It was miscommunication, but at the same time, I think Tmac should've followed Roy at least a little bit (pick could've happened higher up). Agree on the shady timekeeper unless the clock stopped right when Yao was fouled on his turn around. Anyways, incredible shot by Roy and a tough loss for us. I'm more concerned about our poor defensive rebounding (I believe Tmac had to grab like the last 2-3 boards).
As I said...... From the Chronicle article --------------------------------------------------- But for the last play, the Rockets switched Tracy McGrady on to Roy, assuming McGrady would get picked off and that Artest would pick up Roy from there. The screen never came. McGrady stopped, assuming Artest was switching to Roy. Artest stopped, assuming McGrady was still on him. Roy was left alone to make his only 3-pointer of the night. "It was a tough shot," McGrady said. "I was anticipating a switch between myself and Ron. He got free there. He didn’t set a pick and it was just a hell of a shot. I was with him. I was anticipating there was going to be a screen for me coming up. We inverted that so if (Roy) was going to come up, Ron was going to take him, but there was no screen set. He just went up there, caught the pass – 70-footer." ---------------------------------------------------- DD
Also, Yao should have had his back to the in-bound guy and been guarding whoever came up to catch the ball. Not that he could have blocked it, but he could have gotten in the way. Bad coaching move to have him guard the in-bound guy.
IMO, with no time to pass back to the inbound passer there is no reason to even guard him. play 5 on 4 defense.
You still supposed to switch even though there isn't a pick. If a man runs by you going towards the ball in that situation then you're supposed to switch to him. T-Mac was watching Outlaw the whole time anticipating him to pop out. Roy was supposed to be covered by Artest. As soon as the whistle blew T-Mac pointed for the switch and Artest was late.
As I said if you are in a zone, or responsible for a zone you switch.....otherwise, you don't unless a pick is coming. And you are wrong, read the article I posted....they anticipated Tmac getting picked....which they then would switch, it never happened, and thus there was not supposed to be a switch. Ugh, why do I even bother? DD
I can't agree more. TMac's quit playing defense for quite a while. Maybe he's physically incapable of playing defense or his mind set isn't there. Whatever it is, it's been 2+ years now. Although I like what he's been doing in the offense end this year, I can't stand his defensive effort. I really wish Shane was there.
I think during that time, all rockets were thinking not let them go get easy 2 points shoot, when Roy runs out for the 3point, tmac hesitated a bit and didn't catch up Roy, so the long ****ing lucky 3poits happens... I miss Shane a lot. He is the key.
T-Mac was playing Outlaw for the pop. In 0.8 seconds all you can do is anticipate defensively. There is no "If player A doesn't do X, then we go to plan B if he does Y, etc". Once the defensive plan was set you go thru with it regardless.
He was like 6 feet out from the 3pt line and threw up a Hail Mary rainbow. I dont think you guard too closely on that play in order to avoid a cheap foul. If he was up on the line it would be a different story. Like Shaq once said, "One Lucky Shot, Deserves Another".
With 0.8 seconds left, I think the Rockets were expecting Portland to just throw it up and try to tip it in. YOu can tell because Yao was turned towards the rim and trying to deny the pass towards the rim. Tmac was standing behind Roy and not infront of him, trying to deny the tip in. Thats why Tmac was a step behind, I don't think the Rockets expected a catch and shoot, especially with 0.08 seconds left.
These are the types of threads I don't get. Roy made a ridiculous turn around jumper from 30 ft out yet somehow the defense is to blame. Roy was going to take that shot regardless and it would have been stupid for T mac or Artest to play him aggressively because you don't foul the jumpshooter. Especially since they were only down 2 so he wouldn't have needed to make all his free throws. At the end of the day you can live with that type of shot. It had no business going in. If he makes you shake his hand and say great shot. But to somehow think the defense was at fault is ridiculous. If anything point to the time keepers who gave him an extra second to get the shot off.
I can see your point, but I think you are going to an extreme to make it....you certainly do NOT let him shoot a wide open shot.....that is the point. DD
at the end of the day, if people on the other team are gonna be making turn around off balance 30 footers, you just have to tip your hat and walk away. the purpose of defense is to make your opponent take the most difficult shot possible. that was an exceptionally difficult shot, therefore in my book the defense was sound. it just happened to go in, and that's unfortunate. i mean, i can begin to understand the point of this conversation if they gave up something easy, going to the basket especially, but they didnt. it wasn't a tip dunk. it wasn't a normal jump shot. hell, it wasn't even a good shot. but sometimes people get lucky.
It looked to me that Ron was telling Tracy to switch on a down screen. There was just as much chance that Outlaw would break to the rim for a lob, so someone had to stay down. So, Roy headed up and Tracy stayed there because he was expecting Outlaw to set the down screen, upon which he and Ron would swap. Instead, Outlaw stayed at the top and screened Artest in place. That took McGrady out of the play, and held Ron up just long enough to create an opportunity for Roy. It was just an unfortunate play that probably had about a 2% chance of being successful. **** happens. EDIT: Just saw the Chron piece...I guess I was right.
I don't really see how I am going to an extreme. Even if there wasn't the miscommunication and there was a defender right up on him, he was still taking the shot. T Mac and Artest would have let him because that is the type of shot you want in that situation. Playing him aggressive and giving Violet a reason to blow her whistle wouldn't be a smart move by the defender. If it was a wide open 3 with his feet set and all that then I could understand not letting him shoot a wide open shot. But a turn around jumper 30 ft out is just a great play on Roy's part.
It is...but a turnround jumber with a man guarding you is even harder to make...he didn't have to make any adjustments at all...just go shoot it.... That is the difference. DD
Smothering a shooter and leaving him wide open are extremely different. You act as if there's no middle ground. Didn't Artest "play him aggressive" when he foiled Roy's potential game winner in the 4th quarter?
