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[Self-Flaggelation] Play-by-Play for 4th Qtr (1/27)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by durvasa, Jan 28, 2008.

  1. poprocks

    poprocks Member

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    Needed Deke, Not Novak
     
  2. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    I thought I was pretty even handed in describing that play. Also, maybe I wasn't clear ... they weren't defending the pick and roll. The PnR was on one side, and they were the weakside defenders. Novak's man was in the corner, and T-Mac's guy was on the wing. I don't know who's responsibility it was to be playing off their man, but considering that Korver is their best 3-point shooter and we was on an island by himself in the corner, I would think Novak should have stuck to him. If McGrady is helping in the lane, we still had another defender up top who can get to his man.

    T-Mac is a lazy defender, I won't deny that. I think I pointed out some instances where that showed in the fourth. But he doesn't almost single-handedly destroy a defense like Novak. T-Mac has played big minutes on some very good defensive teams since he's been with this team; whenever Novak has been on the court in his short career, we've consistently sucked on the defensive end.
     
  3. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    No doubt....he needs time on court to figure out how to be even an adequate defender.

    But Steve Kerr, Matt Bullard, Kyle Korver, Kapono...lots of guys with a special skill like Novak has have learned how to at least be decent.

    Also, coaches can help mask their weaknesses by playing a zone...ala Sloan last night....

    The Rockets lack a person that can hit the outside shot with some consistency.....while I don't know if Novak is the answer, I would certainly like to see him get some time...particularly with Yao on the court drawing the double teams down low.

    DD
     
  4. Blake

    Blake Member

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    It was nice seeing Adelman put Novak in...JVG was too stubborn with his rotations and never really seemed to try things like that in the middle of games (yes, I know he started Steve once against Phx). That said, Adelman left Novak in the game for far too long and it ended up hurting us more than helping us.

    I think Steve made a case for spot minutes, though. He finally showed us that he really is a good outside shooter
     
  5. TeamUSA

    TeamUSA Member

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    I noticed how Novak got lost in the defensive rotation. I was suprised why RA put him in the 4th quarter still.

    But another thing was forced shots by Tmac.
     
  6. SuperMarioBro

    SuperMarioBro Member

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    I don't think McGrady on Korver is a bad matchup for us by any stretch. If the Jazzholes run Korver off screens well enough, it wouldn't matter who is defending him, but McGrady has more than enough speed, strength, athleticism, and length to bother Korver. He would do as good of a job with it as anyone on the team.

    ... There might have been a little bit of a problem with effort, though, but I didn't notice it that night.
     
  7. SuperMarioBro

    SuperMarioBro Member

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    ^^^
    To add to that, though, I wasn't really looking for it, to be honest. It wouldn't surprise me too much as McGrady does get like that on defense sometimes.

    ... That's one thing I miss about JVG. He definitely kept all our guys motivated on D. Even McGrady. And a motivated, energetic McGrady on defense is even better defensively than Shane Battier... In fact, Hayes is the only 1-on-1 defender on the team that is probably better than a poised McGrady.
     

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