Premature comparison to the Hakeem offense

I've read comments that we're going back to the center-centered offense, the same old successful thing that brought us two championships. From a 10,000 foot level, that might be true, but if you really think about it, our current offense will be significantly different, and in many, many ways, much more fun to watch.

Hakeem flat out dominated with his ridiculous array of moves. His passing developed later in his career, out of necessity. Yao has a much more well rounded game, and his passing ability is every bit as important as his post up moves. In fact, I think history will remember his passing as unique among centers, just as history will remember Hakeem's lightning quickness as unsurpassed among centers. Yao's passing is/will be the critical difference between the two offenses.

Clutch City I was an offense predicated upon Hakeem's dominance and spot up shooting. Little or no movement. Hakeem was in his full glory and could carry the team himself, and frequently did. We won championship I because our perimeter players were able to hit enough shots to punish double teams. (I still think we might have lost to the Sonics, as we had years in a row, had they not collapsed early in the playoffs). Clutch City II was Hakeem and Clyde and catching lightning in a bottle. I honestly think the 2nd team was better than the first. The team defense was spectacular, Clyde was a one man fast break. However, the offense was not terribly different than CC I, Hakeem in the post, spacing. The only difference was Clyde's ability to drive, post and fast break. But that offense was mostly individual effort, breaking down opposing defenses.

Clutch City III (at least what I'm hoping will become a championship team in time) will feature much more movement and teamwork. The only similarity to the Hakeem offenses is that the ball goes into the paint first. After that, the differences overshadow the similarities. Yao looks for back door cuts from the weak side and from the entry passer. He looks to shoot and score. When the double team comes, he already looks for the weak side skip pass for the open three (it took Hakeem nearly a decade to figure this out). We have already seem glimpses of the post, and re-post. I don't recall seeing that in Hakeem's game (but memory fades).

However, Yao is not and will likely never be the unstoppable offensive force that Hakeem was. Enter Francis. Francis will not post, but can run the pnr game. Under jvg, he will do it properly (not the weak pick, dribble, go back to where you just started, wind up going one on one at the end of the shot clock, and heave up a horrible shot - not that pnr). Under the Hakeem era, we never really ran pnr. We were strictly low post and kick out offense, whether it was Hakeem, OT or Clyde. Then again, we didn't have the ball handler/penetrator that we have in Francis.

To reach the pinnacle, you can do it on dominant individual talents, or overwhelming teamwork and synergy. We will have to do it with something in between. No doubt, Yao and Francis will have to be able to make individual plays in the 4th quarter, as must all true superstars.

But if this team fulfills its potential, it will run like a well oiled machine. I struggle for a comparison, to think of a team in NBA history that we could become like. But there haven't been too many Yao's or Francis' in this league, not with their size and skill set. But we will reach the top when Steve knows where Yao is, as Stockton always knew where Malone would go before he ever got there (cringe at the jazz comparison). It will happen when Yao learns that he is our best option on offense, accepts that enormous responsibility, and rises to the occasion.

Before the Rockets made their offseason moves, many folks (i seem to recall me, manny ramirez and deuce) were saying that we need to get role players to compliment Yao and Steve, so that they could begin to fulfill their potential. We were saying that this is a pre-Phil Jackson Laker's team that needed to ship off some chiefs and get more indians. The improvement that I see is a combination of JVG's efforts and the front office's efforts in bringing in people like Jackson, Pike, Braggs, Griffin. JVG now has options. If you don't adjust and sacrifice for the Yao and Steve concept, you'll not play.

In any change in management, there is an initial period of conflict and resistance. Great managers and coaches set tone and precedent right away. In some respects, the injuries and circumstances surrounding Mobley, Taylor and Griffin's absences from the team may help us. It allowed JVG to play people that were willing to break their backs and play the way JVG wants. Now the precedent is set and the train is moving. It will be interesting to see if Mobley, Taylor and Griffin catch that train, or get sent to some other destination. (I predict Taylor will adjust just fine, and be a potential stand out, ala Cato).

I've now rambled too long, but for the first time in a long time, I'm excited about Rockets basketball. My expectations are high and I think we'll live up to them.