How about on this thread...does anybody here want to actually call it like it is and admit that the .500 record is in direct proportion to the lack of intensisty, focus, and defensive discipline? Anyone?
While that might be an issue, I wouldn't say it is bigger than the talent/skill set problems in the backcourt and PF. If we don't fix the talent problem (don't have talent in enough right places), all the intensity in the world won't lead to a deep WC run. JVG was all about defense, discipline and intensity and we still couldn't get out of the 1st round.
I would tend to disagree. While there are obviously issues that need to be addressed at the 1 and 4 spots, I'm talking about the here and now...think about if this team consistently played like they did against Denver, instead of consistently playing the way they did against Sacramento.
The bigger problem is offense, we are 22nd in shooting and 27th in 3 point shooting, once our role players start to hit that shot we'd be fine. Obviously, We also need a new starting lineup for a change.
Lots of teams have ups and downs--nobody sustains full effort in the regular season. Right now if Tmac or Yao has an off game we are just not all that good. Boston, SA, Dallas, Phx--they can typically afford an off night by a superstar or an off night emotionally and often still win vs an average or below average opponent because they have lots of other well above average players capable of stepping up on any given night (e.g. Boston needs just a good effort for one of their 3 superstars, a mixed game from another, and they will win 70% of the time). In a nutshell we have two great players and a bunch of average at best players. We would be OK if Battier, James, Alston, Francis, Scola, Hayes, Head and Wells were more like in the 4-11 spots, even better in the 5-12 spots. But when Battier or James or Alston or Francis is your best hope for being the 3rd most consistent contributer and picking up the slack on an off night or injury to a superstar, that is an concern. Maybe Scola can adjust quick and a 3rd mr steady, I think that is asking too much. The issue on top of this is just an overall lack of athleticism X length in the spots where it really matters-- 2-3-4 spots. Only Tmac really fits that bill and it isn't like he doesn't have enough other responsibilities.
We are among the last in shooting in the league. The woeful lack of shooting on this team is a result of role players not being able to get into a groove. Bad shooting is contagious, so are good shooting. The Suns players would never hesitate on a shot like the current Rockets players do. The Suns have established guards play, the Rockets don't. As long as our better guards keep sitting on the bench, I doubt they will manage it soon.
We're not losing because of a lack of offense. If I remember correctly, the Rockets are scoring at about the same rate as last year. This may or may not be expected given the change and "adaptation" period to the new offense. I have a problem with the careless turnovers (lack of focus). I have a problem with the lack of commitment to staying on the floor on shot fakes and closing out properly (discipline). And I for damn sure have a problem with loafing back on the defensive end. There's no commitment to the very thing that can and should be winning this team more that 9 ball games at this point in the "adjustment" period. Don't pawn it off as an excuse. Maybe that's just me and my view, I don't know...but it's blatantly obvious to me that this team is so flaky in terms of effort and hustle. I'll live with missed shots and unorganized offense for the time being (but patience is running thin), a.k.a. "off nights." But effort is what I want to see and what should be a consistent product of this team. I'm talking about the entire roster, not just the stars. The best teams may have off nights, but they don't take nights off like the Rockets do. All you have to do is watch from game to game and it's easy to see.
Lack of effort is a problem but not the biggest problem. We are 4th in the league on defense, but 19th on offense. Think about that.
The Rockets are 7th in the league in points allowed and have played one of the toughest schedules in the league. My guess is it IS "just your view". Going by the buzzwords used in your post ("lack of focus", "discipline", "effort"), I have to assume you're a bitter JVG apologist.
By no means am I a JVG apologist. His offensive philosophy really went a long way towards sucking the life right out of the game, and that drove me and a lot of others absolutely crazy. But what I think this team needs as far as a coaching mentality (i.e. hands on or hands off) is somewhere between JVG and Adelman. I don't care about stats either, just watch the games to know what's going on and draw your own conclusions. If you can honestly tell me they're as sharp and as focused on the defensive end as they have bene in years past...then I'll just agree to disagree with you. What I see (and I know I keep saying this) is a team, minus Battier and Chuck, that doesn't close out properly, provides inadequate help defense, and keeps leaving their feet on shot fakes...all byproducts of laziness and lack of focus ("buzzwords" x 2 for ya...sorry, but they apply). McGrady loafs defensively, but that's nothing new. And if we're going on stats...if the Rockets did those things I just talked about, they could be 1st in the league defensively, and would have more than 9 wins at this point with a work-in-progress-offense...but the offense is a diferent discussion.
