Shane report to the scorers table - stat !

I'd still argue that JVG will do a much better job on the D end.

 

Do you think our transition O has been better without Battier, then? Are we getting more fast break points this year compared to the last few years when Shane played significantly more minutes? I can't tell. But I am pretty sure that our transition defense has been significantly worse.

 

Offense is a problem but not as much as defense is. We literally can't get stops right now when we need to.

 

Timeouts substitutions blah blah blah. How can you prepare defensively or offensively when you never know each game who is going to suit up and play. You will never build any kind of defensive or offensive continuity when you have a revolving door of different guys each game. There will no success this season if we cannot build any kind of chemistry and that is built by having some consistency with our lineups.

 

The Rockets might only score 85 points with Battier. But then the other team is only scoring 80.

We've also been used to what even an 85% effort & health McGrady can do for the team. Heat checks aside he had ability to lift the team and lead them to victories. Now that he doesnt have those abilities (or he's subconsciously boycotting, whatever) we see how really flat this team can be.

Looking unlikely but if these 2 terds can get freaking healthy along with Ron Ron (going leebigez here, I TOLD you guys Artest wasn't a healthy player), Rockets will be in much better shape.

 

Maybe, but he would have a hard time as well with his scheme if he didn't know who was going to have suit each game.

 

Shane is really underestimated. Miss his defense.

 

Record with Battier this year: 10-6 (.625 team)
Record without Battier this year: 12-10 (.545 team)

There's something there, but even with Battier, they're still not great. If he's the key to success, then the Rockets are a low-50 win team at best.

 

It's too early to compare records like that. Of course we're a better team with Battier. But he alone isn't going to make up for the absence of a healthy T-Mac and Artest. They are the key to our success. Or at least they should be. Battier is just quality depth.

 

To people who actually love the game of basketball and seek to know it as best as possible? Yes.

To people who actually pay attention to the games? Yes.

To people who think Lebron's "crab dribble" was a totally legal move? Not so much.

 

HEALTH is the key to success.Without HEALTH the guys cannot build and chemistry and continuity without these things you have an average team.

 

It's not right for the team concept, however that would not matter anyways it's veterans won't get no younger and replacing Rick is a bad decision because the young guys seem to have baught in and newer guys post JVG era have baught in it's the veteran core Yao, McGrady, Battier, Alston, Mutombo, Hayes, Head they was more about defensive philosophy, but are important to the team in other ways and aspects. You don't move Yao though because he is hard to replace and Mutombo just sit him and let him retire.

Scola, Landry, Brooks, Yao, Artest, Wafer are the guys who would seem to fit in better under Adelman and his philosophy. If any moves i think the team would look to move guys post Gundy era who are still here except Yao and Battier. The other guys though either broke down, bad contracts or are aging and washed up so it's best to move specific players instead of replacing a good coach like Adelman to build something.

 

Artest was a no brainer type of move and would not have mattered much because Greene would not have been ready anyways.

 

What's funny to me about Battier is this:

He's often in the corner waiting for a three, but when a turnover or long rebound happens, he's *always* back on D.

TMac, on the other hand is often near the top of the key when this happens and he is almost never back on D.

 

DD- the defensive problem isn't that simple.

Since Dec 1 this team is giving up 97.5 ppg

JVG would have been in the hospital with chest pains with those numbers

The problem is that the rotation, coaching and intensity has changed under RA-

1. We are not clogging the paint- coaching- our former defensive scheme was set to defend the 1/2 court and clog the paint- forcing teams to shoot over us with the shot clock down.
2. We are not using the best defensive rotation -Chuch Hayes is a very good defender and was used extensively in a chemistry role with TMac and even Yao to get better post defense. Shane is missing and that hurts our transition defense alot. Give you that one. But we used to slow the game and play more inside out and high pick and roll, by running more of the motion offense you give up some transition down and dirty shut down defense. Sorry that is the way it is- Just ask the Kings under Adelman.
3. The defensive intensity is set by the coaching staff. There is none.

Sure we need Shane, but it is becoming blatantly obvious that this roster doesn't fit RA's system.

You have brought up those Portland teams and their defense.

It wasn't the kind of defense this team can play. They ran alot and had great finishers and good one on one on the ball defenders.

This team lacks quickness in the post, and Shane and TMac are the only 2 really good on the ball defenders. Right now TMac isn't even giving 50% on the defensive end.

Let's just say that the JVG defensive culture is gone. It is now dead.
The RA offensive culture is not going to work with current cast,
and RA and Morey have a huge challenge getting us another NBA championship, which Shane isn't going to deliver this year.

I am only interested in moves that get us substantially closer to winning the Trophy. So if that means we need to get value for TMac, Yao and Artest right now and rebuild I am all for it if it is the right way to get the Ring.

I know Les would never do that even if it meant we could stock up #1 picks and rebuild because he is all about money and selling tickets.

EDIT- I forgot Artest- another very good defender. Need some major chemistry and coaching changes to maximize this roster.

 

Patience is a virtue, as is wisdom and discernment.
I would be patient with RA, but rebuild the roster to fit.
Yao and Tracy aren't going to work in his system.
Yao is a 1/2 court low post player. He is too large and awkward to move away from the post. He is deadly within 10 ft of the basket and his defense has improved also.
He is not a good on the ball defender but is very adequate with a good team defensive scheme.

When I met RA he told me point blank he was going to move Yao out more away from the basket and use him like B Miller those were his words to me.
I freaked and just about became a hater!

But, last season he left Yao in the low post and ran mostly the 1/2 court offense. The one TMac fits in with. The defense was about where Gundy had it also.

Unfortunately the Jazz are a horrible match up for this team, especially Yao and Rafer being out doomed the series also.

I can be patient with Adelman but not this roster.

They have to be put in a position to win and they have a egocentric superstar who probably feels soreness in his knee and doesn't like his role in the system.

So you know what- I did predict last year that this team would rebuild completely before it wins another NBA championship.

That will happen and I will try to be patient.

Thank you for the sermon it helped.