This year's defense is 3rd worse in Rockets history since 1978. 5th worst in Rockets history.

The worst since 2001-2002 is sounding enough. If our defense can be worse than Adelman's, that is pretty bad...

 

Yeah, what is Moreyball philosophy on defense? Just get "defenders" and ask them to be three-point shooters or dunkers?

In Moreyball, is a defender defined by analytics, or is there a formula for defense like there is for offense?

 

^ One of the key components of "Morey ball" defense is that drawing fouls/getting FTs on offense allows your defense to reset and prevents easy fastbreak buckets

 

*switch everything*

 

Adelman's defense was actually quite good. Defensive Rating was ranked #2 his first year, and #4 in his second year.

It dropped to #17 and #19 once the 'rebuild' started.

 

Exactly.

 

I see. Well, it appears the Rockets shot 2407 FT's in the regular season, or about 30 per game.

Harden took 35% of those FT's. Many of those were and-ones that did not create an extra stoppage of play.

29% of FT's were taken by players hitting under 50% (Dwight, Capela, Smith).

I just think relying on stoppages of play as part of your defensive philosophy is kinda weak. There needs to be a philosophy for when the ball is in play.

 

While I agree the defense was good the first 2 years, I wouldn't give Adelman full credits since the team was still under influence from JVG times just before that. As we rebuild, you can tell the focus was different with adding Kevin Martin, and faster pace.

 

I agree to an extent, but the team had some great defensive players as well - Hayes, Yao, Deke, Battier, Artest, Rafer. Once they were gone, Adelman's defense took a nose dive.

Adelman in Sactown from 99-03 had defenses ranking in the Top 10 (#10, #7, #6, #2) as well.

 

We were 21st??
Wow. I thought we were worse like 26-27.

 

The players played harder and were more committed under Adelman, he also gave Battier and Artest a bigger role. If you watched those teams it was pretty clear it wasn't because of JVG. Yao and battier were the only remaining starters when we played Portland in the playoffs.