[ESPN/TrueHoop] Good news/bad news for the Rockets

They've had an awful stretch of games, with (seemingly) endless back to backs, and against good to great teams. I think it's affecting their play. Give the guys fewer games and some practice time for a while and much of this is cured, in my opinion. Not everything, but a lot of the recent problems.

 

fixed

 

Yep, that was glaringly apparent last night. I was practically yelling "SOMEONE MOVE!" at the TV.

 

Maybe its because his running mate's (Shane) line the last 3 games looks like this:

@Phoenix : 0 pts 0/4
@Lakers: 7 pts 2/8
@NO: 6 pts 2/5

Shane is averaging 4.3 pts on 23.5% shooting. I dont think Shane alone is the problem either, cause his job, of course, is not to score (although the above just wont cut it). The real problem we're seeing is the much talked about Batrizza problem. So far this is the first time this season I can remember them both being cold for 3 straight games while us losing all 3 contests. The hope would be that they, or at least 1, has a decent offensive showing on a given night, and we get back to running again, and we can right the ship. If not, some lineup changes should follow.

 

Practically yelling it?? I was yelling it... in chat... in my livingroom... in my sleep.

I agree with the poster above who said it probably has to do with the fact that they are tired and ready to get a good homestand going. I think I have typed it ten times, but I really feel like given some practice time to work out the kinks and see how poorly they have been moving the ball will help them more so than changing up the starting lineup or rotation.

 

Von Wafer will Trover's minutes.

 

I accidentally the whole thing...


who the hell is Trover?

 

^ this

 

Our chemistry is def off. I have noticed that Ariza is always waving his hand calling for the ball. Yesterday Brooks was clapping for the ball. You never see that on a team that has great chemistry.

Ariza jacks it up everytime. I am starting to get the cringe that i once got watching Rafer Alston shoot.

T-mac's 7 min stint may have shed light on the team needing an allstar. When Tracy left someone had to fill certain shoes. Naturally the options would be - Shane, Scola, Brooks, Ariza, or Landry. Each a leader in their own category. Brooks is getting national attention, Landry is a shoe in for 6th man. Albeit, this was DM's plan- To breed all-stars for trade value. In order for one to rise in the NBA you have to have points on the board, you have to have the ball. The result of this is more one-on-one, less passing.

 

The problem isnt so much what the starting players are doing. The problem is the COMPOSITION of the starting lineup.

RA is setting them up to fail by not putting enough ballhandling and offensive knowhow. But thing is... they are expected to score regardless so when they find themselves unable to they get frustrated and start doing things outside the offense.

If RA wants the starting lineup to improve he has to CHANGE it. This is on his hands. He needs to take responsibility and make the necessary changes.

 

Right in front of your face...

"From January 7 forward, the schedule gets much easier for Houston, and the team has long expected that today marks the day they'll start climbing into a meaningful place in the Western Conference playoff picture."

 

I think you're completely missing the point. The attitude that you're showing is exactly the problem. Brooks (or anyone else) can't fix this problem by trying to shoot the team out of its slump singlehandedly.

I'll repost the Battier quote:

“I think the tendency for the first group right now is to really try to do it themselves and try to carry the team out of the slump. We’re not doing it out of malicious reasons; every guy feels that they can help the team and raise the level of play. But we’ve gotten away from trying to do it collectively instead of individually and it’s resulted in some pretty bad basketball.”

 

I love it when people correct other people's typos/grammar, and in doing so, make a typo/grammar mistake of their own.

 

Ariza+Battier+Chuck = offensive death. Brooks and Scola aren't Tmac and Yao. They're good scorers, but they can't carry the load for the other three starters. Battier admitted he would have to be more aggressive this year and he's scoring less than ever.

 

Face facts fellas, the starting five we currently have to play with has a two players who cannot create their own shots and two players that are trying to expand their games this year while we wait on Yao and some help. Their will be some ugly games and some ugly stretches of games. Hayes and Battier need a playmaker on the court with them to get them open looks. Ariza and Brooks are trying to learn to do more than they are used to doing. Ariza is trying to figure out how to score against defenses that are keying in on him and brooks is trying to figure out how to be a playmaker and get others shots. It takes time.

They just have to realize that to be successful with this group they have to play a uptempo style more consistently and share the ball. I believe they will get back to that and having some favorable matchups will help that process.

 

The good news is that we don't have to play Phoenix and the Lakers away from home again this season. We lost the NO game but did we really expect to beat the Lakers and Phoenix away from home?

 

the Knicks game will be a true test, because they are playing solid as of late and might put the Rockets into a tailspin if we can't get it together...

 

Seems like Ariza, Brooks, and Scola sometimes stop the ball. Then when Landry comes in and starts scoring, they try to force the ball into him. I saw Shane do that a few times in the 4th quarter last night. On one play it looked like Lowry had two open looks at the 3 and passed up the shot, then Brooks had an open 3 and passed it, leading up to a bad pass and a turnover. On another there were 3 defenders on Landry but yet Shane tries to force a pass straight at him leading to another turnover. They are having brain farts but hopefully practice time can fix it.

 

schedule gets easier

 

Not missing the point. I shoud have said a little more. I'm not disagreeing that the chemistry is lacking from the first unit. The ball movement is def not there, and I agree that both Brooks and Ariza seem to be taking matters in to there hands to much. I'm not saying that Brooks should not work within the context of the offense. What I am saying is he seems to be the only one from the first unit that is scoring at an efficient clip consistently. I'm fully aware this team has played well up until these last few games because they have been unselfish and worked within the confines of the offense. I'm guessing with some practice time and the schedule lightening up it gets better. I also hope the coaching staff hammers home to Brooks, Ariza and Scola that there needs to be more movement, both with the players and the ball