feigan had a stat in a blog today...last four years fastbreak points were 7.9 7.4 8.2 and 8.5...how many is a realistic number this year. i was surprised that the number was basically the same for jvg's teams and adelman's. i think mcgrady is not a fastbreak player so his absence should help our transition game.
I also don't think it is fast break per se, but more of an early offense or first open shot before the defense is set. I am jazzed. And as for McGrady not running.....uh...no kidding. DD
What is the league average? What number leads the league? Who leads the league? We know Scola, Ariza, and Brooks like to run. Thats 3 starters and probably 4 (Andersen). Landry can finish and Lowry pushes the ball like a brainless dog (in a good way). So obviously we will improve. I just don't follow fastbreak points very often, I guess a result of following the Rockets. I doubt fastbreak points correlate to championships (not that thats what we are currently trying to attain). At least not since the 80's Lakers.
Adelman's and Van Gundy's fastbreak numbers were significantly different especially after Adelman inserted Aaron Brooks to the lineup and traded Rafer Alston. The numbers jumped way higher when that change went down.
with the make up of this team they need to first establish the passing game before they try to start running
There was also something in the blog i believe about already practicing the break etc. I remember players under JVG saying they rarely practiced the break. Then again, different coaches have different approaches.
What's the net gain if a mild increase in fast break points per game is mitigated by a decrease in rebounding and shotblocking (due to our lack of paint presence) which will ultimately lead to (I'm sure) more than 1.6 ppg for the opposition? This is pyrite. As much as I can appreciate an "exciting team" that's appealing to watch, I'm much more enthralled with building a team that can win the most possible games, given it's alent level. We have taken a significant step backwards in paint production both offensively (as Scola has never been NBA 35mpg tested as.a #1 option) and defensively (as Anderson is a sieve and we have failed in the acquisition of any paint protectors). Putting McG in this equation is truly pointless, because I don't foresee us running after most "makes" anyway. NBA offensed do tend to get back on D after a make so we will be relegated to a halfcourt set (be it Adelman-esque or not) and in such McG is undoubtedly our best option. Whether he spearheads it or finishes it won't matter when we're down 15 in the 3rd quarter. Either way, we'll be suffering a defeat and onliners will be placing the entire experience at the pits of McGrady. DennisCD, I respect your position within the org so allow me this question: why have we ignored the importance of paint presence (particularly defensively)? This is a proud org with a history of having paint protectors. I have no desire to see us go the way of old Nugs teams. Why have we foregone that path knowing its importance? Were Jordan, Camby, Elson, Wilcox, Turiaf et al never options to us? Or are we simply looking at this as a guard development year where we'll likely lose 55+ games and take our chances next offseason (FA + lotto)?
EVERYONE wants to run and get up and down, especially at this time of year. Few actually achieve it, because defenses and the athletes are so advanced, that eventually, you're going to have to master the halfcourt game for long term success before you can even think about the running game. The Rockets are going to have to prove they can consistently execute in the halfcourt sets. Teams already know they'll have to run and get up and down by choice, because of the athletes. Trust that if the Rockets can't set up, executue and score in the paint and get some easy baskets in the halfcourt, they can run teams to death and it won't amount to anything, let alone wins.
This is also true ... I hope the Rockets just want a better and improved early offense than an actual fast break, transition attack. I certainly understand that aspect, since our lack of size and pure shooting would be exposed once teams are allowed to set up.
funny that the OP decided that tmac's absence would be a deciding factor in our fast break points. it's common knowledge that tmac doesn't want to run, sure, but he WILL play this season... yao on the other hand will not. without yao (aka small ball) i would expect our post players to regularly beat their counterparts down court. if the PG's heads are up, that should result in easy baskets. however, verse made a great point. without an inside presence on the defensive end to rebound / block shots it is much harder to start the fast break. i feel that what the team wants to do, and what it is capable of doing are two different things this season.
Its really about becoming a better transition team. Can you turn a steal or a blk into early offense? You have to be committed to it and guys believe in it. You need at least 3 players committed every chance to make it happen. Brooks,Scola,and trevor will run as starters and it would really help if shane would run also to get easy baskets. Utah is a very good example because they run into their offense. They can do it,they just need commitment from everyone.
Since T-Mac takes long to get back on the D, he should wait by the half court line and immediately get a pass and score!
Verse, if I read this correctly, you're saying that the team as currently configured (and with T-Mac later) will *likely* have a record NO BETTER THAN 17-55?!? Adelman's coached for 18 years and the absolute worst team he coached for a full year won 30 games. Do you really think this is the worst group of players Adelman's ever had? Something tells me you're either being pessimistic or exaggerating for effect.
Fast breaks are a byproduct of D, in many/most cases. My personal concern is how to manufacture points when out of transition and in sets.
I pray to God we're better than 17-55. I think we'll be around the 38-40 win mark and should be in the playoff hunt until the final month or so.
I wish fast break points were readily available, but you basically have to plow through the play by plays to get them. NBA.com displays fast break points in their game recaps, but its not tabulated over the course of the season. Here's an article from 82games on fast break points in the 06/07 season: http://www.82games.com/fastbreakpoints.htm Code: team off def net ------------------------------------- Golden State 20.4 13.4 7.1 Phoenix 17.0 10.5 6.5 Denver 18.6 14.6 4.0 New Jersey 13.3 11.1 2.2 Philadelphia 14.0 11.9 2.0 Washington 15.3 13.3 2.0 Cleveland 12.2 10.7 1.6 Chicago 12.3 10.7 1.6 Orlando 14.0 13.0 1.0 Toronto 12.6 11.7 0.9 San Antonio 11.6 10.8 0.8 Dallas 13.4 12.7 0.7 New Orleans 12.3 11.9 0.4 Milwaukee 13.0 12.9 0.1 Memphis 14.3 14.6 -0.3 Boston 12.0 12.4 -0.4 Detroit 10.6 11.2 -0.6 New York 9.3 10.1 -0.8 Seattle 11.8 12.6 -0.9 Indiana 11.7 12.6 -0.9 Sacramento 11.6 12.5 -0.9 L.A. Clippers 7.9 9.0 -1.1 Atlanta 11.8 13.3 -1.5 Miami 10.8 12.8 -2.1 [B] Houston 7.4 9.6 -2.2 [/B] L.A. Lakers 9.6 12.2 -2.6 Utah 9.4 12.2 -2.8 Minnesota 9.0 11.8 -2.8 Charlotte 9.6 13.1 -3.5 Portland 6.3 13.9 -7.6 League average was 12.1 fast break points that season. So, with our midseason trade last year, without McGrady on the floor walking it up, we were still probably well below average in fast breaks.
