If the Rockets go through this offseason without getting 1 or 2 above the rim finshers, they would exactly be the COMETS with all the below the rim weak at the basket game that has plagued them for 3 years.
<div class="quote_poster">Silva Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Don't buy into the hype. Defense and rebounding are still the trademarks of NBA champions.</div> I definitely agree. Just look at these playoffs for examples of that. Utah Jazz defeated the Golden State Warriors San Antonio Spurs defeated the Phoenix Suns The Spurs and Pistons are the favorites to match up in this year's Finals. Both of their styles are defense and rebounding. Coincidence? I think not.
I wouldn't argue that defense and rebounding is the winning formula. I would, though, like to see an era in which that could be combined with the kind of shooting that seems to no longer be of interest to some NBA players. As far as the Rockets are concerned, the team's offensive tempo really is determined by Yao Ming. McGrady is definately a guy who could get out, run and gun fairly effectively if he felt like it. But every time I've seen Yao, I've been amazed at just how slow he's looked. Add to that his recent leg injuries, his increased muscle... seems to me you have a bad situation waiting to happen. The advantage is, Rick Adelman's reputation from Sacramento as a running, high scoring coach isn't entirely accurate. Sacramento was known as one of the slickest passing offenses in the NBA while he was there, which creates the illusion of a quick team. If you make a skillful pass, you can coveer just as much ground as if you're running, without the wear and tear.
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> The advantage is, Rick Adelman's reputation from Sacramento as a running, high scoring coach isn't entirely accurate. Sacramento was known as one of the slickest passing offenses in the NBA while he was there, which creates the illusion of a quick team. If you make a skillful pass, you can coveer just as much ground as if you're running, without the wear and tear.</div> I completely agree with this statement. Adelman does a great job of improvising offensive plays. His offense is a very efficient one.
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I completely agree with this statement. Adelman does a great job of improvising offensive plays. His offense is a very efficient one.</div> Agreed. He'll do wonders for us offensively. But I honestly expect us to fall to the middle-of-the-pack in defense and rebounding, and I'd much rather be top 10 in defense than offense. It's a more consistent and solid foundation.
^We may fall in D, but we should stay in the top 10 with Yao/Deke's presence on D along with our best perimeter defender, Shane Battier. But who cares about the regular season. Teams step it up/grind it out and play there hearts out on both offense and defense during the playoffs. Utah scored easily any time they made a hard cut to the basket, sometimes your best defense is offense. Other teams can turn it on and score, nothing you can do about it but score on the other side. That's how you close out games.
I think coaches in general get a bad rap. Sure, there are things you can do to hide a weak defender, but defense is so much more a personnel issue than a coaching issue. Certainly, if the coach is a great motivator, he might get more. But guys like Shane Battier will always be great defenders, and guys like Mike Dunleavy will always be horrible defenders.
