Francis and Mobley are the problem.

Your so right!

Its not much difference than " Backing it in, backing it in" is it.

Always one person holding it way too long, like playing with their own balls and enjoying it!

 

The premise of your post is sound, but your placing the culpability on the wrong shoulders.

Are the guards the one calling the plays? Are they the ones that devised the current offensive scheme?

Regarding the "share" the ball concept; If you don't have an inside force who commands a double team, you CAN NOT play this type of basketball with ease. It ,and our current offense, is based on the opposing team collapsing and kicking it out. With our personell though, it's 10 times harder to do so.

 

I have to agree with Dakota on this one. I dont know if its squarely the fault of Francis and/or Mobley, but the problem of crappy ball movement is pretty evident. I dont know if they have a stat that gives a ratio between assisted baskets and total baskets, but if there is one, I would bet the Rockets are pretty low in that category. A large portion of the baskets on this team come off plays with some type of pull up off the dribble. When the ball does move around the perimeter, it usually generates a 3 pt shot. I rarely see ball movement and cutting that produces a layup or close in shot that teams like Sacramento are able to create. I have been patiently waiting for more motion in the offense and expected it this yr, but it has not happened as of yet; its been almost two full seasons now since the ball was given to Francis and Mobley.

 

(There was nothing wrong with the "back it in" offensive sets -- just because it was not "exciting" does not mean it was not effective.) There also is nothing wrong with attacking the defense off the dribble. Thomas, Dumars, and Johnson had no problems scoring off the dribble. The problem is that (1) Houston seems unclear on the concept of spacing (or offensive direction); (2) Francis and Mobley are great with the dribble, but do not know how to finish the play; and (3) the outside shooters are inconsistent/unreliable.

While we're discussing ballhandling, Mobley is great with the ball in the frontcourt; but he should NEVER, EVER try to advance the ball from the backcourt -- he'll end up dribbling the ball up the court by himself -- ten seconds after the fact.

While we're discussing things Mobley shouldn't do, he should also stop waving Griffin out of the low blocks. Houston freakin' needs Griffin to develop a game/confidence in the post.

Furthermore, Francis and Mobley should step up and ask to play reduced minutes. They're playing too many minutes -- especially when Houston has a better than average backup player on the bench (Torres) and a possible future SF who needs game-time experience (Morris).

[Kobe became great when he stopped trying to be something he's not: Jason Williams -- and started hitting the mid-range jumpshots. Francis, likewise, needs to be less concerned about the media attention and more focused on taking advantage of what the defense gives him.]

When will Houston become a legitimate contender? (When they get an effective C) and when "highlight" is just another hairstyle alternative to the poofy Afro in the Francis/Mobley dictionary.


University (Hair Apparent) Blue

 

Ya, bad ball movement has been killing the Rockets and it seems that Francis insists on driving into the teeth of the defense which only sets himself up to get hurt.

Here's the bigger problem: Francis and Mobley are playing way too many minutes and there's way too much pressure on them to do everything.

I was afraid that one of them or both of them would break down, but I didn't think it would be this soon.

I don't know how you solved this problem completely, but it would help if Rice can hit his shots like he somewhat did today.

If Francis was 100%, we never would have lost that game.

 

Sacramento can run that type of offense because of 2 things:

1. Vlade Divac is the best passing big man in the game, and they run a great high post offense through him

2. They're players are versatile at almost every position, which you can't say about the Rockets.

Which players on this team are likely to recieve the ball in a position to drive (ie: the defender coming at them) off of perimeter ball movement? The small forwards. Unfortunately, Rice and Walt are inept in this department.

I'd love to run something similar to the Kings' offense, but we don't have the personell to do so, period.

 

tpl - many teams have a low post presence which increases their inside-out ability. However, I watched the Raptors and Sixers today. I did not see a double on Mutombo or Coleman or Olajuwon or Antonio Davis.

I watched part of the Pacers and Sonics and Booth played O'Neill straight up. I am currently watching the Nets at GS and Kenyon Martin is not drawing a double. I don't think I agree with your "10 times harder" assessment.

Even if I were inclined to agree, Francis and Mobley are getting doubled out front which means there is still a weakside mismatch if they would just kick the ball around the horn.

 

GATER,

See my second post. Even if they kick the ball around the horn, we then have to rely on inconsistent/unreliable shooters who are inept at breaking down the defense (the small forwards Walt/Rice).

DaDakota,

When did I say I didn't want more weakside, off the ball movement? I do, I just don't see that as part of a bigger "sharing" the ball offensive game like you do.

That's why I have problems with what Rudy is calling right now. The plays they run don't have to be complex, but the play calling gets so damn repetitive sometimes (ie: Moochie running the high pick and roll with our 3 or 5).

 

Part of the problem might also be the need to get the guards in a position to get the rebound. In order to keep up with the rebounding of most teams, the guards have to get a lot of the rebounds. I think we expect too much out of our starting guards and they play too many minutes.

We have taken great pains to develop Thomas as an inside threat, but we still don't have a consistent outside shooter, such as Maurice Taylor, to round out the attack. I am not trying to stay Thomas is enough by himself inside the paint.

I think Mobley and Francis are trying to get percentage shots on a team that doesn't shoot or rebound well. Until I see consistent producitivity from other players, I am inclined to view the play of our backcourt as an attempt to carry the team, not take it over.

IMO Rice or Williams will not provide a satisfactory answer because their outside shooting is too streaky and their defense is too weak. My hope is that Griffin, Torres and Morris can make good on what the promise they showed in the preseason. Frontcourt shooting from the perimeter could be what really got Langhi back on the active roster. I think we need to make the effort to develop our "kids" to the point where they can play before we consider any other changes to the roster or attempt to find blame with the two of the players who do contribute every night.

 

You basically have to steal the ball from Mobley to get it from him..

 

yeah get rid of them both they are nothing but worthless ball hogs!!!!

But make sure we keep the front court intact, cause they are rapidly moving up the list of WORST front courts in the league. Not sure they are good enough to take the Bulls, but once Dice comes back watch out Cavs we can make TOP 2!!!!!!

Go on Dak, make a list of Front courts that are worse than ours (shouldn't take you long) and then tell me Steve and Cat have plenty of options to pass to....... even if Rudy instructed them to.

 

11.6 shot attempts per game over the last 5 games, well that seems overly excessive.

Aside from Steve and the Streaky Brothers when they are hot which chumps would like them to pass to!!!!!!

 

TPL - absolutely no argument on the level of consistency. But why does it have to stop there? The overshifted defense ought to open up the following:

1) Cuttino for a drive from the weakside.
2) Walt for a drive from the weakside.
3) An easier angle for a postup entry pass to KT.
4) A postup entry pass to Rice on the weakside lane.
5) A quick pass back from the top of the key/arc to the double teamed Steve (or Cat or Moochie) after they have split the double and moved closer to the paint.
6) After the pass, a baseline screen for Steve as he comes back over to the ball/strong side.

You may not agree with my suggestions, but surely you see an advantage to having 3 Rockets guarded by 2 defenders when the ball is reversed quickly back to the other side of the floor?

IMHO, the Rocket guards are trying to accomplish everything with exhibits of pure athleticism against basic zones and their efficiency is (predictably) not very good. They are forcing shots that aren't there AND they are placing themselves in danger of injury.

 

SS, just as an fyi, Dream scored 8 tonight, pitched in 7 boards and 7 blocks. I thought that was cute. 7 blocks. *sigh*.

BTW, once 'the example' (e.g., lol) gets a taste of 30 you'd better believe he'll knock the hell out of one of those guys for not passing it up. I wish he'd just cut to the chase and knock Rudy down (I guess that's inappropriate since Rudy's career ended that way)... ummm I'll take that back.. maybe if we're lucky he'll just beat up Mo Taylor and Kenny Thomas. After he forces a trade I'll get to see him actually play... preferably down low and not jacking up so many Rudys.

A 2 will tie it, a Rudy will win. Eddie, for a Rudy... Good! Good!

 

Eddie Griffin...E.G..."The Example"?

Dude, very clever Achebe, did you read this or think it up on your own?

 

Now you're making fun of me.

It's something that occurred to me a few days ago in one of Manny's (your best friend right??? ) threads. If someone else came up w/ it before me, I'll defer to their dorkiness. For now, my dorkiness runs supreme. lol

 

I sort of agree with u on that. I might sound looney but I think we would get better production out of rice if we did pass alot more. I love Rudy but he does need the guys to give the ball out more. let the whole hick family shoot.