We have to think about this...when Brooks's shot isn't falling, which almost seems to happen more often than not, what exactly does he still bring? His defense and passing are both atrocious in comparison. Yes, shooting is a plus, but it's clear that it isn't as important as defense and passing. I would make a rondo comparison, but that's pointless since we know Lowry isn't rondo. Still, when brooks is not hitting his shots, he does absolutely NOTHING.
Pretty much. Billups closed out the game. which reminds me of the last few meetings between the two and better PGs...Brooks best defense is his offense. I think with all these weapons it may have hindered what he did back before last season. Before Martin. Brooks WAS the scoring option. He was the primary guy, and now he's been knocked down from that perch with Martin and Yao and even Scola looking like a beast. I think Lowry is just used to playing PG so when he came in the team looked like a team again. Honestly it will be better when Brooks is in the game just tell him to attack the opposing PG. Let him get his confidence up and tire the other PG down. That was his best defense last year. I think he's too passive, not driving and much and settling for bad shots.
JVG was an offensively challenged tyrant who deserved to get canned. I give the credit of the good defense the Rockets played to Tom Thibodeau during JVG's tenure. Rudy also deserved to be let go. His offensive tactics were similar to JVG - throw it down to your star and get out of the way. Not many screens or off the ball movement; very limited as an offensive tactician. Thank God for Hakeem. IMO Morey has done the best he could've with the resources available to him(salary cap, available players, and draft positions). Adelman has not. When Adelman came to the Rockets I was excited, because I recalled a lot of player movement, and screens being set during his time in Sacramento, something that didn't happen when Rudy-T and JVG were coaching. However, I have only seen glimpses of that offense since he's been here. Instead I see alot of standing around and one-on-one YMCA pick-up like ball being played. This is where the coach needs to step in and make them run sound thought-out offensive plays. But, it just doesn't seem to happen. Any blame Rick gets IMO is deserved based off of his coaching of the resources available to him.
Brooks is different with Yao. Which makes me believe Brooks cant start with him. Well not the way heplayed last year at least. He thinks he is stil the go to scorer of lastyear. He is not. When Yao is in Brooks is the third option when Martin and Yao are in the game. Might even need to consider that unless he is open? He is the fourth option with Scola in the game for more accurate post up movs. Brooks cant adjust to that fact though.
I seriously hope that Aaron Brooks isn't approaching the season with this mindset, DD. It's not that it's wrong-headed, or even unnatural. People are people. These players are human. Brooks may actually feel slighted or looked-over monetarily. But not focusing on what he can control on the court is not the way to make a point. I don't think that's Brooks' problem right now, myself. Not as much as having to adjust to Yao Ming's presence (sporadically), and sharing the ball and scoring with Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Yao. It takes a lot to know when and where to pick your spots, especially as a point guard. Brooks job is to make the best play for the team and the situation at hand. That may mean that he scores twenty-some-odd points one night. It may also mean that he scores a half-dozen another night. To be a point guard on any team is to facilitate the function of the ENTIRE offense. Not just your own scoring. Brooks can shoot as often as he wants and likes because he's going to have the ball in his hands 90% of the time. Ironically, Chauncey Billups is a good guy to look at if you want to see how a point guard can control a game without scoring a meaningful point. He did it tonight. Brooks is good enough to figure things out, I believe, DD. But he'd better do it in a hurry. The franchise's ship is sailing with Yao Ming, apparently. I hope that doesn't mean that Aaron Brooks has to walk the plank because of it....
This. When AB isn't smoking the opposing PG on offense, he becomes his own worst enemy. He starts to press and takes bad shots. When we played the Lakers, he had the slowest PG on him and got into good rythmn on offense early. He looked good. Otherwise, we got to see the ugly side of AB's game playing the Warriors and Nuggets. One thing for sure, AB is no Tony Parker.
I went to the game, sat near the Nuggets' bench. Carmelo was looking around the arena as if he was 'sizing us up.' It was weird. About the game: I've said it before and I'll say it again.. trading Ariza for Lee wasn't a good move, I never understood it. Why trade your starting SF (who also happens to be a good defensive player) for a backup SG? Our rotation should be: Brooks/Lowry Martin/Lowry Ariza/Budinger Scola/Miller Yao/Hill It's just a more balanced team. Lee has shown flashes, but we are really weak at the SF position, and one of our best players is a SG.
Because if rockets trade for Melo, RA will sit him on the bench and play Hayes or Battier ahead of him.
Battier should shoot at least 3-5 more shots a game. Less threes and more mid-range attempts + lay-ups. In the past 3 games combined he is 5-11(1-5, 3-4, 1-2). There were plenty times where he could have. I know this is only one small piece of the puzzle, but a piece nonetheless. Hayes should not be shooting more than Shane in a game.
Yep I agree. If we are gonna waist possessions with Chuck Hayes might as well post up Battier more often instead.
If that's the case, we have a problem. We are not going far without a dominant big anchoring the defense. We are not going far without a PG who can distribute the ball on offense. We need both AB and Yao. We need them to work together, not against each other.
No **** Sherlock. Brooks was burned on defense, and he could not guard anyone without fouling (see how many PFs he has?). Lowry played good defense, far better than Brooks. You did not watch the game if you think otherwise. "Stop acting like a girl"? Really? Are you 6?
The 04-05 team started 6-11 and that was the second best team we have had in the past decade. I think this team has the potential to be better than that one. Just sayin.
