That's what the other frontcourt player is there for. I've watched alot of Cavs games this year and they have the perfect model for our defense. Illgauskas is as slow as Yao but Ben Wallace cleans up the mess w/ rebounding and weak-side shotblocking/altering.
It is a problem because it leads to more transition baskets and we need some interior athleticism really, really bad.
It's too bad they don't play like I do in 2k9. Yao blocks at LEAST 3 shots a game. Hell, I've even thrown a couple of blocks with Brooks. And then there was the time I turned it to Rookie, adjusted the sliders, and scored over 100 points with Chuck Hayes. Rockets 408 - Jazz 3
This may sound weird, but JVG never trapped the PG with the PF, and Adelman always has Landry and Scola trap, leaving their man wide open for the weakside put back. I think it is time to stop trapping and lay back a bit.....stay home, so to speak. DD
Our shot blocker though does not need to be on the floor with the 1st unit he needs to trigger the transition with the 2nd unit because Mac will slow it down anyways.
That's a problem too because most teams are more athletic than us. However, shot-blocking erases mistakes. W/ the speed of the game now w/ all the lightning quick guards you need bigs that defend the rim from the weak-side. Look at the impact Theo Ratliff had late in this game tonight. How many key weak-side blocks did Cryalinko have on us in the playoffs? To go from 8th to 27th in blocks is a huge deal.
yeap, shotblocker, rebounder, finisher is what we need off the bench if he can run the floor too that is a bonus.
I would tend to agree but I think it would depend on matchups -- just like the way we use Chuck Hayes. There are some teams that just crushed us w/ the low post athleticism... Memphis, Atlanta, 76er's, Portland, Toronto etc. If we trade for a long athletic 4/5 there won't be a lineup that we couldn't defend. We could switch up depending on the opponent. Like tonight, we took Yao out and ran and came back. We should be able to run w/out having our center be 6-6.
Well, the Rockets have Deke. 2/3 ain't bad. I'd love to see the team play more straight man to man with less of an emphasis on trapping. I don't like traps except for key situations, and the Rockets do it way too much.
Interior defense has been a problem, sure. All this talk about McGrady complicates things, but itll keep getting mentioned The big ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM is the point guards. An average #18 to 14 point guard could be as much a stabilizing force as anything
You guys won't take yes for an answer. I love Deke too (in our locker room and as a bench cheerleader) but Daryl Morey already said DEKE WILL NOT PLAY....hardly ever -- just like last year when Yao was healthy. We still need a 6-10+ quick, young, long, athletic, rebounding, shot-blocker/finisher that can actually steal a few minutes as a defensive game-changer. I.E. Sean Williams, Ryan Hollins...i'd be happy w/ Pops Mensah Bonsu.
Like who? The only available starting point guard that can shoot a three and defend is Kirk Hinrich and I'm not too sure he's better than Rafer. Plus his contract is twice as much as Rafers.
The problem is that neither can that guy. That guy won't see any more minutes because the Rockets NEED Yao's offensive game. Fact is, the Rockets weren't even big shotblockers during the JVG era. The Rockets defense is (or WAS) all about shutting down the lane and forcing low FG%. If Chuck gets back to his condition from last year, he'll be as good a force as ANY shotblocker for the same price.
Avery Johnson...the guy that turned the higher-powered Mavs offense into a whimper? The guy that didn't want Jason Kidd forcing tempo? The "fumes of JVG" were Adelman playing Van Gundy's roster and sucking for the first 2.5 months of last season. Wake up and count the number of minutes Artest, Grady, and Battier have played together before making drawing a conclusion.
True, but its not based upon availability of other players. Rockets can have the starting point guard from San Jacinto Community College and no one available on the market, doesnt mean it isnt the team's biggest weakness. Actually between interior and perimeter D alternating suck days, inefficiency in simply getting the darn ball in through the hoop, health, coaching decisions, kinda hard to figure out what the biggest problem is anymore.
Doesn't that weakside shotblocker/rebounder with sisound like Camby?Let people tell it though, he plays no defense.
Yep. Camby would be perfect. Only we can't afford him w/out giving up a core member like Shane. I'd do that though and start Artest and bring back DJ Strawberry.
I forsee our age as an incredible problem. Tonights loss against the Sixers was a bad loss, but IMO it is still not time to panic. I am not giving up hope on T-Mac and our chemistry coming together. If we are still only 6 games over .500 at the All-Star break with no signs of improvement, I say trade T-Mac for promising kids. Even the most devout T-Mac fans have to be on the edge of giving up.
Bingo! The guards are doing such a poor job staying in front of their guys. Whoever Tracy is guarding will blow by him, etc. This is due to Battier being out and Ron being out as well.
This area is where lack of size, athleticism, and to a certain extent aggressiveness is hurting the Rockets.
