[Chron] Solomon: Rockets will score more under Adelman

Are you forgetting Rafer?

DD

 

i actually think that luther can get to the hole b/c he has a great quick 1st step. But it seems when he goes from a dribble to a layup...somewhere in that transition he just seems off with his steps, timing...something, i dont know.

 

--Being one of the best finishers on our team isn't all that special.
--He threw down twice last year. For whatever reason, he's not an effective in game leaper.
--Moochie Norris was also good at coming off those baseline screens.

I like Lutha, but in terms of being a good finisher...he's pretty mediocre.

 

*chuckle*snicker*grin*

YAO'S TEAM!! not T-MAC's!

just kidding . . . .but the focus seems like it will be alot of YAO

Rocket River
just starting up mess .. . lol

 

I haven't seen enough dunks from Luther to comment on them. (and I watched at least 95% of the games, frequently replaying parts to see a play again) I remember one spectacular one, and not much else. And he wasn't asked to finish around the basket much while he was in, as best I can remember. What I think Luther can do, that JVG didn't take advantage of, IMO, is be an excellent mid-range shooter. He has to have plays run for him, or be an option within a play to get the chance to shoot mid-range jumpers, but I think he's a lot better at that than some people realize. I'm hoping Adelman, if Head is still here, uses him that way sometimes, instead of just parking him at the 3 point line.

edit: NIKEstrad beat my post, dammit!

 

you got me there, i am forgetting rafer. it's basically a toss-up though.

seriously have you ever seen two guards that bad at finishing plays on the same team?

 

luther finishes layups from yao because there is no one around him. like nikestrad said, moochie could finish those plays.

i know luther had hops in college, probably still does now, but he doesn't use any ounce of athleticism for 99.9% of the minutes he plays. what pisses me off about those dunks is it makes me think he's capable of being a good finisher but he's not. he can't finish in traffic and if there's a defender in the lane he has almost no chance. we'll see if he gets better, he's certainly young.

 

Even though he isn't a guard, don't forget we also have Chuck.

 

that's true

how do you figure. He's not Kobe Bryant out there, but he does what he can with his size. the problem is lack of opportunity.

I'd make layups, too, if I was open. The point is, Luther made that cut more than pretty much anyone on the team. More than Rafer, more than Tracy, more than Shane.

Relative to the rest of the players on our team, he's shown a tendency and desire to play like that.

Well, we've got him and Snyder. He's no Tracy McGrady around the rim, but he's a lot better than Rafer or Battier.

I understand everyone's point here. But it could be system as much as anything. He's shown he CAN throw down some pretty nasty dunks (2 this year - against Lakers and Mavs), and he's shown he is good cutting off screens.

But he's had little opportunity to do either, because his role was to hit the open 3 pointer and that's basically all JVG wanted him doing.

He's not great at finishing in traffic, but then, who is better in traffic than wide open? No one. The great players can finish in traffic - Kobe, McGrady, Lebron.

My point is I think he would adapt really well to a system that gets him open more often, with more seams in the traffic. I can't see Rafer excelling at that.

 

thats not a fair statement.

regardless, cutting is great...but the guys the rockets have arent great, good or even average. Overall, as a team, its below average ability

 

Part of the lack of opportunity is he can't dribble. Dunks made up 1% of his shot attempts...for Kirk Snyder, it was 9%. He shot 54% on "inside" shots...which isn't bad, but it's not much more than mediocre.

Herein lies the rub.

Battier shot 54.5% on inside shots. He's a lot like Battier. Rafer, I won't argue.

Maybe. I think Luther's got serious issues with his ball handling and decision making that you can't have in a system like that.

 

Agreed. What an a**hole. And to think, folks here complain about stuff Justice writes...

 

No, Rafer is worse. I never see a player airball so many layups at NBA level. My god. He is just aweful.

 

If he is shooting 44% from downtown, why would you WANT him to take it inside. He would have to shoot 66% on mid-range jumpers to match that efficiency. I wish we we had that 2.2 3pts per game on 44% shooting from him in the playoffs.

 

5 years into his career is enough to prove he can not dominate low post consistently. it's time to accept that and move on. Yao's production may drop by mixing it up instead of playing the low post exclusively, but it's for the betterment of the team, i'm all for it.

 

bullsh!t. yao improved from year to year then turned the cornter and put together a totally dominant stretch from the second half of last season to the beginning of this one until he got hurt. it wasn't a week of domination, it was months. he came back and he was inconsistent again but it's not because he was uncapable. let him rest and heal up and he'll prove his dominance again.

 

"I'm for playing for a good coach," Battier said. "He'll be looking at our personnel and tailor a system to give us the best chance to win. That's what good coaches do."

Maybe perhaps an inditement on Gundy?

It's about finding open players and taking open shots. Movement is encouraged.

"To think that Yao Ming can't do anything on the basketball court is lopsided," Carril said. "The opinion of the people down there is he is a low-post center and that's all he can do. I don't think that's the case."

Music to my ears. At last someone with enough of a brain to realize Yoa aint Shaq. He is way more versitale. Take advantage of his strengths move him around so D's have to adjust to him not the other way around.

Brace yourselves its coming.

#1) Ming at the elbow or top of the key zipping passes to a cutting T Mac, Snyder, Hayes, Battier and Head for easy layups.

#2) Ming dominating the low post at the end of games because he isnt tired from doing it the WHOLE GAME.

#3) TMac getting open shots because of movement instead of trying to take guys 1 on 1 and shooting tough jump shots.

#4) This one is a big one. Our PG's game improving tenfold. Look at what Bibby did when Adelman was there verses after he left.


I didnt want Gundy to begin with but he grew on me. He fullfilled his part of the procces and did a good job. The things he instilled in our players will stay with them and become part of who we are as a team. Now its time to move forward and take the next step. You may have really liked Gundy but its over with. Its time to support our team and our new head coach. Go Adelman!!!!!!! Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I think if a player can shoot from different spots on the court, effectively, it makes him less predictable and harder to defend. If Head goes into a slump from Downtown, which happened at times this season, it would be nice if we could get points from him in different ways. You disagree?

 

Am I the only one that thinks Yao will lead centers in assists next season?

 

yes u are. yao will avg 2-3 assists. until adelman sees yao can pass and hold the ball w/o turnovers, he won't give yao a lot of responsibiilty other than to score.

its all fine and dandy for adelman to talk about using yao like vlade/miller, but i need to see his TOs drop.