Who said the Rockets would stop playing defense? It's the old Dominique Wilkins situation, the more he scored the more his defense didn't get the respect it deserved. For some reason people think that if you score a lot of points you can't play defense as well. Unlike Don Nelson and Mike D'Antoni Rick Adelman isn't exclusively a run-and-gun coach.
Yes, I agree that it has to do with both Adelman and hte players he has coached. As of now the EC teams have not won the championship if San Antonio or Utah wins, I believe it is because they are more balanced on both sides of the ball. DD
I wonder why all those "defense wins championship" posters are gravitated on DD and no one is answering this post. Cohen's premise is false because it's not about PPG scored and allowed. It's about off. and def. efficiency.
but if detroit wins (as they have in the past over far better offensive units) your theory goes up in smoke.
Yet our offense completely disappeared in the playoffs. It could have easily been a case that it was an offense built for the regular season and not the postseason. Defense wins championships but you need a good offense as well. Rick Adelman's old Portland teams played pretty good defense while scoring points. What good is stopping people when they're stopping you more?
Every rule has it's exceptions. The Bad boys reference you made earlier was a good case study of your point. Look, Max, I think scoring the ball is as important as stopping your opponent from scoring the ball, both are important. The Rockets had a great defensive team this year...not good....great, and in the end they lost to the more effecient offensive team. That is why I believe balance is essential because being great on one side leaves you vulnerable on the other....IMO. DD
honestly, i respect different viewpoints...but i can't imagine watching the NBA over the past 20 years and not getting the sense that a strong defense is more important than a strong offense. i can think of strong defensive teams that won championships in spite of their offensive shortcomings. i can't think of one strong offensive time that won championships in spite of their defensive shortcomings.
Who cares whether or not he's regarded as a defensive-minded coach? If his teams play a solid defense and scores a good amount of points the Rockets will be successful. Who cares if they're considered and offensive or defensive minded coach?
Yes, yes it does. So had they been #1 in FG% but #8 in defense, would they be unbalanced now? lol. And yes, looks like the Bulls had a damn good defense. But none of that has anything to do with how "unbalanced" the Pistons and Cavs appear to be, yet both have a shot to make it to the Finals based upon good defense. And no, "they're in the East" does not explain it because if the East were truly so weak, their offenses would be more successful.
"Defense wins championships" is a myth. All of those so-called defense minded teams have a competent offense. Actually, you can argue that the Shaq-Kobe Lakers weren't the best defense in the world. But they not only won, but dominated in the playoffs.
I don't wanna rockets go the other extreme side next season,we need good offense and defense both if we wanna champinship.Suns has lost game 6 vs. Spurs today, which can exactly proof wonderful offense is not enough... Adelman,will you give us a satisfactory answer?
You know what, let's see how the Spurs do against Utah with Home court advantage. If their offense bogs down and they tank like the Rockets it will be fairly telling. DD
except the rule i'm mentioning has no exception in the past 20 years. unless i'm missing one you can name for me. those phoenix teams never won rings. run TMC couldn't get out of the early rounds of the playoffs. is there even one exception to the defensive rule???
I understand your point now. I am not sure there is an exception to the offensive rule, maybe the Celtics and Lakers.....but I am off to bed and don't want to look it up tonight. DD
look at the ECF this year. look at the Pistons Bad Boys teams. defense wins championships is not a myth. it's reality in the NBA.
What good is defense, if you can't score . I am tired of seeing defense as the only thing keeping the rockets in games. They need MUCH better offense and only a slightly less defensive mindset.......that will yield a balance the roxs need to compete in the west. Are you not tired of seeing yao and tmac double and tripple teamed to death b/c the inept teammates are not able to throw it into the ocean Did you all not see the NBA Playoffs record for having only 4 players scoring during the j*zz series WE need O How do you build O , with youth and athleticism. We all know how jvg felt about rookies, that's right. vspan=t.parker in 3 yrs under adelman *puts flame suit on*
and those Celtics and Lakers teams stopped winning titles that way.....20 years ago. 1988. 1989 was the first year of the Bad Boys Pistons titles. the NBA hasn't been the same since.
I agree, but it is heading that way again with all the hand check rules, well....at least once they start calling it in the playoffs like they do the regular season. DD
