[chron]Scouting report: Dwight Howard makes Rockets better across the board

All I read from this is SHOULD, COULD and other words are that are not concrete and are ways reporters create articles out of basic information on the team and add some theories that come across to the readers as fact but it is basically all bs fluff.

"Playmaking
Though the Rockets ranked 10th in assists per field goal made last season, they were probably a better passing team than that would indicate, having produced the second-ranked scoring offense in the NBA. They expect to be better. James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverley give them three strong passing guards, and Chandler Parsons is expected to be more of a playmaker this season. But the improvement could come from Dwight Howard’s being a better finisher than Omer Asik, who averaged in double figures last season, and from Howard’s drawing double teams.

Rebounding
Dwight Howard and Omer Asik were first and second in total rebounds last season, so the Rockets should be fine on the boards, especially on the defensive end. They were second in defensive rebounding percentage last season, and having Asik or Howard on the floor at all times should make them even stronger. But for a team that was so strong on the defensive boards, the Rockets were a poor offensive rebounding team. Even the addition of Howard might not change that too much, unless he and Asik get significant playing time together.

Half-court offense
James Harden running the pick-and-roll was one of the best half-court options in the NBA, but the Rockets should benefit greatly from having Dwight Howard inside as a scorer and as a threat drawing defenders away from their shooters. Less clear is how well the half-court offense will operate if Kevin McHale opts to play Howard and Omer Asik together in a frontcourt, compromising some of the spacing that was a key to their half-court offense last season.

Fast-break offense
The second-leading scoring team on the break last season, the Rockets have shown no signs of slowing with the addition of Dwight Howard, who has seemed happy to trigger breaks and keep up. They could have more chances to run with the NBA cracking down on teams’ delaying the game after made baskets and with Patrick Beverley and Jeremy Lin likely to often play together.

Depth
The Rockets are deep at the toughest positions to have quality off the bench — point guard and center — and seem solid on the wings with Francisco Garcia and Omri Casspi, particularly if Casspi continues his encouraging play as a range-shooting power forward. But a big key to the Rockets’ overall depth could be whether they answer their ongoing questions at power forward with Donatas Motiejunas and Terrence Jones.

Leadership
Dwight Howard and James Harden arrived at camp determined to show leadership, with Harden seeking to be more outspoken. Howard and Harden have been to the Finals and are respected players, but in many ways, this team takes its cues from Chandler Parsons’ determination. Francisco Garcia has also brought veteran leadership welcome on a young team.

Defense
The Rockets have been a strange team defensively, outstanding in the half court with their starters on the floor and horrible in transition. They expect to be even better in the half court this season, having altered the defense to better defend corner 3s and no longer having Omer Asik as the only reliable big man. The key will be to improve in transition, where only five teams — all lottery teams — allowed more fast-break points last season.

Coaching
The Rockets expected to take at least one loss to the coaching staff, with Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff candidates for head coaching jobs. But both are back on Kevin McHale’s staff along with Dean Cooper, Chris Finch and Greg
Buckner. The Rockets should benefit from the continuity. In his third season as Rockets coach, McHale has seemed more in command and comfortable with his style and philosophies now in place. "

I hate this kind of journalism.

 

You hate previews? You hate editorials? Of course this fluff, but it is an opinion with analysis that seems obvious. If you want to stay away from this kind of "journalism", what the heck are you doing on fan forum?

tinman, this was a fun read.

 

Water is wet

 

How much wood
WOULD a woodchuck chuck,
IF a woodchuck
COULD chuck wood?
As much wood
As a woodchuck WOULD,
IF a woodchuck
COULD chuck wood.

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