Over the last 14 games, Houston is scoring 101.6 points per game on .467 shooting. Prior to this, the Rockets were averaging 86.9 points on .421 shooting through their first 22 games. We have eclipsed 100 points seven times in this stretch and have been 9-5 in this stretch. Compared to the games where we averaged 86.9 points, this new high-powered offense has brought us better results. However, it has also caused our defense to suffer, a 180 degree turnaround from the team that we were a year ago that were arguably the best defensive team in the league. Do you think that this new offense is better? Or is the old half-court, defend to death style more suitable for our team? Personally, I believe that the Rockets should find a midpoint between these two styles and play there. Although the high-tempo offense has produced good results, it's well-known that teams with all offense and no defense will not win a championship, as evident in teams like Dallas and Sacramento. If the Rockets can score big numbers and also allow just around 90 points per game, we should be at the point where our stars are most comfortable.
The new one, the offense is entertaining, of course a mixture of both would be good, but if I could just choose one, definitley the new one.
Of course, a balance between defense and offense would be the best, but I don't think its going to happen. Playing both defense and offense heavily will probably cause a lot of our players to become tired very quickly since we don't exactly have that many atheletic players on our team. Instead, I think we should focus more on offense now that its working. In the first place, I don't really think Van Gundy's grind them out defense was really most of the players' styles. I mean, you've got- McGrady- who is an offensive giant Juwan Howard- who isn't that great of a defender Maurice Taylor- similar to Howard Yao Ming- who can't bang down low that long for rebounds Jon Barry David Wesley-both thrive offensively since both are nice shooters I think the only problem to this method is that maybe Yao will get some more fouls since more players might drive into the paint and draw the foul. Which actually would affect us a lot since he's one of our main men. However, I think its a risk we should take. Sura, McGrady, Howard, and Wesley have all been thriving under this new system and its obvious with the wins that they've cranked out for us. Sure, defense wins championships, but offense will get us deep into the playoffs in my opinion. Once we get the right players that will fit into this style, I think a championship is probably close within reach. Take a look at Phoenix for an example. Their defense is horrible but their offense is overwhelming. Right now, their on pace for a 70-12 season and who's to say they don't have a chance to win the championship?
The Rockets defense hasn't been that much worse, actually. If you look at their points per possession given up before the hot-shooting streak, and right now, its still 100 pts per 100 possessions. Right now, the Rockets are pushing the ball up the floor a bit better, and scoring more efficiently themselves. The defense could use some improvement, of course, but then that's been the case all year.
I still think the old, halfcourt style will work long-term...that was playoff basketball...this team wasnt made to succeed greatly in the regular season...in the playoffs, they're better off if they stick to their old style...a running game does not work in the playoffs, especially in the playoffs where teams can know ur gameplan easily within a seven-game series...so, I like this sort of style for the regular season but for the playoffs, we need a solid and successful halfcourt game for us to be successful...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shooter:</div><div class="quote_post">I still think the old, halfcourt style will work long-term...that was playoff basketball...this team wasnt made to succeed greatly in the regular season...in the playoffs, they're better off if they stick to their old style...a running game does not work in the playoffs, especially in the playoffs where teams can know ur gameplan easily within a seven-game series...so, I like this sort of style for the regular season but for the playoffs, we need a solid and successful halfcourt game for us to be successful...</div> Thing about the defense is the absence of Kelvin Cato. Last year, he was a main part of our defense and was a shotblocking presence down low who could handle power forwards. Neither Mo Taylor nor Juwan Howard can do what he did for us. I feel that we can still play defense better than half the league, but we are certainly not the team that can hold teams to below 80ppg and 40% shooting on a consistent basis. I think we need to emulate what the Lakers were during their streak of championships: a team that can score 95ppg and allow 90ppg.
9-5 with the up-tempo game 10-12 with the slow game Van Gundy loves to look at statistics...I think he should keep an eye on that one. The Rockets aren't a good defensive team this year. They were good last year because they had a quick/strong/athletic point guard in Francis that could stay in front of the other team's ballhandler and prevent them from breaking down the rest of the defense and thus causing the resulting rotations from the 2-5 spots. Add to that a SG that outdid himself on defense last year in Mobley, and a PF in Cato that could clean up from the weakside when rotations were needed. This year, the defensive problems start at the PG and then they're double by the absence of any defense whatsoever out of any of our PF's. Here's how I see the starter's mindsets: Yao - 70% offense/30% defense Howard - 90% offense/10% defense McGrady - 80% offense/20% defense Wesley - 65% offense/35% defense Sura - 60% offense/40% defense Personally, I wouldn't consider someone defensive minded unless it was at least 40% of their game, so by that benchmark, Sura is the only defensive minded player in the starting lineup, and the only players on the bench are Bowen and Mutombo, one being very offensively challenged (therefore a liability), and one being...well...old. Padgett is a maybe, but I'd classify him more as a hustle guy than a defensive minded guy. So in the end, I just don't think they have the personel to be that defensive team a la last year. These of course are all personal opinions, but that's pretty much how I see the starters as far as being offensive and defensive minded.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting rocketthruster:</div><div class="quote_post">Doggystyle is the best</div> Lame, stick to the topic eh?
