Just been thinking about the rockets great advantage of speed and playing a running game and whether that will be enough to win lots of games and in a few years time have a shot at winning the title. But when has a great speed advantage harnessed into a running game and lots of tranistion baskets actually resulted in a Title. If we look at the last 3 teams to win titles Bulls, Rockets and Lakers, all teams could run but there staple diet was a solid half court offense, The triangle in the lakers and bulls case and the dump it in offense for the rockets. All these teams could run and play transition ball but half court offense was there focus and the key. But equally important these three teams won their titles on the back of defense and rebounding. The Bulls, they had Jordan and Pip playing the lanes and creating enormous perimeter pressure and then had various big bodies to clod up the keyway (cartwright, longley, williams etc ) and then had good 1 on 1 post defenders in Grant and Rodman. Additionally they rebounded great Pip and MJ were sensational for guards and SF, Rodman was great and the rest all contributed on the boards which resulted in limited second shots and plenty of second scoring opportunities at the offensive end. The Rockets, they had Dream at his defensive prime, which was amazing and he also dominated on the boards at both ends, and his sensational defense also covered for anybody else's insufficiencies. Max was great on the perimeter and Drex played the lanes well. Horry's long arms was a great asset and Thorpe was a good stopper and rebounded well. The Lakers, they played great defense last year. Kobes and Harper are great on the perimeter, Horry and Green were solid and Shaq dominates the keyway making it hard for opposition post players, on the boards Shaq is a demon and Kobes boards great for a guard and everyone else contributes. Now if we looked at last years final particpants, all the teams that made it through to the conference finals rebound and defend well, these being, Laker, Indiana, Portland and the Knicks, and then add the Heat, Spurs, and Jazz to the picture and it appears clear if you want to get past the first round you need to board and defend well and have an offense that is focussed on half court execution as opposed to an offense dominted by a running game. Now i am not saying the rocket can't achieve success but it appears execution in the half court, rebounding and defense are the keys. Now the fans may say "ohhh who wants to watch boring half court basketball and defensive teams like the knicks play" but when is winning boring. Run and Gun might be flashy and exciting but the enjoyment is short lived and it also seems to ensure an early end to the season. But if we want to just play fast break ball we can expect to at best get bumped in the first round just like the Suns or Bucks, or we could end up like the warriors or nugs of the 80s. Also here in australia most teams have more extended preseason training, i find it quite bizarre that professionals team have a training camp for just ONE week and then get into games. Our bball teams have preseason for 2-3 months before starting games and our footy teams will start preseason soon even though the season doesn't start till March. So rocks get to work on the boards, shell drill for the defense and focus on a scoring from our half court offense and success will come to houston town soon. Smegs random thoughts ------------------ Discombobulation Imminent
As long as teams play defense, rebound and can score in the halfcourt when needed, any style of basketball can win. Running is no different. ------------------
If the Rockets are going to rely solely on a running game, then yes, they are going to be in trouble. The fast break is only a small part of the game. If I'm not mistaken, most fast breaks depend on lax defense on the part of the opposition or great defense on the part of the "running team". Every team needs to have a solid half court game. But I think the Rockets can have that, but not in the conventional way we are used to seeing(post up). Drive and dish drive and dish, free up those lanes for Stevie and Mobes to create. Rebounds are always important, esp on the defensive end. If the Rockets want to be a real running team, they need to rebound better and play awesome defense. The easiest fast breaks come as a result of steals. I just want to add: make freethrows. tank you very much. ------------------ There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, lies, and heypeeisms. -DrofDunkingDonuts
I think defense and rebounding are king, as well as having one dominant offesnive player who can take over when needed. The Celtics had Bird who could create his own shots (even though the fall away was an awkward shot) the old Laker shad Magic & Kareem, Detroit had Isiah, Bulls had MJ, Spurs had Duncan and Lakers had Kobe & Shaq. All in all you need to have an efficient ofense and a superstar that can step up when needed. ------------------
The thing is that the Rockets don't just play the running game 48 minutes a game. How can you if a team has a set defense? That is why the Rockets needed alot of picks from the big men. The Rockets score in the back court so naturally the offense is going to be a faster offense then the bigger Lakers, older Bulls, older Rockets. But with a young team with no dominant banger in the post (well that was until Mo Taylor signed) the easiest way to get baskets was to run a fast offense to get baskets before the Defense is set. ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
The thing is that the Rockets don't just play the running game 48 minutes a game. How can you if a team has a set defense? That is why the Rockets needed alot of picks from the big men. The Rockets score in the back court so naturally the offense is going to be a faster offense then the bigger Lakers, older Bulls, older Rockets. But with a young team with no dominant banger in the post (well that was until Mo Taylor signed) the easiest way to get baskets was to run a fast offense to get baskets before the Defense is set. ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
Seattle made it to the finals and were known for there speed and defense. You can only run in certain situations. Made baskets and free throws make it tough. That's why defense and rebounding are so important, because they ignite the running game. The Rockets can SAY they're going to run, but unless they get steals, block shots and rebound and outlet, it's not going to happen. Fortunately, the Rockets are a good rebounding team, and it's nice to hear that some of the young guys are concerned about their defense. That's the biggest step in the right direction. ------------------ "I'd like to be going down Fourth Avenue in a parade with all the graffiti coming down on our heads." -- Patrick Ewing, showing off that Georgetown edumacation.
SHOWTIME! The Lakers of the 80's did it, and won often. Sure it can. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Running is a very important part of the game. Fast breaks lead to higher shooting percentages, ie easy baskets. I know that Clyde focused on running, since he felt a handful of easy baskets may make the difference in a close game. The better defensive teams will get back on defensive, which makes it harder to get easy baskets come the playoffs. The exception to this was the Magic led Lakers. If the Rocks' D and D rebounding sparks a ton of fast breaks, this will be a very good sign. ------------------
The Lakers of the 80's were a pretty good defensive team also. Micheal Cooper could shut down just about anyone (except centers) Rambis was a banger who wasn't afraid to mix it up with anyone. Magic, with his height, could guard opposing centers as well as point guards. The Rockets have Shandon, who is like Cooper, a pretty good defensive player. Hopefully Francis and Mobley have imnproved defensively. Wiz is a liability and we will wait and see how MoTay fits in. Cato, when healthy, is a nice defensive player, who provides very little scoring. So, in answer to your question, the Rockets need to play better defense to go along with their running game, or they will be no better than last season. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
great topic... Your points are well taken regarding most running teams having outstanding defense. (What's with the oversight about the Spurs being a title winner, though.) I would like to offer one thing regarding "running" teams that you don't mention. Nobody is really going to run like the Magic-Lakers anytime soon. That was just a magic moment for all of us to witness. What normal running is about is Transition Offense. OK, heypee...duh. Isn't that synonomous? Well, not quite. Run and gun and Tranisition Offense are not synonomous. Transition Offense is about forcing a fast pace in order to get into quick 3 on 3 sets, that are difficult to defend. You threaten the immediate fastbreak layup or open shot, but are also moving down the court fast in order to get into a quick set before the defense does to get a mismatch, or a play started that can't be double-teamed. The strategy exploits the fact that 5 of 5's allow the defense to double team, whereas 3 on 3's make it very difficult. Aside from the defense and rebounding requirements you mention for running teams, here are three more keys to successful transition offenses: 1. discipline to not force the layup or 3 pointer when the D stopped the fastbreak, rather immediately transitioning into a quick strike 3 on 3 or even 4 on 4 set before the rest of the D sets itself. Generally, Steve should be making this decision. 2. Transition sets of 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 that are flexible enough to accommodate different runners, and the teamwork to use those sets. It is arguable whether you can even achieve this without have running big men. Cato and Mo can run with the horses, hopefully, and Kenny is great at slashing and passing from the high post...making him an excellent transition man for breaking down defenses that aren't set. 3. Quick strikes from the transition sets. You must strike fast before the double teams can form. If the layup or quick shot is not there, you are talking about no more than 2 passes to a shooter, a low post clear-out, or a slash and pass from a trailer, wing runner or primary ballhandler. Strike fast, don't totally reset the offense. Let us RUN...we have the team. Running with an eye for transition into quick-strike sets is what we need, though. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited October 07, 2000).]
I think of something differently when I hear 'running game' than you do Smeggy... to me it just means that the team merely has another option to score (i.e. exploiting slow big men). The team's run last year seemed to suggest that they will do fine in slowed down half court sets... they'll still force mismatches and open men, just like they would w/ a dominant big man. Cuttino, Mo, Langhi and Steve will all be able to create their own shots in a half-court set. Shandon's reliability, Cato's length and jumping ability (he caught it w/ his left hand for crying out loud ) and Walt's 65% shooting at the end of last year are all tools that will shine in a half-court set. But for those slow teams, oh boy.
HEB- Now aren't you looking forward to all of Collier's alley oops? He can dunk with his left hand. The real question is whether this team can play D, and if the big men can rebound. Say what you want about team rebounding, but in the playoffs the big men MUST rebound, because other teams won't allow the little guys in (kinda like Indiana's problem with Smits....LA got a lot of 2nd looks.) If Mo is hustling on the boards, and Cato is too, that's a huge plus. I'd like to see us acquire a banging backup (cough, by using Kenny Thomas, cough) but I'm not sure who would be available. It surprised that T-Wash wasn't invited to camp. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
NIKE, Yes, we must play D and rebound. But, you miss the point Achebe and I are saying. While D and rebounding is important to a running team, it does not make you a running team. Adding speed to the equation is not enough either. Skilled Transition Offense in the NBA nowadays is a tough thing to accomplish. You don't just become one by being defensive and fast. Another thing I would like to add is a chicken and egg argument, Having a big fastbreak threat can make you a good rebounding team because the opponents must not rush the boards for fear of letting loose the horses. ------------------ who has tickets
The Pacers are not a very good rebounding team whatsoever. Nor are they exceptionally gifted in defense. The Lakers were a good defensive team, but not that awesome. The Rockets could sort of be a combination between the Bulls play (guards) and sort of like the Jazz (Taylor and Francis duo). The Rockets should have a pretty good dump it in system with Thomas, Taylor, and Hakeem down there.
Running game will be the ultimate game floor tactic, strong defense like Cato, Shandon, Francis, and Mobley that will play every game will be the key to win and not to mention that the offensive rebound from Hakeem,Cato and Mo that will give our players a second chance to score. ------------------ Rudy T. will find and fulfill Rockets destiny.
Of course defense and rebounding don't make you a running team. There are plenty foot-in-the-cement defenders out there, that can rebound very well, but can't run a lick (a la Deke). To be able to have a running attack, you must have a quick, skilled, good decision making PG (Francis), at least 1 big man who can run (Cato, or Taylor), and at least one wing man who can finish well, and above average quickness (Cat/Shandon). It also helps when those can shoot the 3, as one of the common trends nowadays is the pull up 3 pointer on the fast break. So, to make an effective running/transition offense game, you need: Speed, leadership, defense, rebounding, and cohesiveness all at the same time. (optional features include shotblocking, and 3 point shooting). Did I miss anything ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited October 07, 2000).]
Yes...you are missing: Having the ability to score in transition even AFTER the defense stopped the fastbreak (within the first 10 seconds of the 24 sec clock). That is Transition Offense. Let's not confuse that with a fastbreak layup or 3 ptr, which is only one aspect of a transition offense. As for the devil's advocate. No...offenses never rush the board for extra offensive rebounds against fastbreaking teams, that is suicide... Plus, what do you mean "blocking out". The opps are on offense...the Rocket's would be in the "blocking out" position. NIKE...we are on defense, the opps on are offense. We become a better rebounding team when we run better cause the offense must do quick transition defense, which means less rebounders. It is a chicken and egg argument. But your devil's advocate..."they will want to block out"...i don't know...it doesn't make any sense to me. Do you want to explain to me how an offensive player "blocks out more".
I was thinking in reverse there. Time to edit the post. To be a transition offense, you must be able to take advantage of a defense that's not set (ie: defensive mismatches). Now, it looks to me like we have all the pieces in place. heyparty, what is it that you think could prevent us, if anything? ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited October 07, 2000).]
