How Do the Rockets Beat the Atlantic Division?

The Houston Rockets are, new, improved, and full of potential. They have enough talent to go toe to toe with any team in the league. All that’s left is making a game plan and executing it once the season starts. There’s no way to know what will happen in a few short weeks, but for now we can try to imagine it. Let’s postulate on what the Houston Rockets need to to in order to beat each team in the Atlantic Division.

New York Knicks:

Last year’s Atlantic division champs are one of the strangest matchups for the Houston Rockets. The Rockets and Knicks both broke the regular season record for three pointers made in a season, with New York coming out ahead in that category when all was said and done. Both teams feature a bevy of marksmen on the perimeter, defensive big men inside, and a bench full of veteran minimum players.

A look at last year’s matchup has the Rockets easily rolling over the Knicks in both games, with the first contest being a complete blowout. Given Carmelo Anthony didn’t play in the second game, and Amar’e Stoudemire didn’t play in either, there’s room for debate on what could happen with both teams at full strength. The Rockets have certainly improved more since then, however, with young players maturing and Dwight Howard signing on. The Knicks lost promising big man Chris Copeland to Indiana, veteran point guard Jason Kidd to retirement and traded Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a player of dubious utility in Andrea Bargnani. Marcus Camby eventually ended up on the Rockets, but would be unlikely to play more than garbage time minutes.

To beat the Knicks, the Rockets need to do two things. First, they need to run pick and roll sets over and over again. The Knicks have shown themselves to be vulnerable to teams which attack the basket off the pick, and that’s where the Rockets killed them last season. With as many high quality options as Houston has in that department, it’s very likely this happens. Secondly, the Rockets have to guard the perimeter. The Knicks make their living by hoisting threes, and hands in faces at the line will be well worth the cost. The Knicks as a team tend to shy away from drives to the basket, relying on their vicious shooting to get the job done. With Dwight Howard and Ömer Aşık inside, Houston has some room to stick to shooters outside. This might leave Carmelo Anthony open for piles of midrange jumpers, but of all the available poisons, that seems to be the easiest to stomach.

Brooklyn Nets:

After a tumultuous off season, the Brooklyn Nets now look like the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans, and Kris Joseph were shipped to Boston in exchange for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and DJ White. In terms of basketball talent and skill, the Nets easily won out, though the Celtics had their own reasons for making the trade. The Nets also signed free agent Andrei Kirilenko to a shockingly cheap $3m/year deal, and hired freshly retired Jason Kidd as their head coach. Nobody knows how good this team will be yet, and with good reason. A starting lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez is at worst the second most intimidating in the east, and with a fairly stacked bench, a challenge for a top seed seems plausible.

The good news is that the Rockets beat the other New York team both games as well. Both matchups against Brooklyn were convincing victories for Houston, with the Rockets simply out executing the Nets. Deron Williams seemed to have something to prove against Jeremy Lin, and in both games Williams hoisted a relatively large number of shots. Brook Lopez was a threat, especially in the second game, and containing him was proving difficult. The addition of Dwight Howard should provide some degree of protection against Brook Lopez, but his offensive game is efficient and largely unstoppable. Seeing the two arguably best offensive and defensive centers in the NBA should be a sight to behold

The Nets faced some issues last season which may be resolved this season, leading to an even tougher out for other teams. Head coach Avery Johnson was let go midway through last season, resulting in P.J. Carlesimo taking the reins. The team certainly didn’t perform any worse under his leadership, but it didn’t seem to help team chemistry or cohesion. The Nets, while a solid offensive team, lacked much of an identity and were overall a good if not great squad. Replacing rotation slots with Garnett, Pierce and Kirilenko should only add to their offensive firepower while keeping the defense even at worst. The biggest question mark is Jason Kidd, who has exactly zero professional coaching experience, but who has been surrounded by exceptional assistants.

The best option for the Rockets to beat the Nets should be to attack in their signature style. Lopez might be an offensive powerhouse, but his defense is average at best. Kevin Garnett is a brilliant defender and will be able to cover many of those weaknesses, but this is one situation where post play from Dwight Howard may be just what the doctor ordered. If defense is forced to collapse on him, Houston’s army of gunners should be able to take advantage of perimeter opportunities.The Nets still haven’t established a clear style, and that leaves the door open for Houston to try to impose their own.

Toronto Raptors:

The Toronto Raptors are a curious team. They lured acclaimed Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri back to a place he used to call home, effectively kicking Bryan Colangelo to the curb. Ujiri

s first order of business was to trade the seemingly untradeable Andrea Bargnani for some draft picks and inoffensive contracts, to the delight of Toronto. With recent acquisition Rudy Gay still more or less leading the team, nobody outside of the front office is quite sure what the Raptors plan on doing. They don’t seem good enough to make a meaningful playoff run, but aren’t quite bad enough to hit the top of the lottery either.

The biggest threat from Toronto is likely to be Kyle Lowry. While rumors continue to swirl around his locker room demeanor, he had a bone to pick with Houston last year and seems liable to have that same bone this time around. He’s a solid shooter, a bulldog on defense, and an aggressive ball handler. That being the case, it’s probably best to try to tempt him into bad shots or playing off the ball. Rudy Gay is a fearless shooter, but not a very efficient one. DeMar DeRozan is similarly willing to hoist the ball at any time, but shoots poorly from deep. Jonas Valanciunas has shown promise for the Raptors, but in only his second year, attacking him early is sure to be a top option. This is the first team in the division that the Rockets should expect to be able to defeat, but have enough weapons to surprise a number of teams.

Boston Celtics:

The Boston Celtics are now, surely, finally blowing it all up. The “big three” era core of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo had existed well past its expiration date, and the departure of Ray Allen to the Miami Heat seemed an almost certain wake up call. The Celtics pushed forward, however, succumbing to injury (Rondo) age (Garnett) and frustration (head coach Doc Rivers) before season’s end. Now the Celtics are comprised of young prospects, a few cheap veterans, and as many draft picks as they can muster.

Kris Humphries isn’t worth his $12m contract this year, but he also doesn’t deserve to lose all his minutes, as he did for stretches last year. Gerald Wallace still has gas in the tank and could be a great starter on another team. Rajon Rondo, when he returns, will resume his place as one of the best point guards in the league. Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger are all still projects. Courtney Lee may be on the way out once a value deal can be found, and Jordan Crawford will continue to collect paychecks. Brad Stevens, a young college coach with no NBA experience, should have all he can handle trying to figure the team out. Luckily for them, time is on their side.

As a team apparently gunning for a top lottery spot, the Celtics look to be a beatable opponent for many if not most teams. Gerald Wallace, Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green may be able to put together some good plays on both ends of the ball, and Avery Bradley may take off this season, but the rest of the roster is bench quality or worse. The biggest concern for the Rockets this season against the Celtics will be to avoid complacency. Young, less tempered teams often let their guard down against supposedly lesser foes and find that veterans have a way of sneaking in those cracks. Avoiding foul trouble and a being surprised by a gritty team should be the main preparations against a temporarily weak Celtics team.

Philadelphis 76ers:

If the Boston Celtics are rebuilding, the Philadelphia 76ers are levelling the house and paving the earth. No team has been as open with their attempts to tank, and no team has a better shot at Andrew Wiggins. New general manager Sam Hinkie was headhunted straight out of the Rockets’ front office, and GM Daryl Morey seems to have taught him well. The Sixers traded Jrue Holiday, likely their best player (who ever suited up during the season), getting back Nerlens Noel from the New Orleans Pelicans. With one injured big man coming in, they let Andrew Bynum hobble his way out in free agency, and were glad to do it. Now, the only players left who could strike fear into other teams are Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, either of whom might be traded for a suitably tasty deal full of future prospects.

There’s not much to say about how to beat the Sixers. If you show up and aren’t trying to tank, your squad should win. The Sixers will get a win here and there, as the players aren’t trying to lose. But Hinkie has done an excellent job of putting together a roster that would be hard-pressed to beat the second worst team in the league. There’s a very real chance the Sixers might notch single digit wins this season, and it would behoove the Rockets to avoid providing any of them. As long as Houston can avoid falling into a trap game, there should be no worry against this team.

 

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  • thejohnnygold says 3 days ago

    3 losing seasons since 1984. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

  • Buckko says 3 days ago

    I'll just post this link to Karl's career record right here. B)

    A lot of people outside of Colorado think he was a great coach but most Denver fans are glad he's gone simply because he gets out coached and hasn't had any successful playoff runs except for one in Seattle in the 90s and his W/L records are up and down. Its better to look for greener pastures than get stuck in the mud.

  • thejohnnygold says 3 days ago

    David lee plays no D and would have been man handled by Duncan. David lee just makes them weaker. G-Karl hasn't been known to be a fantastic coach, he just had a talented team in Denver.

    I'll just post this link to Karl's career record right here. B)

  • Buckko says 4 days ago

    When Barnes matures, they should play small ball with him at the 4.

  • Cooper says 4 days ago When they didnt have lee they were stuck starting Landry or going small with Barnes at the 4. Landry is basically a poor mans lee so I don't see how having lee would have made them worse.
  • Buckko says 4 days ago

    Doubtful, lee has always been terrible on D, look at countless big men, do they hurt their rebound #s by playing good D.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 4 days ago

    David lee plays no D and would have been man handled by Duncan. David lee just makes them weaker. G-Karl hasn't been known to be a fantastic coach, he just had a talented team in Denver.

    David Lee makes them weaker.................

    By no stretch of the imagination is Lee a complete player. But he's pretty dang talented. Every since that article came out about how Lee goes after boards before the play is over and letting the defense suffer because of it, he's become the most underrated player in the game. I think if Bogut stays healthy, Lee won't have to expend as much energy on the boards and you'll see him improve defensively.

  • Buckko says 4 days ago

    David lee plays no D and would have been man handled by Duncan. David lee just makes them weaker. G-Karl hasn't been known to be a fantastic coach, he just had a talented team in Denver.

  • rockets best fan says 4 days ago

    GS just got hot and beat a crippled Nuggets team in the playoffs but when the spurs shut them down.

    to some degree I agree. the GSW got hot at the right time, but they were without David Lee .....so they didn't have all their guns as well. in addition Mark Jackson just flat out coached G-Karl.

  • Buckko says 4 days ago

    GS just got hot and beat a crippled Nuggets team in the playoffs but when the spurs shut them down.

  • Cooper says 4 days ago Yeah I don't think they are in the okc Miami San Antonio category unless Barnes takes a big step. Even the rockets have more talent but GS was never that great to begin with adding Igudola helps a little but they are still behind the top teams.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 4 days ago They will miss Jack, because who can create their own shot besides Curry now? Iggy can't, Klay can't. Barnes somewhat can, but it was a small sample size. So when Curry goes down with his injuries, they will struggle to create their own shot. SA has Parker/Manu/Neal, Mia has James/Wade, OKC has KD/Westbrook, Houston has Harden/Lin, etc... So while Iggy is an upgrade talent wise, I wouldn't necessarily call him an upgrade fit wise. I think they will be a much bigger threat next year with a year of chemistry and learning a good system under their belts.
  • rockets best fan says 4 days ago

    "corpse of Jermaine Oneal"............that's funny :lol:Iggy won't be able to replace what J-Jack did. J-Jack was the player who came off the bench and provided a floor general for the second unit in addition to scoring. him and Landry anchored the second unit. Iggy does make their defense better, but heis not a shot creator like Jack. as for Douglas and Speights..........there is a reason the teams who had them didn't try to resign them. neither is a difference maker, where as the two they replaced were.

  • Cooper says 4 days ago I don't see anything Landry and jack do that iggy can't, Landry averaged one more rebound last year and for their careers it's tied at 5per game. Iggy is a better passer than jack, isn't quite as good a shooter but leave that to curry Thompson and Barnes. Plus they brought in speights and Douglas who aren't anything speacil but not a whole lot worse than who they are replacing. Their main problem is not losing landry or jack but rather the fact Bogut is going to miss 20games or more, in the regular season they could probably trought out a lee Barnes iggy Thompson curry lineup and try to put up 120 but that's not going to fly in the playoffs and without Ezeli who was at least a big body that played hard on defense they have the corpse of jermaine oneal which is less than inspiring.
  • rockets best fan says 4 days ago

    excellent read................I really only disagree in a couple of areas

    1. the Lakers are over the hill. S-Nash is only a shell of his self. his game has been snatch away by father time. while Gasol does have a little left in the tank, it's not enough to help this team be anything but bad. as for Kobe............I keep hearing this......he's injured, but it's Kobe. he will overcome it............ while he will come back.....that I have no doubt about. however realistically Kobe's skillset was already starting to decline to some degree before the injury and the type of injury he has is one of the worse injuries for a basketball player. in addition to him being 35 it's an old 35. his body has a lot of miles on it. I would like to think he will be close to the player he was before being injured, but while the mind is willing the body may not cooperate. this is the biggest question mark for the Lakers.

    2. GSW............it's amazing to me how easily everyone believes Iggy will push this team over the top. what they lost this summer in my mind is almost as huge as what they gained. J-Jack and C-Landry were vital pieces to this team last year and Jack was huge in the playoffs. Yes Iggy bring much to the table, but will it be enough to offset their losses and then some? I'm not to sure about that. I think they will be a little improved, but still close to the team they were last year................that's provided they stay healthy........which in the case of Bogut and Curry is no given

    as for the division as a hold I think you called the wins just about right.

  • Red94 says 5 days ago New post: How Do the Rockets Beat the Pacific Division?
    By: Forrest Walker

    The Houston Rockets are new and exciting. Hopes and dreams have given way to reality and responsibility, and now the new look Rockets have to go about the business of playing basketball. With James Harden and Dwight Howard leading the team, the Rockets are now expected to be able to keep up with any team in the league. Today we’ll look at the teams in the Pacific division and how the Rockets can plan for victory.

    Los Angeles Clippers

    The Los Angeles Clippers have effectively cemented their place at the top of the Pacific Division. The Clippers sailed their way to 56 wins and the 4th seed in the Western Conference, but lost out in the first round to the Memphis Grizzlies, who tied their record. Chris Paul is still the best point guard in the League, Blake Griffin for all his skill still has piles of potential, a promising center in DeAndre Jordan and an increasingly deadly arsenal of shooters. The Clippers are a not only a playoff lock this season, but look to stay in the top four teams in the west. After the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Clippers can be expected to be the next biggest challenge for Houston in the west.

    Last year’s matchups weren’t exactly a walk in the park for Houston. To be specific, the first two were ugly losses, but the last one did, in fact, resemble a walk in the park. Los Angeles looked mighty coming out of the gates, but became an easier target midway through season, including their February loss to Houston. Various factors have been cited, some more plausible than others. The most likely explanation is that other teams simply figured out how to defend them effectively, and the team wasn’t ready to make changes on the fly which would put them back in a position to win. With head coach Vinnie del Negro replaced by Celtics great Doc Rivers, the coaching will surely improve. The Clippers also added talent such as J.J. Redick on the wings, moving them further into the realm of three point threat teams.

    What beat the Clippers last year is liable to beat them again this year. As the season progressed, many teams decided to prioritize keeping the ball out of Chris Paul’s hands. That was especially effective last year when the team had less shooting prowess in aggregate. This season, the addition of a few pressure valves on offense should help them stay aloft, and they’ll easily top fifty wins again. The Rockets have to believe in their defense, preferably after building up their defense, and do everything they can to be killed by anyone except Chris Paul. Without his shot creation, the Clippers will largely rely on jumpshooting, something which the Rockets will have to prioritize. On the other side, the Clippers are if anything worse than last year inside. Jordan has the tools to become a great defensive big man, but so far has gotten by on his athleticism and shot blocking. Dwight Howard is, quite simply, better than Jordan at his own game and that’s a matchup the Rockets will be able to lean on. The Rockets won’t be able to sweep this season series, but they can reasonably hope to split the four games.

    Los Angeles Lakers

    The Clippers’ big brother has fallen on hard times. The Los Angeles Lakers remain one of the most relevant teams in the league, and Kobe Bryant is still one of the best players in history. Pau Gasol and Steve Nash are still great players, and the three of them still have the potential to be imposing. That’s the good news. The bad news is that everything else that could go wrong is going wrong. Kobe is still recovering from his achilles rupture, and his return date is completely unknown. Nash and Gasol are aging rapidly and have been battling nagging injuries. With Metta World Peace amnestied, the rest of the roster is underwhelming. Nick Young may be their best player outside of the aforementioned three, which is nothing short of astounding. The Lakers still could find a formula which works, though, even though many are writing them off. If Dwight had never been on the Lakers at all, if last year was stricken from our collective memories, this team would look ready to make the playoffs and maybe make some noise.

    Unfortunately for the Lakers, last year did, in fact, happen. Ever since their last championship, the Lakers have been defeated by the eventual Western Conference champion in the last three playoffs. The Lakers were swept by the Spurs last season, though they did so without the services of Kobe Bryant. Given how poor the defense was and how uncoordinated the players seemed, it’s unlikely his inclusion would have stopped Tim Duncan from trolling Dwight Howard and the Lakers. The Lakers looked bad as far back as preseason exhibition, which split viewers down the middle. Half decried the end of the Lakers, while the other half called for patience. In the end, cooler heads proved incorrect, and the Lakers remained a mess all year. This year might be different, but expectations have been changed in a big way.

    This year, the Rockets are the better team. For the first time in a very, very long time, The Houston Rockets will be the favorites in every game they play against the Los Angeles Lakers. Oh, and the Rockets poached an all-star Center from the Lakers. The biggest danger for the Rockets is also the biggest danger for the Lakers. Both teams have something to prove. Kobe, should be be on the court, has a large degree of face to save. As good or bad as Howard may have been for Los Angeles, losing a player of his caliber is a slap to the face. At the same time, Dwight himself will almost assuredly be seeking his own vindication. In the eventual Kobe vs Dwight grudge match, the proof will be in the other players. Nash and Gasol remain two of the cagiest vets in the league, but Houston sports a roster full of young, skilled players. James Harden is at worst the third best shooting guard in the league, and Kobe increasingly finds himself on the wrong side of that player comparison. It won’t be a walk in the park, but Houston simply needs to play hard and play their game. The Lakers won’t make the wins easy, but those are wins that are in Houston’s grasp.

    Golden State Warriors

    Real NBA rivalries are a precious thing. There aren’t many left in the league, especially not ones that the players dive into whole-heartedly. The Knicks-Nets rivalry in New York is more publicity than substance, a rivalry in which players needle each other on camera and go to parties together in private. The Rockets and the Golden State Warriors, however, seem to genuinely dislike each other. The Rockets may have upgraded since the birth of this new rivalry, but the Warriors have made their own improvements as well. Andre Iguodala joined forces with an already forceful Warriors squad to shore up perimeter defense and act as another leader on the floor. With Stephen Curry metamorphosing from a sniper into some kind of pinpoint accurate orbital death ray from behind the arc, the Warriors are a playoff lock and in most years would easily win their division. The Clippers will likely pull that rug out from under them, but a 4-5 matchup in the first round between the Warriors and the Rockets seems extremely likely at this juncture, and something that the Rockets should dread but that viewers would love.

    This new rivalry began with the first showdown between these two teams, a showdown in which the Rockets buried the Warriors under a historic barrage of threes. After number 23 went down, Warriors head coach Mark Jackson decided to turn the firehose on Houston’s aspirations and began to intentionally foul the Rockets in order to prevent the fateful 24th three pointer in the game. The effort was ultimately successful and prevented the Rockets from becoming the sole owners of the record for most made threes in one regular season game. The Warriors may have spared themselves from being on the wrong side of history, but in doing so contributed to a brutal rivalry which saw the Warriors eventually eke out the Rockets for the sixth seed. The Warriors won the last of the four matchups, but the Rockets won all the previous three in convincing fashion.

    The best way to beat the Warriors seems to be at their own game. When the Rockets mercilessly rained down threes and attacked the basket and left defense to take care of itself, they were successful. The worry here is that Curry has since undergone a striking transformation into one of the most deadly assassins in the league. Iguodala is also sure to be glued to Harden’s beard, something which was disastrous for Harden last season. Bogut and Howard are both defensive minded centers who can finish at the rim, and Parsons is likely to be in a similar role to Iguodala. If any team is a mirror match for Houston, it’s Golden State. On paper, Dwight is a bigger addition than Iguodala, but in reality, the story may be different. Winning two out of three games against this team is going to be absolutely mission critical, and the way to do it will be to win the mirror match. Jackson is a smart and savvy coach who will rightly stop at nothing for his team, and head coach Kevin McHale will have to do the same. Expect scrappy play, trigger happy gunners and battles down low in these games, and for Jeremy Lin to play his best against his first NBA team.

    Sacramento Kings

    The Sacramento Kings were one of the biggest stories in the NBA last year, and not because of their play. An ownership group in Seattle did their best to acquire the team from the Maloof family, and seemed all but certain to buy the team and move it to Seattle to become the new zombie Sonics. For reasons that are still being debated, the NBA board of owners recommended against relocation, and a local ownership group acquired the team instead. Free of the almost universally hated Maloof brothers, the Kings are once again trying to right the ship and make sense of a truly bizarre roster. After being one of the most important and successful teams in the early 2000s, the Kings seems still mired in mediocrity.

    Last season was not kind to the Kings. They won a mere 28 games and seem no closer to figuring out the riddle of DeMarcus Cousins. They beat the Rockets in a February barn burner, but were soundly thumped by Houston in the remaining two showdowns. They may have moved difficult-to-manage Tyreke Evans and picked up the easygoing and much improved Greivis Vasquez, but still seem little prepared for a brutal Western Conference.

    The Kings remain in a similar category to last year. The teams who fancy themselves elite will look at the Kings as a must-win game, something which the Kings seem to be aware of and unhappy about. The Kings are liable to put up a good fight against any team in the league, but ultimately aren’t far enough along in their development to really challenge for a top spot. They may also be too far in their development to really slide down to the head of the tanking movement. The Kings should have a fairly effective offense, especially with willing shooters like Jimmer Fredette. Unfortunately, their defense is a bit shakier, meaning that the Rockets will want to attack the basket, hoist up shots and otherwise make them pay for being relatively inexperienced. Patrick Patterson may prove problematic with his knowledge of the Rockets’ system, but similarly the Rockets should know how to deal with him. The Kings losing this season series isn’t guaranteed, but it’s very likely.

    Phoenix Suns

    The Suns are tanking. There’s little more to the story, here. Eric Bledsoe is a good get amd will have a bright future. The Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus, show promise but still aren’t there yet. Goran Dragic is a solid point guard but doesn’t look the same on his own as he did as a backup. The Suns are the safest choice for the bottom of the west, and it’s primarily by design.

    The Suns, somehow, gave the Rockets a lot of trouble last season. Despite being favored to sweep the season series, the Rockets lost the first and last games in frustrating affairs, and won one of the four on a strange and fortuitous series of events, including a basket interference call on Jermaine O’Neal.

    The trick, this season, seems to be to not meet the Suns on the road on the second night of a back to back. Both losses came in that situation, and the good news is that Houston won’t be in that situation against the Suns this year. Dragic and Marcus Morris will surely try for revenge, but the Rockets should be able to take care of business as long as they don’t assume business will take care of itself. Bledsoe will try to use his impressive athleticism against Houston, but Dwight Howard should prove an able stopper at the rim. If Houston doesn’t sweep this series, something’s wrong.

  • Buckko says 1 week ago I prefer Corvettes but that's opinion.
  • Cooper says 1 week ago If you have too much talent to "evaluate" or "use" wouldn't it make sense to consolidate that into guys that will start or at least get significant minutes?
  • rockets best fan says 1 week ago

    just because you worked your way up to theCorvette don't mean you should abandon the quest for the Ferrari

  • Buckko says 1 week ago This is why a trade is idiocy, we have too much talent to evaluate and use.
  • rockets best fan says 1 week ago

    I totally agree JG. I have not been this excited about a season since DREAM was on the team.......Don't get me wrong I liked YAO and McGrady, but always felt in the back of my mind something would happen (injury) to keep us from getting to the promise land. however it's something special about this collection of talent. I can feel it .......it's like the force :lol:

  • thejohnnygold says 1 week ago

    NorEastern, if you like I can help you solve your posting problems. I'm no expert, but I have found ways to post just about anything I want to on here one way or another. Sometimes it is a little more tedious than I like, but it's doable. Let me know what's stopping you and we can find a solution. We all like charts and graphs... :)

    Back to the Rockets, I am dying to find out who surprises us once the season starts. I can just feel it...somebody is going to break out. I think it will be either Beverley or Greg Smith. I know most of us, myself included, think D-Mo or T-Jones will claim the PF spot, but as Eby's Daily mentioned--Smith and Asik were able to be successful on the court together last year. Smith is actually very similar to Dwight physically (minus the insane vertical leap) and I think it was Beverley who recently mentioned in an interview that Smith is in incredible shape. Imagine if he rolls out bigger, leaner, and meaner and having put more work into his post game (or maybe even a 15 ft. jump shot :o ).

    It's not official yet, but the Rockets are the deepest team in the league top to bottom. I know it has been put forth that McHale only likes to run 8 deep on the roster, but I think that was circumstantial and we will see at least a 10 player rotation more often than not.

    Lin, Bev, Harden, Parsons, Howard, Garcia, Asik, Smith, Jones, and Motie are all going to see the court. It's just a matter of how much and in which line-ups (and we still have Casspi and Williams to work with). One way in which this benefits us is that we can play more aggressive defense. We will have 50+ fouls to give and still be able to put quality players on the floor. The Rockets have a luxury most teams don't. They would be wise to take advantage of that.

  • Alituro says 1 week ago

    Here I am attempting to post charts again. We will see if this works. I am futzing around with various graphing packages.

    So this is just a test. Hope I have not inconvienced anyone. It failed.

    I appreciate your attempts to include us, here in your brilliant statistical insight. I've read your write-ups on TDS. IDK what it would take to get the mods here to allow you more posting power, but I hope they grant it to you. If your charts are working on TDS, I would suggest posting an external link. Maybe enough out-bound clicks will get their attention.

  • Buckko says 1 week ago At least you're persistant.
  • NorEastern says 1 week ago

    Here I am attempting to post charts again. We will see if this works. I am futzing around with various graphing packages.

    So this is just a test. Hope I have not inconvienced anyone. It failed.

  • feelingsupersonic says 1 week ago

    I'd point out that the Kings offense last year wasn't actually the main issue, it was pretty good for a team that was essentially playing pickup basketball, the problem was that they defended like pickup basketball too .



    The point wasn't the "Issues of the Sacramento Kings." Of all the good discussion here that is a mind boggling thing to vear off topic about. Anyhow, I second that rockets best fan, johnnygold's post is a quality post.
  • RollingWave says 1 week ago

    I'd point out that the Kings offense last year wasn't actually the main issue, it was pretty good for a team that was essentially playing pickup basketball, the problem was that they defended like pickup basketball too .

  • rockets best fan says 1 week ago

    As in all sports, systems only work when the talent to support them is in place. Small-ball works when you have Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Ray Allen/Shane Battier. It is less successful with The Sacramento King's roster.

    In football, we can all remember the "unstoppable" Rams teams from around 1999-2001. Mike Martz orchestrated that offensive machine that included Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, a killer offensive line, and a bevy of receivers with great hands. Strangely, Martz hasn't done anything noteworthy since those guys left--primarily Warner and Faulk. Good systems still require the players to execute them. Bill Belichek looks like a genius as long as Tom Brady is his quarterback...people forget how hard he bombed in Cleveland and NY.

    For the Rockets to be successful, McHale and staff need to identify our bread and butter and shove it in opponents' faces over and over and over. We all know the pick n roll will be at the top of that list, but offensive diversity will be crucial as the season goes on and we head into the playoffs. I think one of our greatest assets will be drawing fouls (both Harden and Howard excel at this) and exploiting our opponents' lack of depth since most teams overload their frontline and leave very little left on the bench. I'd like to see Houston open games in attack mode and try to garner quick fouls that force opposing bigs to sit early and often and then it's time for the dunk parade.

    Once teams commit to packing the paint it will be time to light 'em up from the perimeter--something I expect us to do fairly well (at least top 10) from a % standpoint. After a little bit of that opponents will become incredibly susceptible to dribble penetration (similar to play action passes in football) off of an up fake. These will lead to many Dwight dunks and alley-oops.

    Ultimately, this season comes down to how well we can defend as a team once the playoffs roll around. I think we can all agree the offense won't be a problem. Team defense will be the deciding factor in how far we go in the post-season. Athletically, I think we can hang with any team in the league. What concerns me are the teams with veteran savvy, and smart, disciplined coaching/schematics. Those teams are San Antonio, Indiana, Chicago, Miami, and maybe Brooklyn. OKC, Memphis, and LAC will all present challenges, but I think we can take them all in a playoff series.

    I am totally on board with this. good post JG. I agree talent wise we match up to anyone.....it's just a matter of finding a defensive flow

  • Buckko says 1 week ago

    Defensively, we could be interesting. Besides howard and asik for 48 minutes of impenetrable rim protection. We can have lin around upper half of top 10 defensive PGs, and the biggest IF is harden can close to average so he doesn't hurt us. Parsons should improve more to become a reliable perimeter defender. Depending who is starting PF, we will either have demo which is a liability, Jones which I cannot say due to lack of enough evidence, but he could form a potent shot blocking duo with howard. Smith with his size and athleticism could form a a good defender or small rim protector if he were to tap into it.

    2nd Unit

    This is where it gets entertaining. With a dominate offensive starting unit, the second unit is defensive. With Beverly running point which I believe becoming a smarter and stronger basketball player will become one of our best perimeter defenders. Garcia has proven to us what he can do, then we have Brewer if he makes a comeback season will become our best perimeter defender along with whoever is PF and of course Big O.

  • thejohnnygold says 1 week ago

    As in all sports, systems only work when the talent to support them is in place. Small-ball works when you have Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Ray Allen/Shane Battier. It is less successful with The Sacramento King's roster.

    In football, we can all remember the "unstoppable" Rams teams from around 1999-2001. Mike Martz orchestrated that offensive machine that included Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, a killer offensive line, and a bevy of receivers with great hands. Strangely, Martz hasn't done anything noteworthy since those guys left--primarily Warner and Faulk. Good systems still require the players to execute them. Bill Belichek looks like a genius as long as Tom Brady is his quarterback...people forget how hard he bombed in Cleveland and NY.

    For the Rockets to be successful, McHale and staff need to identify our bread and butter and shove it in opponents' faces over and over and over. We all know the pick n roll will be at the top of that list, but offensive diversity will be crucial as the season goes on and we head into the playoffs. I think one of our greatest assets will be drawing fouls (both Harden and Howard excel at this) and exploiting our opponents' lack of depth since most teams overload their frontline and leave very little left on the bench. I'd like to see Houston open games in attack mode and try to garner quick fouls that force opposing bigs to sit early and often and then it's time for the dunk parade.

    Once teams commit to packing the paint it will be time to light 'em up from the perimeter--something I expect us to do fairly well (at least top 10) from a % standpoint. After a little bit of that opponents will become incredibly susceptible to dribble penetration (similar to play action passes in football) off of an up fake. These will lead to many Dwight dunks and alley-oops.

    Ultimately, this season comes down to how well we can defend as a team once the playoffs roll around. I think we can all agree the offense won't be a problem. Team defense will be the deciding factor in how far we go in the post-season. Athletically, I think we can hang with any team in the league. What concerns me are the teams with veteran savvy, and smart, disciplined coaching/schematics. Those teams are San Antonio, Indiana, Chicago, Miami, and maybe Brooklyn. OKC, Memphis, and LAC will all present challenges, but I think we can take them all in a playoff series.

  • Buckko says 1 week ago The game will costantley evolve with trends and fads coming and going. It usually starts with a winning team where other teams model themselves after until someone discovers a way to beat them. However the 3pt shot will only get more popular.
  • RollingWave says 1 week ago

    I think it is mildly amusing how the balance turns, in the NBA in the last few years the movement is to go away from traditional post players and end up with a very mobile team of (efficient) gunners.... the Heat is the most extreme example of this... yet the apparent counter is .......... dominant traditional post players... ...... hmmmmmmm seems like we come 360 doesn't it.

  • Buckko says 1 week ago I would still choose the pacers though and there are too many questions about the bulls.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 week ago The Nets have top 10 guys at every position. No weakness 1-5 and if D-Wills ankles are healthy he's a superstar. Plus Brook is always improving. If they stay healthy and manage their minutes I like them to challenge the Heat.
  • Buckko says 1 week ago

    Garnett reverses the hand of time back a decade and destroys Ray Allen.

  • RollingWave says 1 week ago

    The Nets are an intriguing team, the Heat probably match up poorly against them given their issues with dealing with bigs , though the key is can this group play like a team and how much do their oldies have left in the tank? I think regular season wise they won't be THAT great due to all the pieces need fitting and oldies need resting, but playoff wise they could be rather scary.

    The Heat remain the most talented team around, but it sure looks like a lot of their rivals are building themself to specifically counter them.

  • NorEastern says 1 week ago

    Nice breakdown OP. The rest of the division doesn't scare me at all (I believe that the Knicks will be worse this season, from the sole addition of Bargnani), but I don't know whether to laugh at the Nets or to wonder if they will upset the Heat. They could post a 48 win season, but seem much more likely to be 60 wins team. They could be just scary.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 1 week ago No Olynyk?
  • rockets best fan says 1 week ago

    we play 10 games against this division........my projected record against them 8-2

  • Red94 says 1 week ago New post: How Do the Rockets Beat the Atlantic Division?
    By: Forrest Walker

    The Houston Rockets are, new, improved, and full of potential. They have enough talent to go toe to toe with any team in the league. All that’s left is making a game plan and executing it once the season starts. There’s no way to know what will happen in a few short weeks, but for now we can try to imagine it. Let’s postulate on what the Houston Rockets need to to in order to beat each team in the Atlantic Division.

    New York Knicks:

    Last year’s Atlantic division champs are one of the strangest matchups for the Houston Rockets. The Rockets and Knicks both broke the regular season record for three pointers made in a season, with New York coming out ahead in that category when all was said and done. Both teams feature a bevy of marksmen on the perimeter, defensive big men inside, and a bench full of veteran minimum players.

    A look at last year’s matchup has the Rockets easily rolling over the Knicks in both games, with the first contest being a complete blowout. Given Carmelo Anthony didn’t play in the second game, and Amar’e Stoudemire didn’t play in either, there’s room for debate on what could happen with both teams at full strength. The Rockets have certainly improved more since then, however, with young players maturing and Dwight Howard signing on. The Knicks lost promising big man Chris Copeland to Indiana, veteran point guard Jason Kidd to retirement and traded Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a player of dubious utility in Andrea Bargnani. Marcus Camby eventually ended up on the Rockets, but would be unlikely to play more than garbage time minutes.

    To beat the Knicks, the Rockets need to do two things. First, they need to run pick and roll sets over and over again. The Knicks have shown themselves to be vulnerable to teams which attack the basket off the pick, and that’s where the Rockets killed them last season. With as many high quality options as Houston has in that department, it’s very likely this happens. Secondly, the Rockets have to guard the perimeter. The Knicks make their living by hoisting threes, and hands in faces at the line will be well worth the cost. The Knicks as a team tend to shy away from drives to the basket, relying on their vicious shooting to get the job done. With Dwight Howard and Ömer Aşık inside, Houston has some room to stick to shooters outside. This might leave Carmelo Anthony open for piles of midrange jumpers, but of all the available poisons, that seems to be the easiest to stomach.

    Brooklyn Nets:

    After a tumultuous off season, the Brooklyn Nets now look like the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans, and Kris Joseph were shipped to Boston in exchange for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and DJ White. In terms of basketball talent and skill, the Nets easily won out, though the Celtics had their own reasons for making the trade. The Nets also signed free agent Andrei Kirilenko to a shockingly cheap $3m/year deal, and hired freshly retired Jason Kidd as their head coach. Nobody knows how good this team will be yet, and with good reason. A starting lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez is at worst the second most intimidating in the east, and with a fairly stacked bench, a challenge for a top seed seems plausible.

    The good news is that the Rockets beat the other New York team both games as well. Both matchups against Brooklyn were convincing victories for Houston, with the Rockets simply out executing the Nets. Deron Williams seemed to have something to prove against Jeremy Lin, and in both games Williams hoisted a relatively large number of shots. Brook Lopez was a threat, especially in the second game, and containing him was proving difficult. The addition of Dwight Howard should provide some degree of protection against Brook Lopez, but his offensive game is efficient and largely unstoppable. Seeing the two arguably best offensive and defensive centers in the NBA should be a sight to behold

    The Nets faced some issues last season which may be resolved this season, leading to an even tougher out for other teams. Head coach Avery Johnson was let go midway through last season, resulting in P.J. Carlesimo taking the reins. The team certainly didn’t perform any worse under his leadership, but it didn’t seem to help team chemistry or cohesion. The Nets, while a solid offensive team, lacked much of an identity and were overall a good if not great squad. Replacing rotation slots with Garnett, Pierce and Kirilenko should only add to their offensive firepower while keeping the defense even at worst. The biggest question mark is Jason Kidd, who has exactly zero professional coaching experience, but who has been surrounded by exceptional assistants.

    The best option for the Rockets to beat the Nets should be to attack in their signature style. Lopez might be an offensive powerhouse, but his defense is average at best. Kevin Garnett is a brilliant defender and will be able to cover many of those weaknesses, but this is one situation where post play from Dwight Howard may be just what the doctor ordered. If defense is forced to collapse on him, Houston’s army of gunners should be able to take advantage of perimeter opportunities.The Nets still haven’t established a clear style, and that leaves the door open for Houston to try to impose their own.

    Toronto Raptors:

    The Toronto Raptors are a curious team. They lured acclaimed Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri back to a place he used to call home, effectively kicking Bryan Colangelo to the curb. Ujiri

    s first order of business was to trade the seemingly untradeable Andrea Bargnani for some draft picks and inoffensive contracts, to the delight of Toronto. With recent acquisition Rudy Gay still more or less leading the team, nobody outside of the front office is quite sure what the Raptors plan on doing. They don’t seem good enough to make a meaningful playoff run, but aren’t quite bad enough to hit the top of the lottery either.

    The biggest threat from Toronto is likely to be Kyle Lowry. While rumors continue to swirl around his locker room demeanor, he had a bone to pick with Houston last year and seems liable to have that same bone this time around. He’s a solid shooter, a bulldog on defense, and an aggressive ball handler. That being the case, it’s probably best to try to tempt him into bad shots or playing off the ball. Rudy Gay is a fearless shooter, but not a very efficient one. DeMar DeRozan is similarly willing to hoist the ball at any time, but shoots poorly from deep. Jonas Valanciunas has shown promise for the Raptors, but in only his second year, attacking him early is sure to be a top option. This is the first team in the division that the Rockets should expect to be able to defeat, but have enough weapons to surprise a number of teams.

    Boston Celtics:

    The Boston Celtics are now, surely, finally blowing it all up. The “big three” era core of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo had existed well past its expiration date, and the departure of Ray Allen to the Miami Heat seemed an almost certain wake up call. The Celtics pushed forward, however, succumbing to injury (Rondo) age (Garnett) and frustration (head coach Doc Rivers) before season’s end. Now the Celtics are comprised of young prospects, a few cheap veterans, and as many draft picks as they can muster.

    Kris Humphries isn’t worth his $12m contract this year, but he also doesn’t deserve to lose all his minutes, as he did for stretches last year. Gerald Wallace still has gas in the tank and could be a great starter on another team. Rajon Rondo, when he returns, will resume his place as one of the best point guards in the league. Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger are all still projects. Courtney Lee may be on the way out once a value deal can be found, and Jordan Crawford will continue to collect paychecks. Brad Stevens, a young college coach with no NBA experience, should have all he can handle trying to figure the team out. Luckily for them, time is on their side.

    As a team apparently gunning for a top lottery spot, the Celtics look to be a beatable opponent for many if not most teams. Gerald Wallace, Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green may be able to put together some good plays on both ends of the ball, and Avery Bradley may take off this season, but the rest of the roster is bench quality or worse. The biggest concern for the Rockets this season against the Celtics will be to avoid complacency. Young, less tempered teams often let their guard down against supposedly lesser foes and find that veterans have a way of sneaking in those cracks. Avoiding foul trouble and a being surprised by a gritty team should be the main preparations against a temporarily weak Celtics team.

    Philadelphis 76ers:

    If the Boston Celtics are rebuilding, the Philadelphia 76ers are levelling the house and paving the earth. No team has been as open with their attempts to tank, and no team has a better shot at Andrew Wiggins. New general manager Sam Hinkie was headhunted straight out of the Rockets’ front office, and GM Daryl Morey seems to have taught him well. The Sixers traded Jrue Holiday, likely their best player (who ever suited up during the season), getting back Nerlens Noel from the New Orleans Pelicans. With one injured big man coming in, they let Andrew Bynum hobble his way out in free agency, and were glad to do it. Now, the only players left who could strike fear into other teams are Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, either of whom might be traded for a suitably tasty deal full of future prospects.

    There’s not much to say about how to beat the Sixers. If you show up and aren’t trying to tank, your squad should win. The Sixers will get a win here and there, as the players aren’t trying to lose. But Hinkie has done an excellent job of putting together a roster that would be hard-pressed to beat the second worst team in the league. There’s a very real chance the Sixers might notch single digit wins this season, and it would behoove the Rockets to avoid providing any of them. As long as Houston can avoid falling into a trap game, there should be no worry against this team.

  • John P says 2 weeks ago

    The core to this team is Harden, Howard, Parsons and maybe, just maybe, Asik. that may seem crazy, as everyone thinks (including myself) that Asik and Howard probably can't or shouldn't be on the same team and optimize their talents.

    But if we can find a way to work the two of them together, sharing the court some times, some times giving Howard longer breaks during the regular season to save him for playoffs, then I think Asik becomes a key to the core as well.

    So with that core in mind, my guess is that the first half of the season is just focusing on that core and everything else revolves around those pieces: running Harden/Howard pick and rolls, or subbing in Parsons for Harden or Asik for Howard, and trying other sets.

    I don't think anyone belives that other moves are not going to happen later this season, before or at the trade deadline, but most likely the coaching will focus on that core and seeing how we can win with that focus.

    Therefore all other players: Lin, Beverley, the 4s, Garcia, etc....will all plug in here or there to see what works playing off of that core.

    As far as potential rivals, all of these could easily give us a run for our money:
    Clippers (Jordan my be a hinderance but with a great coach and better outside shooting they will be a force), Chicago (with Rose back), OKC, Miami, Indiana, maybe Brooklyn (if the pieces can all play together), SAS, Golden State. I would put Memphis as a dark horse but they are basically the same team as last year so absent a new wing shooting dynamo being added to their awesome D, I just don't see them being that good.

    So with that list, there is absolutely no lock on the WCF, unless we are near the top of the regularly season record.

    But regardless, if the team can remotely jell together with decent coaching, they will be one of the hottest, most fun teams in the NBA to watch.

  • Richards says 2 weeks ago

    You nailed it on our last year plays. :)

    I remember games where Smith started, Lin brought up the ball and dump in Smith instead of Harden. And then Smith do post up with a good success.

    So they run the play that suit well for Howard. Like you said, our two superstars need touches and they must buy in for team success.

  • RollingWave says 2 weeks ago

    They had a playbook but it was a fairly simple one, essentially it's

    plan A: run down the court faster than the other team for a transition bucket

    if that fails

    plan B: try to start a dribble motion offense set from either Harden or Lin and just react from there

    if that looks bad

    plan C: try some sort of pick and roll

    if that fails

    plan D: HARDEN STEP BACK SIDE STEP 3 BABY!!!!

    I hope they have a better plan D this year at least. but essentially all 4 plan involve heavily on the decision making of Harden and/or Lin (well except plan D, )

    It is a good question though what the Rockets game plan is, they really SHOULD just continue last year's plan and evolve it further, but it is possible that Howard changes their plans a bit. one really should not underestimate the importance of continuity of a system and team in the NBA. I think McHale and crew certainly knows that extremely well, the problem is will Dwight buy in, well if he doesn't buy in we're screwed anyway.

  • BrentYen says 2 weeks ago

    I intend on writing a comprehensive post on this subject tonight. I believe I can comfortably lay out a statistical analysis of what the Rockets will bring next season. I will be pulling enhanced pieces from articles I have already written along with an analysis of the defense. Expect lots of diagrams and charts and individual topics.

    Very looking forward to it! Thanks in advance!

  • NorEastern says 2 weeks ago I intend on writing a comprehensive post on this subject tonight. I believe I can comfortably lay out a statistical analysis of what the Rockets will bring next season. I will be pulling enhanced pieces from articles I have already written along with an analysis of the defense. Expect lots of diagrams and charts and individual topics.
  • Buckko says 2 weeks ago Pacers are more a playoff team than a regular season team and the rockets need a chance to gel before ripping this team apart with trades. Also Kwai had a great playoffs but wasn't too spectacular in the regular season so don't guarantee Allstar status yet.
  • Cooper says 2 weeks ago Duncan and Parker aren't quite Howard or harden but kwahi makes up for some of that along with pop. I like Goerge but hibbert and west aren't quite #2 options and george isn't a great #1 yet
  • timetodienow1234567 says 2 weeks ago On paper SAS does not have the talent but Pop bridges that gap. Lets hope that Mchale doesn't do the opposite.
  • rockets best fan says 2 weeks ago

    DON'T WORRY.......BE HAPPY :)

    On paper Miami okc Chicago and San Antonio are the only teams that can match our top line talent, its just if mchale can get the pieces to fit and they avoid major injuries. Will be the most intriguing season since McGrady and Yao were around.

    I would add Indiana to that group, but you're right.....only a few teams have the stockpile of talent necessary to compete with us and of those teams we are in the best position to improve. I predict there will be a parade nextJune in downtown Houston

  • Cooper says 2 weeks ago It didnt look like they had a playbook.
  • Richards says 2 weeks ago

    Does anyone know Rockets has a playbook this year. Coach Sampson said they had none last year.

  • BrentYen says 2 weeks ago

    I really hope it will not be the case on the offensive end...

    I don think both DH12 and Harden will want to hurt teams W/L record.

    However, I think they will competing for the alpha dog status of the team tho.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 2 weeks ago

    Multiple PnR sets, with some pick and pop with Parsons as the pop man. Keep everybody moving quickly and look for good high percentage shots.

    What will happen = Howard posts up a lot. Harden ISO's a lot. We go down in offensive numbers. We increase defensively. We finish with close to the same record as last year.

  • Richards says 2 weeks ago

    I want to hear what system Rockets should use to optimize the talents we currently have.

  • Cooper says 2 weeks ago On paper Miami okc Chicago and San Antonio are the only teams that can match our top line talent, its just if mchale can get the pieces to fit and they avoid major injuries. Will be the most intriguing season since McGrady and Yao were around.
  • BrentYen says 2 weeks ago

    Well, that been said, I think we are the only team that will need to change the most for the next season. Too many unknowns here compare to other western playoff teams.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 2 weeks ago

    I look forward to it. I know that for me, anything less than a CLOSE loss in the WCF is a failure. They have enough talent to win it all and we'll see if they can put it all together.