Feigen with an article stating what most of us probably could guess based upon the people we've drafted and the injury situation we're facing : we're going to run. Morey makes some comments that are interesting about Ariza, draft selections, and the future of this team's offense. Again, much of it stuff the board has seen happening, but it's nice to get it straight from the source a well. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6526199.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- Working to put a plan in motion With most of their scoring departed, Rockets look to fast break for offense By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle July 12, 2009, 10:48PM LAS VEGAS — The Mavericks' Luke Jackson tried to flip a drive in over Joey Dorsey, but his shot caromed off the rim, and the Rockets were off. Dorsey grabbed the rebound and sent an outlet to Will Conroy, who quickly veered to the center of the court, looked to his left and sent a pass to a flying James White on his right. White attacked the basket as if he were in another dunk contest, finishing his slam as he soared past the rim. It was just what the retooled Rockets want to do in the summer league and especially next season. It was also their first fast-break basket of the game Saturday, offering an early look that making the change work won't be as easy as coming up with the idea. “We can do it, but you have to have the talent to succeed at it,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said of the reconfigured Rockets' determination to be more up-tempo. “We have to have some success doing it. That's what we have to find out. We're missing a ton of points. Guys are going to have to play hard. They're going to have to push it. We're going to have to attack teams early.” The Rockets' summer- league team was on its way to its third win in as many days, a 79-65 victory over the Timberwolves on Sunday, but Adelman's thoughts moved from the players joining the team to the ones missing. He thought of the offense he had grown accustomed to getting from Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, even from Ron Artest and Von Wafer, and the void they will leave. He believes Trevor Ariza will pick up some of the slack, with the ability to carry more of a load than the Lakers asked last season. Rookies get the idea He likes some of the promise of the rookies, with Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor combining for 22 points, and White having his best summer league game offensively, scoring 14 points off the bench in Sunday's win. But to replace all that will be missing, he knows the Rockets will have to rely on a greater emphasis on fast-break scoring and more of a motion offense. “We're going to have to do that,” Adelman said. “It's going to take guys who have been complementary players to step up and be better than that. They have to do more than complement Yao or Tracy. “We have to find ways for those guys to get better. Pushing the ball and giving them room on the floor to do things makes it easier for them. If you have better ball movement, better player movement, it gives them room to attack. “We can't replace Yao. We're missing Yao, Tracy, Ron and Von; that's four of our top seven scorers. We have to find someone else to step in there. “I think Trevor is a case in point. We know what he did for the Lakers. He ran the floor and was a spot-up shooter. We're hoping he can do more with the ball. He plays hard. He passes and cuts and moves and attacks. We have to give him more chances to do that to expand his game. He fits the way we want to play.” Ariza is in many ways the prototype of the ways the Rockets want to change. This is not just because of Yao's loss. “All our acquisitions, if you trace them, especially in the last two years, have been anticipating being a more up-tempo team,” general manager Daryl Morey said. “We anticipated our second team to do that. It just happens now that it is probably going to be our first team next year. We wanted players who could play in transition, and also work in the half court with Yao. Our acquisitions have been pretty consistent — more athleticism, play in transition, defensive-minded, attack the hoop.” Wanted: Mobile center He would like the next acquisition, likely for someone to play in the middle while Yao can't, to have the same qualities, though he might have to take what he can get. “I'm not sure we're going to be able to be picky at the center spot,” Morey said. “We're going to have our wish list of what we want at center, and then we're going to have to make tradeoffs. We're not going to get everything we want.” That has been obvious. But the summer league has brought a reminder they know what they want to do, and they want to do it on the run.
That's not a bad way to build a team if you don't have star talent. Or rebuild a team as the case may be. If this team can defend and get out on the break for easy scores, they can really surprise some people next year.
This trade will help for 2010-2011 Rockets trade Tracy McGrady, Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Jermaine Taylor, and 2010 1st round pick to Suns for Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa, and Jason Richardson. Rockets trade Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, and Chase Budinger to the Blazers for Rudy Fernandez and Joel Przybilla. Starters: (minutes per gme) PF - Stoudemire (35mpg) SF - Ariza (34mpg) C - Yao (32mpg) SG - Richardson (32mpg) PG - Lowry (25mpg) Bench: PG/SG - Barbosa (25mpg) SG/SF - Fernandez (28mpg) PF - Dorsey (13mpg) C - Przybila (16mpg)
“We can't replace Yao. We're missing Yao, Tracy, Ron and Von; that's four of our top seven scorers. We have to find someone else to step in there." I know Yao is injured. T-Mac is recovering and December seems to be his return date. Ron Artest has joined the Los Angeles Lakers. But what Von Wafer? I mean, can't the team spare him a roster spot? The guys I'd like to see back are Carl Landry Von Wafer Luis Scola Aaron Brooks I know the others are iffy.... C'mon...Von Wafer deserves a roster spot.
How much more does Jason Richardson have to lose before people start realizing he doesn't contribute to wins? How much more of a Shareef Abdur Rahim does he have to become?
At least this will allow Adelman to play to his strengths as a coach and truly model the team after the style of play that he has proven success with. It was incredibly frustrating last year when the movement (both ball and player) stagnated, and we wasted so much time off the shot clock just to jack up a shot. If he can get the players to buy into his system, I think they'll surprise people this year! At least, I'm sure hoping so!
This is the year that AB shows he's a good starting PG. Not because of last seasons playoff performance but cause this style of play is going to suit his skill set to a T. He'll have good shooters with good hands on the perimeter and big men that can run with him down court. Too bad no one can keep up. It'll be his 3rd year and everyone shows what they really have learned in that year so I gaurantee he'll have the best season this upcoming one and will be a beast. Write it down, take a picture, whatever you gotta do, he'll come into his own next year.
Out of the box maybe but what's wrong with an immobile center (who is effective in the half-court offense). Easy scores save him trips up and down the court and bumps and grinds when he gets there. If we don't get an early score, he (Yao) can lope into position and run some offense. I think that is how Kareem lasted so long in the league...
This article is why I think Emeka Okafor would be ideal in this system. I dont watch many Bobcat games but just from what I've seen when they play the Rockets it seems he is stuck in a half court game but imagine a fast break of Brooks and Ariza leading the way with Okafor and Scola the trailers? Okafor would flourish in Adelman's system as he is a great defensive player who can atleast pass decently enough and can run the floor. I know he is overpaid but if the Rox are going to move away now from a half court game to more of an wide open style they need athletic bigs and this is the kinda guy we can start with.
