ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Sixers 1/12/2013

That's not about the 4 only... You want guys to practice their midrange game and Freethrow shooting

 

They need to get rid of Marcus Morris! He sux! It's like 4 on 5 there with Morris in the lineup.

 

high altitude works in favor of those in the mountains

 

There are others. Tony Parker for example look at his numbers. 35% from 3 in 2010, 23% last season & 43% this season.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parketo01.html


Lin's shooting is poor but the types of shots he is taking this season in comparison to last season are very very different. In fact the types of shots he is taking this season are similar to the shots he was taking in GSW as a rookie in the few times he hardly played. Spot ups & we are seeing the same mediocre results.

Honestly this off season if he came back exactly the same player just with a better shot & a more well rounded shot I would be ecstatic. He needs to work EXCLUSIVELY on his shooting. And he needs to get a better shooting coach. Some guys are just born great shooters Lin isn't one of them. But he doesn't need to be great just needs to be good enough to keep the D honest.

 

therein lies the problem. imo the rockets have constructed a one dimensional team.

as a "superstar" harden needs to develop a better all around game. namely he needs to get points by shooting the ball and not just driving. when the paint is packed, he isnt like kobe where he can just shoot over you and dominate. he almost relies on driving and drawing the foul. great if the refs make the call like early on this season. recently not so much. shooting never goes out of style. harden simply needs to do more of this. he WONT keep on getting the calls so he needs a plan b...

having said that, if harden our superstar has a more mid range game, then the rest of the offense can be more mid range as well. more post plays and more working inside out. imo shooting tons of 3s is not a winning formula in the long run. the math on why a 3 pt shot is more efficient is predicated, assumed that you shoot at least league average right? well that takes out the human factor. basketball is played on the court, not on a spreadsheet....

 

I agree with this. i think there has to be a good balance between the two. I feel the run n gun offense that is heavily reliant on 3's requires the team to be hot all the time. Thats why i think its difficult to go win too many play off series. The coaching staff (which I think have done a good job so far considering the young and inexperienced set of players they have) need to incorporate more PnR plays that can provide high % in basket makes. I know the houston Centers and PF are not strong on there pick n roll as well as post ups, but our coach will need to provide more trust to these guys. They are young and have good potential. They will improve. This in turn will actually help James and Jeremy since this will give them more option in running the offense.

 

What is he supposed to say?

In the past when he said the team was looking to upgrade, the Rockets did not play well as a number of players were concerned with whether they would be dealt. Further, look at how Martin played after the Gasol deal fell through.

Morey is very bright. He learns from his mistakes and will keep his mouth shut. He wants the team to do as well as possible, and behind the scenes he will try to make a move for a stud 1,4 or 5. A number of insiders already are saying the Rockets will be very active.

 

the most ironic part of all this is mchale was a post player. perhaps he is pressured to play small ball/run n gun by morey?

 

the rockets need to run more pick n roll with asik, paterson , smith , anybody.

 

again, asik is not a threat off the pick. he cant shoot and isnt athletic enough to get to the rim and dominate. smith also cant shoot but he is athletic, however nobody lets him touch the ball.

 

This season Lin just needs to start taking more mid-range shots right now and if it's a 50/50 decision underneath the basket, take the shot rather than dropping it off to Asik in the paint. He needs to see himself as the 2nd option and if the team is in a slump and Harden is being denied he needs to call for the screen and take the shot.

It's obvious the scouting report on the Rockets is out because opponents have really been stuffing the paint, and as we've seen in this game shading Harden.

We're playing moneyball and we've got no good 3-point shooters outside of Harden, Delfino and Douglas - one of them is meant to be our star player not a spot-up shooter, one is streaky and sometimes tries too much to be a PG and the other is run as a PG more than he should be playing the off-guard.

 

Thank you for the article. Been drooling for a better 4. Hopefully this works out.

 

He's pressured to small ball run n gun because that's the main advantage we have over other teams at this point. Youth and speed. It also helps to minimize our weaknesses - inexperience. After we gain chemistry and familiarity, we can start to incorporate more complex plays.

 

He might as well come out and say they're looking to upgrade at the 4, maybe it'll spark our PFs? I don't see how they could get any worse really

Haven't those insiders said the Rockets' are set at the 1,2, and 5?
Even so, why would he try to upgrade at the 1 with a ~stud? Who would it be and how would it improve the offense this team runs? The soft bigs and lack of screens are still there.
If anything they should downgrade and just get some 3pt spot up shooter like Derek Fisher. He's available.
But it won't happen. I think like you said Morey is very smart and is aware of the need of a good PF and is working on it behind the scenes. With a good 4 you already upgrade there and at the 1 because Jeremy needs someone he can run the PnR with like he did in NY, it's his bread and butter. His shot will also come eventually. In fact I already see improvements, he hasn't airballed a shot since the NY game.

 

Atleast that's what I'm hoping is the situation- instead of "Mchale has no playbook"

 

Hard to touch the ball when you hardly get any playing time
Smith also has great hands and always gives us great minutes, not sure why he's been getting so little minutes.
Maybe McHale is saving him for the playoffs?

 

Or perhaps Jason Terry! He is just as equally despised here.

 

a pick and pop with patterson or morris. but no ..where is T.jones anyways..

 

rockets need a big who can pick n pop from outside to open up lanes. where is D-mo. try him.

 

In other news, Chalmers is 10/13 3pt FG tonight...