I've seen a lot of post regarding the Rudy's offense and how it would be best for him to improve it. We've also heard posters here, as well as Rudy himself (on radio) say that the Rocket would NOT implement a five-man offense. He warned that Rocket fans not get too excited about them running a Sacramento style motion-offense. It wasn't going to happen, they said. As time goes on I'm growing more and more convinced that Rudy doesn't have the knowledge or players to implement such a system if he wanted to. Rudy, please prove me wrong! I do think that getting Yao has been a catalyst into at least Rudy investigating an offense that doesn't requiring just giving the ball to your best player and letting him run around like a chicken with his head cut off. So, Yao's addition to the team has fueled change. Something that took Hakeem 10 years to learn (team play). Now let me give you my view of what TEAM PLAY can mean for the Rockets. For one, I don't want a Sacramento Style offense here in Houston. That system fits a team where all five players on the court are almost of equal talent. Bibby, Christie, Stojakovic, Webber, and Divac. All very good players, not great. I mean, who is their "best" player? The key is that those players mesh well and play as a TEAM. THEY HAVE TO! Strength in numbers. And Sac has depth, that's for sure. But for the Kings to get into a one-on-one situation (like the Rocket do) would harm their game immensely. The Lakers (Shaq/Kobe) and the Rockets have the luxury to let players go one-on-one and still win. But the problem is that Rudy implements that tactic most of the time. Uh, can you say predictable!? What I envision is a mix between what the San Antonio Spurs do with Duncan and what the Philadelphia Sixers do with Iverson. Tim Duncan is their anchor (Yao for us), and Iverson is their leadership/scoring (Francis). Both teams implment a team system that is customized for their players. But they DO play as a TEAM. That's the key. Neither team plays an ALL-ISO style offense. They use Iversion on the ISO sometimes, but not always. Many times they use him off the pick. Duncan? Well, he's Duncan and Yao could fit that model very well. As far as the Spurs team play, well, it's one of the best in the league. Parker and Genobli do wonders with their passing and cuts. Both players play well within a team system. But, make them go one-on-one and they suffer. So, I see our team utilizing a mix of one-on-one ability of Francis, as well as the team play of Yao into some type of Sixer-Spur combo. Complete with pick-and-rolls, screens, backdoors, alley-oops, drop passes, and ISO plays when necessary (I consider this a luxury when used sparingly). We would have something that the Spurs do NOT have: A one-on-one guard. And we'd have something that the Sixers didn't have: A dominant Center! This quasi-Sixer-Spur offense would be a dynamic offense the Rockets never seen before. It really makes me frustrated when I watch old Rocket tapes from the 90's and see Kenny Smith bring the ball up the court and drop it down to Hakeem, over and over and over and over and over...the same play! No changes. Stagnant! So predicable. If it was up to Rudy, he'd continue to do this with Yao and Francis. But the fans have spoken. Wise up Rudy. It's time for change. So, to reiterate. A Sacramento Kings motion style offense would NOT be good for the Rockets. But a Sixer-Spurs offense could fit well with the Rockets. By the way, one of the my favorite offenses of all time is the 82'-83' Sixers -- A starting five for the ages: Julius Erving (21.4 ppg), Bobby Jones (9.0 ppg, often off the bench), Moses Malone (24.5 ppg, 15.3 rpg), Andrew Toney (19.7 ppg), and Maurice Cheeks (6.9 apg, 184 steals). They were a sight to see! I hope I can say that about the Rocket in a few years.
As long as Rudy is the coach, the offense will be just iso, iso. The Rockets are just unbearable to watch. We have one guy dribbling the ball while everyone else is standing around watching. Watching some of these playoff games, some of these teams just seem like a well-oiled machine. It got me thinking as to why can't the Rockets do this? Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Pleaze Les, get rid of Rudy. Let him go coach New Orleans or something. I can't stand another year of Rudyball.
DavidS don't underestimate the defense both the Sixers and Spurs play, especially their two leaders, as opposed to the rockets defense especially by it's leaders, of course Yao's defense will get even better next year, but who knows with Steve?
I'm not quite ready to give up on Rudy yet as our coach, but I do think that there has to be some new blood on the coaching staff or front office to bring in new ideas. I think that Rudy with some new assistant coaches around him could do a pretty good job, assuming that they are not all "yes-men." A former head coach might work, ala Del Harris in Dallas. I am not suggesting that Del Harris is the guy, just someone like him that has some head coaching experience and a fresh view on our players and system.
The thing to keep in mind though is Rudy could get away with that back then because there were no zone defenses allowed in the NBA and he had Hakeem Olajuwon, the league's best player not named Michael Jordan. Neither is the case anymore and it shows out there on the court. Rudy MUST adapt his system to the new rules and to the skills of the players he's acquired or else this team will never go anywhere. If he can't adapt(and I personally don't feel he's capable of it), then he needs to do what's best for the organization and step down.
chris webber is far and away the kings best player, end of story. he is their best scorer, he is their best passer, he is their best rebounder, and he is best at running their offense. the old 90's offense with hakeem worked just fine, as predictable as it was. it had it's flaws and could get bogged down, but all systems do that have as many limited role players as our team did. i think we made the most of what we had back then, which was shooters who couldn't do much else and a dominant low post threat. as for the rockets O, i would love it if we ran the triangle eventually. but we have neither the personnel, the experience, or dominant post up person to run it as of now. in two years, i think we will. while i think the triangle is mostly a fancy name for system uses dominant post players (which jordan was also) and good shooters to attain exquisite spacing and defensive imbalance (i.e. over playing certain options like a shooter running one direction for a short handoff from the post player only to cut back and use a rub off from the post player to get a wide open 18 footer), i'll go ahead and use that term for what i want us to run. but since that is two years down the road, i'll go back to the present. what i really want is a lot of good shooters. i just drool thinking of yao not being able to be doubled all the time or steve not having 4 people in the lane waiting for him b/c they know we can't shoot. or i drool of think of the above happening and knowing teams are gonna get killed for doing it. our best nights this year were when the outside shots were falling. teams tried to overplay steve and yao and got burned and everything looked great. now imagine that being a nightly thing b/c we don't just have to hope eddie or rice or posey are on. even if cuttino doesn't shoot a spectacular 3 pt %, it's enough and consistent enough that teams will respect him and allow for spacing and enough that he can make them pay when they don't. eddie and posey could not do that and rice didn't do enough of the making them pay part except for about a month and a half after the injury (or unless he was playing pho or the clips). if i can't have the shooters, then i want some movement off the ball, with picks set to make the movement happen. i'm still not sure how successful it will be if teams don't fear our shooting but i'm sure it would help some. i especially want this when yao posts. that cutting to the lane thing only worked for so long until teams just knew to keep up with the entry pass guy and not allow yao to drop it off in the lane. now we should start using picks to help people get to the lane. and if the pick is overplayed, the picker can pop out and yao passes it to him and he hopefully hits. one reason sactown or utah or dallas or others can use picks so well is b/c you have to worry about every single option on the floor most of the time and thus can't overplay to take away their picks. overplay bibby when webber sets a pick for him, cwebb just pops out, catches, drains. it's easier when everyone has offensive talent, which is why i'd like to get shooters in here before i expect to see any real changes in efficiency regardless of the system.
well i hope so b/c he doesn't play very good defense as it is. he may be a defensive presence b/c he's 7'5, but he's not a good defensive player. he could get driven into and knocked back a little to allow big men to shoot over him. guards could drive, use their bodies to bump yao back in the air b/c he has no strength, and prevent yao from blocking them even with a huge height advantage. his mobility hurts us on pnr defense a lot and allowed big men open 12 to 13 footers b/c he couldn't come out to get them on other plays. he doesn't seem to have a knack for blocking really (certainly not the way eg or hakeem do in terms of just being a natural). on his biggest posterization of the year (the kobe one) he was high enough to block it, he just whiffed. he's not great at boxing out and he can't go get a rebound if it bounces away. like i said, he's a presence that makes people think twice about going into the lane, but i hope he gets a lot better in some of these areas to really anchor our D in the future. i hope it's all just a strength and comfort with nba play issue that will go away shortly. well his mobility will always hamper him. of course shaq has never played any defense and that hasn't turned out so bad. he's just a presence like yao is now. maybe yao can use not being content to just be a presence to compensate for not being as dominant offensively as shaq to help us as we win all our rings in the coming decade.
Shaq doesn't play any defense? Shaq was 6th in blocks, 13th in blocks per 48 minutes, and was the #1 defensive rebounder of all NBA Centers. O'Neal had an off year, but usually ranks among the leading Centers in steals. Those are pretty good stats for someone who is "just a presence".
Most people think that because they assume that with Shaq's size, strength, and mobility; he should be blocking 5 and pulling down 16 rebs a game. He easily could if he put more effot into it, but since he is also one of the best post offensive players in the league, he lets his dunking do the talking. The best example of what his defense lacks, is how Hakeem would run the floor and block a gimme-layup (KJ). Shaq can't do that in the same manner than Hakeem could. Most of what Shaq is used for is a presence. He never contests shots unless he is on the weak side. Hence why we don't see players posterize him too often.
Wow, I think I might/could/would read some of this stream of consciousness post if you'd put in some paragraphs and capital letters. As far as our offense goes, we've seen flashes of cutters, etc while Yao works in the low post, but I suspect that it takes time to work. We missed out on that because of the missed training camp and Yao not really being strong enough yet to establish position or prevent being stripped.
And it's no coincedence that they're in the playoffs. The ISO offense is great when you have one of the top centers in the history of the game in his prime. (All hail Hakeem) DavidS is right. I don't know if Rudy, God bless him, has the knowledge to run anything BUT the iso offense. He never HAD to with Dream. Is there a team in the playoffs that runs our kind of offense? All good things must come to an end. The championships are now history and it's time to move on. How long can we keep living in the past?
Pardon my ignorance, but what's with all the Larry Brown talk? Is his contract up in Phili or something? I thought he and Iverson were all buddy buddy now, why would he leave/get fired?
Most people think 5 blocks and 16 boards? I think "most people" need to be informed that... * only twice in NBA history have any players averaged more than 5 blocks per game...Eaton and Bol...once apiece. * no one in the history of the NBA has averged 16 DRebs in a season...Elvin Hayes' 13.7 in '73-'74 & Kareems 13.4 in '75-76 are the best. Dennis Rodman will probably make the HOF solely on rebounding and his highest season was 12.3. As much as you (or I ) get stoked about Dreams block of KJ, there is much more to defense than the agility to chase someone down. Shaq's "presence" has made careers for Fisher and George, and extended Fox's and Horry's. Regardless of how you want to "define" Shaq's D, you only needed to watch the Lakers this season before and after he showed up to understand his impact.
What type of a game are you all calling for? Do we have the right players for it? Do we need to improve or change our Roster to play that way? Do we need a pass first Point Guard? Do we need a Power Forward that compliments our Center? Do we have players that need to be Traded at all costs? Do we have the right Coaching Staff ( Assistants) to coach the Team to the Championship? How many seasons will it take for our team to gel under your proposals?
What type of a game are you all calling for? 5 on 5, not 1 on 1 Do we have the right players for it? yes Do we need to improve or change our Roster to play that way? yes Do we need a pass first Point Guard? yes Do we need a Power Forward that compliments our Center? yes Do we have players that need to be Traded at all costs? possibly Do we have the right Coaching Staff ( Assistants) to coach the Team to the Championship? NO, not even close How many seasons will it take for our team to gel under your proposals? 1 or 2
Didn't Francis have a tiff with Larry Brown a few years back (2000-01 season) on the court after a rockets blowout over the sixers where despite having victory assured, the Rockets rubbed it in with a Langhi alley oop?? Might not be the best idea...
You're absolutely right. It's been so many years, we need to move on and think about the future. Although Rox look pretty awful right now, I don't see another team that has a brighter future if Yao & Steve stay put.
Clutch recap : We've said it before, but this is the best the Rockets have looked all season. With a rejuvenated Hakeem Olajuwon, a hot-shooting Matt Bullard and an unstoppable guard duo of Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis, the Rockets absolutely humiliated the league's best team in their own building. Rockets 112, Sixers 87. That's correct... a 25-point ass-whooping of Allen Iverson and the once 36-13 Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets, who improved to 24-25, are absolutely dominating Eastern Conference teams, winning 13 of 16 against the East this season. What a game to be stuck elsewhere. Had a late night at work that kept me from witnessing the trouncing on the tube and got updates while at the office from the Clutch Chat crazies. Place was going berzerk... just an amazing performance from the Rocks. FINAL Houston Rockets 112 Philadelphia 76ers 87 ROCKIN' Hakeem Olajuwon Thank you Mr. Dream. That's two in a row now, can we have another? If Hakeem's revival is for real, the Rockets are in business. Olajuwon has put up 36 points and 23 rebounds in his last 53 minutes of action. GOT ROCKED Mo Taylor Mo could manage to hit just 2-8 shots, scoring 7 points and 4 boards, though he had one nasty dunk on Theo Ratliff They did it with defense too, picking 14 steals from Philly, forcing 20 turnovers, and turning it over just 10 times themselves. It starts with Olajuwon, who has gone from aging malcontent to hap-hap-happily kicking some serious tail in the paint. The Dream posted 18 points, a season-high 14 boards (including 8 offensive -- a sign of how active he's becoming), 3 steals and a block in just 25 minutes. He put up 9 of his 18 in the third quarter. How ironic is it that there are only 3 teams with better records than the Miami Heat in the East, and in the past 48 hours Olajuwon just took 2 of them to the woodshed. Welcome to Pat Riley's personal hell. Francis as well was brilliant, hitting 9-17 shots for 23 points, 6 assists, 3 boards and a pair of steals. Rockets kept pouring it on that reportedly Francis and Sixers coach Larry Brown were having some heated words at the end of the game. The coach was apparently hacked because Shandon Anderson threw an alleyoop to Dan Langhi in the final second, and the Francis-Brown shouting match ensued. Brown's only comment on it was, "They played great until the last five-tenths of a second." Responded Francis in kind, "I love Larry Brown. I'd be mad, too, if I was just spanked at home." And as good as he was, Bullard was shooting even better. Matt hasn't played much lately, but he responded in grand fashion, draining 3 triples in the second quarter, scoring 13 of his 18 points in the first half. While Francis and Bullard hit the shots, Mobley did not, going just 5-16 from the floor -- but he more than made up for that. Cat was 12-12 from the FT line, grabbed 9 boards and picked 5 steals to go with his 23 points. Cuttino Mobley putting up something other than points? Say it is so. Iverson led the Sixers with 26, but hit just 10-28 from the field. Theo Ratliff added 14 points. Clutch can be reached at clutch@clutchcity.net no biggity. Brown's still THE MAN for the job. Can we get him ? Prolly no. But maybe one of his proteges.
I watched the Rockets-Suns game when the Rockets beat the suns to clinch the season series 3-1. The rockets won. They had a great, very good second quarter. That's when the game was won. Unfortunately, what the Rockets did to the suns in the second quarter, happened to them in the third quarter. They scored only about 11 to 15 points in the third. Needless to say, they made it a game again, even though they won. My point is, I haven't seen the Rockets play team basketball, unselfish basketball for 48 minutes. I only saw 12 minutes of good, fundamental basketball by the Rockets. One solid quarter. Against the Lakers, in that double overtime game, the Rockets played well only in the fourth quarter. I hope they can put together four quarters of good unselfish basketball next season. Even for just one game.
