PLEASE read. I NEVER SAID Tracy was the sole reason, just the primary reason for our lack of flow on offense. I also didn't say the offense never flows with Tracy. I also didn't say the Rockets were better without Tracy. I said Tracy is the primary reason things get stagnant, but he's talented enough the team is still better when he plays. If Tracy adjusted his game more, the Rockets offense would explode while, at the same time, he would exert himself less.
So the whats the point of saying it if you still agree that Houston is better with Tmac? Thats like saying "Yao is slow and is a bad help defender" or "Alston can't hit shots". I think we can all agree Tmac slows the ball down. But so does Artest and Yao. Artest and Yao don't really move well without the ball either. Its just a characteristic of a star player. I think Adelman just needs to keep with the ball movement and spacing and eventually someone gets mismatched. Guys like Landry, Brooks, Scola can move without the ball and create shots for themselves in that sense.
Your argument dies with a hundred qualifications. If he is not the only reason for the team not able to run the offense, and if he does not make the team worse, then what is the point? That TMac has weaknesses? Yeah, tell us something we don't already know.
Adelman's system may be only partially implemented, but every indication is that he intends to fully implement it this season. It's real simple--he's the coach, he gets to choose the plays or the system. The issue the team is facing isn't whether to implement the system, it's how. So far as the Kings go they got robbed. Even Ralph Nader of all people felt compelled to send a letter to the NBA protesting the officiating in the Kings-Lakers series.
So why do they not move well without the ball? Because they're physically crippled? Or is it mental? Here's the issue--there's no reason for Adelman to be in Houston if the players aren't going to follow his lead and play his system. He's the coach and he calls the shots--period.
no, adelman admits before the start of the season that he learned from last year that he can never fully implement his system (yao will never be a general from the high post, we have no peja). but he'll put in around 30% in there to put in some new wrinkles that will make the game easier for tracy and yao by making others more of a threat.
he was brought here for the reason that JVG failed to do (besides advance), fail to develop role players to take the weight of of tracy and yao. and he's done that. he kept A TON of things that were good under JVG (a lot of defensive plays--actually he changed very little, and a ton of offensive plays). shane, tracy, and yao have said this. the only difference is adelman wants the players to make plays and not just rely on tracy and yao (b/c he actually gives them the confidence to do so, which JVG never did). you made one mistake and JVG would pull you out. adelman gives them a longer leash. thus players get more confidence, they play better. in actuality, fundamentally, JVG still has a lot of influence over this team
JVG didn't fail at developing role players. He had no role players to develop. Look at our most contributing role players. Scola, Landry, and Brooks. JVG didnt coach any of them. Now look at the role players on the roster that JVG did coach...Rafer, Battier, Chuck, and Luther. Rafer and Battier have stayed pretty much the same. However, Chuck plays the fewest minutes out of the 3 rotational pfs and Luther only plays if we have injuries or its garbage time.
look scola had a rough start with us initially, but adelman stuck with him. vspan (i don't know how he would turn out) had 1 TO and he would be pulled. stromile swift makes a bone-headed play and he would be out. JVG didn't give them a chance. u really think stromile swift wouldn't have a big role with this team? those were 2 big acquisitions under JVG and he failed to play both at all b/c "they were slow." even when the game was out of hand, he never even gave them a chance. if JVG was the coach of last yr, i doubt scola would have as big of a role as he had b/c scola had a rough start initially.
first of all, terrible thread... secondly, we win that game against Indiana if Tracy is playing. He's not healthy, hasn't been all year, but when he is, he is a beast. So, the best thing to do is stay competitive while he gets there b/c he (along with Yao) will be the reason we win a playoff series if it happens.
Let's see: "Can we all agree now that Tracy is the main reason the Rockets don't run Adelman's offense?" "What happened when he went out last season? What happened tonight against the Spurs?" "Tracy is set in his ways and won't adjust to the system." Your entire original post goes off on how Tracy is the primary reason the Rockets don't run the offense properly. You don't mention a single other Rocket, but now you say, "Oh, I didn't say he was the ONLY reason." BEEP-BEEP-BEEP. That's the sound of you backing up now that your thread has proved to be completely inane.
So, for example, Yao should magically turn into a gifted high-post passer because that's Adelman's system? Right. All I'm saying is that the coach has to adjust his system here and there to adjust for what his best players can do and cannot do. I'm not saying he should completely scrap it, nor am I saying the players should make the coach adjust and not listen to him. I think some of that has happened already, and will continue to do so.
Come on guys, Adelman has a reputation of adjusting his system to fit his players.... The team is struggling with an identity crisis right now...... They will be fine. DD
if tracy comes back healthy, nobody should worry about tracy. he'll do what he does and it's usually what's best for the team. right now, it's time for yao to really exert himself and make this HIS team. i don't even know if yao is the go-to guy right now with tracy out. we really need yao to dominate right now. this is where he gets paid the big bucks. artest has to play better. he's really holding us back offensively. rafer is still inconsistent, but he is what he is: inconsistent. guys just have to step up and play better. we ran the offense fine last yr after yao went out. the offensive efficiency went through the roof. our offense got better as it went on v. the jazz. i don't know why we're back to square one it seems like (some games good; some games bad). it's probably due to tracy's health, yao's declining play, and artest's major slump. hopefully all 3 can get it together.
Give me a break. I'm not backing up one step. Tracy is the #1 reason, not the only reason. You don't like it because I don't stake an extreme position on the fringe? Tough. If/when Tracy adjusts and cooperates more with Adelman's scheme, the offense will take off like a "rocket". Simple as that. There are other problems, of course. But the other players stand around too much when Tracy gets the ball because they know he's going to hold on to it. Instead of waiting for the double-team (for what seems like) every time, he needs to shoot, drive or pass it quicker than he does now. As many have said already, if Tracy misses a few games, maybe he will do like last season and learn from watching. I'll take that.
What the hell does this mean? Anyway, I don't know about you, but I only saw crisp ball movement in spurts the last 3 games. I only saw crisp ball movement in spurts the 15 games before that. Whether TMac plays or not has been completely irrelevant to ball movement. The whole TEAM hasn't adapted. It's silly to say one guy is the primary reason it isn't happening, when it still doesn't happen when that one guy doesn't play.
apparently, he won't learn much if we're going at this pace. one great game by luther v. the spurs and ridiculous shooting won't hide that fact. tracy is not even the main reason we're struggling offensively this year. in fact, in the past 3 games of the road trip before he shut it down, he was one of the bright spots (in terms of moving the ball and finding the open guy despite his lack of mobility). right now, i have to say artest is the main problem. he doesn't move, pass the ball well, holds onto it like it's candy, can't shoot, can't finish... he's the worst offensive player we have right now outside of alston. when a guy who's taking the 2nd most shots makes 34% of his shots, it's gonna look bad. so if you're sticking with tracy is the main reason fine. but obviously we should see improvements when he sits. 2 of the 3 games, we stunk it up. you can't expect luther to be superman every night and say that's due to the offense right?
If Ron continues last night's insanity, he will vault pass Tracy in a hurry. That was just brutal! The guy needs to get his head examined. How many times was he blocked? How many times did he drive into traffic with no chance of hitting a shot. IMO, Adelman blew any chance of winning when he put Ron and Yao back in after the reserves had closed the gap in the 4th quarter. Bone-headed move by coach. Seriously though, Ron has had problems all season but last night was his worst game by far when it comes to teamwork. If he continues down this path, the Rockets will crash. There are 3 huge concerns now: (1) Tracy mental/physical health, (2) Yao's lack of mobility and toughness and (3) Ron's brain. On Tracy, if he gets healthy, his talent > stopping the ball. On Yao, I hope it's just a matter of him getting fully recovered. On Ron, maybe he is what is, which is nutso.
Oh yeah, Rick totally killed the 'streak'. Landry was balling, actually we even tried to run and he put Yao? Who was soft and lazy? That's not a good decision. A for Artest. He is struggling, struggling especially inside. Damn I tought he is a monster on the block. Right now Tracy is a lot better, he was even better on one leg. Maybe Ron is not quick enough. He just can't go right by his guy, and he doesn't even look strong. He had problems with Jack (I belive) guarding him. He just makes 2 dribbles and he has nowhere to go. But. I used to bash him for his horrible game inside and obviously he isn't what he should be, but you know I changed my opinion a little bit after Denver's game. He is getting blocked a lot, right. But how many times had the refs called a foul? I mean the guy is grabbed, fouled, etc inside and there is a lot oif contact - still no calls. If it was Wade, Kobe they would have easily had something like 10-15 free throws. Even Tracy would go to the stripe at least 7 times with those types of play. I just wonder what 'tough' guy means to the refs? That means he can't get fouled? He has to finish every play even when he is fouled?
