that would be admitting failure and starting over again. Uncle Les won't do that because it's bad for business - folks tend not to come to your arena and spend $$$ to watch a lottery team. And besides, why bother to actually put a competitive team on the court when it's far easier to blame the head coach? In two years, if Yao & MeMac are still flaming out in the first round of the playoffs (or God forbid, in the NBA lotto again) then it will be Rick Adleman's turn to join JVG & Rudy T on the firing line. Then it will be the same song - different verse all over again... BTW, be real careful around here trying to keep it real. Here's what can happen when keeping it real goes wrong: When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
On second thought, after viewing your "keeping it real" UTube, I think the Rockets are on the right track, probably more talented than any team in the West, Rafer is close to All Star status, TMac and Yao will never be injured again, Head will come alive in next year's playoffs, Yao is really quicker than Hakeem, and both B.Jackson and Deke are in their mid-twenties. I can hardly wait till next season, when Steve will recapture his former glory and take us to the promised land. Life is good, and "keeping it real" is definitely overrated. Thanks.
1. Rafer is a solid guard, I'd keep him for bench play, but not much more. We need an upgrade here. 2. Saying that Scola/Battier wouldn't start for other Western Teams pretty much makes anything you say afterwards irrelevant because it shows your clueless about basketball. 3. Yao is untradeable, and will be for quite a while. They will not trade the most dominant post presence in the NBA and the most marketable player in the league for some "Tall athletic guys" 4. T-Mac may have been the best single distributor in the game not named Lebron. So he's not the offensive powerhouse he once was, he's still a damn fine focal point of the offense. 5. Scola/Landry look to do nothing but improve on *impressive* rookie campaigns. We had two of the top 10 rookies in the league. I'd say our future at the 4 is ok. 6. Get a clue We need a legit point guard, and I'm not opposed to trading Battier/Head/Hayes/B-jax to do it. Battier just does not seem to fit into this system, and I'll admit it. He's a great guy, terrific defender, and would start for every single team in this league if they had him but we need a 1 or 3 who has a much greater offensive arsenal and can create his own shot.
Man, some people are so depressing. I guess 'keeping it real' is actually a synonym for 'building bbs cred by being cryptic and appearing unbiased'. Who knew?
Basketball is a team sport, it's not about a collection of individual talent. Take the 04 Pistons. Talent-wise they were mediocre at best, and how far did they get? They beat the Lakers with Shaq, Kobe, Gary Payton and Karl Malone and won the championship. Talent-wise they couldn't match up, but wins speak for themselves. Then look at the 2004 Mens US National Team. Talent-wise the other teams didn't even come close. And then look what happened? Basketball games are won by a good TEAM, not a collection of superstars. And baloney is not a word, it's spelled bologna. Duh...
Battier was mostly a bench player on the team he was acquired from. You know, that team that never won a playoff game. Which starting PF's in the West would Scola beat out?
I agree that for the second half of the season, the Rockets were greater than the sum of their parts, until the playoffs. Denver is an example of a more talented starting lineup, player by player, that does not play as well as a team. In the final analysis, especially in the playoffs, talent plays a greater role. The Rockets need more of it. It is interesting that Microsoft Word's Spell Checker (along with most dictionaries in the world) recognize(s) "baloney" as a correctly spelled word. So, I double "Duh" you!
