It ain't working. Your starters can't come close to running your offense,your bench players do so only when Ron doesn't touch the ball and to top it off it seems like half your roster is physically broke. Smart coaches are using Thibideau's strong side zone and choking off McGrady's penetration and your bigs can't convert when he gets them the ball,stiffling your first option away from your system. Yao has lost his confidence and is playing like a 7'6" robot thus killing your second option. Artest is no playmaker and his shot selection is horrifyingly bad,squashing what little hope you had in him saving the offense. It just ain't working. It's time to reboot.
All is not lost however. You just have to commit to doing what you want to do in your heart. Go small wall to wall. You know you want to,you know it will make your offense run better and do you really give a s*** if you give up 10 more pts a a game so long as you can score 15 more?
Look at what your players can and cannot do. When Yao gets the ball in motion he usually takes a quick shot and scores. When he sets up in the low post,too often he tries to dribble and loses the ball. Ron can make open 3s,overpower people down low and make the obvious pass. He cannot get the ball on the perimeter and create a good shot for himself and cannot be a playmaker. McGrady is a shell of himself,cannot shoot from distance w/any consistancy and can't elevate inside and finish. He can-and will-thread the needle to an open teammate and can drive and dish better than 99% of NBA players. Your PFs can't shoot from outside,can't dominate down low and are barely able to pass. They do work hard and will move to open spots.
So I humbly suggest that you go back to your old offense. But you need to change your starters and their roles. Start Yao,Artest,Barry/Head/Wafer/Brooks,McGrady and Alston. Use McGrady like you used C-Webb,put his butt on the hi-post and run your offense thru him. Make Alston,BBHW run your cuts. If they don't-or can't finish-replace them w/someone who will. Artest(and eventually Battier)can set up outside and flash into low-post. Let Yao roam from along the lane like he's in freakin' Nascar,getting/setting picks from/for the cutters. After 5/6 minutes Yao will be tired and replace him w/Scola. Above all make sure the players know that it's either play your way or watch from the bench.
So what if starting Artest at the PF means you will get killed on the glass? It's happening anyway,so you may as well try and force the other team to adjust. And every time you talk to Morey tell him you need a PF who can friggin' pass and make a 20' jumper.(Ask how Maarty's doing. See if Strawberry is learning how to bring the ball up the court. If he can and he's learned how to make the-set-up-the-offense pass,well,make sure Morey knows Alston can be moved.) As for Artest against the Leagues prob top teams-LA is using Odom down the stretch,West,Dirk guardable by Artest,Ron's strong enough to kep Okur out at the 3pt line,Oberto is more of a threat from outside and the Suns big's kill the Rockets anyway.
you were hired to bring a professional offense to the Rockets,not a more spread out JVG system. Go w/what you know. Stand tall,go small.
Sincerely
Stephen(aka tisbee)
So what if I opposed the Artest trade and said starting Artest-or Battier-at PF would be a disaster? Only small,narrow minds refuse to let ugly reality challenge their beliefs. I like to think my mind is as wide as my gut
When what you're doing is not only not working,but doesn't show any hope that it might work,then it's time for a change. Pinning hopes on Battier's return will make it all better,ignores how the Rockets played last yr. Their offense was simplistic at best and unless the team played a near-flawless defensive game,they were susceptible to bad losses.
