If a guy is 5-7 from the three point line and DOESN'T shoot the three when he is open, he should be benched. Griffin is shooting over 70% from the 3-point line. Until he stops, let him shoot. As for the rest, I see it as a positive sign that they are winning but doing it ugly. The fact is that they are rebounding well, not turning the ball over nearly as much and playing very solid defense. Eventually, the Rockets shooting will come around. When you have shooters like Rice, Williams, Mobley, Francis, Norris, et al and still rank 18th in the league in freethrow percentage, your shooting eye is officially off. When they do get settled offensively and start knocking down shots, they will be a very good team. If they weren't getting open looks, it would be time to worry. The fact that they are missing wide open shots has more to do with a slump than with a bad team. The fact that they are winning despite the poor shooting will do nothing but prepare them for the rough patches ahead.
I'm with Jeff and Raven. If we've found ourselves a 40% 3 point shooter who happens to be 6'10... so much the better for us. He's not big enough to do much on the block right now. Maybe in time... but I'm just glad he's able to contibute while getting some very valuable experience. It would be sort of ironic if Griffin did what Rice and Williams are not in opening up the lane. crispee & bgm: That play was a thing of sweetness, if I remember it correctly from last night. The one that ended with Mobley getting an easy layup after crossing over the middle after the dish from Francis? If not, sorry, I'm easily confused
There's nothing wrong with the Rocket's offense. They just aren't hitting shots. Also, Rockets are still using iso as their main play and dat just ain't gonna work with new rules. Rockets should develope a pick and roll play designed for Steve and Kenny. Kenny is pretty quick for a PF.
it seems that there are plenty of open shots for them to take, but the defenses are choosing to let us beat them from the outside only. I would like to see us work harder at driving the lane more to get the closer-in shots instead of settling for the easy/longer range shots.
That is a good play, my only question is why we don't more. Where are the variances to that play. Why not start it like we do ,then if they don't receive the ball ,one sets a double pick for Rice to roll off of? the playbook has a lot to be desired.
What really disturbs me about what I've seen so far is the Rockets' shot selection when they have the lead. Take last night for instance. Every time the Rox got up by seven or nine, it was as if strategy went completely out the window and everyone just started "freewheeling". It was as if they figured, "well, we have the lead...we can afford to screw around for while". I mean, I know that's not what they were thinking, but you couldn't tell that by the shots they were putting up! It got so bad I even started pointing it out to my father who was in and out of the room during the game. The Rox would get up by nine or so, and I'd say, " Now watch how stupid this next shot is going to be. " And sure enough, someone(usually Cuttino) would air out some rediculous prair of a shot and I would be left to wonder, "Are you surprised? Did you really think that had a good chance of going in?" I would really like to see the Rox develop a killer instinct. They started the game out beautifully last night...mainly because their shooting was hot...and then they couldn't seem to find a good shot until the game was tied again. Championship teams know how to score consistent, high-percentage baskets when they have the lead. If the Rockets can figure out a way to play that kind of ball consistently, who knows what they could accomplish?
