ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 2/21/2004

I'm going to take a different approach on the ZONE:

I WANT more teams to start playing zone against Yao and the Rockets.

More importantly, I want them playing a zone with ENERGY... and HUSTLE... and it doesn't matter if its the Lakers with Shaq, or Memphis with Lorenzen Wright... I want their big men fronting, surrounding, frustrating and eliminating Yao from the game.

Why?

Because, the way the Rockets currently play, they will LOSE that game EACH AND EVERY TIME... and, just by repitition, they will SOMEDAY find a way to beat it.

The way the current NBA is...

1. You have bad teams who try and play zone, but they're just so bad that it doesn't matter (Wizards, Hawks).
2. Teams with pretty good on the ball defenders, thus they play solely man-to-man defense (Rockets, Lakers, Spurs)
3. You have good teams (talent wise ) with average/bad one-on-one defenders, thus when the matchups don't favor them, they play zone. (Dallas, Indiana, Minnesota, Memphis).

I truly wish the Rockets see more and more of this PAPER defense, because its just a matter of time before they figure it out.

They've figured out the halfcourt game against the traditional defenses (see Lakers game, and 1st quarter of today's game), as they'll gladly pass it into Yao every time.

Now, they need to master the zone offense before the playoffs. The only way for that to happen is to face more teams, and FAIL...and hopefully...LEARN.

 

i did watch the game; but am just pissed and had to vent. What i dont understand is how hard it could be to pass. Yao was posted up and u just give him the ball. NOt passing to him has me leading to belive the guards are just plain ball hogs. He was doubled teams at times to but when he could of got the ball he didnt get it.

 

So, do you think the Francis can learn? No really...honest question.

Should we give him 2 or 3 more years? I mean, he IS our "best" player, right? Or is he just our "role" player?

Watchig this team struggle is sicking...It's the same as always. Low assist, high turnovers. Just like the last 4-5 years.

I say we make a move for T-Mac and get a true PG in the off-season. I have little confidence that this team will change very much over the next 2-3 years unless SF gets smart, or Yao becomes a beast.

 

It's amazing to see Houston struggle against the worst defensive teams like this.

 

Yes, based on the way this team now plays against the traditional post defense... I DO think he can learn.

The difference between the offense this year and last year is SUBSTANTIAL... and, as I said before, Steve now HAPPILY passes the ball down to Yao EVERY TIME when they play traditional defense.

The problem is, the Rockets just don't face enough zones to get good at it. Its not like they can devote valuable practice time to try and beat something they only see about 20% of the time... and even then, they can beat half of those teams because they're just not that good.

That's why I said I wished they played more teams that use the zone. Eventually, the guards will "get it", and they'll succeed.

You HAVE to admit that this team has made progress in the half-court set against traditional defenses... they get good shots every time, and Yao normally thrives.

The more exposure they get to the zone (as in a playoff series), the better they'll actually get against that as well.

 

They were not trying to get stats. We were desperate to score.

Tonight..I don't blame Mobley for jacking up 3's. And he wasn't really jacking them up. He was shooting them whenever he was open. He was the only one besides Jimmy making shots. Mobley passed as well. He did all he could.

Steve was not jacking up shots or caring about stats. He was taking good shots...none of htem went in unfortunately. He just doesn't know how to break down the zone.

They shot a lot because they couldn't get it inside to Yao or Mo because of the zone defense..they just don't know how to play against the zone...

Mavericks are just better right now.

I loved the first quarter..16 point lead. That was wonderful..too bad we lost it.

Good game I guess.

 

Most of the fast break is the result of the 3 point brick which there is no way for Yao and the rest of the team to come back.

 

Hey stevie, KISS ALL THE FAN'S ASSES....YOU SUCK, you'll never be an nba point guard,or even a shooting guard, go to the playgrounds, you'd be a superstar there....take your butt buddy mobley with you...

 

So how frustrated was Yao this game? I've never seen him run down court and just bowl someone over like that before. Najera was probably slapping and grabbing and elbowing Yao every chance he got.

 

I've got a feeling Yao, and the rest of the rockets will be taking out those frustrations on Atlanta tomorrow.

 

I too see changes in the offensive and defensive philosophy. Yes, that is true. JVG has added a lot of good changes. But he can only go so far as the talent and intelligence he has on his team. If his best player has a hard time adapting, then we have a problem.

And we'll always have one.

Francis doing what JVG tells him to do is a lot different than understanding why he's doing those things. Because Francis has an inability to learn at a decent rate, he has turned into a robot. And robots are good for role players, not "max contract super stars."

It's funny that when Yao is doubled and tripped we always seem to struggle. The smart teams know how to beat us. They say, "The guards have to beat us, not Yao."

 

In here lies the truth and JVG couldnt see it happening time after time. JVG or his team of Assistants couldnt see just what the Rockets were doing to themselves by trying to beat Dallas at their own Game. Rockets played well when they played their own game in the Half-Court and when they involved Yao Ming.
The reasons why there must be changes in the offseason were made clear during this contest.

 

That is dead on. It was only a matter of time before that style of play came back to bite the rockets in the ass.

 

I think his shooting percentage went back below 40%. lol

 

Yetti, the Mavs, or any team that plays zone, will not let Yao beat them until the guards can prove they can shoot at a consistent rate without turnovers and bad ball movement.

You just don't automatically "get a win" by playing "half-court." We have bigger problems than that.

Even when we do play half-court (Yao), they deny the ball to him by double and tripping teaming him.

 

I cannot stand Mobley, he is an idiot. Likewise for Francis. Too bad the trade deadline has passed. Yao Ming is an awesome player but he can't help the team if our guards can't get him the freakin ball!!!!

 

I'm glad Nick is adding some sensibility in here. Mobley and Francis did all they could, and to say they were playing for stats just reveals stupidity. They gladly give Yao the ball in a traditional defensive set. One way or another, we have to figure out a way to beat this zone defense, and that's the bottom line.

 

This is only partially true. You must remember that our Guards are not good passers and dont have a history of being so.There were many times that Yao Ming was ignored where it wasnt the strong defence of the Mavs. Our Guards are not suited to playing the Big Mans Game. I guess we have to put up with it for at least 28 games more!

 

haha Carmelo went 3 for 20 from the field. At least Mobley wasn't that bad.