the worrisome direction coach RA leads this team to

It is definitely our defense that is costing us games. But I disagree that when Yao comes back it won't be any better. First of all, come one, of course we're going to slow down on the defensive end in a season like this. I'm not going to freak out until I can see with my own two eyes that Yao's presence isn't helping; which I don't see happening.

Yao may not have lateral quickness, but simply the fact of him being on the court changes the entire game ... he is a 7foot6 deterrent to anyone planning on entering the paint. He doesn't have to be good on D, just has to be there.

Let's say we move our defensive game from 22nd in the league to somewhere in the lower teens. All of a sudden we're in the mix because we still have our scoring ability, plus a working D, PLUS Yao in there to a) create more fastbreak opportunities via shot blocking and b) give us the much needed half-court game for when we can't stop 'em on D.

I am heavy hearted that we won't make the playoffs this year, but very optimistic about next year.

 

Defensive wins championships!

May I ask you where did Phil Jackson lead lakers to in 2004-2005?
Missed Playoffs and lost 19 of the last 22games. Well done Kobe and Phil!

 

I've got your back on that one. Yao absolutely has his warts like on perimeter defense no doubt, but his interior defense is damn good and just having him on the court changes the whole defensive philosophy. At 7'6" Yao changes a ton of shots even when he does not block them and he takes up a lot of space in the paint.

The guards can't really afford to get up on their man like they could previously because if their man gets around them then the only interior defense is Chuck or Scola taking a charge. Currently Hill is the only player that can rebound above the rim and Yao will help in that area as well.

When Yao is back the Rockets perimeter defenders will guard the arc and try to funnel the other teams players into the paint where Yao will be waiting. Add Chris Bosh or a player with size from the draft and we will have additional help inside.

And for anyone doubting Ricks ability to coach defense I say just look at his history. People like to point to the points that his Kings used to give up but he had some of the most efficient defenses in the league during his time there. His first two years as a Rockets his teams had great defenses and I don't want to hear "It was all due to JVG" because that would be a lie.

 

Just think of it this way.

What was our record under JVG the year that Yao and Tracy missed about half of the season each?

Now, compare that to our record THIS year when they both missed the entire season?

Case CLOSED !!

DD

 

I looked it up. 0.415. Adelman is doing better with a winning record, but I wish JVG was here to lead us to the 0.415 this year. The Rockets would be securely in the 10th spot.

 

dumb

dumber

 

I think it is fair to say that the Rockets D will be back next year. I am sure Morey will get a true back up center this offseason. It will be nice to see this team compete for a title next season. At least a top 4 team in the West next year.

 

RudyT was the coach in the beginning of the season and was very ill.
Assistant coach Hamblen coached the last half of the season.

A good comparison would be the Lakers before Gasol. Phil had a 42-40(0.512) record with Kobe and Odom for most of the season, which is much better than Brooks and Scola obviously.

Adelman has no players like Kobe, Odom, or Bynum, but has managed a (0.514) record.

 

T-Mac effect on defense. He made everyone play harder defense by not playing hard on defense. They had to pick up his slack. Now, no T-Mac so everyone slacks off. :grin:

 

Okay so maybe the best coach of all time is better then our current coach? Got it.

 

In we had a starting lineup without of

Alston
Wesley
Bogans
Howard
Moutombo

Bench

Head
Brunson
Swift
Ryan bowen
Riche Farham
Chuck Hayes


This year

Brooks
Ariza
Martin
Ariza
Scola
Hayes

Bench

Lowry
Budinger
Battier
Hill
Andersen



And now Kmart is in the mix. the talent level is much more on this years team . IT'S A TRAVESTY TO even compare the teams.

 

I agree with those who say Yao has an effect, mainly because he deters opposing teams from driving into the paint alot. We need another rebounder other than Scola. I hope we get another big, such as Bosh, maybe Camby or atleast Drew Gooden could back up Yao. It takes efficient offense and good defense to win championships. Right now our offense is not consistent and our defense lack interior presence. Perimeters defenders on our team back away a little from their opponents because they don't want to be beat on the dribble cause we have no shot blocker/shot alterer. That gives the opponents better looks at the rim for jump shots.

 

Wouldn't want any part of what he's using. The cat is obviously on a bad trip.

 

yea its funny i was thinking the same thing this morning as i saw the top 10 plays and saw that westbrook reverse dunk on Scola..

from one angle i saw Martin BARELY attempting to guard Westbrook and it got me to thinking, 'man i dont like our chances goin forward even when Yao comes back because we've gone completely away from our identity the last half decade'

we simply dont have the personnel any longer to say we're a defensive team.. whose gona be a good defender besides Battier and Chuck whos slowly but surely gettin less and less PT? Kevin Martin? Ariza? Brooks? lol Chase? Hill?

its a resounding NO, we wont be able to stop anybody next no matter how much magic Morey continues to work but the defense is seeping out the window with each trade DM makes, its a reality we have to start bracing for next year

 

And JVG had no say in who was picked up for his team? JVG made the decision to play Ryan Bowen so much even when most of us were scratching our heads. That team also had the benefit of Yao Ming for 57 games at full strength averaging over 20 and 10 as well as TMac for 47 games averaging over 24 a game. When Yao went out JVG had Deke to fill the void. Don't you think that RA would have liked to have had that benefit?

Funny how RA can take unknown players like Von Wafer or second round picks like Chase or Landry and turn them into talent. Alston, Howard and Mutombo all had talent. You put 05 - 06 Mutombo on this team and our defense is definitely much much better.

JVG took a team with a lot more defensive talent and tried to win games with just defense and only won 34 games... even with Yao and TMac playing more than half the season.

RA took a team with almost no post presence and a 6'6" center with limited offensive skills based on offensive talent and no superstars through out any portion of the year. His team is at 36 wins and still counting. The Rockets will in all likely hood finish over .500 for the year and has at least been in the play-off hunt all season.

Extra bonus: RA's team are usually fun to watch, JVG teams... not so much.

 

Still, Adelman has a lot more talent to work with than JVG did when Yao and T-mac went down.

If you are saying that Brooks isn't as good as Rafer, or that Lowry isn't as good as Mike James, or that Kenyon Martin isn't as good as Luther Head, or that Scola didn't measure up to Juwan Howard....I've got news for you.

You're smoking something my friend.

 

I would not want to go back to the JVG days of all defense and no offense. That formula was proven wrong. Ariza is a very good defender and yes he sometimes gets burned by gambling on the steal. Hill will be a very good defender IMO as will Chase. Lowry will be a good defender as well. RA has proven over and over that he can coach defense and he will prove it again when his players are healthy again.

 

Sums it up very well, crash.

Nicely put again, with color!

And Leeb adds to the sanity.


Seriously, guys, do some of you watch the games? Have watched the games over the last 5 seasons? Followed Adelman's team in Portland simply because Clyde was on it? Thought his Sacramento team was a trip to watch while he coached it? Obviously not. You might try digging a little deeper. If you don't find the truth, at least we'll have a nice hole to toss you into.

 

1. JVG team had the benefit of Yao and TMac for over half the season.
2. JVG team did not have as much offensive talent but did have a lot more defensive talent. Yao goes down and the team still has Deke and Hayes in the paint.
3. Why have you forgotten about David Wesley? He was very similar in talent to Lowry and maybe better because of his outside shot.