It sucks our Cs are rebounding aka Do we really miss Josh Smith that bad?

This probably will be a long post filled with grammatical and spelling errors so bear with me. I don't have too many bright moments of basketball analysis but I am hoping this could be one.


Ok so we all are thoroughly disappointed with the Rockets so far this season especially after an amazing 'defying expectations' season we just experienced.

Now the Rockets aren't short of fingers to point at for the various reasons but the biggest glaring thing is the team defense. I do not think you can blame one or two (though personally I am looking at you James and TJ) people for the collapse of the defense this year versus last season.

To me one of the biggest glaring things has been the team's rebounding. The Rockets are just not rebounding the ball nearly as well as last season. Despite having Dwight back and now Capela emerging as a good rebounder as well compared to last season. Its not like DMo ever was or will be an amazing rebounder either. So how are we seemingly just not rebounding as well as last season and when we do its not having the same impact.

First off the Rockets defense is letting teams score much more easier than before so that results in less rebounds available overall. Secondly I feel like there is a reliance this year on having our centers get all the rebounds. Last year we didn't have that luxury with Dwight being hurt and Capela not ready yet for actual game minutes. Collectively the mindset of the team was to get rebounds. One through five are not boxing out and going after rebounds anymore and it has hurt on both ends of the court.

Take the Atlanta game for example the Hawks got back into and won that game thanks to their 3 point shooting and offensive rebounding. The Rockets could not secure a rebound to save their lives late in the game. The guys on the perimeter were just standing and looking thinking Dwight/Capela would just get the rebound. This was not the case last season.

Secondly oddly enough Dwight and Capela rebounding HURTS one of the greatest strengths the Rockets have on offense. Transition. Though Dwight lately has looked to outlet the ball more after he rebounds lately often times he has to wait for a guard to come back and get the ball from him. Same with Capela -- this allows the defense to get back and get set. Problem is Dwight has never really been that outlet from rebounds passer (this was one skill I felt Asik had over Dwight big time he always looked to outlet after his rebounds). Same with Capela, now Clint is young and can develop this skill into his game, but its just not there right now.


Last year the top 5 defensive rebounders on the team

Dwight 7.8
Harden 4.7
Ariza 4.7
Terrence Jones 4.3
Josh Smith 4.1

This year:
Dwight 8.3
Harden 5.1
Capela 4.4
Ariza 4.2
Jones 3.3

*Technically Chuck Hayes was 5th but only played two games so not counting him

Now it seems like the team is rebounding pretty much at the same average as last season among the top five but lets look at this though.

Harden, Ariza, Jones and Smith all have the ability to take their rebound and push the ball up the floor leading to easier transition baskets which in turn helps the rockets set up their half court defense (because Lord knows their transition defense sucks)

This year though Its Harden, Ariza and Jones who could do that. To me though Jones has regressed terribly (seriously I feel he is just looking for his and only his on offense). But Jones never was much of a guy to push the ball the same way Ariza and Harden would.

Josh Smith tough -- one of his most unique skills was his playmaking ability and his defense. His defense is sorely missed this season far more than I thought. His play making I felt would have been replaced and then some by the addition of Lawson. The one thing I did over look is Josh's ability to rebound the ball in the paint and push the ball up quickly in transition. He was really our only big man who could do that last season and that was a trait that really effected the team.

So while we are just rebounding slightly less compared to last year in the top 5, the people rebounding and how the Rockets play after the rebound is gathered is vastly different.

This decreased transition (or ability to) has hurt Corey Brewer the most who basically gets everything in transition and is probably our most lethal transition scorer. The poor team defense hurts of course because the Rockets are taking the ball out of the basket more (again missing that versatile PF defender that Smith was) which limits transition opportunities.
Face it Corey never was and never will be a good half court offense guy. His shot is mediocre and streaky. His ball handling is poor and he is moving way too fast when everyone else is not in the half court. In transition and open court though? Guy is like going to score 90% of the time it seems.

But besides Brewer transition is the only way the Rockets can get easy baskets. They are not getting enough of those this season. While I am not saying the Rockets need to get Josh Smith back and all problems are solved - if they are able to get a PF that can defend, rebound and handle the ball well I am pretty sure they'll start to look more and more like last year's Rockets than whatever they are right now.



The Rockets may not find that player so what they should try to do is have their guards and wings try to rebound more so once they get the rebound 1) they can immediately go on the attack and 2) it will help greatly with limiting the offensive rebounds the other teams are getting. I mean even if Dwight and Clint end up getting most of the rebounds - its a team mentality that will permeate into just more activity all around. Last year the Rockets did not have a choice but to rebound as a team because they had no real centers. This year they have two and letting them do all the heavy lifting and its really hurting their transition offense and defense.


I still have a lot of hope for this season this team has the talent to be a threat but its just lacking the focus and mentality to be that way. A ton of that is on the coaching (IMO JBB needs to be replaced with a different coach, one that is a stronger presence and leader), but our players are veterans and should also know better and lead by example. They shouldn't have to be told over and over the "formula for success" at this point in their careers.

Also hope we can pound the Jazz into oblivion tonight because that never gets old.

Go Rockets