If one looks at the current roster, is there anyone who can be classified as an above average defender except for TMac and Dikembe? Yao is an average defender at the center position. Lue might play average defense depending on the matchups. Everyone else really is a below average defender with some players being far below average such as Mo Taylor. With that being said, this team has the personnel that doesn't contain individual defensive prowess. Now switch back to last year's team. You've got Steve Francis who could rebound like a big man which is part of defense since it limits 2nd opportunities for the other team. Cuttino was an above average defender. Cato was an average to above average defender at center/power forward position. Now look at the current statistics. Both teams have comparable opposing field goal percentage. However, I think it is taking the current roster an incredible amount of energy to maintain this defensive intensity throughout the game. Look at the Atlanta game in which the Rockets. The Hawks scored as followed: 17 pts 1st qtr 20 pts 2nd qtr 25 pts 3rd qtr 26 pts 4th qtr Look at the Knicks game: 20 pts 1st qtr 20 pts 2nd qtr 21 pts 3rd qtr 32 pts 4th qtr This is a trend that shows the Rockets are tiring as the game goes on. The Rockets are the oldest team in the NBA at the average age of 29. Yao in particular is good for around 20 minutes of very good play. Then his play on the court drops off dramatically. Yao is running around on the court on defense defending pick and rolls. Has anyone watched Shaq play defense? Shaq is moreso just chilling in the paint. He knows the team needs him to have his energy come the 4th quarter. Then you've the older players like JJ and Ward who are actively depreciating quickly as the game goes on. Anyone wonder why the Rockets shot 0 for 9 against the Hawks in a pivot stretch in the 4th quarter? Anyone wonder why the Rockets went cold against the Knicks? Look at the body language of the players in the 4th quarter. TMac has complained before about the amount of responsibility placed upon his shoulders when he was the Magic. This guy doesn't have as much stamina as he should have. Look at the roster last year. Steve and Cuttino are energy guys. Even Cato is an energy guy when he wants to be. These guys can play intense defense throughout the game. It's just totally different with the current crew, but JVG is forcing upon them a defensive philosophy that is killing them down the stretch. I've said before that JVG has problems recognizing and adapting to the strengths and weaknesses of his players, and I think that the last 2 losses is exactly why I think Phil Jackson would be good for the team. I do not think JVG is flexible in regards to changing a vision of how he deems a team to be successful. He is applying a defensive scheme that is sapping any and all the energy they have to allocate towards the offensive end of the court. Like I said before, JVG's inability to adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of his players will be the downfall of his tenure as a Rocket coach.
You know what is ironic about this? The fact that JVG was known for being a 4th quarter coach, he was known for being able to pull out wins in the 4th. Not blaming it on JVG, but it's just a little funny how since he has come to Houston, it has been the exact opposite.
Okay. That's debatable. My point is that this team lacks the individual defensive prowess that last year's team had. Therefore, the players are working extra hard to get the same results. This is killing them in the 4th quarter and throughout the game as the dependable shooters do not have the power in their legs. I really do not understand why a defensive "genius" such as JVG has no respect for the zone defense as it relates to applying it against the opposition. Zone defense as I have read takes far less effort to set up than the man to man the Rockets are currently using.
Look at the quarter to quarter point totals for the last 2 games: Atlanta game 23/22/24/15 New York game 22/25/25/20 Look at the 4th quarter point total for both games. It is a huge dropoff when looking at point differential between what they give up and what they score. This team is dead come the 4th quarter. There is no energy left in the tank. If JVG does not see this, he will continue to see his players go into the tank in the 4th quarter.
Dawson's an idiot. JVG is a bad coach and T-Mac is overrated. WHo cares if he's a good scorer. He aint in the top 5 by the way. Nash, Manu, and Duwayne Wade are better than him right now.
That was weak, what a low blow. He's not overrated, this team just can't seem to develop cohesiveness, and some of our players are really showing their age.
it might have something to do with having re-treads like Ward, Mutumbo, Weathersuck, Aging JJ, J. Howard? I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would give Ward a 3yr contract? Then again we're talking about CD... Anyways, when does Weathersuck, Howard, and Taylor's contracts end? We need to get rid of these guys via trade or something...just not cutting it...
i might be wrong but i think they all have 1/2 more years left. on ward...CD is an idiot for giving hem a 3 year deal. 2 years is even a bit of a stretch but 3 years is just insane.
That's a mistake alright, but I think it is a bigger mistake to make the players play defense like they were all in their early 20s. The Rockets have a defensive field goal percentage that is top 5 in the league. There's no way this cast of characters should have a top 5 defense. There is a serious compromise of the offense due to effort required to maintain such a high level of defense.
