During halftime of the game, Kenny Smith made the comment that the Rockets and Knicks were going to get around 80 possessions each in their game while the Spurs and 76ers got around 100 each. He said that was like the difference between him playing Ernie Johnson one-on-one in a five-possession game versus a 20-possession game. He stated that in the five-possession game, EJ had a shot just on luck, but the more possessions they have, the more likely Smith would kill him. That illustrated an intesting point for me so I did some looking for stats and found out a few things. The Rockets average 87 possessions per game (from 82games.com) compared to a league average off 90. That isn't horrible, but consider the following. Here are the Rockets ranks in six offensive categories: PPG - 26 FGA - 28 FG% - 17 FTA - 28 TO - 19 AST/TO Ratio - 22 When you rank near the bottom in nearly every statistical category, slowing it down is a BAD idea. This is particularly true when you don't get to the free throw line AND don't shoot the ball from the floor particularly well. Add in a poor assist to turnover ratio and you have the makings of a disaster. Slowing the offense down is designed to help the team by increasing Yao's touches and forcing other teams to beat the Rockets on the defensive end. The Rockets still rank as one of the best defensive teams in the league in every major statistical category. They are also still the best team around at shutting down an opponent's first options - a hugely important element to defensive basketball and very underrated. The problem is that this only works if you run an efficient offense meaning you must pass well, shoot for a decent average and keep your turnovers low. Failing that, you have to get more possessions to make up for the poor conversion of your offensive possessions and, more importantly, you need to get easy baskets to make up for your mediocre field goal percentage and lack of free throw attempts. I've never liked JVG's offensive concepts. I personally find them boring and totally lacking in creativity. I think it also requires that teams be extremely efficient on the offensive end and I just don't think that is a reasonable standard for the majority of NBA teams. So, if you cannot be perfectly efficient, you need to get more shot opportunities, more free throw opportunities and that means attacking rather than slowing down. I'm the first one to preach patience and I still believe that. I still believe that this team is going to improve and I honestly think that this is a team that requires a few years to build around its two young stars. That is why they have T-Mac locked up to a long-term deal and why they will lock up Yao next summer. However, there is also a point where you, as a coach, have to make adjustments to suit your team. If they cannot adjust to your style of play, you need to adjust to them. This is particulary true of a team like the Rockets that seems to have a lot of oddly matched parts right now. You will have the low post, slow-it-down game intact for down the stretch when you need it and in the playoffs, but you HAVE to get out on the break, run the secondary break (something JVG's mentor knew something about when he coached the Lake Show) and find a way to get easy baskets or trips to the line. If you don't, you are just not maximizing your talent.
One of the funny things was that JVG would always frantically wave his arms at Mobley and Francis to bring the ball up quicker and get into the offense faster - and would always make sarcastic comments about it. I guess so we could get more standing done? I kid, I understand the more time you have in the HC offense, theoretically the more opportunities you will have to get a good shot. But anyway, good post. The bottom line is these are Van GUndy's pieces. If he can't get them to fit, the responsibility lies with him.
That is done because the plays he runs are long. They are designed to start around 16 seconds into the shot clock and run down to around 6. If they don't get into the offense until 14 or so seconds on the shot clock, they run a greater risk of a shot clock violation or a rushed shot at the buzzer.
Yes that is a good point too; I forgot about that. He seems to rely on set plays to our collective detriment sometimes. Francis, Mobley, and now McGrady don't thrive on set plays -- they're not Reggie Miller or Alan Houston.
I believe 99% of our posters here have faith in T-Mac and Yao. After all, they are still young and they need time to gel. As long as we have these two locked up and we keep finding the right guys to build around ''em, I"m ok. I"m patient. I can wait. A few more years. No problem. I love the process, and being part of growing up with the team. However, what I can't stand is the way JVG makes Rox plays basketball. The way he develops Yao worries me. The way he restricts Yao's certain aspects of game worries me. God forbid, I'm afraid he might change how T-Mac plays. He might force him to play a totally different style of b-ball that T-Mac will never get used to just like Steve. That worries me. JVG can't develop players. Period. Look at history. I want our old Rox's style of play back. I will not settle for Houston Knicks.
What plays? You mean the dump it in to Yao, and have everyone stand around and watch play? Or the McGrady on a catch and shoot off a screen play? This offense is too predictable.....and needs more motion...cutters, back cuts, slashers...... Paging Mr. Sloan.....stat !! DD
Hmm..I liked the Knicks offense. Tmac himself last season found ways to score..now he has Yao Ming and a good cast of shooters.. I think we go too slow..we take too logn to set up..sometimes that is good for Yao..but we should balance it out..maybe another scorer like Bobby Jackson..maybe an offensive coordinator lol but we need to do something.. I think we should just get an open shot ..and shoot it..more uptempo and more shots..not bad shots..Yao should take some open shots..even Jimmy has open shots..Ward does too lol. Let Tmac do whatever..I'm pretty sure that the other guys are smart and know how to play basketball..just simple..get open shot and shoot.....or givei t to Yao..
I'm not sure that is necessarily true. McGrady is still one of the finest shooters in the league when he is set. Plays in the half court are designed to get open looks and the Rockets' sets often do that. The problem is that the team doesn't make great decisions with the ball and doesn't shoot particularly well. I honestly don't mind the number of set plays. What I mind is the fact that JVG seems doggedly determined to get those run no matter what. It reminds me of Hoosiers where Gene Hackman demanded that his players make four passes before shooting. He did it to make a point, get open shots and build chemistry. When the team improved, that became less important. If JVG was in that movie, he'd make them do that no matter what the situation, or at least that is how it seems.
I agree. I think the Rockets should be more opportunistic on the offense, and shorten the play a little bit. Esp. when you consider there are so many new players on the team. Seems there are more flow in the game when guys are playing a little loose. As of now, the way some of the play are run is like pulling teeth.
Is anyone suprised at our standings in the offensive categories? This isn't a told ya so post. But something isn't working here. We build a solid lead, and just cruise from then. We need to keep attacking, keep shoving points down their throat. Instead, they get a couple buckets on us and we don't know how to start our offense backup. Keep attacking!! We have TMac and Yao Ming!!
Come towards the light, Jeff. Seriously, that's all I was trying to say in your other thread. I don't expect this team to score 120 ppg and play like that Nuggets team years ago that ran the fast break on every single possesion (I can't think of the coach of that team, but he came right from college). But I just don't see us forcing the action on the offensive end. At one point tonight, we had a 4 on 2 fast break (the announcer even said it) and what did Jim Jackson do? Pulled it up, set up the 1/2 court offense. BTW, defensive stats mean nothing if you can't score more points that the other team.
Nice post, Jeff. When I heard Kenny Smith say that, I said "YES, thank you" out loud. From yet another perspective, when you build around offensive talents in TMac and Yao, you envision them maximizing their potential (and WIN totals) in a mid- to high-90 point game. I just remember JVG's comments about the Big Mac giveaway's last year, something like, "I wish they'd do the give away if we held the other team under 80 pts., not when we score 100." This team is NOT the Cavaliers circa the Fratello years. If JVG doesn't adapt and find a balance, he will end up being the misfit on this team.
JVG is the Greg Davis of basketball. He has a total of 4 plays. Well at least Greg manages to blowout bad teams. The funniest thing for me about JVG's offense is even when one of his 4 plays is working, he will quit calling it for no apparent reason.
Stats don't mean crap if your winning. I would accept the pathetiic looking offense if we were winning but I don't remember a Rocket team blowing so many big leads like this season. And you can blame that on the players if you want. But it was the players that played that way to get the lead. and then they played stupid. Everyone blamed or stupid play on Cat and Steve. And everyone claimed we had increased or basketball IQ immensely by dumping them and adding TMAC. Well maybe CAt and Steve weren't as stupid as some thought and Maybe JVG is not the genius that everyone claims. All I know is if they continue this play you are going to have to change the clutch back to choke. We lost the heart of a champion somewhere along the line and that is not acceptable.
Yeah I am surprised..our offensive stats aren't good at all...rankings or whatever and pcheung you still remember that lol..why don't they do that promotion anymore we never score 100 anyways
No one is going to do that again. When your team had Dan Issel and Alex English, two of the best pure shooters of their generation, you are bound to score a lot. I was talking to a friend today and saying that I bet there aren't 10 players in the current league that can hit 70 percent of their 15-foot jumpshots. But, in 1987, I bet there were 30 who could do that. Big difference.
I don't believe that to be true. I've seen at least 10 or 15 sets that the Rockets run and I know that every set has probably a half dozen plays and each play has probably a dozen potential combinations depending on how the defense reacts. It isn't the number of plays that is the problem. It is the choice of plays and how they are run.
Exactly. He is rigid and unbendable. We could have beat the Hawks and Knicks easily if he would let the horses out of the barn. Just shut up and let em play on the offensive end, relax, and start canning stuff, and going to the hoop when the opening presents itself without regard for how many seconds are left in the clock or running a certain play. Create a big enough point spread through superior play that we dont have to go down to the wire every game against the low lifes of the league.
Was Kurt Thomas one of them? You're right. And it was exposed during the Olympics. Big time. But I digress...
