Watching this team struggle on offense I keep asking myself whether the cause is the lack of chemistry with the newly constructed roster, or the lack of structured sets by Kevin McHale. It is clear watching the players on the floor that they seem out of place, confused, and lack spacing for everyone. I was wanting to get some opinions from fellow clutch members on what y'all think the problem is. I knew coming into the season there would be growing pains, but there seems to be something else at play. Kevin McHale doesn't seem to have the players buying into the system (if there even is one in place) and there doesn't appear to be a clear cut leader on the floor for this young team to help guide them, and keep them under control during stretches where the team is struggling offensively and defensively. The players seem to become lethargic and uninterested on the defensive end when the offense isn't clicking, and getting easy buckets, when they should be using defense to create those easy buckets. Just some observations I've made during the young season, and I'm trying to give this team time, and not freak out, but it's hard when I had such high expectations coming into the season. What say y'all?
Even when Howard has gotten touches he's not a great back to the basket player. He's got his spin move, and running hook shot, but without the threat of a jump shot, and his lack of consistency hitting his hook shot the majority of his points come from alley-oops, dunks, and put backs. I'm not just talking about tonight's game, I'm talking about the season as a whole.
Our 3's aren't falling so far. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rockets&src=hash">#Rockets</a> shoot under 30% from 3pt land for 4th straight game (27-100 overall in those 4). Casspi & Garcia 2-15 combined in last 2 games.</p>— AdamWexlerCSN (@awexler) <a href="https://twitter.com/awexler/statuses/399383260142505984">November 10, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> It was like this last season. We started the season horribly from the 3 point land. I remember the Grizzlies broadcasters even saying don't defend us at the 3 point area, they can't hit anything from there. That quickly turned around
As others have noted, even the Heat started off really rocky. Clearly the team is very far from making the best use of Howard. The players almost never pass to him on time, often miss him when he's open. Bev hasn't started many games. Harden is nicked right now. Bev just got back to 100% this game, I think. Let's give it time. At least 20 games.
Intensity is also an issue. There are trends. When this team starts out slow, they do better in the 4th. When they start out strong, they do worse in the 4th. We're not even running as much as we did last season.
Doc made the adjustments which including packing the paint. Nice job. It worked and we lost. Our coaching staff needs to make quicker counter-adjustments as well. It's almost like we have a plan A and then plan B is just wing it with different players but with the same stategy.
First six minutes just inept offense, and middle of 3rd onward, lethargic/lacked intensity and confused/flat. Four guys standing around. Howard goes to post, calls for it, we just swing ball around repeatedly, they start pressuring perimeter and denying/deflecting passes. We apparently seem to have no options and force up impossible to make shots at the last second of the shot clock. The Garcia botched fast break layup was a costly turnaround, but a super lethargic feel overall, and the Clippers players who should have been scoring in the first half finally started to do so. With Harden healthy, we might have fared better offensively, but it would make sense for the team to figure out how to score without relying on him. Parsons tried doing something about it very late when it was too late, so not sure if that really counts. I would prefer seeing a legitimate 4 who can decently score in the low post, has some grit (uses elbows appropriately and balanced base/core - see Chuck Hayes) and can do work in the paint, has some strength and won't get pushed around (like Casspi), and some decent mobility and lateral quickness inside to help out and get in position defensively (also see Chuck Hayes, but taller).
So I'm seeing lack of energy/hustle/effort, bad 3 pt shooting, and not giving Dwight the ball when he has position in the post. 2 of those things should be fixable by the coaching staff, and as well as we shot the 3 ball in the pre-season I have hope that aspect will turn itself around....hopefully soon. If the hustle, and getting the ball to the post don't get corrected when should a coaching change be made? Too soon seems like a panic move, but too late, and finger pointing could deteriorate the chemistry between the players.
I believe everything will sort out. I don't expect Asik and Dwight to continue starting. If Dwight is there alone, the geometry of the floor should open up and the weak side 3 will be there when he posts up due to a perimeter swing. This would also allow Dwight to have a bigger area to work on his man. Having said all that, we actually have improved in this regard but you can tell that it is a struggle to fully integrate him, as it should be because post play utilized all 5 players on the court and each one has to do their job. If you didn't expect some early season woes, I don't know what to tell you. I will say this though, do you know who would look mighty nice in a Rockets uniform right about now? Del-fine-o. He was such a pivotal piece for us last year and I think he would have been a great release valve this season. Seemed like a good locker room presence and a very good ball player at that.
Our 3pt shooting sux plain and simple. + our best 3pt shooter (Lin LOL) didn't take a jumpshot tonight because of an injured elbow or wrist or whatever.
Dmo should start. I think he fits the best with the starters out of all possible 4's. Plus if he got consistent minutes he could actually grow and get better. Plus dmo might actually be our best post up scorer on the entire team. He's a good passer, can put the ball on the floor, has some range that could help spread the court more. And he's 7ft. He can still help with rebounding, defending the rim...and he's got to at least be on par with with Casspi guarding the post 1 on 1. What we're doing isn't working well. I'd like to at least see us try it.
