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[Basketball Prospectus] Rockets New Formula for Winning

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Kruze10, Dec 27, 2010.

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  1. Kruze10

    Kruze10 Member

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    Trending team: Houston Rockets winning with offense
    Last week, Insider's John Hollinger took a look at how resurgent play from Kyle Lowry and the resulting benefit to Kevin Martin has helped the Rockets get back in the playoff race after a poor start to the season. What is worth noting is that Houston was hardly dismal on the offensive end even early in the season, when a leaky defense was costing Houston wins. As a result, the step forward Houston has taken on offense has made the team one of the most potent attacks in the league.


    Through the end of November, the Rockets were averaging 0.6 points per 100 possessions fewer than their opponents typically allowed, making them a slightly below-average offense. In December, Houston has scored 6.0 points better than their opponents' average per 100 possessions. Only the San Antonio Spurs have an offensive rating so much higher than league average over the course of the season.

    Even averaging their slower start with their stronger recent play, the Rockets rank eighth in the NBA with an offensive rating of 111.5 points per 100 possessions. The last time Houston was one of the league's 10 best offenses was 2000-01, when Steve Francis led a young core that placed the Rockets sixth in the NBA in offensive rating. Under Jeff Van Gundy, who arrived in Clutch City two years later, and current coach Rick Adelman, Houston has won almost entirely with defense. The Rockets' best offensive team of the past decade was the 2006-07 squad, which was slightly better than average. The Houston team that won 55 games and a playoff series in 2007-08 ranked 17th in the league in offensive rating. So if the Rockets are to return to the postseason after a one-year absence, they'll do so with an entirely different formula for winning basketball.

    - Kevin Pelton

    Link

    I would've thought last year's team was one of the Rockets better offensive teams of the past decade.

    Guess Ariza was worse than we thought... bam! Said it!
     
    #1 Kruze10, Dec 27, 2010
  2. YaoMingsSoulja

    YaoMingsSoulja Member

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    Oooo HE SAID IT! I concur :cool:
     
    #2 YaoMingsSoulja, Dec 27, 2010
  3. waytookrzy079

    waytookrzy079 Member

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    Yup! We dont have a dude throwin up bricks after bricks... oh wait.. we still have C-Bud lol
     
    #3 waytookrzy079, Dec 27, 2010
  4. Tfj4

    Tfj4 Member

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    Unfortunately we allow a 104.1 points per game, 24th worst in the league. Negates the great offense...
     
    #4 Tfj4, Dec 27, 2010
  5. Prince

    Prince Member

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    so the new formula was scoring more? ;)
     
    #5 Prince, Dec 27, 2010
  6. dobro1229

    dobro1229 Member

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    That formula can get you a few wins during the regular season, but the playoffs are a whole other ball game, and those games are won on the defensive end with a player who can put the team on his back on the offensive end and score on excellent half court defensive teams. And we wonder why a Rick Adelman coached team has never won a title.
     
    #6 dobro1229, Dec 27, 2010
  7. rockets4llday

    rockets4llday Member

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    Not much of a winning strategy
     
    #7 rockets4llday, Dec 27, 2010
  8. waytookrzy079

    waytookrzy079 Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #8 waytookrzy079, Dec 27, 2010
  9. Kruze10

    Kruze10 Member

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    Making fun of Ariza is one thing, but talking about C-Bud? That's crossing the line.
     
    #9 Kruze10, Dec 27, 2010
  10. delta69er

    delta69er Member

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    Well at least the shots bud throws up are off of passes and are decent looks. Ariza, however, thought he was Kobe and was shooting fadeaways, stepbacks, and all sorts of things you don't want to see a role player doing in a any league, or shoot even a pick-up game (don't yall hate those guys who suck but still shoots alot hahaha).

    Lastly, hollinger shows us alot of love, the anti-barkeley/rest of the sports media minus houston sports medias
     
    #10 delta69er, Dec 27, 2010
  11. Spacemoth

    Spacemoth Member

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    I would think the people with the actual keys to the offense last year would be bigger culprits.

    (Aaron Brooks 2009-2010 TS% 54.9% Off Rating 108, Def Rating 112)

    A.k.a. dribbling up to the three point line and shooting threes straight off still ain't efficient no matter how cool it makes you feel. There's still no replacement for running an actual offense while minimizing turnovers.
     
    #11 Spacemoth, Dec 27, 2010
  12. choujie

    choujie Member

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    You are mistaken if you think Ariza was the sole reason Rockets didn't have elite offense. There are many reasons, for example Chuck has improved offensively, Battier/Martin becomes healthy again, Lowry makes all starters look better etc.
     
    #12 choujie, Dec 27, 2010
  13. houstonhoya

    houstonhoya Member

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    what the author claims is that the defense was negating the great offense at the beginning of the season to the point where we were losing more games. he suggests that now, even greater offense has had the ability to win the games we were losing, despite the consistently poor defense. not really the best way to go about winning games, but i think it works for now.
     
    #13 houstonhoya, Dec 27, 2010
  14. choujie

    choujie Member

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    Rockets are playing way better defense nowadays.

    Martin and AB are making better effort at defending. That's a great sign.
     
    #14 choujie, Dec 27, 2010
  15. lean

    lean Member

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    Hey, I don't care what they say about formula this or rankins that, as long as they're writing about us winning.
     
    #15 lean, Dec 27, 2010
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