The defensive philosophy has been altered. They go hard for the defensive rebound instead of running away as soon as a shot goes up. They play a little zone. Yao also has more energy for defense because he isn't trying to guard midgets on the perimeter.
I agreed with you. JVG defensive play asking Yao to chase players around is just crazy. I only attribute JVG contribution in making these guys mentality focus on defense but not on his rigid defensive play which often ignore mismatch. Remember Yao on Boozer.
This is why the Rockets should have taken a revolutionary NFL approach and been the first team to have an offensive coordinator in Adelman and a defensive coordinator in JVG. Problem solved.
HAH !!!! What? Play zone? NO WAY !! LOL - yes, we are playing zone, and keeping the principals JVG and TOM THIBIDEAUX instilled. The problem was never defense, but rather a lack of team play on offense. This year - we have rectified that problem. DD
That would have been interesting. Even Rick Adelman has given a lot of credit to JVG. Also, the Rockets aren't really running Rick's offense. Let's not ignore the sigficant infusion of talent at the 4, which was always our weakest spot. Alston's played much, much better during the win streak. The one thing that I like about Adelman is that he's flexible and modest enough to credit JVG and adapt to the players we have.
Hadn't thought of that, interesting. When it's the PF's the PF chase the PG and then recovers, but when it's Yao he doesn't jump out to help. Since they have said Yao can have his space if he goes straight up, is probably a big contribution to this as well.
What is Rick's offense?? The main diff between JVG and RA is RA dose not have a fixed system. He DESIGNS system according to the players he has.
Wow， Who's this guy? He drawed two double teams! Must have him, so dominate. This picutre is priceless.
The problem is the transition from offense to defense or vice versa may not coordinate. Then who should be the boss
I give JVG credit, but the defense was never this good last year. And by, this good, I mean, this effective. These guys are taking elements of the JVG defense and applying their own knowledge and creativity to it, plus, the defense plays defense with the offense in mind. So, if they do something to get the ball back on defense, they are already moving up court. Think about it, did our defense make this many calculated risks last year? No. We sat back until a rebound was ours or we got a steal (on most possessions) once we clearly had possession, then we safely moved the ball up the court because 'turnovers are an insult to the basketball Gods'. I don't think the team would be this good with JVG still here and I don't think the defense would be that good if JVG never coached Houston. However, this is not JVG's defense. It is a defense with some of residue left over. I give more credit to the players for adapting some principles from JVG's era to the new one. Yao, Tracy and Shane are some of the smartest basketball players on the planet. They knew what worked and what didn't work from the previous year. I give them the most credit and thank JVG for teaching them a few tricks. That make sense?
I agreed JVG's defense is still imprinted but as far as offense, i think they're the same as JVG as well. I don't see much different with RA simply because i think Yao and Tmac get the bulk of possessions, so therefore team oriented plays like the Kings are unnecessary. Remember, in RA's Kings, they don't really have a true superstar or one particular one that stands out, everyone IS A SUPERSTAR, that's why they all share the ball and contribute equally. But the Rockets rely heavily on Yao and Tmac, so therefore the offense EVEN under RA doesn't change much.
I agree, but it wasn't as effective for the end results. Last year we were playing good defense and winning games when the offense played better than their offense. Now, we play good O every night and use defense to win the games. Which do you think is better?
if JVG is given some nominal acknowledgment will his devoted move on? nope, their whining will just be encouraged to another mind numbing crescendo. JVG, came, saw & failed. thanks fer all your efforts JVG. my fav is your departure but genuine appreciation fer whatever i've missed. best of luck and goodwill in all future endeavors. the Rockets must move on ... fans, of course, are allowed to entertain goofy fantasies.
Are you saying that last year we had more consistent defense and less consistent offense, while this year that's reversed?
You watchin' the same team I am? We don't play great offense every night. Last night was a great game and everyone is on cloud 9. The other games in this streak haven't been all that good but we've played well enough to win. That stretch of games last season was dominant basketball. At the same time, our offense is clearly better and seems to be improving. It's all good. If the Rockets don't fall asleep, the win streak should go to 16. The main thing is we are on the way to the playoffs. Unlike last year, maybe this team will play it's best ball late and make noise when it really matters, in the playoffs.
One of Adleman's teams was ranked 4th in team defense while he was at Portland. So to say Adleman cannot coach defense is false.
You have to give RUDY T some credit too . . for having the heart of a Champion and Hakeem for the time he spent with Yao and Kenny Smith and Barkley for forcing Yao to make them look stupid and Some Credit goes to ClutchFans . . for pushing the to greatness Rocket River
I'm saying that we use defense as a tool to win games this year. I'm saying we used offense as the tool to win games last year.
