the heat got MORE fouls called for them than the rockets and the rockets shot MORE free throws than the heat DISPUTE the rockets intentionally fouling the heat at the end. just stop.
McGee is very athletic, but his perceived worth is much higher than what he actually brings to the table. He lacks offensive moves and relies too heavily on his athleticism. He also allows himself to get taken out of games. Mediocre power forwards routinely look like all stars against him, and although he usually gets a lot of blocks, he does so by jumping at the slightest pump fake and jumping out of positions on fadeaway jump shots rather than keeping position, boxing out, and grabbing the rebound. In short, he's both a horrendous defender and a very pedestrian offensive player. He's 23 right now, but looking at his frail frame and reliance on athleticism, absent a progression in both defensive and offensive technique, he's extremely vulnerable to injuries ravaging his career, rendering him a second tier player at best.
Good, hard-fought, game. The Miami-Litmus Test... “I hope at this point we’ve proven to ourselves that we can compete with anybody when we do the things we talk about. If we continue to do the things we’ve been doing thing past month we’ll be ok." Shane Battier
I believe that I mentioned this earlier. In the beginning with Lowry at point, they were running the PnR to perfection and Miami had no answer. Once Lowry got into foul trouble, in comes Brooks and all ball movement ceased. I attribute this to the fact that AB is actually a pint-sized two guard who is playing the point out of necessity. Here's a story that sort of backs your position. Tyson Chandler has been instrumental in turning around the Mavericks because he's a legit center. But his career has been marred by injuries. The Hornets gave up on him for that reason. Over the summer, he played for the US National Team. The Mavericks' trainer was a part of that team. Afterward, he goes to Donnie Nelson and Mark Cuban and tells them that Chandler was 100% healthy and ready to go so the Mavericks made the trade for him. He gives the Mavs defense, rebounding, size and scoring in the post - exactly what the Rockets have lacked since Yao started going down to injury. This is the type of move that winning organizations make. While the Mavs were doing this, the Rockets were signing Brad Miller. It remains to be seen if Morey will ever be able to plug the Yao hole but at least now, there is no longer any pretense that Yao Ming is the answer at center or the foundation of a championship team.
I like your analysis here. What Morey needs to do is what Dallas did when they got Tyson Chandler. Then you can live with a center tandem that includes Patterson.
Exactly, he never looks comfortable running the offense because his first instinct is to attack and score. He looks hell of a lot better when he doesn't have to be responsible for keeping the offense running.
20 points 9 assists and zero turnovers, but nah, he doesn't look comfortable. Our PG's were NOT the problem......people need to step back and take in the big picture and stop with all the petty whining about one player starting over another. This team has a hole in the middle, PERIOD...a big giant gaping hole in the middle.... And until they address that, they will be a mediocre team......and no, sportsfans, Melo does not fix that hole either. DD
Yeah im not sure what a (super)star does defensively either, unless we're talking about Iguodola, and while he's a good defender and more athletic than battier, you're really not getting a huge defensive upgrade at SF, except for the 15 mins Bud was playing, not sure if that's enough. I've brought up getting someone like Udoh, possibly for Hill. Although i like Hill and he's got a more complete game i think it may be the only choice we have. In that scenario we'd get more of a defender and lose some offense, but what if then we flip some perimeter player for that scoring (super)star? Makes alot more sense to me, but it'll be difficult to pull off that trade sequence. I dont think it's that interesting...not good obviously, but i think it just says more about where they took their shots and who took them, not sure if that's what you meant or were just pointing out we need a shot blocker. Chuck alone got blocked three times and Bud twice...that's over half of them. Anthony didn't shoot and Z shot a lot of jumpers, just not a lot of play for them deep inside the paint, unless it was wade beating our man, who was too far out, and getting a layup. Basically our unathletic bigs and their overly athletic wings.
Big men are either untouchable or overpaid underachievers. Finding that third category (decent skill, decent size, decent motor) is no small task.
Note, I meant to write, Big men are either untouchable or overpaid underachievers. Finding that third category (decent skill, decent size, decent motor, decent contract) is no small task.
That is why I was so dissappointed that we did not take a risk on Roberts or Whiteside....in the draft. But with Whiteside riding the pine in Sacremento, he could be had for the right price. We are overloaded at Wing, why not CBud for Whiteside? DD
I've never seen shot many shots rattle around the rim and go down in one game. Ridiculous the bounces miami got tonight. great effort though.
That's not so different than all the of the gleeping over a guy (Williams) who they scooped up from the D-League in New Jersey. And remember: you are responding to a guy who was onboard the Malik Badiane love train that went off the rails some years ago.
As fans, we have a tendency to over-analyze losses. We examine the numbers, reflect on critical possessions, and hypothesize on what could have been had things been different. Last nights game was not that complicated; the Heat are simply a more talented team than us right now. In fact, they're more talented than the overwhelming majority of teams in the NBA. The reasons we didnt get blocks isnt just a matter of not having a big man- only a handful of big men are strong, agile, and talented enough to deter D-Wade/Lebron coming down the lane with a head of steam. Either player is an adroit finisher, at times opting to pull up for a short shot, at others attacking the basket head on, and at others, getting to the basket and altering the shot in mid-air (reverses, double-pumps, etc.). I consider Courtney Lee to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA. He's quick, has good lateral quickness, and last night he tried admirably to stop Wade. But he couldnt. Our best chance at winning the game last night was outscoring the Heat and forcing them into bad decisions, but instead the opposite occurred. On somewhat of a brighter note, AB played phenomenal. Take out Brooks offense and ball handling, we're not even in the game.
