So hows about it? It doesn't seem the team is in a full motion offense because I still see iso's and a little standing around and not alot of cutting (although worlds better than the last few years). What I do see is how Rick is getting guys the ball at spots on the floor where they can be effective, whether it's Tmac on the elbow, or Yao on the left block, right below the ft area for a jumpshot, kickouts to Mike James at the top of the key, Shane in the corner. It looks very raw but you can see some of the things Adelman envisions. Teams can no longer double and triple Tmac at the top of the key because Adelman runs more than 3 plays in the entire game. Yao can be doubled down low, but not the same where it's just predictable what he will surely do as Okur knew and used it to own him on D. I say this team comes together after the 2nd half of the season and ramps up the exciting basketball. They don't have a full identity yet. Not a fb team although transition buckets are there, and not a slow it down team. It's sort of mid tempo right now, and It is very encouraging to see how he allowed Yao to take his place in the San Antonio game where Yao was the clear floor leader and controlled the game, so much that Tim Duncan's respect was earned that night. How do you like the offense so far?
I like some of the things I see, but I'll hold off my judgment for a couple more months probably. The statistics don't show that we're really any better than last year (worse, actually) but when you consider the turnover problems early on, things look OK. If we can take better care of the ball things will look much more smooth.
Yao played terrible against Okur... The high post was clearly not working and hes now playing at the low post 90% of the time. Anyways, the new offense is as raw as you can get. The team just look so much better offensively because Mike James and a slim down Bonzi.
i like what i see. of course this isn't a finished product. the players are still adjusting. shane said it would take until all-star break before the offense because an instinct. lets see how we look around then before making up our minds.
its early, but this team is what it is and its strength are still the same. Yao in the lowpost. Tmac doing his thing.
But the team this year compared to last year is very different and thats mostly due to the bench! I have watched all the Rockets games so far, except the Spurs one, and I have yet to worry about that 5-7 minute scoring drought that I would fear every game last year. I mean, watching the team last year, I knew that we were going to hit that scoring drought and would always wish we hit it in the first or second quarter rather than fourth where it usually occurred! Is it just me or are others more relaxed when teams make a run at us this year? I believe we are much better quipped to counter runs than we were last year.
I say, what's the ****ing difference. I am sure JVG with this group will score same amount of points. This offense stinks.
well of course the bench is helping. there are more weapons overall. Last year you only had luther. this year you have MJ and bonzi. It's more to do with guys that can score rather than "scheme" and such. When you have more offensive guys you will suffer less significant scoring droughts. still, the bulk of the offense is yao and tmac with other guys contributing. Thankfully, they have more contributors and dont have to rely on getting big offensive nights from guys like rafer and battier
JVG can put Yao and Mutombo together on court? Never...I felt offense under Adelman is much more flexible,plus Bonzi and MJ,Rox will be excelent
It's the same thing. Yao works down low. Tmac shoots jumpers and facilitates. Battier parks in the corners. Chuck gets the occasional cut. Rafer misses everything. The only difference is personnel off the bench. We really haven't changed much. I was expecting a revolution.
Only 5 games so we cannot say much about that. But yeah I like it. Let's wait a little bit and we'll play a lot better
What I like best is all the 2nd chance points on the offense. Under Adelman, the players are more focused on the offensive glass than running back on transition defense as soon as a shot goes up. We might have doubled our 2nd chance points from previous seasons.
I think the guys are still getting used to a more uptempo pace and the freedom to take a shot early in the shot clock, as long as it is a good shot. I'm disappointed at the high low game with Yao so far. He didn't look that great at the high post. But I really don't think they've got their plays down. When he goes up to the FT line, the defender is in his face, not letting him get off a clean look. Which is fine, but the cutters don't have the timing down to cut into the open paint at the right moment when he can drop the ball down to them for the little lay in. But I am still confident that will come. And when it does, then Yao's defender is facing a huge quandry. Does he fade off and work the passing lane and give Yao the little 15 footer or does he give up the little dump down for the layup? When Yao is in the high post, for the most part he has been receiving the ball with his back to the basket and then turning and facing up? That takes too long to develop and gives the defender enough time to recover and face guard. I am sure Adelman will work on them getting the ball down to the baseline and then tossing it out to Yao at the FT line with Yao already facing the basket, then cutting. When that happens, it will open up the option for Yao to stick the J or throw the pass to the glass for the easy lay in. And then when they get real familiar with the offense, and they start seeing the passes before the cutters make their moves, look out. Yao is smart, smart, smart. You are going to see him throw some sensational no looks, lobs, and straight passes before the cutters make their cuts. Then the last phase is when Yao and everybody else knows isntinctively when to go low and when to high and where to get the biggest mismatch on the floor. This is where Bonzi makes us unstoppable. Once Yao really figures out what he needs to do in this offense, and you've got 2 other guys in TMac and Bonzi that instinctively know where the ball should go, combine that with other guys that can shoot the J (James, Battier), drive and finish (James, Francis), hit the midrange jumper and post up (Scola) or simply find the crease for the easy one (Hayes), we are going to become unstoppable. These guys are going to be throwing it around and moving very comprable to the Kings with one HUGE difference, the best low post player in basketball. It might take up to a year, a whole season, before the transformation is complete, but it will happen. Right now, we look a lot like last year, I agree, with the difference being guys that can come off the bench and both defend well (Bonzi, James) and score well (Bonzi, James, Scola). Bonzi and James are 2 way guys. Bonzi is not going to get abused on the defensive end the way Luther does. And James is a huge difference off the bench instead of JLIII, which was basically our backup point guard last season. We've traded Luther for Bonzi, JLIII for James, and Howard for Scola, all 3 significant upgrades to the rotation.
