HeyP, While you're at it. How about shining some light on why you think the Rox have gone away from the Zone (match-up Zone) they had been running regularly, especially late in the 3rd and 4th quarters of games. I respect you BasketBall IQ and was looking for some thoughts as I can not understand why it's not being used.
Crash5179, you couldn't have put it any better. The key is simplicity. I scratch my head almost every game wondering why our "lead guards" STILL DON'T GET IT.
Though I don't think that our defense is that bad compared to a poor decision making by our lead guards, I must remind you that our defensive break down starts from the guards or the SF who allow the easy penetration thereby making our '4' and '5' vulnerable. This is not the first time we have heard some of our players speak out in this form but we all know....... talk is cheap.
Fegwu, The guards are not anchors. That's just an excuse. My whole point is that our anchors are young, and "I must remind you that our defensive break down" is often the inability to stop PFs, not penetrating guards. As for your second comment, "talk is cheap" is the whole point. The point was that systemic problems with personnel and game plan are not always the reasons for losses. Talking cheap about sustaining focus and effort for 48 minutes causes more losses than anything. The ability to work as a 5-man unit for the whole game is the difference in being 20-11 right now and 17-14, more than any other reason I'm seeing in this thread. The inability of Francis to be a perfect executer and Yao to never be tired and be stronger and Mobley to play within himself and shoot 45% and Eddie to mature and find a game and more bulk is what is keeping us from being a DYNASTY, not what is preventing us from growing as a team and making the playoffs in a tough conference.
HP, Good points, but at what point do you finally say enough, and trade or bench the guys that are not playing hard every night? Rudy has to take control of the team, everyone is locked into long term contracts, step on some toes, sort it out. DD
HP, I respect your very "senior" status on this board, you are obviously a super fan and have basketball knowledge BUT, do you honestly believe that the problems with this team are related to the shift to a motion offense? I believe there are far more fundamental problems, like player temperments, lack of execution of fundamental skills (passing, moving, positioning, shot selection, playmaking, and so on). Francis and Mobley, at times, look like they have never been to basketball camp. Incredible athletic ability, but unbelievably bad decisions at critical times; jr. high school passes or lack there of, incessant dribbling, mind boggling shot selection, poor shooting technique, irrepressable playground tendancies-making an easy shot hard, little committment to defense (Mobley excepted on occasion), poor court vision, poor timing. Must I go on? And they never change. Commentators are making fun of them, other players or making fun of them, this board is on their case. Surely Rudy sees these things. BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEY NEVER CHANGE! Please explain how this is all a temporary transition.
Lets agree to disagree on this one (defensive breakdown). Sir Calvin Murphy even agrees with my sentiment that for our team's defense to be stronger and save our big men from foul trouble, the guards have to make penetration very very difficult for our opponent and also fiercely context entry passes into the post. I doubt if you would want to disagree with Mr. Murphy. In essence he said good defense starts from the perimeter (see Jordan's bulls, Payton's sonics, Stockton's Jazz, even Charlie ward's Knicks etc.) Anyway I still do not think our defense is that much of a problem compared our guards mental breakdowns.
<blockQUOTE><hr>Originally posted by solid HP, I respect your very "senior" status on this board.<hr></blockquote> I'd like to first point out that O-dawg is more senior than I. <blockquote><hr>but...Please explain how this is all a temporary transition.<hr></blockquote> What do you want me to say? I respect your opinion, but respectfully disagree that we are 17-14 instead of 20-11, because of the weaknesses of Francis and Mobley. If Francis and Mobley were perfect executors, we would expect to be 25-6, right? I don't get it. I stated my opinion, in depth, right? Should I point out the shortcomings of playoff team after playoff team to show that you don't have to be perfect to make the playoffs in a very tough conference. seriously... I don't listen to commentators, because I'm either at the game or often fast forwarding through a taped game at 2x. I don't know what you are talking about people laughing at Steve Francis. Who laughs at Francis?? Are you saying they laughed at Allen Iverson in his finals year. Are you saying they are laughing at Wally for shooting without thought to his teammates? Are you saying that you wish you were a Suns fan, despite the fact people laugh at Marbury. Are you saying commentators don't laugh at the ineptness of Duncan's other 4 players? Are you saying that you'd rather be a Utah fan, since they never get laughed at? What do you want me to say about your absurd notion that the media laughs at Steve Francis? I don't think we are far from 60%, which is 31 losses per season....31 losses is a lot of crappy days here at cc.net. It's like 50 wins might sneak up on us and people will complain down to the lack of a ring...ad nauseum. The whining about 17-14 is nauseous. The rest of winning a title is up to Eddie and Yao getting bigger. You want me to say we should trade Francis for Miller? Would that make you feel righteous!!! How 'bout Barry for Mobley? Do you want me to say Rudy should go public that he will no longer tolerate the Rockets running things counter to the offensive strategy? Do you want me to say Rudy should bench Griffin for his piss-poor everything? Do you want me to say that Les should go public blaming China for making Yao tired? Should we trade everyone but Yao like Hottoddie suggests? What? I don't get it. I'm a huge fan, because I like to watch basketball. I like to watch players grow and learn. I don't like coaches who yell at players...that's for football where you have 3-men deep at every position. What?
Sorry dude. I refuse to agree to disagree that our defensive woes are based on guard penetration. Our defensive woes are based on not stopping Troy Murphy...for christsakes...and a plethora of other much better PFs in this PF-rich conference. All I said was the defensive woes is something that the young player argument addresses. Our best defensive players for the future are supposed to be a 20yr old and a 22 yr old. We have most improvement potential in that regard. I disagree that the guards can improve enough (even by trading them) to produce a ring if Eddie continues essentially being a bust, and if Yao never gains more strength and endurance to command the lane at 38 minutes per game.
I have noticed that as well. But I do think that part of the reason is that Yao's more conscious of not getting into foul trouble in the early part of the game. That's why he tends to be less dominating in the first half. While I do wish that he can be a little more aggressive like Eddie Griffin, I'd rather he play conservatively earlier on and stay in the game than get into foul trouble early and sit on the bench. Except for a few games when the guards are hitting everything every time they go up court, I don't think the team has done as well with Yao benched.
I would actually be interested to know your take on this as well. You obviously see tyhings at the games that we don't always get to see on tv.. How bout it? can you take a moment from your argument with fengwu to address this?
HP, I actually liked some of your "do you want me to say" suggestions. "Laughed" was a poor choice of words. Commentators like C.Murpy, Gene Peterson, both HUGE Rocket's fans are obviously frustrated with Francis and Murphy. Some of their comments are humerous. Some express utter exasperation. You did not address the "fundamental skills " issues. Can you imagine what Bobby Knight would do with this pair. (He may be a nut, but he knows basketball and he gets results.) I can't imagine most NBA coaches tolerating our guards repeated blunders no matter how talented they are.
I admit that I would have taken that considering where we were last year plus that basically puts us on course for a 45-win season. It just pains me to see our team blow three home games that we should have won. I bleed Red, White and Gold....and yes even Blue, Red and White pinstripes (as embarrassing as that is). So when our team looks so lost and confused during an important home stretch against some of the leagues powder puffs, even if our record is still good, it has an unnerving affect on me. If this is just one small stumble during a season that finds us in the play-offs then I will be content. The play-offs are where teams really learn where to play winning basketball in my opinion. What scares me though is that we are in the midst of the easiest portion of our schedule and if we blow this opportunity then we may be in real trouble in a couple of months when we have to spend the majority of our time on the road against some of the better teams in the league.
solid, just to set the record straight. I rhetorically used each one of those "what do you want me to say" in regards to you seemingly wanting me to say what you want to hear. I disagree with every single one of those "what do you want me to say." O-dawg and R2K, Note first that we didn't use the 2-3 match-up zone out of the gate this season. We used man, then dabbled in a 3-2 zone (with Ming at the point), but found Yao couldn't cover the same amount of ground as Kevin Garnett to play that. We won a lot of games using man. When we switched to the 2-3 match-up (which was after Seattle schooled our 3-2)...even then, we didn't play it all the time, right? If we really are switching away from the 2-3 matchup zone, I have to go with whatever Rudy says, because to date he has experimented with and adjusted our defense very well. I think he might be facing Griffin and Mo's limitations. Playing a 2-3 requires excellent wing players to adjust their role between 3-point land and the low post....that's the difference between it and a 3-2, which tends to make it easier for a low post player to stay close to the low block (by merely playing one side of the lane or another, and the 3 perimeter guys zoning the entire perimeter). In a 2-3, Kenny's responsibility was profound. He had to play low post and still cover a 3pt shooter, and the timing of leaving his low post assignment to switch to the perimeter took quickness/strength and teamwork. I just don't think we have the makeup for the 2-3 match-up anymore...hence, TheFreak saying how he wants Kenny back. Anyhoot, it's not like we are not doing a zone anymore, we just aren't doing one as aggressive as before or in the same structure....and we are doing more man to take advantage of Posey, as well. I actually think Griffin is better in a man setup, so he doesn't have to think as much. You know how Griffin doesn't like to think, right?
I refuse to believe that this team's problems are related to defense. The Rockets right now are 8th in the league in FG% against which is the most important defensive stat. Early on, they were in the top 5, but #8 is still very good. In addition, the only Western Conference teams ahead of the Rockets are San Antonio, Sacto and Dallas. There are certain games you can say this team stunk it up on the defensive side of the ball, but overall the defense has been not been the key reason this team has bungled games against teams it should handle easily. The offensive categories tell the tale. Its pretty obvious this team does not share the ball effectively as it ranks 23rd in assist to TO ratio and 27th in Ast. In addition, they rank 15th in FG pct. The two key losses that have angered many posters, NY and GSW, this team shot 30% and 37% respectively. As I have stated repeatedly, I am just not seeing the guards make the effective reads and passes and get the ball moving in the offense. Francis, Mobley and Moochie make the same mistakes now that they did four years ago. Sane, as far as Lamar Odom goes. I dont think he would fit on this team with Yao on it. Ideally, I would want a wing player that can make the effective reads, play smart AND hit the deep ball, which is what a player like Brent Barry is. I like Odom's talent, but dont think it would fit any longer with the addition of Yao.
Age can be a reason for inconsistency, but it's not an excuse for lack of imporvement year after year and making the same damn fossil age mistakes again and again and again. Before and after the transition of offense the veterans on this team were making the same stupid decisions. Where's the revelance? Explain why the Rockets seldom push the ball up the court and how does that relate to being young? The age factor is about 10%, the mind is the other 90% of factors for this team. Griffin is the only one in the regular rotation that suffers from his youth. Yao is 22 but plays like a veteran. The other guys have enough years for fans to not consider them as being YOUNG. If the Rockets are playing Tito, Boki, Terrence and Jason every night I'll buy the youth excuse, but not when our youth primarily sit on the bench and core players are most veterans!
This is exactly what i have been seeing..If you believe most of the other ppl here..it is the dirrect opposite of what you stated. I see good and sometimes great defense played...but crappy offensive efficiency... Last game I saw tons of passing and next to no balls goin in the hoop..matter of fact, I was starting to get upset cause i felt maybe they were passing too much.. it's hard to get assists when the ppl that you are passing to cant hit the broad side of a barn... Thanks HP...I believe I understand a little better now.. the only problem I see with running mainly man defense is that i feel that SF and EG are not very good man defenders.. Cat seems to be getting better at stickin with his man, Posey plays good D..and even Yao isn't that bad unless he's up against the quicker players..
Let it be known, after that horrible start by GS, they have actually been playing over .500 ball. Thats not to say they Rockets should have lost and its not just this 1 loss, its losses to Mem,Clips,and Knicks athat are puzzling especially at home. On this current cushy 6 game homestand, we have to win to break .500. Last yr it was injuries, now it seem like ppl will ride the youth excuse.
