We both love the Rockets. I'm sick of the injuries but that has been our excuse in the Yao TMac era. RA- good coach, he won me over last season. JVG- brilliant coach, I got to talk candidly with him for a couple hours and he blew me away (I know doesn't take much) RudyT- Forever in my heart I just want to raise another banner in my lifetime; one more glorious championship. Now what is the wise way to get there? Is this the group?
Ah there is the question, the crux of the matter. Chemistry overcomes so much, look at New Orleans they are not that good individually, but add Chris Paul and they are a very good team. We do not have a player dedicated to making the others better, we have several players that work hard, some that like their stats and some that work hard, but can't shoot, and/or are limited in their skill set. What we lack, and have lacked for several years is an attacking player who passes the ball well, and sets the table for his teamates. You can win without that type of player, but you need everyone to buy in to a system, and know their roles. Neither of which is happening with this group. Is this the right group? No, I don't think so, they don't mix well...I would trade Tmac or Artest......whichever gets us a better player that fits in with the rest. DD
A talented leader is a key- far better than a talented ego Talented leaders: Kobe Garnett C Paul D Wade T Duncan Talented egos: TMac Shaq AI Carmelo Anthony G Arenas P Pierce Shaq can thank Kobe and Pierce can thank Garnett to get them over the top.
Hell yeah DD. Watching Shane Battier play defense is incredible. Until you watch him play live, close up to the action (10th row from the Blazers bench, in Portland, last season) most will not, and well, can not appreciate how much "heart" (hehe) he brings to the game. I am disgusted in those who consider Battier in a trade only considering his salary and even more disgusted in those still hurt on the Rudy Gay trade.
well i've spent enough time defending battier this season. obviously he's important but he's not nearly as useful when he's hurt. I don't want him back in the form that he was in this season so if he needs another few games or another month, so be it. now while battier is clearly our defensive leader, his absence cant possibly be the only reason we're brutal on defense right now.
Shane is a ultimate competitor and a very smart one. Camby can be used in the same sentence both are very good locker room guys and defenders at different positions both of them on the same team would break down opposing game plans.
I do believe that Shane is a great help in defense. Although, I think the Shane of this year is not the Shane of previous years. I am hoping that he comes back fully healed this time around. I also want to note that we are 2 years removed from the JVG era of defense first, and offense third (that's because defense was second as well). It's like when you go to school and learn some material in class. A year later you will remember 70-90% of it and still can apply it if necessary. But as the years go buy your memory starts to fail and you don't remember the concepts too well unless you are constantly apply it. Well, I believe that Rick A's team is trying to focus on installing a working offense that defense becomes the third cause. Even if the coaching crew teaches defense it might not be the same JVG defense which means that most of the JVG skills start to fade. This is especially true when the JVG team of old has been watered down. Currently, there are seven out of 14 players remaining that where here when JVG was here. Those players are: Rafer, Shane, Chuck, Luther, T-Mac, Deke, and Yao. OK so now take Chuck and Deke out who are basically not playing or haven't played much. Then add that Shane has been out for a good chunk of games and not been himself in the ones he has played. T-Mac can't defend to well because he can't run effectively because of his knee and his defense has always been average at best. Which means that only Rafer and Yao are capable of using the old JVG defense knowledge. Sure we added Ron A. and you may say "defense is defense". I don't agree because not all defensive systems are as good as JVG defensive system. So to finish my thought here...I agree with you in that we need a healthy Shane Battier so that our starting line-up is infused with three JVG players that can defend. ...and hopefully, our second unit is hot in the scoring end because their defense is not the best (save RArt).
Battier is definitely missed, but I really hope the Rockets don't panic and bring him or Artest back before they're good and ready. IIRC, Battier's recent string of missed games is due to trying to do too much too soon. The recent losses hurt, but what would hurt more is not having these guys in the second half of the season.
I don't think I have ever seen so many injuries, whether through lack of rehab, or just slow recovery on one team in my life. I said that we are redundant at the SG/SF spot with Artest, Tmac and Battier, but that has been wrong because never have all 3 been healthy. The only bright spots this year have been the continued hustle of Scolandry, Brooks, and Von Wafer....the rest has been...crap. DD
yes, i've always been a great fan and yes i think we miss his defense tremendously. rmbr, it was JVG who wanted Shane cos he knew Shane plays smart and plays great defense. i thought he got over the injury when he came back the last time and then he went out again. seems like Rockets is doomed with injuries. and i wouldnt write off Artest just yet, i think last years starting 5 and Artest, Brooks, Landry, Barry, Deke at the bench would bring us past the 2nd round if all stays healthy especially Yao, Tmac, Shane and Artest. winning a championship....hmmm....that depends on the players themselves whether they can all take it to the next level, each and every one of them. remember, even the Celtics last year didnt win with the Big 3 alone, they had other players stepping up like Powe, PJ, Posey, Rondo.
It's a combination of things ATM. The biggest one is health. Then figuring out how Artest inserts himself. This really does effect the chemistry alot, not Artest because he was not here last season so it can't be pinned on him as the reason, but when you take away things to insert something and trying to stay healthy this really bothers the team as a unit because they already know their roles from last season especially Yao coming back as well and Deke not being here and Brooks getting more minutes, this has effected the team on the court and for the most part off the court being injured. Notice those guys are our real chemistry core as well.
The three best defenders on this team are Shane, Ron, and Chuck. How many combined minutes are they getting of late? That's the first place I'd look.
No doubt in my mind about that.....Artest is a great individual defender, but as a team defender he has been average to below average. Shane is always in the right spot covering for his teamates. There is a reason we have had one of the best defensive teams ever since he got here.... Sherrif Shane baby ! DD
I can't wait to have Battier back. In contrast to some who were open to trading him, I always said I want to see him retire as a Rocket. But I think there is more to it. I think rhester made some very good points. I hope we can move a little bit more back to the JVG system (never thought I'd say that) and to the emphasis on defensive intensity that has been the identity of this team (and the current roster) for years.
