Encouraging Loss — Rockets Might’ve Found Something

It's not just the main ballhandlers lacking passing ability. Rockets don't have "hockey assist", secondary connective passers either.

Tari just doesnt have good offensive IQ. DFS receiving pass out the double, he's not gonna convert a bucket OR swing the ball properly. Unless he's really good at setting Steven Adams/PJ Tucker picks, he's a useless piece of wood out there

I say lack of options because Ime prefers defense. But if it's about generating cleaner offense, yes try out a Crawford. Even play Uncle Jeff more, someone who just knows how to play the game

 

I assure you anything positive about the offense is a one off thing. It will return to normal.

 

It's like, what are these roster spots for? Are we signing guys for vibes? As favors to their agents? Or can they actually help you win a game? Because Tari and DFS cannot.

And the Tari thing... 17th pick of his draft who has been injured for 1/2 of his career, and whose numbers are all down this year despite being given more minutes. What is it that guarantees him a starting role?

 

Only encouraging until you are kicked out of the Playoffs.

 

Rockets overall FG% last 10 games: .471
Right at their season average, right at league average
Record: 4-6

Rockets overall FG% last 15 games: .488
That ranks 3rd in league overall. (Behind Lakers & Nuggets)
Record 8-7

They're shooting BETTER after the All Star break than before .

The offense hasn't fallen off near as drastic as it looks. It's the situational offense, closing offense and turnovers is a mess. And consistency game to game is lacking. (And defense has gotten even worse)

 

This should absolutely be ONE OF our bread and butter plays. I fear this team will rely on it too much to the point of being predictable and easily countered.

The key is being able to adjust to how the defense is playing us. And quite frankly I still don’t trust KD to consistently make good passes under pressure. We need to have multiple looks.

 

Maybe your thread is the four-leaf clover for this team.

 

it turns out that shooting is a fundamental part of basketball

honestly I forgot Holiday was even on the team...

Unleash the shooters.

 

What has happened is Ime has finally done what 90% of clutchfans have been calling for since before the all-star break. Getting Durant off the ball. A competent offensive coach would’ve realized this in the off-season, especially when his preferred pg went down. We need Durant’s shooting, especially from distance not him spamming 2 pointers against double teams. Pretty easy concept, but it took our esteemed coach 65 games to figure it out.

 

The problem with this play is:

A) the defense will show/double KD and
B) KD is not a playmaker, he's a play finisher. So, he struggles to make the right pass consistently.
C) the defense can and will guard the Sengun/Amen/corner 3 with 2 players. But,
D) the rockets can't punish this because Sengun is not a consistent mid range shooter. So, the defense sags back and he has to drive if Amen is covered in the dunker spot. That gives the defense enough time to rotate and re-set after the inital KD double.

Reed clearly helps the lineup offensively. But, the root cause of all the offensive problems is that your best player (KD) really isn't ideal to be in a PnR and you have 2 non shooters on the court, one of which is not involved in the PnR.

The solution this season has less to do with Reed, because he was already playing big minutes. The solution is just playing more shooters on the court period. So, that looks like more Holiday and I think they should mix in some Uncle Jeff minutes instead of DFS.

 

When the level of competition is above you, there not much as a team you can do. The rockets
are good team just not top 5 in west. 6TH seed looking at easy schedule. Any in the east top 8 .
This is not a championship squad without few minor tweeks, they need to use FVV money for this.
Maybe a trade or 2.

They should be taking
advantage of this. Because against Nuggets or Wolves in the first round there going need all the help
they can get, better get 4th seed and homecourt.

 

I still think we need to have Bari, Amen and KD set more screens, Amen on the roll, KD and Bari should both be able to roll or fade/pop regardless (though KD obviously better by some margin.) 2 of our tallest players almost never set picks and it's crazy when both of them are solid distance shooters.

 

I've always wanted to see Jabari do Pick N Pop. Not sure why it never happens.

BTW, they should ask Steven Adams to be the screen-setting coach. None of our guys, with the exception of maybe Capela, can set a decent screen. And our ball handlers don't know how to properly use a screen.

 

You can't find something new with someone like Ime. He will revert back to his stubborn self. Adapt or die should be his M.O like Mazulla.

 

Basketball shouldn’t be hard.