Oh lord, that is funny, and also shows how misleading stats can be, of course you are taking his total stats from the first 5+ games where he was getting his feet under him and playing 10mpg. Not surprised, though... DD
The is in a WAY better place and JB gets all the credit. Are we done? no. But I'll say I've noticed the offense is more fluid and there is more off the ball movement. I've also noticed the team is actually giving Dwight the ball in his sweet spots now. The defense is still horrendous but I'll say the team is a totally different team and it's because JB switched up the bad habits McHale gave us
HP, I disagree. I think that it's only a concerted effort rather than a concerted commitment. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
Tonight will be a very telling display of if Bickerstaff has truly made a difference. If this team is the same as it was under McHale, we should see a lot of easy buckets and errant shot selection. I'm looking to see if or if not they can come out and take care of business similar to how we treated inferior opponents last season
Why are you not surprised? That you are dead wrong? have you just given up then? You said his introduction into the offense (presumably, what you meant by his body/ball "move[ment]") was a catalyst in recent wins. Given that the Rockets offense has sputtered badly when he's in the game, at least in aggregate (there's probably some garbage time in there that distorts it), it does not appear to be the case It's a stupid thing to say he has been the x-factor, espeically based on a small sample size, I agree, but you said it, lol . . maybe you should give yourself a long talking too about rushes to judgment, so that you avoid this - either way it's not believable for you to simultaneously believe: 1. This: 2. And this. Either it makes a world of difference, or it doesn't because it's too small to matter. Can't be both. Do you understand? One more point of agreement - it is funny that still after all these years you haven't learned your lesson.
The McHale era: Blown out by Denver Lost to Brooklyn Lost to Denver Lost to Dallas Lost to Boston The new, 'turned the corner' Bickerstaff era: Lost to Knicks Barely edged out Philly Barely edged out New York in OT Blown out by Detroit Lost to Brooklyn Lost to Denver Lost to Kings
We're seeing a lot more variety on offense. More postups for Harden, more handoffs at the elbow, big lineups with Capela and Howard starting together. I don't think we would have seen this with McHale. I think the offense overall does look mostly the same, especially if Harden is doing well (in which case idgaf), but seeing changes leaves me optimistic about Bickerstaff. Defensively, I think we're still lacking in consistent effort. I personally don't think coaching can do much about it, but it's the major issue with our team and if it's really fixable by hiring a new coach, then I'm all for it. Lineups. I don't think Thornton is being held out of games because of Bickerstaff. Every year around this time and after the trade deadline, our lineups are just plain weird from a coaching perspective. However, they always make sense from a GM perspective...
Personally, I prefer Bickerstaff to McHale, simply because I think he's a better communicator...but it seems many still don't realize McHale was fired as a wake up call to the team and not because the FO thought it would change things up significantly in their system. It was obvious the players were slacking off and just weren't listening. You can't fire the players, so Les had to find a way to wake them up, so he fired the coach. I'm not saying we shouldn't look for any differences, but because the main issues are due to limited skills within the players, it's unfair to expect a coach to turn it around by simply adjusting X's and O's.
I don't understand the no changes from coaching. There are definitely changes from coaching. - Harden resting mid way through 4th instead of resting at start of 4th - resting Harden for extended time (less min for Harden) - yanking Lawson from starting lineup (although that was likely made before the coach change) - limiting Lawson mins, even a DNP in one game - the 1st ever timeout call to ensure an inbound pass in years - early on, Harden POST moves - twin tower starting lineup - less effort on clapping - involving Howard more (eye test and might be due to his back getting better) - etcs... The team has definitely played better and at time looks like an elite team.
Coach Thibs can't coach offense to save his life. That's why he was fired in Chicago. No way he is the coach in Houston. The 3pt, layup/dunk philosophy is not what Thibs wants.
Not much different. Honestly, I didn't get the feeling that McHale nor the players were devastated. So, that bickerstaff isn't the magic cure isn't a knock on JB to me. Looks like a guy trying to make the best of a bad situation. I think the Lawson situation needs resolution. Deal him or integrate him...doing neither was a gigantic anchor to the first quarter of the season.
For one, I think it was slight hyperbole on his part. No need to take everything so literal. Two, even if you do take it literally, he didn't give a time frame. He didn't say that Dmo has made a world of difference since his first minute back on the court. He said that his body and ball movement is "helping" the team. You broke that down into a stats thing. Dmo could be helping in less tangible ways. Just like Terry's leadership and experience don't always equate to great stats when he's on the court, or Beverly's tenacity may just be something that help the teamget fired up in general, or Some people believed Josh Smith was a bridge between James and Howard. Sometimes, intensity, maturatity, focus...ect can be contagious...Ball movement and body movement certainly can be as well...
Coach Thibs was fired in Chicago because he didn't get along with Gar Foreman and John Paxson. The Bulls are almost identical this year offensively as last year. Also Thibs has no problems with the 3pt, lay up/dunk approach. He runs a guard dominant offense that he adjusted through the post when Rose was hurt.
