Watching these last two playoff games, it has become painfully obvious that our guys just don't like taking on contact when going to the rim. It is amazing, how they will all contrort and twist their bodies to avoid the Utah defenders. This is 100% the wrong way to play against Utah, they will contest every shot, and foul you instead of giving up a layup. So, what do the Rockets players do? They slide sideways to avoid the contact and toss up a half hearted attempt at the basket. I really hope tonight, the team throws caution to the wind and when a Utah player goes up to block the shot, jump RIGHT INTO THEM...force the action, make the refs call the foul. And, then...we must hit our free throws. Luis - stop twisting, go up strong Bjax - take on that contact Tmac - Come on now, get into those trees and take that contact on. You want shooting percentages to go up.....GO STRONG !!! If the Rockets can somehow do that, they might be able to sneak out a win...but they have to stop playing into the Jazz hands. The Jazz foul...that is what they do, they are aggressive defenders, so you have to be aggressive offenders....(heheh, I like that)..... Please.....guys......Take on the contact. Bull in a china shop is what we need. Thank you. DD
Risking career-threatening injuries in a game at which even if they lose, they can still get a free pass? I say they are too smart to take on the contact.
In general, you're right DD. But remember, these are the Rockets you're talking about. 1. We're not a strong group, so we likely won't make the shot if there is contact. 2. Because we are the Rockets, we likely won't get the call if there is contact. 3. Even if we get the call, we won't make our FTs because we don't believe in practicing them. So, for our team, it is better to avoid contact and do the Scrubola thing (flip the ball in the general direction of the basket).
Why do you keep calling him Scrubola? The guy is getting 14 and 9 in the playoffs and is pretty much the only big that is doing anything. Sure he is struggling in FG% but outside of Battier, everyone is struggling against Utah, and Luis is actually shooting better than Tmac... I look for Luis to come around, this is his first taste of NBA playoff basketball. DD
14 points off of 12 layups and roughly 65% FTs is in the realm of a scrub. He will remain Scrubola until he learns how to finish.
I agree with DD's point for everyone except McGrady. He is already playing with an injury and he doesn't have the body type to take heavy contact without getting further injury. We need him on the floor if we're to have any chance of winning. The rest of the Rockets need to go up strong. They are more likely to make their shots if their taking the contact for granted when they go to the rim.
Some of each. The uncontested ones were clearly more horrific. Why does he do a reverse when he has a *clear* path to the basket? Why does he flip the ball towards the basket? Remember when he missed the hoop completely in game 2 when he was 4 feet away? I'm sorry, but a 50% for layups just doesn't cut it (unless you're a scrub). TMac is also inefficient but he's a perimeter player. In fact, that the problem with the Rockets ... they are simply a very inefficient, ineffective team right now.
Meh, they all need to take on the contact.....drive, drive, drive. Aaron Brooks figured it out by game two, too bad Rick took him out. DD
I agree. We just don't attack hard enough and maybe that's why we still don't get obvious calls. Looks like players just want to avoid the contact...
Take on the contact.....and then try to make the shot....and hit your FTs....our defense has been good enough, our offensive mentality has been the problem. Take it to em. DD
That's that. Defense has been pretty good, Jazz scored only abou 90 points in their previous 2, we were just TOO weak offensivly.
Yes, but that is not something that anyone who follows the team didn't already know. We are getting better by putting more bulldogs out there, but we still need a bulldog PG... DD
Again agree, Bobby loves to shot jumpshots, but we need agressivness.... Aaron did a great job of attacking the rim, maybe Rafer will change something ( I hope he will be agressive) ?
We don't really have guys built solid enough to take that contact and get slammed to the floor. The problem is (and i've noticed it when they play other teams too) the Jazz are aloud to foul you in the paint. It has just always been like this and i don't know why. You have to make it painfully obvious that a foul has ocurred but do you really wanna see tmac, scola and our little guys crippled? I'd rather they just finish, a layup in good position is still a gimmie even if it is contested.
you have to keep in mind that our lack of athleticism plays a part in that. guys like luis and BJ can't just go straight up because they will likely get blocked, cleanly. they have to be clever putting up shots, though i agree sometimes scola does too much. there were a few times he could have gone straight up and ended up making the shot tougher by trying to do a reverse or by some crazy maneuver in the paint. BJ is old....
Contact is all the Jazz is made up from. If you don't bring back our own medicine, then how do you expect to win?
