<i>Set in motion Players rally around Rockets' new offense By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle AUSTIN -- Frustrated by all the time and ink he wasted as last season limped to its end, Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said there were "about 1,000" schemes he had drawn but could not use. He had an unlimited supply of X's and O's but not enough healthy bodies to bring them to life. But now the Rockets have healthy bodies, and Tomjanovich can chose any of the ideas that last season he had to keep on paper. He knew just where to start. "I was really happy to get the first options of this five-man (offense) in," Tomjanovich said. "I was saying, `Should we wait? Should we wait?' But I decided, `Why wait anymore?' " By the time Wednesday's first practice ended, the Rockets were running through a "five-man offense," and loving it. No one had to stand motionless at the 3-point arc, hoping a pass might find him out there. No one pounded the ball in a dribble far from his teammates. "I think it's a big plus for the team to have a motion offense," forward Glen Rice said. "When we do the stand-still thing -- well, look at the record. It just hasn't been good at all. Change is good." Not everything will change. The Rockets still will run their "pet plays," Tomjanovich said. Even in the "five-man offense," the defense can trigger options that include isolations and pick and rolls. The Rockets likely will still hope to take advantage of the ability of point guards Steve Francis and Moochie Norris to penetrate and pass. But no team is as wedded to a similar offense as much as the New Jersey Nets, and they still create plenty of opportunities for Jason Kidd to create off the dribble in their offense. "I think it's the best thing for us," Francis said. "For three years, we've been basically stomping ourselves in the foot trying to do one-man things. I really don't think it works. I think continuity in our offense means not only getting our good players shots, but a lot of players shots. "It's good for me. Regardless of the offense, I'll be able to contribute." In other ways, a movement toward motion should fit the Rockets' personnel well. The cuts might make it difficult for teams to sag into the sort of zones allowed by last season's rule changes that shut off much of Cuttino Mobley's and Francis' ability to beat opponents off the dribble. It might make Kenny Thomas more dangerous as a small forward, without asking him to be a catch-and-shoot 3-point threat as past Rockets small forwards have been. And it could allow players from any position chances to post-up. Guards will set screens for cutting big men, forcing teams to choose between mismatches. The Utah Jazz has set similar screens for years. But the Jazz's set up outside shots, while the Rockets' would send players toward the basket. Unlike an "execution offense" in which the lines are drawn and are to be followed, the "five-man offense" is built around recognition. Every player must be able to set and use screens and to catch passes on the move. "It's great," Mobley said. "We're moving on offense. It's hard to guard. When we start working it a lot, playing with it a lot, it will be a lot smoother with it. This is great. Now I'm catching people on the move. They can't double as fast. It's a lot better for me. You can't zone up on this one, and I can get into the seams." The change is not, however, designed with Yao Ming in mind. It was planned long before the Rockets had a chance to choose a 7-foot-5 center with varied offensive skills. But as long as he'll be joining them, Tomjanovich said the style should fit Yao's talents. The Sacramento Kings use the passing talents of their big men, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, to trigger much of their offense. The Rockets signed Steve Goodrich for training camp in part for his ability to run the offense for Princeton and the Nets. "I was going to put this in last year," Tomjanovich said, "but good basketball players can play in it. It will help (Yao's) passing. "I think the guy fits in everything. I think he fits in post-up stuff. I think he fits in movement stuff because he can pass. He has a good feel for the game, so whatever we put in, he will fit in." But the idea is that any player can benefit -- from the penetrators, to passing big men to shooters -- because eventually, they can be in the position to do what they do best. The movement in the Rockets' offense, either ball or player movement, has usually begun after scorers get the ball. Other teams use movement to get their scorers the ball. The "five-man offense" could mix the styles, without asking shooters to shoot after standing still for 20 seconds. "If there is one thing I've always tried to get away from is being labeled as a standstill shooter," Rice said. "Throughout my career, I ran off screens. The difference is huge. Anytime you get movement, you're going to be fluid. It's going to be easier to be involved than just standing out there, waiting for the ball to be kicked out all the time." Tomjanovich said his players have not really seen all they can do in the offense, all that he had done with all those hours when he could only control pen and paper. "We only put in a couple (options), but I like what I saw," he said. "I was surprised we picked it up so quick. It's going to take weeks before we look smooth in it. You have to put in so many different options. But our guys love it. "Once we get all the counters in, I think we're going to get some good shots. But man, I'm happy." .............. Five benefits the Rockets gain from a five-man offense 1. Forces teams into mismatches, with big men often switching to defend swift Rockets guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. 2. Anyone can post up, allowing Glen Rice or Kenny Thomas to set up in the low blocks more often than past Rockets small forwards. 3. Takes advantage of the high-post passing talents of Yao Ming, Thomas and Maurice Taylor. 4. Spreads the scoring wealth and lets players feel involved without sacrificing spacing needed for Mobley and Francis' penetration. 5. Provides backdoor cuts to burn defenses overplaying passes to the Rockets' guards. </i>
Now this is what I like...more penetration...causing more fouls....giving us more advantage of that paint to score Hopefully no more of that dribbling crap by Mobley, Francis, and Moochie....
I hope this turns out to be true. Even if it doesn't work (I hope it does), it will be entertaining watching fluid ball instead of ISO after bloody ISO. Here's to the coming season.
I can see us two months into the season. Reporter: "Why is the team off to such a poor start? RudyT: " Well we have a lot of new players and we put in a new offense. It's going to take time."
Now that's what I'm talking about. We have the most balanced team in recent Rocket history, and an offense like this should maximize the skills of all the players. Last year, teams realized that Francis and Mobley were the only 2 guys who could burn them, so they keyed in on stopping those guys, especially in isolation situations. NBA players hate moving around on defense. They'd much rather have their man stan in one place so they can focus on stopping that one player. With a motion offense, we'll force the defnse to constantly be moving and adjusting. This causes confusion, and we can exploit that with our lightning quick gaurds and strong shooting big men. Now if we can only make sure that this motion offense includes passing the rock. I'm tired of being at the bottom of the league in assists.
I can't believe my eyes!!! Pete Carril (Princeton) was the master of the five-man offense! He was able to make average players better. The Rockets have the advantage of having players that HAVE natural talent. So, the five-man offense will only make them that much better! I remember talking about this a while back in my Rudy Bashing post. You guys, if you haven't seen Pete at Princeton, are in for a treat. I hope Steve Goodrich can help...we'll see if Rudy keeps the offense going the whole season. I never thought I see Princeton and Rockets in the same sentence! At least referring to a "Rocket Offense!" Man, cows can fly!
What you are implying is that the Rockets can't learn a new offense. If the Nets and Kings can do it, so can the Rockets. Besides, we know what an ISO offense can give us: Only 45 wins (two years ago). Plus, it's BORING and a WASTE of talent.
Speaking of being "treated", how about badly...as in by the SAC Kings where Carril has more recently been Adelman's assistant! I hope the Rox have what it takes mentally to get the cuts down correctly. Best news I've heard in awhile though.
Yes, I know he's the assistant for the Kings. That's why they play such a awesome brand of b-ball. And yep...they do take it out on the Rox! For one, we need to win ONE game in Florida...Miami and Orlando have had our numbers for the longest time. Heck, we can beat the Lakers and Spurs, but not the Magic and Heat.
If it's a waste of talent then why the heck have we been using it for three years? People have defended this iso crap by saying it played to Steve's and Cat's strengths and here what do we find out but Steve and Cat have been well suited to a motion offense the whole time. Well glory be... RudyT has been the proponent of "players score points, not offenses". Turns out that's not true or something, geez I hope Pat Riley is listening. I'm kind of annoyed that it's taken Rudy so long to install this offense he's been "thinking" about since around 2000.
When a good thing happens, one has two choices: 1) Be happy that it is happening; 2) Be negative about it and b**** that it has not happened much sooner. The latter approach is often chosen by people with a generally negative attitude. I am happy that Rudy is doing this...sounds great!!
The ISO offense worked when a.) Hakeem or Clyde was the ISO with good shooters for the double team pass, or b.) with SF and Cat when they were hot before the rules changes on the zone last year. It resulted in way too many 24 second violations and boring ass dribbling contests last year.
Timing... Waste of talent = One player, playing ISO, four players standing around watching Why have we been using it? Ask Rudy. I say, it's lazy coaching. That happens when you drink a lot. Sorry, had to say that. Your best players always end up getting the most points anyways. But, the five-man offense gives your other players a chance to score. It makes for a less predictable offense. And, if Rudy believes that "players score points, not offenses" then he should go back to the ISO only offense. Jordan got the ball all the time his first 5 years (ISOs only). He realized that he couldn't win a championship without sharing the ball; Paxton, Kerr, Pippen, Cartwright, Armstrong...etc (triangle offense).
Yeah, and the league made the zone changes BECAUSE of the ROCKETS. NO JOKE! Although AI/76ers used it. The Rockets were the KING of the ISO! The ISO wasn't eliminated because of the rule changes. It was eliminated in spite of them (the Rockets used the ISO so much that it caused the league to MAKE the rule change).
I do believe it's been unimaginative and lazy coaching and that is what's so frustrating. It's been a horra to watch frankly. I also don't buy the personnel argument some have made in the past. Nothing exposes weak shooters like Shandon Anderson more than an iso offense.
This is really great to hear. Props to Feigen for a nice X & Os-related article. Kenny at the 3 makes so much more sense in a motion offense. I hope he prospers this year and we keep him. I really hope the players can begin executing this thing in as little as two weeks. Anyone think Goodrich might make the team as a 12th man? An IR player to have for practices? And what does this say about Cato's future with the team? No disrespect to Kelvin who they say has been working hard, but he's one of the main "personnel" reasons we haven't been able to implement this sooner. There were flashes last year where he was able to make good on cuts to the basket, but the guy just doesn't have good hands, and that's a serious liability in a motion offense.
I don't respect Kelvin Cato's game,whatsoever. I don't respect anyone who has the God given ability, and for what ever reason doesn't put it to use. Go Yao Ming!!
