JVG is a genius when it comes to halfcourt basketball. Best coach in the league in the halfcourt. I just wish he would introduce a fastbreak element to get some easy points on nights when the basket is shrinking
With Hayes in the starting lineup, yes. Without him, and with Juwan picking up major minutes, no. Juwan will 1)give up rebounds 2)fail to cut off the lanes 3)get abused one one one 4)and will expose Yao to foul trouble, further diminshing paint presence. Hayes did all these very well, and thus our defensive production was up. Hayes brings at PF what Battier brings at SF.
Before the Miami game, our offensive has actually been better than our defense, statistically. We were 5th in offensive efficiency, after being 29th last year, but only 11th in defensive efficiency. The problem with the defense is more the second unit than the starting unit, however. Our starting unit has played great defense. When Hayes was in the game, were giving up only 90 points per 100 possessions, easily the best on the team.
It's only been 7 games...but this team is just beginning to realize how good it can be each night and they are also learning that other team will not beat them...they have to beat themselves by not playing solid D and working the ball into the post and then making the extra pass (inside out game).
It doesn't take a genius coach to teach a team how to run a fast break, we just don't have the personelle for that. Rafer and Hayes can run I guess, but both are clumbsy when they get into the open court. Alston has ruined about 4 fast breaks already this year.
DD has a thread on this topic. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=120182 It depends on how you look at it. Absolute points allowed, yes we have the best defense right now. Adjusting that for pace, we are #7 defensively.
Adjusting for pace is still a little bit misleading. The fact that we were able to DICTATE the pace against the Heat is extremely important. The team that sets the pace has a HUGE advantage. The Rockets can run, but with Yao as our first option, we definitely want to run a half-court offense. The entry passes with the post and re-post has been great so far.
you know personally I just think novak is a better option than JHo. jho sucks at defense, and novak can't be MUCH worse. but novak spreads the floor much better. and is taller. I honestly think novak will be a starter in 2 years.
I agree with you as far as novak and howard. The problem is what has been alluded to before. JVG can't deal with rookie mistakes. He feels like they will cost him the game, so he goes back to tried and true. Juwan may not mistakes but he still gives it up because he's got one foot nailed to the floor and the other one has got a lead anchor tied to it. So, to me, it really doesn't make any difference defensively. Even with Novak's mistakes, Juwan is still going to get beat without making mistakes. And on the offensive end, we are going to be more proficient and efficient with Novak.
I love our defense. Yao is a monster, Hayes a scrapper (Chucky Brown?), Battier our best perim. defender, Tmac's Tmac and Skips decent. Off the bench, you'll be bring in Snyder, whose played great defensively, especially on Wade yesterday. Mutumbo and Luther have also been surprisingly solid. When Wells gets in shape, that will only boost it that much. It's amazing the depth we finally have.
Huge advantage towards what? Limiting the opposition's ability to score per possession. And, as Tango said, we're 7th in limiting scores per possession.
Well, without adjusting for pace the comparisons are just apples and oranges otherwise. It's considered more misleading NOT to adjust for pace. 2ndly pace is determined as much by what the Rockets do with the ball on offensive as much as what they may do defensively.
