Everyone's talking about who to sign or who to draft, but I am wondering this: How will the rule changes effect us? I have heard several times from players, coaches, and commentators that they don't have a good grasp on how zone defenses will change the game. I feel that this could be a factor to consider when deciding the worth of a potential player to our team next year. The Zone From the offensive standpoint, I would assume that there will be an emphasis put on outside shooting, and it would encourage teams to run the fast break before the defenses can get set up. Also, I feel the in the half court set, your post men really need to be able to pass well out of the post as well as be able to read the defense to make the passing decisions. Quick hands and a quick mind will be invaluable to post players next year. On the defensive side, I have read that most teams will play a combination of zone and man. I am clueless as to what style Rudy will go with and how our frontcourt will do defensively. Stevie and Cuttino are both quick as lightning and should be able to play the passing lanes well, so I am not worried about our backcourt defense too much. The Candidates Chris Webber - great passing skills, can hit the 18 footer consistantly, great post-up skills, great rebounder -- should be able to adapt well Antonio Davis - Started hitting the 18 footer consistantly this year, solid rebounder, passing skills? -- no potential concerns if the passing is good Robert Horry - ???? Draft Pick Possibilities - ???? I am interested in hearing what you think about this whole situation, whether it be how the rule changes will effect our potential players or how it will effect our team style of play or the league's style of play in general. I am anxious to see how this will all play out next year, in some ways I am optimistic, and in others pessimistic. I sure hope this rule change will help us out and that Rudy has a good grasp on how it will all shake down next year because in my mind, it makes a difference on what players we go after this summer. ------------------ "You couldn't have stuck a pin up his @#! with a jackhammer. Yeah, I'd say he was pretty tight." -- Barkley on Minnesota's Chris Carr(thx RocksMillenium)after he missed a game winning free-throw. [This message has been edited by today (edited May 24, 2001).]
I think Webber's outside shot is like Barkley's 3 point shot. If he hits it once, you know he'll try hitting 10 more times during the game. If I was going to take a PF that could hit the outside shot consistently, I'd just resign Taylor. If we get Webber, I'll be really dissapointed if he spends most of the game heaving jumpshots... ------------------ "Empire" had the better ending. I mean, Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader's his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that's what life is, a series of down endings. All "Jedi" had was a bunch of Muppets. [This message has been edited by Band Geek Mobster (edited May 24, 2001).]
I feel that teams like Dallas and Sacramento of last year would do well in zone defense type situation. The Rockets can be a very gone zone busting team if they add the correct pieces to the frontcourt. Here are some ingredients that I feel are necessary in this new zone era: 1. Front court players that have smooth strokes from the perimeter and are tall. Players like Dirk Nowitzki, Keith Van Horn, Austin Croshere etc can beat the zone. Dan Langhi should develop into a zone buster, and Robert Horry should be effective against the zone. In the draft, the biggest zone busters are players like Pau Gasol, Troy Murphy and Michael Bradley. Even if a player like Van Horn has questionable footspeed at the 3 spot, he can be played there in the zone b/c it covers up for questionable lateral movement. The game is intended to become one of skill, teamwork and passing instead of individual athletic feats. 2. Guards that can create their own mid range shots. Trying to drive straight to the rim every time will not be as effective in the zone defense as the middle will be packed. Mid range shooting will be important in this regard. Both Francis and Mobley have shown development in this area. 3. A shotblocking center. Camping an effective shotblocker in the middle will be very effective in a zone halfcourt defense. Even though people question someone like Loren Woods, he was a real impediment in the middle during the latter portion of the NCAA tourney and should be that as well in the NBA with his long arms and good lateral quickness. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Good points MManal. I would agree that guards will have to learn to shoot that mid-range jumper. They will have to beat their man off of one dribble and then pull up and shoot. Also, guards will be trying to sneak into the holes in the zone and will have to catch and shoot short, quick jumpers before the defense can react. I can't recall Cuttino doing many mid-range jump shots off of one dribble. As far as i can remember, he would either take the jumper with the help of the jab step, or he would go all the way to the rack if he put it on the floor. I am interested in seeing how his game will change next year, and how he and Steve will compliment each other as well as make one another better. ------------------ "You couldn't have stuck a pin up his @#! with a jackhammer. Yeah, I'd say he was pretty tight." -- Barkley on Minnesota's Chris Carr(thx RocksMillenium)after he missed a game winning free-throw. [This message has been edited by today (edited May 27, 2001).]
To all in this thread, See the thread regarding which two players to draft. The question in this thread directly relates to the other thread. Do you really need Woods (would you waste a pick on him assuming you only have two picks) or do you go after guys to fill the wings. Is there much diference between Woods and Cato? Apparently the same attitude, but Cato certainly has the better bod and the zone fits his specialty to a tee. Don't get me wrong, I want Cato gone, but the reality is nobody else wants him and we are stuck eating his contract so we might as well utilize his strengths to our advantage in the mean time. It would be great to have the next ALargeOne, but we just are not going to get that player anytime soon. Our better opportunity, is to build from the wings in (eg. Francis, Cat, SF, PF - maybe Webber, etc.) ROCKET!!! ------------------ [This message has been edited by ROCKET!!! (edited May 27, 2001).]
today, Cuttino was really starting to nail the mid range jump shot off that high pnr the Rockets ran in the second half of the season. They started going less with the pure iso and more with this play. ROCKET!!!, yes there is a big difference between Cato and Woods. Loren Woods isnt a shot blocker only as he has a nice perimeter shot and some good back to the basket moves. Also, Woods has better footwork and lateral movement than Cato, not to mention better hands. Then again, there arent many players with worse hands than Cato ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
MManal, That really wasn't the point, although I think neither are worth their salt. The point is to grab quality players to fill the wings. Remember, now Shaq or any other big center doesn't have to follow Cato out of the paint with the zone coming into effect. That being the case, I would prefer a quality 3 and a great defensive 3/4. Clearly, we are in violent agreement regarding Cato. My nickname for him is "Stone Hands!" ROCKET!!! ------------------
The teams best prepared for beating the zone on offense are teams that have a good perimeter game, a solid passing attack and can run the floor. The Rockets have a good perimeter game and players with the ability to run if not the penchant for it. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama
ahh yes, i do remember the pick and rolls we started running. I didn't think of that, I was only trying to remember what Cuttino did in his ISO situations. He does have a good mid-range shot, no doubt, I just don't know if I saw him take those shots in the situations that I expect him to take those shots this next year. How do you think pick and rolls will work next year? I don't ever recall that play being a viable option against the zone when I played. I would think that this new rule will curb our pick and roll, not to mention devastate Stockton and Malone. Come to think of it, there will probably be a lot more picks away from the ball, a la Reggie Miller-esque, where he runs the baseline. I don't know how these zones will be played, but if the baseline is a soft spot, Antonio Davis would be a monster pick-up. That guy shot about 75% from the baseline in the playoffs. He has really improved in that area, as he used to just be a banger down low. Lots of options out there, I need more rumors... must have... more rumors... ------------------ "You couldn't have stuck a pin up his @#! with a jackhammer. Yeah, I'd say he was pretty tight." -- Barkley on Minnesota's Chris Carr(thx RocksMillenium)after he missed a game winning free-throw.
Will losing Anderson (provided he's gone) become that much more painful with the rule changes? He hasn't been too much of a factor lately, but I wonder if he would flourish in a zone.... ------------------ Proud Member of whatever Clutch City club is currently the most popular and/or controversial.
hello all its important to remember that zone defenses are optional. teams dont have to use them if they dont feel the need. with this said..i feel it is extremely important that we get a dominant inside presence in the offseason. im afraid that if we dont..the rockets will struggle mightily in the zone..as teams will continually use the zone against the rockets..exploiting the rockets' weaknesses..taking away their iso(which they had to rely heavily upon as a result of no inside presence). teams could pretty much congest the perimeter, keeping their best shot blocker on the floor to man the middle. yes.. steve and cat are very quick..but being 6'3/6'4..even if they blow by their defender..they can only do so much against a shotblocker ready and waiting. this could take away our perimeter game AND inside game. if you think about it..a good bulk of our inside game was either steve or cuttino slashing through the lanes finishing..when olajuwon was healthy he was a decent inside presence..mo was not an effective inside presence as he shot mainly 15-18 footers..and cato was almost an absolute non-factor on offense. therefore, i think with the new rule changes..a good inside presence is vital in the rockets' success next season. with a good post player..with their backcourt and inside presence..the rockets could flourish. a dominant big man is THE difference next yr. ------------------
Anderson wouuldn't help much in the zone as he's a better man defender than a zone defender. He doesn't bring the tools to beat the zone. I see the rockets doing a lot of driving and dishing next season. I have always thought Francis didn't shoot enough. Next season, hje will have to pass more to really help the rockets offense. Remember the circle. If a shotblocker goes into the circle, all the rockets have to do is try to dunk thru him to get a blocking foul. Cato better be ready for the alley-oops this year. If a defense gets flatfooted in a zone, this works very well. If Olajuwon returns, the rockets won't have to woory about shotblockers as much since he can draw them out a little or be ready for the dish if left alone. The zone should lengthen his career. The best way to beat a zone is getting down the court quickly and not letting it get set. When set, the rocks should have the shooters to break it. I just wish the rockets had a weakside shotblocking presence like horry. ------------------
Today, you nailed it. There is a soft spot in the zone along the baseline if you are able to swing the ball around the horn fast enough. Also, there will be even more baseline picks to free up scorers like Iverson. Really, these new rules will show us who the truly creative coaches are, at least on the offensive end. I expect the likes of Rudy, Brown, and Riley to fare the best. I expect Moochie to see more playing time next year. He would be perfect at manning the attack on the offensive end against the zone. The Rockets would have a very good passing attack with Mooch, Francis, and Cat in at the same time. One thing is certain, which is that you need a 4 or 5 who can pass/shoot from 12-15 feet out, because you are going to see big men recieve alot of entry passes around the free throw line. From there they will pivot, and the big man must be able to knock down that jumper, hit the cutters, or see spot up shooters in the corners. Mo may fit this description, but I see him being more of a jumpshooter from the weak area in the zone along the baseline. Loren Woods would be my pick to fill this need. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited May 28, 2001).]
