The coach hasn't changed from 2-3 years ago when the Rockets were one of the best defensive teams in the league. Yao isn't quite where he was, though his presence does have an unmistakable impact. Brooks, Martin, Budinger, and Scola are all key rotation players that are subpar defensively. And Battier is not what he once was. Still players will figure it out and play better team defense as the season wears on. Unless the losing gets to them mentally and they start to tune out the coach.
Whats the difference between a 7'6 asian centre and and a 7'6 black center? Is a slow, fiesty, unathletic moving American power forward better than a slow, fiesty, unathletic moving Argentine power forward? What are you trying to imply?
I was going to make my own thread, but this is a good enough place for this. These lineups are lacking some seriou synergy. This is on Adelman and Adelman alone. I know this won't be a popular opinion but Scola needs to come off the bench. Our starting lineup can't stop anyone and Yao is racking up fouls so fast it is becoming a problem. With Yao/Scola you have zero lateral quickness and zero team defense amongst your bigs. This is a problem, specifically with Martin/Brooks being such weak defenders. West/Odom were literally blowing by Scola at will and Yao would rotate slow and pick up fouls. With Hayes you have two above average man/team defenders in Hayes/Battier and Yao who is much more effective defensively when he doesn't have to rotate. If you are able, go back and watch the first quarter again. Once Scola sat and Hayes came in, the offense and defense instantly picked up and took a healthy lead. Think back to how many charges we use to draw and how many we draw now. This is all about rotations, which is completely void in our lineups right now. When Yao is in the game he is the go to post option and Scola is not a good off the ball player. He gets a ton of rebounds but his defense is literally killing this team. It doesn't really make sense to have Scola in there if he isn't posting up, which is his greatest strength, and the same goes for Yao. With both of them in there, there is always one guy who isn't utilizing his greatest strength. Hayes should start alongside Yao and leave when Yao leaves. Scola and Hill can rotate in when Yao's time is up, and Scola can be the goto guy in the post, while Hill plays hustle/defense guy. Brooks / Martin / Battier / Hayes / Yao Lowry / Lee / Budinger / Scola / Hill
Someone rep this man. Print out this post, make it poster size with some pretty background pictures and tape it all over the windshield of Rick Adelman's car.
Because 2-3 years ago, the team still got a little of JVG's defense tradition left. Now as time goes on, it's all gone. Adelman knows shiit about defense. I doubt he even talks about it before the game or during the practice.
That starting lineup is a better defensive unit, but defense is useless if you can't get the rebound, and that lineup will simply get crushed on the boards. Also, I'm not a fan of Yao playing too many minutes with Brooks. Since Yao is playing limited minutes, the minutes he does play need to be effective, and that wont happen as long as Brooks continues to intentionally ignore him in the post (happened 4-5 times tonight).
I've been saying this all along since the end of last season. Office will be fine this year, but defense is going to be a big problem. The slowest center pares with 2 of the worst defensive guards in NBA, with a nonathletic short PF and an aging wing, how can the defense be good all season long? Too bad Lowry isn't playing close to last year's level, otherwise he should start.
As long as AB and Martin are on the court, the defense is down to the pathetic level. Moreover, AB is a brainless nut.
Its either Aaron or Kevin that have to go to the bench cause this start is prove that can't defend air.
