What is wrong with this team?

[moofs]

Maybe we should get some PORZINGIS.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jfAYtuBtx4[/youtube]

[Nebula1]

A couple observations:


1. Bev must be the starter until Lawson takes it

2. Brewer should be playing more minutes than Thornton

3. Motiejunas is missed far more than anticipated


So I think these three pieces can get this team back on track. Get well soon, Motie.

[MKL]

Observations:

Other teams, especially the Eastern Conference teams have improved.

HOU pretty much remained the same or regressed because Lawson doesn't mesh with the cornerstones.

Beverley hurt like forever... or just plain scared or lazy after getting paid. Dmo's legend grows the longer he is hurt... aka same as Beverley.

No heart.

[gafun]

I think this is what happened:

"Dwight (Howard) and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets," said Harden. "The rest of the guys are role players or pieces that complete our team. We've lost some pieces and added some pieces. I think we'll be fine next season." July, 2014.

Parsons on Harden: "It's a pretty ridiculous statement, if he meant that. I'm excited to go to DAL. I'm ready for next step, a bigger role." Mike Prada: "It also certainly doesn't help Houston recruit other top free agents -- like, say, Chris Bosh? -- to join Howard and Harden."

Harden talked like Kobe before he can lead Rockets to NBA finals yet.

Mavericks 9-3, #3
Rockets 5-9, #11

[Hoops23]

IMO, McHale was axed to be the scape goat. I disagree that the problem is the coach but I agree with the management that there's a need for a change but I doubt its a coaching change.... If the recent move did not result well, trading players should be the next move

[Mr. E]

The only people I know who are still hung up on that "role players" comment are hardcore Lin fans. I doubt that the hurt feelings of Lin, Parsons or anyone else had any impact in Bosh's decision.

[MaxRider]

IMO, McHale was axed to be the scape goat. I disagree that the problem is the coach but I agree with the management that there's a need for a change but I doubt its a coaching change.... If the recent move did not result well, trading players should be the next move

the team need a head coach who won't buy into Morey statistic crap
i never like Morey
he did make some really good trades
i thought he proved me wrong last season
well ... still have a long season to go

[pr0wler]

Basically the entire team is shooting way below their career average, for no real particular reason, so it's either the coaching, horrible variance/luck, or a combination of both. There's no way Ariza/Harden/Brewer/Lawson/Ariza will all continue to shoot under .400 the entire season despite having entire careers of playing well and knocking down shots. And it's not like these guys are pushing 40 and declining, our core is in their mid/late 20's so there's really no explanation.

14 games is still a small sample size, and it's not mathematically impossible that the team is just shooting/playing really poorly over this stretch when reality they're still a 4th or 5th seed. Conversely, the Atlanta Hawks were 17-0 last January, but by the time playoffs rolled around they looked like a complete shell of what they were and destroyed by the injured Cavs. Miami Heat won 27 games in a row in 2012-2013 and barely sneaked by in the NBA Finals. Next season with basically the exact same roster and they got utterly annihilated by the Spurs next time despite being favourites (or very close to it) and doing great in the regular season.

My point is that weird things happen. I'm not saying it's 100% bad luck, and the Rockets will definitely turn it around and become a contender like they were supposed to but there really isn't a good reason imo why they suck so bad so I think a majority of it is just mathematical variance. Bad runs do happen. I would not be surprised to see Houston get healthy, start hitting shots, and end up as the 5th seed in the West and be that team no one else wants to play in the playoffs.

[Nebula1]

Basically the entire team is shooting way below their career average, for no real particular reason, so it's either the coaching, horrible variance/luck, or a combination of both. There's no way Ariza/Harden/Brewer/Lawson/Ariza will all continue to shoot under .400 the entire season despite having entire careers of playing well and knocking down shots. And it's not like these guys are pushing 40 and declining, our core is in their mid/late 20's so there's really no explanation.

14 games is still a small sample size, and it's not mathematically impossible that the team is just shooting/playing really poorly over this stretch when reality they're still a 4th or 5th seed. Conversely, the Atlanta Hawks were 17-0 last January, but by the time playoffs rolled around they looked like a complete shell of what they were and destroyed by the injured Cavs. Miami Heat won 27 games in a row in 2012-2013 and barely sneaked by in the NBA Finals. Next season with basically the exact same roster and they got utterly annihilated by the Spurs next time despite being favourites (or very close to it) and doing great in the regular season.

My point is that weird things happen. I'm not saying it's 100% bad luck, and the Rockets will definitely turn it around and become a contender like they were supposed to but there really isn't a good reason imo why they suck so bad so I think a majority of it is just mathematical variance. Bad runs do happen. I would not be surprised to see Houston get healthy, start hitting shots, and end up as the 5th seed in the West and be that team no one else wants to play in the playoffs.

I can't agree more with this.

Where my real concern was how this team came out of a couple days off with extra practice. Under McHale they came out as if they didn't practice at all. It was slop.

So obviously I think it's critical this team comes out executing on Wednesday under JB. I like what he's doing and hopefully the changes and practice can get the guns firing again. As you noted, it's very unlikely these poor percentages keep up.

[K_chile22]

Basically the entire team is shooting way below their career average, for no real particular reason, so it's either the coaching, horrible variance/luck, or a combination of both. There's no way Ariza/Harden/Brewer/Lawson/Ariza will all continue to shoot under .400 the entire season despite having entire careers of playing well and knocking down shots. And it's not like these guys are pushing 40 and declining, our core is in their mid/late 20's so there's really no explanation.

14 games is still a small sample size, and it's not mathematically impossible that the team is just shooting/playing really poorly over this stretch when reality they're still a 4th or 5th seed. Conversely, the Atlanta Hawks were 17-0 last January, but by the time playoffs rolled around they looked like a complete shell of what they were and destroyed by the injured Cavs. Miami Heat won 27 games in a row in 2012-2013 and barely sneaked by in the NBA Finals. Next season with basically the exact same roster and they got utterly annihilated by the Spurs next time despite being favourites (or very close to it) and doing great in the regular season.

My point is that weird things happen. I'm not saying it's 100% bad luck, and the Rockets will definitely turn it around and become a contender like they were supposed to but there really isn't a good reason imo why they suck so bad so I think a majority of it is just mathematical variance. Bad runs do happen. I would not be surprised to see Houston get healthy, start hitting shots, and end up as the 5th seed in the West and be that team no one else wants to play in the playoffs.

I can't agree more with this.

Where my real concern was how this team came out of a couple days off with extra practice. Under McHale they came out as if they didn't practice at all. It was slop.

So obviously I think it's critical this team comes out executing on Wednesday under JB. I like what he's doing and hopefully the changes and practice can get the guns firing again. As you noted, it's very unlikely these poor percentages keep up.

Apparently they had a "mini-training camp" over the past three days to get everyone on the same page as far as schemes as well as rebuild confidence and try to fix laziness.


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[jetlife_]

I think this is really unfortunate. Team meeting, players only, and then McHale is fired. Looks to me like the team lays blame on coach and went running to Morey about it. I wonder if they brought up Harden's lack of everything up in the meeting.

Hope for the sake of the Rocket fans that this team gets their act together. That said a team led by Howard and Harden is not going to win a ring.

No, because I don't think that his teammates have the same irrational hatred of him that many fans seem to do.

Oh oh, someone hates someone because they have criticised them. Damn 21st century and all their progressive and easily offended people. Do you really think Harden has been playing effectively for the team as their star player and leader?

Did this guy really just bring politics into an argument about James Harden and the Houston Rockets? Get it all out of your system, bud. There's nothing like a good cry when you're feeling bloated.

Everyone on the team is playing poorly (outside of Capela). The fact that you are so oblivious to that fact that you suggested the team blame Harden, the player who carried the team's offense for huge stretches last season, is why I implied you were a hater.

Clearly Harden needs to play better. As does Lawson, Brewer, Ariza, Dwight, Jones, and Beverley.

[pr0wler]

Terrence Jones is a really bad defender with poor basketball IQ. Disappointing that he isn't quick enough to guard faster PF's but only 6'9'' and has trouble with taller players as well. Happy to see him get 10-15 MPG when D-Mo gets back, but the narrative that he's our starting power forward of the future and the Rockets should re-sign him for like $12M a season is ludicrous. Once D-Mo gets back we'll have a legit defensive presence alongside Dwight, as well as someone who can actually post up properly and not turn the ball over 1/4 times (Dwight).

I'd also like to see Ty Lawson in the rotation more. I know he's had his troubles, but I mean c'mon he's had 6 seasons of solid productive play in the league there is no reason for him to rapidly decline. I think we need to give him a legit shot.

Capela is a gangster, at this point I think he might be better than Dwight. However, team politics will never allow Clint to get more playing time than the mighty D12.

Rotation I'd like to see when D-Mo returns

PG - Beverley (28) Lawson (16) Terry (4)
PG - Harden (36) Thornton (4) Terry (8)
SF - Ariza (36) Thornton (12)
PF - D-Mo (28) T-Jones (12) Capela (8)
C - Dwight (30) Capela (18)

or...

PG - Beverley (30) Lawson (18)
SG - Harden (36) Thornton (12)
SF - Ariza (36) Brewer (12)
PF - D-Mo (28) T-Jones (12) Capela (8)
C - Dwight (30) Capela (18)

Personally I prefer the 2nd rotation, leaving Terry as the 5th guard in case someone is injured or not playing well. I'd also prefer to see as little of T-Jones and Brewer as possible as they both have glaring weaknesses, on defense and offense respectively.

[rocketsballin]

in short - competent 3pt shooting, remember to pass to dwight, stagnant-iso heavy offense, inconsistent defense