Pat Riley reacts to losing to the Rockets: http://www.miamiherald.com/content/today/sports/basketball/heat/docs/059254.htm Whatever happened to POSITIVE reinforcement? Riley is always so quick to blame his players. Wonder whose strategy it was to double-team Francis all night and leave the 3-pt shooters wide open? From the Chronicle: Miami was so determined to prevent a Francis attack that Riley ran a second defender at him throughout the game, trying to force Francis to go to his left and give up the ball. Though the Rockets expected it, Francis was given treatment the Heat normally does not give even to Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury or Gary Payton. Part of the plan was to help Tim Hardaway defensively. Hardaway played in just his second game since missing 26 with a jammed knee. But the Heat also dared the Rockets' shooters to beat them. "Coach told me before the game, `They're going to come out and double-team, so don't try to force it. Just look for the open guy. Take advantage of it and try to pick it apart,' " Francis said. "I think we did a great job of finding the open man and finishing. Those guys, every time I turned around, they were throwing a 3-pointer in." After years of failing to get Riley to double-team Olajuwon or Charles Barkley, Tomjanovich said he expected Miami to try to get the ball out of Francis' hands and had his shooters ready to burn the Heat for it. "We've always been a team that tries to get players that are good enough that people have to do something to get the ball out of their hands," Tomjanovich said. "But usually playing Miami, even if we had big players, they don't double-team in the post. So we've got these good shooters, and usually against these guys we never get our shooters into their game because (Miami) is going one-on-one. "But because we do have a penetrator now, they did double there. We made 15 3-pointers. We worked on some of the things we thought they were going to do, and sure enough they did, and our guys were ready for it. I can't tell you how well these guys executed the swinging of the ball on the double teams out on the wing. I just feel real good about our guys taking the game plan and executing it." Looks like Riley just got out-coached by Rudy. [This message has been edited by theWIGMAN (edited January 24, 2000).]
No Way Wigman, Rudy T never out coaches anyone. If you've been on this board long enough, you know this simple rule: When the Rockets are losing, it's the coach's fault, when the Rockets are winning, it's because of the players. So using that, Rudy T never outcoaches anyone, we just win in spite of him. ------------------ Is it any coincidence that we are the only team mentioned in the national anthem? I didn't think so!
I actually thought Miami had a pretty good gameplan. We've been beating teams (1) by letting Francis dictate the game and (2) getting open layups and dunks. Mourning took care of #2, and the double-teaming took care of #1. Unfortunately for them, our third option (the 3pter) was good enough to beat them. If I'm Miami, I'd do the same thing next time I played us, simply because you can't expect people to shoot 50% in 3s. Even if they are wide-open, it just doesn't happen normally. Throughout the game, they probably thought eventually we would cool off (which would happen 90% of the time) -- we just didn't and beat them with an incredible shooting display.
The problem with that strategy Shanna, is that they were WIDE OPEN 3 point shots. Most NBA players can make a good percentage when they are WIDE OPEN. DaDakota
Even so, we made 11 of 12 3pters at one point, by an array of different guys. That doesn't happen, no matter how wide-open they are. If we instead make 6 of 12, Miami is winning or very close. (Besides, I think Riley's complaint was that they didn't go back and even try to cover the 3pt people one the ball swung -- but the gameplan itself was fine.)
shana, nice perspective. allow me to add exclamation to your last statement: "We...crushed them with an incredible shooting display." Let's not downplay it too much. Mobley might be a streak 3pt shooter, but Bullard? The Rockets basically ran a set pick n roll with Bullard getting Francis to the wing. It just doesn't look like a pick n roll because we are rolling to 3pt range. Riley choose to double Francis off the pick and leave bullard open ONE PASS AWAY. that is a pick n roll. Rudy didn't just stumble upon using Bullard as the pick...they practiced that. Riley chose to give Stevie a 3ptr shooting one pass away. Bullard was wide open on most his shots. Doesnt matter is Riley got out coached...Rudy exposed the hole and Bullard filled it. that was the game plan from my perspective.
Haven, Why defend Riley here. He did not adjust. Bullard simply cannot be left that wide open at his favorite 45 degree angle. You must adjust. He stubbornly refused to and paid for it. Maybe leaving Mobley open was defender lazing because those were swing passes, but Bullard was catching passes directly from Francis without a skip or swing. Defenses are not lazy for not rotating to that. It is like trying to rotate defenders to Malone's 18 footer when you leave him and trap Stockton. Futile. Bullard will shoot 50% every night with those looks. It was Riley's decision and ultimately his fault for refusing to stop doubling Francis. And if he did stop, we would have seen Francis finish them off--hehe. Riley rolled the dice and lost. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 24, 2000).]
Bullard isn't a career 50% shooter, despite the fact that he's almost ALWAYS open. You don't see bullard shooting much AT ALL with a hand in his face. Why would you change strategies? Francis had beaten 5 consecutive teams, and has been the key player in MOST of the Rockets victories during the season. I think that forcing Bullard to beat you, instead of Francis, is a commendable idea.
i didn't say career. but since you mention it, he is a career 46% 3pt shooter. How about them apples!! So, tell me again Bullard won't drill 50% from his favorite spot--45 degree angle--with his feet set under him and no chance to rotate a defender. You'd change strategies because you're getting killed. Riley chose not to adjust...he rolled the dice. He lost the game. Period! At the end, he blames his team, and people listen. Don't even try to deflate me on this game. I was there. We are on a roll, and I'm with them. Riley blew that game, not to mention he didn't go aggressively to Mourning against Pig out of the gate...we haven't even begun to talk about that. bring it on Haven!!!
i didn't say career. but since you mention it, he is a career 46% 3pt shooter. How about them apples!! them apples are rotten. Bullard is a career 38% 3Pt Shooter and a career 42% overall shooter: http://espn.go.com/nba/profiles/stats/avg/0044.html I still think Riley's gameplan was the way to go... Take away the team's best options -- especially when led by a rookie, because you might be able to rattle him. The fact that their players didn't at least try to cover 3pt shooters means they were lazy. Even during the Dump-It-In offense, people were never *that* wide open. And if we played the game again, we probably wouldn't shoot 50% from 3s....
you're right Shanna...I knew those numbers were too good to be true, that's why I was how about them apples! The 46% is his playoff averages which is the bottom line of his career stats at nba.com. I still say Bullard always hits 50% uncontested from that angle. Plus most of those shots he was leaning in, too...he was that open!! Take away the 1st threat, yes. Continue to let Bullard lean into his shots...no! You couldn't stop both, because it was a pick-n-roll in 3pt land. Nothing lazy about the defense there, because you can't rotate someone else to Bullard or you leave 3 on 2 weak side. Shanna, letting Bullard fire at will by ignoring him in a pick-n-roll is not a very good game-plan....that's why pick-n-rolls are so effective. Back to the leading topic and stories. Why can Riley get away with blaming all his losses on lazy play? Because we all believe him! [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 24, 2000).]
. Shanna, letting Bullard fire at will by ignoring him in a pick-n-roll is not a very good game-plan....that's why pick-n-rolls are so effective. That depends on the alternative. If the alternative is to let Francis drive and score or drive and dish, then letting Bullard shoot away is the better option. Especially considering Bullard has had a hyper-extended elbow for a few weeks and has been in a miserable shooting slump. Back to the leading topic and stories. Why can Riley get away with blaming all his losses on lazy play? Because we all believe him! Maybe we believe him because he's right (at least in this case). Not to take anything away from the Rockets, but if I had to choose between them losing do to a bad gameplan or bad execution of the gameplan, I'd say it was the latter, combined with a great shooting display by the Rockets.
Miami's defensive strength is Alonzo Mourning (as he is the NBA's leading shot blocker). Why not let Francis penetrate? The last time Miami played Houston, Mourning swatted 9 shots away ... and Miami blew them out. It just made no sense what so ever to continue to double team Francis in this game when the Rockets' gunners were going off the way they were. I echo HeyPartner's sentiments: Riley blew it!
OK Shanna, Allowing Bullard to lean into a 3ptr off a pick-n-roll is like letting Malone setup for an 18ftr after doubling Stockton. TheWIGMAN will be proven correct when you see how many teams let Bullard shoot at will like Riley did last night. Let's expand one more time,,,Riley blew it on the offensive end as well. Tell me what plays they were running out there. Tell me one Shanna. It was particularly questionable that he did not go to Mourning early and often in the 1st quarter. That, was the biggest surprise of the game. But this is all coming from a person who has said for the past two years that the only thing in this league more overrated than the Miami Heat is the coaching ability of one Pat Riley. Keep believing the pundits. This guy can't coach a '90s offense...and his prized defense was not properly prepared last night. He blew it! lazy players...that's sounds like a convenient excuse. Sorry I'm filling this thread up...but theWIGMAN makes an excellent point here, and something like Riley as god should be challenged...he is not a better coach than Rudy. Tell me Shanna, Dreamshake and Haven what offense the Knicks ran when Riley was there. Rudy ball!! What offense is Riley running at Miami. Rudy Ball! What offense is Rudy running now an NBA Flex maybe you can get Riley to explain it too you. good luck! This is fun....thx WIGMAN! I really needed the opportunity to bash Riley in front of Rudy bashers!!! Hah...bring it on! [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 24, 2000).]
Riley, hell he's no good everybody know's that. His game plan has been the same for years, ever since he went to the finals. He has a big guy in the middle, and they just dump it in to him. Then everybody stands around on the three point line frozen waiting for a shot. That's not basketball, just ask Rudy. Why, if it wasn't for (fill in the blank), he won't be coaching at all.
Allowing Bullard to lean into a 3ptr off a pick-n-roll is like letting Malone setup for an 18ftr after doubling Stockton. I'd do that too. If I have a choice between Malone taking an 18ft jump shot or Stockton driving for a layup for 6ft floater, I'll take the Malone jumpshot every time. TheWIGMAN will be proven correct when you see how many teams let Bullard shoot at will like Riley did last night. No, most teams don't... They let Francis drive and score at will. And the last 5 games proved that didn't work either... It was particularly questionable that he did not go to Mourning early and often in the 1st quarter. That, was the biggest surprise of the game. That I agree with, but that wasn't what the article was about that got all this started. ...and his prized defense was not properly prepared last night. His prized players weren't running at the shooters last night like they are coached to do. Even the players admitted this.... he is not a better coach than Rudy. No one ever said he was... This has nothing to do with Rudy. This is fun....thx WIGMAN! I really needed the opportunity to bash Riley in front of Rudy bashers!!! Hah...bring it on! Uhh, I'm not a Rudy basher, and I have no problem with the dump-it-in offense. You design an offense around the players you have. Miami has what we had 4 or 5 yrs ago -- a dominant center and good shooters, so that offense works extremely well. It may not be fun to watch, but it works. The reason it stopped working for the Rockets was that our center couldn't command a double team and convert against single teams. The offense worked fine when Barkley was in the post, though, because he did command those double-teams. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the Miami offense, and it's good enough to make them one of the best teams in the East.
Shanna, Sorry to pigeon-hole you. You see: I love this game, and our team is on a role. I'm getting carried away today. No, most teams don't... They let Francis drive and score at will. And the last 5 games proved that didn't work either... Boy, do I agree with that. This is the first win for us when Francis got smothered. I say, there's more to it that hitting 3ptrs.
The Rockets are starting to expose other teams weaknesses....oh man. I can't wait to get Dream back in shape and Cato into the rotation. See how far this team can come back. DaDakota
I actually like Riley's plan for this game, and think two factors led to it not working: 1. Rocket's shooters did unusually well. 2. His perimiter defenders were lethargic, and didn't rotate well on defense. I don't think either of those is really his fault... his strategy was sound, but it was foiled by a good shooting night and his player's laziness.
