The more I watch this Rocket team, the more I'm convinced that: 1) We're a MUCH BETTER TEAM than those of recent past but... 2) We have a schizo identity between the JVG Defense-first mentality of old vs. the Adelman O mentality of new. The question then is: "where do we go from here?" Of the six wins now, I feel like at least FOUR of them have come on the backs of the JVG defensive identity of old. Clamp down D. Strong man-to-man D. Tighter defensive rebounding D. And generally speaking, better TEAM D vs. the opposition. Even if it has come in spurts, be it ANY quarter, I feel like that has been where this team has displayed the greatest consistency in subduing the opponent. The Offense? Erratic... and yet at times... signs of brilliance like the Dallas game. And it would appear that above and beyond the question of chemistry between our big three, there is a more fundamental question, and that is: "is this team ready or willing to adopt a new offensive minded identity?" At times, it seems like it has. AB0 seems to fit in this mold very well. Rafer, not as much. T-Mac, healthy, would seem to fit well too. As would Yao. Hayes, for all his significant minutes, less so. Reality is, the next closest template of what we could otherwise expect as the pinnacle of an Adelman imposed "new identity" on the Rox is the championship caliber Kings of old. If you think back... almost ALL their starters were offensively dangerous. Brad Miller - passing/long jumpers, rebounding Chris Webber - top of the key jumpers, post ups Bibby - penetration, passing, the whole enchilada Peja - great outside shooting Christie - penetration, swingman, defense** **only real exception Of our starting five Yao - points in the paint T-Mac - penetration when healthy, jumpers, 3-pointers Artest - long-range threat, post-ups, rebounding Hayes - ltd offensive capabilities Rafer - ltd as well While it's still early, I would suspect the offense per this "new identity" should run better MUCH MUCH better under an AB0 than a Rafer, even if AB0 isn't raining in the points like Bibby. Tonite, imho was case in point vs. the Hornets. The fact that AB0 was even a threat to score for his speed also makes him defensively disruptive by keeping the opposing PG honest. This makes him, imho a A HUGE ASSET on both ends of the floor and better fit with this new team identity. Without that 4th, let alone 5th option, I wonder if the Rox are perhaps better off, as they have also shown tonite and other nights, to cling back to the defensive identify of old. But either way... it's clear, this team is still waffling between the two identities. Perhaps AB0 will tip the balance in the forward direction. Thoughts? theSAGE
On Defense. One thing noticeably absent is the amount of charges we draw without shane. Shane , chuck and to a certain extent Luis used to draw a lot of charges. as such we were not a very athletic team defensively, but one thing you can use to defend more athletic players is to use your body. An athletic player is less likely to convert a shot or a drive when he has to deal with a lot of body contact. Shane's mentality of hustling to draw the charge was just very infectious on defense.
and do you all actually notice.. that has been a trend of Rockets teams.. from the JVG era.. to now... what could be maintaining this trend... despite changes in player and coaching personnel... hmm..
it takes 5. Rox has 1 weapon, defence, league best. Rox is not good at offense, league 24th by now. What shall we do every game is keeping our defence and gelling together, until we eventually establish team offence like our 22win period.
That is because we usually go as far as T-mac goes. He usually starts off slow against teams that we are suppose to beat. It's like he is not in the game mentally at the start of those games.
I see AB as more of a Bobby Jackson type player.. Great firepower off the bench with a respectable jumper
to the op - a well thought post. but you listed miller as center for adelman's championship caliber kings team. you didn't even mention divac. when divac left for la and miller prospered, the kings championship hopes were long gone. so this made me question your credential a little bit.
the miller gaffe and the scola mistake kinda killed your credibility for me too. everything else was well though out. besides that stuff.
If you think TMac and Yao run Adelman's offense well, you don't know much about basketball. TMac and Yao, specifically, are why we've had problems since RA showed up with running his offense. Chuck Hayes is actually very willing to run the offense.
Thanks dude! And you are correct. Divac was instrumental. And to my recollection, a passing center. Their respective roles w/in the Sac offense for that same position seemed to be similar imho. Yao's scoring productivity would be higher than either of the two. Yet why don't we see Yao operate up top at the top of the key much like either Divac or Miller? Be a passing center in addition to a scoring center? Add even +3 +4 in assists for Yao, and all of a sudden, you have: 1. 6 to 8 pts scored by "another dude" 2. Yao saving some energy while taking adv of his height 3. Yao getting involved in the "rhythm" of the game beyond forced entry passes into the post. It seems like a no brainer for me when thinking of all offensively we can do. Takes me back to when Adelman first signed on. theSAGE
The issue is Divac and Miller are both great passers. Yao's passing is not up to either of those guys. He often turns the ball over when he tries to run the high post as a passer. The other issue is you need high energy players like Rip for the Pistons guys who are willing to run around picks and cut to the basket hard all night. Mac parks himself in one spot 90% of the time.
