First, let me get this off my chest. Please no more, "Adelman is running Gundyball". What a joke. Would Gundy have ever allowed Yao to take an outside shot? Would Gundy have ever limited Rafer's pathetic shooting? Would Gundy have ever had a pick and roll with Yao and Tmac where Yao actually got the ball back! Would Gundyball every be smart enough to see making Yao chase little point guards was stupid? Why have a 7'6" guy running after points when he should be back in the paint blocking shots and trying for rebounds. Yao is averaging 10.4 rebounds shooting at a 55% clip while blocking 2.7 shots and getting 3.1 assists. Those are better numbers than he ever had in any season under Van Gundy. And yes his TO's are slightly higher but he is still adjusting to Adelmans offense and will only improve. On a side note even McGrady's % is up higher than any year with Gundy. So the early results are in and Adelman's Rockets are already doing much better than any team under Van Gundy. That being said the Rocket's still have some problems under Adelman most of which could be negated if we had a PG that could hit a freaking open shot. Yeah I know some things still haven't changed. But what it boild down to is Rafer/James and Hayes/Scola are shooting liabilities and shouldn't be on the court at the same time. With Tmac and Yao getting so many double teams and Rafer and Hayes guys always living them to help cover the 2 stars, one of them has to be able to hit an open shot. I mean come on if you are wide open in this league you should be able to hit an open shot at least 40 percent of the time. I am not talking about being covered or someone running in your face but I am talking about being wide open. We know Hayes will never be able to hit an open shot but he does so many other things on the court that you can accept that. We also know Rafer has proven as a Rocket is he can't hit an open shot. Occasionally he will make some tough shots but we don't need that from him all we need is for him to hit an open shot. So we all had hoped that Scola and James could come in and hit those shots but right now they are just as pathetic. Battier is okay about hitting his open shot but if you notice other teams have wised up and aren't leaving him to help. They are leaving Rafer and Scola and Hayes and James. My point is that unless one of those guys can hit an open shot we will not see Adelmans' full motion offense because what's the point of moving around to the open guy if he can't shoot. Until we can get a PG who can make a basket just once in a while we will place too much pressure on Yao and Tmac to do it all. So Adelman has been limited in running his offense and Stevie has been a problem rather that a solution but so far he seems smart enough to know what works and what doesn't and move forward with that. Plus he gets credit for freeing Bonzi. B+
James is a decent to good shooter, he will come around. Hopefully Scola can come around too. There is always Landry, he can definately hit outside shots. There is also hope in Brooke, who might turn out to be a good little pg.
I am not worried a bit, and Scola can hit the open 19 footer, he just hasn't yet. The team is going to keep getting better, and is already pretty good. As for JVG - well, he still sucks. DD
I for one believe our role players' shooting problems are temporary rather than permanent, Rafer included. Another thing is I wish the guards are not limited to shooting just 3s. Two-pointers at mid- to upper-forty percent are good percentage shots and should be among regular offensive weapons for the Rockets. As always, great insights. Old Man Rocks!
Still too early. Our team looks more comfortable running last year's offense as opposed to this new offense. They seem to produce more with the old system but can always goto the new system to change it up to keep the defense on their toes. I think that is what RA is going to do. He's adapts to his players so I see us playing both systems depending on which is working better.
So far the only difference I see that really matters (like Yao has really made a significant impact out of the paint- give me a break) Is that TMac looks like he did 3 yrs ago, M James and Scola provide a better bench and Yao is logging some longer rotation minutes on the court. The offense is not that much different- TMac and Yao Rafer is still pretty bad The defense is about the same and best of all- YES Yao is not chasing guards on the pick and roll and grumpy is not pacing the sidelines micromanaging and yelling at every little move they make. But really I think Adelman has been smart to keep most of last years offensive plays and defense in tact. It's a players league. Any good coach could win in Texas.
Rafer is just never going to be a percentage shooter. He will always be a streak shooter. I think James and Scola are better than what they are showing right now. I especially think Scola, once he becomes more comfortable playing NBA basketball and not picking up dumb fouls, will be putting up numbers and eventually closing out games instead of Hayes.
t mac looks younger because he has room to operate. adelman has done a great job with the offense. the fact he gets so much of what he does out of the starters is a good enough job alone. He has gotten them to play so well he can bring an entire new line up off the bench, with just as much scoring punch with james, bonzi, scola, and head. its a fun team to watch, and he hasn't limited mcgrady's or yao's scoring. he let's the game flow, I guarantee you if rafer is having a good shooting night, adelman will let him put it up. just goes with the flow. that's what rudy used to do during the championship years.
Was it just me or have you noticed that Yao has been more aggressive this year. His number of dunks seems to get much higher. And same thing for TMac... Good sign!
I forgot about Bonzi- huge upgrade over last season but take a look at the numbers, it's still TMac scoring jumpers off isolation and driving to the basket off the P&R it's still Yao in the low block it's still TMac and Yao carrying the load not much different except a better bench
NO, JVG would never want a good shooter shooting from 15 ft. not would he...could he! and the answer is no...unless you wanted chuck to get more shots. are you delusional? tmac/yao constantly ran pick and rolls. If yao didnt get the ball it was because tmac didnt pass it. WTF does jvg have to do with that?! yeah, he "chased" guards everywhere...thats what showing on a screen is..."chasing" another moronic JVG bashing thread without one spec of coherent thought. Congrats.
I think RA's limiting his offensive sets specifically not do dig an early hole with our brutal early schedule. I do hope to see more by the all-star break, because I don't think we'll be able to afford our typical long offensive lulls in the playoffs.
Did you not watch the first three games where Tmac was driving to the hole for easy buckets? Yao playing on the high post makes a huge impact. His location is a focus for the defense and it completely clears out the lane. Perhaps you think Bull is lying when he says that the high post offense creates space. At this point they are still modifying the offense to fit these players. It's not going to happen overnight.
I like the offense this year, especially the back cuts but so far (so far- OK) last season ppg- 97.0 this season ppg- 95.1 last season the first three players (Head, Howard, Deke) off the bench avg- 23.7 so far this season the first three players/bench (M James, Bonzi, Scola) avg- 22.6 last season Yao and TMac avg- 49.6 so far this season- 51.3 I think the biggest upgrade I see so far is TMac As time goes on I think the bench scoring will come up. But I don't see the big offensive change that many predicted.
This I agree with. It is a players league and it is exactly for this reason to change to an upbeat player's coach. His presence in itself may translate into only a few more wins but when it counts in the playoffs could be the difference. Also for all the hoopla of a deep bench, the only real improvement is Bonzi. Currently Scola isn't playing better than Howard and the 2-headed guard tandem of Rafer and James is probably worst than last year of mostly Rafer and Head. Head is worst this year at the 2 and Stevie hasn't down squat and no one else is even worth mentioning. So Bonzi is the only real positive difference and yet Adelman's team does look better at finishing against some tough teams. Of course we will see how it plays out in the next 5 days with 4 games scheduled and then a tough Dallas team the following Wednesday. I know it is early but if they can win 4 out their next 5 I would say that have weathered the toughest opening schedule in the league and our primed for a championship run.
I can tell the difference that TMac is driving more to the rack off the P&R but not because he has any more space, he is quicker and he is just taking the contact. Something he pulled away from last season way too often. It was there for him last season. Yao on the high post has worked for some face up 16 ft shots and a few back cuts off screens to the cutters, but Yao is doing his damage in the low block. We aren't winning because Yao is getting some high post looks. In fact I think if we check the number of touches he is getting in the low block is going up game by game.
The biggest limiting factor yet for Adelman's offense.... Mike Bibby or Terry Porter kind of player. If he can somehow find someone who can come to close to 75% of what either of those 2 did, this team will be dominant. Not good, very good or exciting, but downright DOMINANT. The better shooter the primary ball handler is, the more space it creates for the people who are constantly moving off the ball. As of right now, defenders are sagging off of Rafer and Hayes (starting lineup), to clog the lanes and open space. So far, they have been good despite shabby shooting from guards and forwards.
I am pleased with the head coaching change. We needed it. I admit I like Grumpy, but it was not going to get better. Just seeing TMac revitalized and Bonzi in shape and playing with passion is enough for me. I am just saying that the change is not dramatic like some thought it would be and we are running essentially alot of the same stuff we were comfortable running last season. Except I really like the back cuts and I hope we do start using alot more motion and cutters- right now it is occasional. in my observation
