I've noticed a very significant trend since Landry went out. First noticed it with the Hawks, then again with Charolette and the Lakers. Finally Boston and NO confirmed what I had seen. The reason we are struggling on offense (not just T-mac but also shooting poorly is the rest of the team) - is simply a result of a lack of finishers. By finishers, I mean a guy who can get the ball and just rise up and dunk it. Yao Ming, Bonzi Wells, and Carl Landry all could do this. Why is this so key? Because if you notice, when T-mac has drive of late, he gets picked up by two or three defenders. In the past, he usually found Yao/Bonzi/Landry to finish for a dunk or easy shot. But they aren't there, and now instead, he's dishing it outside to the perimeter. So defenses have adjusted. Play him tight on the perimeter and if he comes around - massive help defense. If he goes to the wings, they are throwing a zone at him to contain him with two guys and force the ball out of his hands. The results is what we see tonight - he's totally taken out of the game. Problem is that with the lack of height and only perimeter players beside scola (Hayes/Deke not offensive threats) - and with the lane clogged up now so neither T-mac nor Rafer can drive effectively - our offense stagnates. With Landry in the game, Particularly Landry/Scola at the same time, defenses can not come up and pick up t-mac or rafer on penetration, because t-mac particularly is a great passer and will find Landry cutting for the dunk. Thus you have our sputtering offense. I think things will be ok when Landry returns. Not for just his points, energy and boards (badly needed by the way)....but also because he will open up the perimeter and keep the defenses a bit more honest. Here's hoping you come back soon CL.
Yes, this is the sole reason for the offensive struggles of the Rockets lately. Scola and Hayes have been blowing so many layups. Without Landry finishing inside, we're also losing our outside game. We need Landry back and soon if we're going to hold our ground.
Good post. I agree, we need someone who will just put the ball in the basket down low. Landry needs to come back, and fast.
It is not just finishing at the rim it is also the midrange game, basically taking advantage of the holes in the defense. When you replace Landry with Hayes....your defense goes up a bit, but your offense DIES. DD
Pretty much. Its been a problem on this team for a while. Scola and hayes have to trick guys to get a bucket. Landry and yao can go up and finish. I've always thought a guy like McCoy as a backup to yao could catch the ball and finish some of those plays. I even think a guy like Woods might actually finish some of these dumpoffs better than hayes. I actualky like the harris kid as a finisher. I was hoping green would show something and get some minutes
Maybe the critics are right. We beat NO without West, Dallas without Dirk, Lakers without Bynum and Gasol and we couldn't beat Boston without Allen. Definitly Yao and Landry is our 2 best guys playing inside the pain. That's what happen when this team start shooting real cold from the outside.
Agreed. Landry can finish. And he is athletic. But is a hobbled Landry capable of finishing the same way? If you are just pointing this out I agree. If you are saying put in Landry ASAP, then I don't know...
I totally agree DD I may well be wrong on this, BUT before we hit 'the streak' Hayes was starting - things turned around when Scola became the starter and Hayes fell out of the rotation. Love the hustle that Hayes shows, but we can't really afford for him to be a crucial big minutes player on court since we already have that 'defense first' style player in Battier at one of the forward spots (at least Shane can offer the three as an option on offense!)
I just tried to type a response explaining what Landry means to this team. I couldn't do it because it is difficult to illustrate what his presence does for this team to someone who has not watched him play this season. For those who have (most members here) there is no reason to explain.
I am not so sure. Don't get me wrong but Houston's way of winning was a new commodity to the league. Play hard D and then on O move the ball around and let TMac create for others and hit the open 3. The problem is the secret is out. Everyone knows the formula for beating the Rockets, "Double Tmac, never leave Battier to Double always leave Hayes or Deke to double let Rafer beat you from the 3 and Scola from 10-15 ft but not inside. They will bet that Rafer won't have many games like he did against the Lakers. If he does they will probably lose but that's how they will play Houston for now on. No easy shots for Battier or Tmac... No easy inside shots for Scola, let him beat you from 15 and Let Skip to my lou beat you from the Arc. No Landry throws a wrench in that plan in that he creates alot of second shot opportunities and he shoots a high percentage. But it's not like he is a superstar and the other issues or still there. Consistency from Rafer is more important IMO.
This makes sense. LandLand for Scola, it doesnt make qualitative change. He can create some second opportunities, but you cant put your offense on his back. IMO, we should risk to handle the ball to Rafer, and let T-Mac make no-ball-run. It's time to prove hes also a good passer, or lets make some moves. My Englsh is poor, wish you can understand.
I think one play simply points out this problem in the NO game. Chuck Hayes was free for a slam on the fast break after a steal. He got fouled and didn't finish it. Landry would have slammed it and drawn the foul. Quite simply I think we under estimate what a dunk does against the other team. Since Landry went out we have struggled offensively. Its not just a trend. And T-mac has had to work extra hard since then. I think its simple deduction
None of our wing players can get by anyone off the dribble without some sort of play being called (we don't really have many plays just that same PnR at the top of the key). Shane, Harris, Head, and unfortunately tmac. You watch many teams play and most teams have many players who can do this if not all. Even when we get something open the oposing team can chase them off the 3 point line and they have no other option on offense.
Another disappointing fact about Scola is that he has lost confidence on his mid-range jumpers. Granted, he has gotten a lot better with his lay-ups, for some reason, he can no longer stroke those jumpers like he used to be able to.
Landry makes a difference, sure (no question Yao would). If Yao or Landry or both were out end of January, this streak wouldnt have happened. The parts kept progressively wearing down as the streak went. To be expected really, except for Yao being out the entire year instead of weeks out... Landry would make a difference but not 20 and 30 points difference. He's a great finisher but its not like he's a 40 minutes a game guy like Yao. Rockets lose to Boston Landry there or not. Opponents have caught on to the Rockets. Not to where they've been "exposed" but to where its gonna be extra tough for them to execute on offense from here on out.
No LAndry is not a superstar - but if you noticed our season started turning around with his emergence into the rotation. Why? Because he does something that opens up the game for both rafer and t-mac. Where as scola as a post player clogs the lane - Landry doesn't post. Instead he plays the baseline and waits for opportunities to cut or pop out a bit. T-mac and Rafer need this - it prevents defenses from coming up when they drive. With Landry out, notice how little Rafer and T-mac are finishing at the rim. Defenses can lay off of hayes and scola in a way they wouldn't with Yao and Landry. I don't think we should rush Landry back - just saying see the difference he makes when he returns. All of a sudden rafer and t-mac's fg% will shoot up, as will their assists. His stat line may not show it - but Landry forces defenses to stay true....something Hayes does not do - and that scola does to a far lesser degree.
good analysis. Landy would not allow a team to play 3 players into the driving lane against T-mac as he would punish them from the baseline.
Thats why successful teams have a good balance of inside threats, post players and perimeter shooters.
