71 replies to this topic

[thejohnnygold]

Yeah, I am interested in watching the next couple of games and seeing if I can identify anything that the article alludes to.  It absolutely makes sense that the Rockets are applying analytics to both sides of the ball.  If so, I think the defensive transition will be much more difficult as that is so much about instinct and reaction.

[Mario Peña]

One of the reasons I believe the Rockets defense might be getting worse is fatigue and there is not much coaches or analytics can do about it. These players are going to have to dig down and find another gear or more inspiration. Consider that the minutes these players are logging are even more strenious due to the very fast pace of the Rockets offense this year and there might be players running out of gas. Fatigue also tradionally leads to riskier defense, settling for 3's instead of driving and a lack of focus.

 

player      minute total this year through 67 games /last year total minutes

 

Rotation players:

 

Harden 2503/1946

 

Parsons 2395/1804

Lin 2177/940

Asik 2014/971

 

Smith 766/69

 

 

 

 

Players that were overseas:

 

Beverly 403/played for Spartak St. Petersberg (no where near as taxing as the NBA)
 

Motiejunas 314/ played for Prokom Gdynia (we all know how tired he gets after about 5 or 6 minutes)

 

 

 

 

The one notable exception though by seasons end he will have exceeded last years total:

Delfino 1435/1537

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.basketbal...s/HOU/2013.html




 

[thejohnnygold]

I totally agree with you that fatigue is a huge factor.  This is one knock I have against McHale--I feel like we could utilize more of our depth to help with this.

 

If the Rockets want to run, run, run and generate more plays per game then conditioning and depth have to be a priority in order to benefit from the subsequent advantage over their opponent.

 

In that light, the idea of spending our cap on 2 guys--Mayo and Millsap for example--instead of one could make more sense.  That gives us more highly competent players to throw at the opposition.  Eventually, they have to rest their guys or play tired--either way we should gain an advantage.

[timetodienow1234567]

I like David west better than millsap because he plays decent defense unlike millsap

[rockets best fan]

good post 2016. I can't believe I am going to say this, but here goes..............hard swallow...........I agree with what mchale is saying  basketball is basketball. sure there are always new ways to read and apply data, but it's not a complex game. score and keep your foe from doing the same.

[rockets best fan]

^I was posting this on another thread don't know how it got here

[rocketrick]

I totally agree with you that fatigue is a huge factor.  This is one knock I have against McHale--I feel like we could utilize more of our depth to help with this.

 

If the Rockets want to run, run, run and generate more plays per game then conditioning and depth have to be a priority in order to benefit from the subsequent advantage over their opponent.

 

In that light, the idea of spending our cap on 2 guys--Mayo and Millsap for example--instead of one could make more sense.  That gives us more highly competent players to throw at the opposition.  Eventually, they have to rest their guys or play tired--either way we should gain an advantage.

 

Just exactly who can McHale trust and count on every night as far as bench play? Before the trade, we had some decent depth and energy coming off the bench. We have to figure out a new solution with the players we have now. This doesn't come easily and it may not come to all of our satisfaction quickly enough.

 

The good news is we have 14 players on our roster (not counting Royce White anymore for obvious reasons), and other than our core group of Harden, Lin, Parsons and Asik, this is the perfect opportunity for the rest of our team to show us what they got and why they deserve even more minutes of playing time. Some of these guys have just simply got to step up and not only that, but be consistent.

[rockets best fan]

I don't buy the fatigue issue. we are young and we are getting rest in this part of the season. we are getting good pratice time also. so neither of these should be a problem. if we were an old team I would say it was a concern, but that's simply not our problem. our problem is the subpar defense we have been playing all year simply will not get it done down the stretch and in the playoffs. our faults have found us out. teams are scouting us better now and know how to attack this swish cheese defense of ours. i'm hoping we make the playoffs, but if we continue to play defense like this we won't be there for long

[thejohnnygold]

I look at the fatigue issue from the volume as well as the intensity stand point.  These guys are learning about how much exertion it takes to compete at this level.  As we all know--they are young and will adapt, but I believe it is a factor right now.  Playing basketball full-throttle is very demanding.  To do it for extended periods while maintaining the necessary mental acuity, body agility, physical stamina, and manual dexterity to stay sharp, quick, relentless, and able to knock down shots is tremendous--no matter who you are.

[Mario Peña]

Like I said in another post, I am not trying to debate with you rockets best fan. You have your opinion and I can respect that but there are some of us who think otherwise and I don't know why but we continue searching for answers.

To johnnygold, I agree with what you are writing and I think we are on the same page. I would like to add that we all believe in the old adage that young NBA players have the energy, the hops, fresh legs and motor to keep going in an 82 game season. The difference here with our Rockets is that we are seeing this fatigue at every position when we normally say that about one or two youngsters on a team and therein lies the biggest difference. Morey must have know this would be a problem but I guess it's a small price to pay in the short term.

[Mason Khamvilay]

Yeah, it's a small price to pay in the short term. The Miami Heat were noticeably fatigued too that season the big 3 first got together, and the next season it was like their bodies adapted to pace. I think our young Rockets will be the way, next season everyone will be alot more used to the pace and we will see alot more consistency. Scoring 120-140 points on teams will be a regular feat.

[timetodienow1234567]

Giving up 120-140 points a game will also probably be a regular feat.

[Mason Khamvilay]

I'm nothing if not optimistic about the direction we're heading in, but some people prefer to be pessimists. To each his own.

[timetodienow1234567]

Lol. I'm hopeful, but realistic. If we're scoring that much, that means the pace is really high. Great offensive teams like the Nuggets/Heat/Spurs/etc...  will take advantage of that and score a lot on us.

[Mason Khamvilay]

Lol. I'm hopeful, but realistic. If we're scoring that much, that means the pace is really high. Great offensive teams like the Nuggets/Heat/Spurs/etc...  will take advantage of that and score a lot on us.

Realistically our future is bright. Realistically young teams get better with experience. Realistically you're just being pessimistic, and you're just lying to yourself if you say you're not. I'm not saying that makes you a bad Rockets fan, I understand that's just how some people are and I accept you for being you. But don't be ignorant, you're insinuating that we will be always be a bad defensive team as long as we run. But look here:

 

Denver is 2nd in pace and 11th defensively (their opponents average 102ppg). Spurs are 7th in pace and 3rd defensively. Thunder are 6th in pace and 6th defensively.

 

It's not impossible to be a decent defensive team despite a fast pace. I can see plenty of reasons why we will get better defensively with the main one being experience, Be pessimistic all you want, it's nice to have a little yin and yang in the forum, but please try to avoid making ignorant insinuations.

[Mario Peña]

Easy gents, it looks like timetodienow has merely written that he is realistic and that is fine. 2016Champions despite agreeing with what you are putting down I must say that I would never write "don't be ignorant" towards timetodienow. Top and bottom just keep it under control here please.

[Mason Khamvilay]

My mistake, I didn't mean to call him ignorant. I just meant that what he insinuated was ignorant. 

 

Remember the 2007 Suns? They were a very fast team and still above average defensively. If not for that nasty hip check Horry gave Nash that series could have went a very different direction. 

[timetodienow1234567]

True, but they had lockdown defenders. Shawn Marion/Bell/Diaw(pre-weight gain)? Andre Iguodola? Serge Ibaka/Sefalosha? Kawhi/Duncan? Outside of Asik we don't have that lockdown defender on our roster. If we were to get one of those guys, obviously our chances would improve to be better defensively. Having a fast pace would not keep us from having a great defense. It would certainly hinder us somewhat, but teams do overcome that with great coaching and a team emphasis on defense. I hope we get that soon, but I don't think it comes quite as easily as you seem to think it will. Defense is not all about effort(contrary to popular opinion). It's about the system, the intelligence of the players, the instincts, etc.... There are many factors to consider. If that makes me ignorant in your eyes, then so be it.

[Mason Khamvilay]

Did you know we have the best half court defense in the league while Asik is on the floor? And without a lock down defender...

 

You don't get it, the reason our defense sucks there are 2 HUGE reasons:

 

1. Not hustling back in transition.

2. Asik's back up and a PF who isn't a good defender, which is a big deal considering Asik only plays 30 minutes.

 

These things are easily fixed. If there are any other reasons those reasons are small compared to these two. Not having a lock down defender has very little to do with it. 

[timetodienow1234567]

A good defender at the C position costs quite a bit. As does a Power Forward who plays defense. So I don't think those are easily fixed. A lock down defender would mitigate some of that. I'm not saying it's the only route, it's just a lot easier.