OK, with Francis out, this is no time to simply toss in the rookies and free wheel it in the set offense with Moochie breaking down offenses and kicking out, or Mobley/Rice/Thomas/Griffin methodically working wing plays and low/high post...then we all pray for 3 pointers. This is the time to work on fastbreaking. I don't mind simplifying the half-court sets as mentioned above, but not without mainly stressing the fastbreak and defense. If we go with the rookies, we have to preach fastbreaking. Mobley and Moochie need to release and curl back for the short outlets...then everyone run. The worst part about our fastbreaks are not guards getting rebounds (witness Magic & Kidds rebounding totals), the problem is no one looks back for the flare pass. I don't care if Francis got the rebound or not, dribblers can take off and don't have to lead to be effective, and every rebounder can pass it forward, including a dribbler. What we are miserable at is not cutting back for the outlet. Transition defenses are designed to intercept outlet passing lanes and force passes over the top. We must get open better for the outlets no matter who gets the rebound. RUN...RUN...RUN...no matter who gets the rebound. Dribblers who rebound can get a quick screen and take off on the dribble, or can they pass it forward; and non-dribblers can make high-percentage, short outlets. If we are going to learn with Francis out, let's learn how to run!!! Moochie loves to push it; Torres loves to run; Willis has been a surprising trailer; Rice is all smarts on the break; Walt spots up as well as anyone; Mobley is deadly if the initial break is stopped, and we find him when the defense is not organized, yet; and to a lesser extent, Kenny is deadly against unorganized defense, too. This is a big test of Moochie's contract. He can dribble in transition better than anyone on the team. RUN...RUN...RUN Tie back that afro and run.
I think that if Moochie steps it up and Cuttino and the rest of the Rockets play good we can be .500 without the Franchise. If so and we can hang around the 8th seed until he comes back than we will be fine.
They should have ran the break when Francis was healthy but for some reason didn't. We are in deep trouble. Lets see how Tierre does, imo he will be better than Moochie...
I want to address this post but some others as well in this one post of mine (mainly the Francis's threads). HP, I agree with your post. I have always wondered why the Rockets aren't a better fast breaking team than they are and I think that you have pointed out rather accurately their shortcomings. Remember when we first got Shandon Anderson, what everybody said about him? They all said he was great at filling the lane on a fast break. Well, after 2 seasons with the Rockets, it didn't seem to me that Shandon ever got many easy baskets on the fast break (maybe he did...I didn't have league pass the last 2 seasons), but by looking at the boxscores and seeing how the Rockets run their offense, I know that we don't run the fast break as well as we should. There's has been some great posts in other threads dealing with Francis being out. Pops, HP, BGM, and SamCassell all made excellent observations on what needs to happen for the Rockets to keep their head above water with Francis being out. I would like to add that I too was worried about the heavy minutes that Francis and Mobley were playing and I felt that they were trying to do much. It was inevitable for one or both of them to get hurt. At least, it happened early, and not later, but it still sucks. We have always bragged about how Moochie could start for other teams (not all of them but some), well now is the time for Mooch to prove us right. Show us why you make the big bucks. Same goes for Rice and to a degree, Cato (although I won't hold my breath there). If these 3 can play anywhere close to what the Rockets are paying them, then we will be okay. But, that is easier said than done, especially with regards to Cato. It's too bad that Damon Jones is not on the team because he could have helped big time. Also, it would be nice to get something out of Collier when he comes off the injured list (soon?) so that Willis doesn't become the next Rocket to break down. The next big question will be this: what do we do to make sure that Moochie doesn't overextend himself and play too many minutes? Do we think about getting someone and signing them to a 10-day contract (have no idea what's out there) or do we wait until Tierre Brown comes off the injured list and let him play this role? I'm guessing that Collier is activated to take Francis's place (as he's put on the injured list) in the next couple of days. But that still leaves us with only 2 PGs, if you count Mobley, and from the sound of things, it wouldn't hurt to cut back his minutes although that will probably never happen. When an offense is struggling, what is the easiest way for it to get untracked? It is to get easy baskets which you get when you run an effective fast break. So, like HP said, it's up to Moochie to get this done. Not wanting to put any pressure on you, Mooch, but our season is sorta resting in your hands right now.
I think this a hell of an idea. I'd love to see them fast break much more. The only bad thing about a team who trys to consistently fast break is that legs and body tire out much more rapidly. Players must be somewhat fresh to run, run, run. In order for his team to have the necessary vigor to keep running, Rudy may have to use uncommon substitution patterns. Of course, thats if all the players agree upon the Run Run Run idea. I hope they do.
I think we go with a big lineup...Especially if Cuttino is out for an extended period as well. Someting like: C-Willis PF-Thomas SF-Griffin SG-Rice PG-Mooch With our two best players out, we need to gain an advantage somewhere, if Rice can keep up with Christie, this lineup is probably the best we can do.
