Harden plays no D and can't stay in front Of a fire hydrant, D12 fault I guess, Parson's D is down, D12 fault I guess Jlin can't stay in front of a refrigerator, D12 fault I guess Tones and Pbev are giving the max effort on D. It's on James and Chandler to play better D!!
By the way... OP... 2012/2013 Rockets points given up per 100 possessions: 103.5 2013/2014 Rockets points given up per 100 possessions: 101.8 So the Rockets give up nearly 2 points less this year than last year per 100 possessions.
LOL. This post is EXACTLY why Morey wouldn't take a regular joe on his team. This type of conclusion is baseless. You need to be a creative thinker; what all goes into the thought process of Dwight's presence. Rockets ranked 16th last year in D, with Omer...where were they? You have to partion your answer by closing out the possible situations. Think of this like consulting; your answer is here. What questions do you ask to get there? This is a horrible way to see Dwight's impact. Let's see his presence while on the court, then while on the court with different lineups. The best estimate is similar lineups/players with Dwight this year compared to Asik last year. But then you got to factor in different teams we are facing, etc. Morey's analysis is beyond numbers, you got to remember he has a consulting background...as does his former go to boy Hinkie. They are creative thinkers, they go in depth with QUALITY questions RELATIVE to the nature.
You could just as easily say that all the returning players are playing weaker defense, and Dwight Howard is a monster in the middle and strikes fear in any fool dumb enough to go inside. So this thread could be : Why can't these guys step up on defense like Howard does ?
Actually Howard has a negative impact on our defense. Because teams are more afraid of him blocking the shot then they were Asik they've decided to not waste as much time attacking the rim and instead just torch are wing players on the perimeter.
Sometimes the mentality that you have a defensive juggernaut behind you might lead you to play with less defensive effort around the perimeter.
Don't know if anyone else mentioned it, but what about the schedule so far playing a role? Going off ESPNs numbers we have played 5 games against top 5 offenses. 2 against #2, 2 against #3 and 1 against #5. On top of that 2 more of our games, totaling 7/13, have been against teams in the top half of offensive efficiency. Schedule will even out over time.
Basketball is a team game. You think a "dominant" guy can go out and play one-on-five defense? No. Because defense is a team thing. The Rox have 60% new starters this season. They need time to gel. Having roster turnover is not a simple math equation, like Rox -3 from last year and Lakers -3. It doesn't work like that. You think you can predict team rankings by looking at number of new players on the roster? All you can say is whether a team is intact or disrupted. Come on, man. Are you being serious?
When mutombo was blocking everything in denver,they were not a good defesive team. When dream was beasting defensively before 94,the rockets were not a good defensive team. The spurs haven't been a good defensive team since duncans slippage. The point is,team defense. Everyone needs to trust the "string". Its rotations,closeouts,and being unselfish. If beverly chases his man off the line,the closet guy needsto rotate to help,the next man contest the next pass and so forth. What I see is harden half ass swiping at the ball from behind,the next man steping up,but someone isn't getting back in the play. As a result the perimeter defense is giving up good clean looks. This is the nba no matter how poor you think someone shoots.
I wish I owned the Rockets. I'd tell Harden every time he does this I'm fining him $5,000. I'd have $50,000 by the end of the first game. He might actually stop doing it after that. Clearly no one is getting onto him about his defensive tendencies.
Mchale has to bench if we win or lose the game it shouldn't matter. You have to show a player it won't be tolerated. I would send the message now vs letting him think it's ok all the way until playoffs then expect something to change. This is why I want hollins coaching this team discipline more than anything... X & Os don't matter if players don't respect you.
Parsons having a big regress on his D this year. it means other than Haren, you got another big hole in your perimeter D. no Dwright can fix it, not even Shaq.
interesting view. pass my eye test, they do give up more open 3s this year and on the other hand they lose more rebounds when dwright go up to block the shots. some other teams being smart that they use PF to play PNR to pull one big out, screen off one perimeter defender and drive straight to dwright, even he misses since dwright is out of position his man has a second chance put back. it happened exactly when he was in the Lakers and he said to the media that they need to help the helper. it seems rox done a same horse **** job as they did.
*The sample size is too small. *Delfino played much better d than Casspi. *Asik was one of the top defensive center in the league. (Howard has better O than Asik) *We do improve our defensive efficiency. (counted in possessions) *The double overtime game this season make us look worse. (if counted per games)
