Houston has been one of the NBA's strongest franchises during the last four seasons, winning a combined 182 games, including 52 last season. Sure, the Rockets have been victimized by first-round flameouts in three of the last four seasons (with a year out of the playoffs mixed in), but in a loaded Western Conference, that's hardly a reason to hang your head.
Still, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey felt the team needed a change after last season's playoff loss to Utah. Out was defensive-minded coach Jeff Van Gundy. In was offensive guru Rick Adelman.
"We were looking for more balance," Morey said. "When Tracy [McGrady] wasn't in the game last season, we had no chance of winning. And the teams that have won championships have excelled at both offense and defense."
I had a chance to study the Rockets recently while reporting a story for Sports Illustrated. I came away impressed. So here are four reasons why I think the Rockets will be successful this season.
1. The Rockets have weapons
Adelman wasn't the only offseason addition. Morey made it a priority to add more dynamic offensive players, bringing Steve Francis and Mike James back to Houston while acquiring power forward Luis Scola from San Antonio. In addition, Adelman has agreed to wipe the slate clean with Bonzi Wells, who was the oil to Van Gundy's water last season.
And there is that guy named McGrady. During the interview process for the coaching job, Adelman likened McGrady to a young Clyde Drexler.
"He felt he could put Tracy in positions that would maximize his talents," Morey said.
Added McGrady: "It's a perfect fit."
2. They will figure out the offense ... eventually
Patience is going to be the buzzword in Houston.
"It could take until the All-Star break to become instinctive with this offense," forward Shane Battier admitted.
Said guard Luther Head: "I went from sitting and spotting up and waiting on the offense [last season] to trying to be aggressive and picking your spots to get open."
The biggest adjustment is taking place with Yao Ming, who is spending less time in his traditional post position and more time as a facilitator outside, a la Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Brad Miller under Adelman in Sacramento. So far, so ... eh. Yao, who shot only 45.5 percent in the preseason, has expressed frustration with his new role.
"He's got the toughest job," said Nets guard Jason Kidd, who played in a similar offense in New Jersey in 2001 and '02. "In that offense, he becomes a playmaker. He has to understand everybody's cuts."
Adelman's offense, which was annually among the league's best in Sacramento, is a spread-the-wealth type of system that is in stark contrast to Van Gundy's approach of featuring Yao in the post and McGrady in clear-outs.
"Everyone shares the ball and everyone has a chance to make decisions," Battier said. "If you have any basketball IQ at all, it's a fun offense."
3. That said, Yao will grow to like it
There is a reason Miller, Divac and Webber were All-Stars under Adelman: The system works.
"Yao has that same unselfish approach Miller and Vlade had," Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni said. "He has very good passing skills and he has to be respected for his shooting, so defenders can't overplay the passing lanes."
Certainly there will be an adjustment period -- "It took me almost a year to learn it," Nets center Jason Collins said -- but if Yao has patience and Adelman continues to feed him in the post (which he will), this offense will add an entirely new dimension to Yao's game.
4. The defense will suffer -- but not really
Morey was quick to correct me when I suggested that the defense might suffer as a result of Adelman's free-wheeling offense. When I pointed out that the Kings frequently ranked in the bottom third of the league in scoring defense, Morey directed me toward Sacramento's defensive points per possession numbers, which were actually much better. According to Morey, the Kings ranked among the top five teams in the league in defensive points per possession for four years under Adelman.
Morey is right. Sort of. Yes, the Rockets will surrender more points, but that will be a byproduct of an offense that increases the number of possessions.
"Up-tempo games are going to get scattered a little more because they are scattering people," Iavaroni said. "They are going to defend more possessions because they are trying to get more possessions."
What has been helpful is that Adelman is not trying to change the way the Rockets play defense, asking players opinions on defensive strategies and talking to them about the ways they have defended certain players in the past.
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Comments (13) Add A Comment
I have read a lot of you NBA guys pumping up the Rockets and I just do not get it. A team that is relying on Steve Francis (who came into camp in horrible shape), Mike James (can he really lead a team) and the combo guards posing as point guards in Head and Brooks do not exactly make me believe that they can surpass the Spurs, Suns, and Mavs as the kings of the West.
I know you get paid well to do what you do, but I can't see it man.
J. HOVA: PRIMETIME
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (17922)
Maybe I'm just a hater. Who knows?
J. HOVA: PRIMETIME
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (17922)
J. Hova,
I may sound like Mannix's apologist. Well, a sportswriter who spent actual boxing in the ring with a real champ deserves my respect.
I don't think Mannix have crowned the Rockets as the kings of the West just yet. In fact, he's suggesting patience to all concerned.
The problem with the Rockets under Jeff VG was their anemic offense. Adelman should be able to solve that because that's what he's know for when he used to run the efficient Kings offense.
T-Mac was once the scoring champ. JVG's biggest mistake was not utilizing T-Mac's offensive power.
The only problem I see with Adelman is that he might make Yao play in the high post the way the Kings' immobile Miller and C-Webb were used. Yao should emulate Hakeem, and not JVG's ex-Rocket assistant Ewing.
King4kong
Galt , CA
Total Comments (157)
The Rockets were already a team to beat last year. Their only problem was quality depth. The Tmac/Yao combo was enough to beat many teams in the league.
Now there are more offensive weapons on the roster. Regardless of what they have done in the past year, both James and Francis have the ability to create their own shot. Bonzi, in Adelman's offense, has shown in the past that he can shine and has come into camp looking even better than he was on the Kings. There are now several quality players, some on the bench, that can step up at any time and make a play... where as last season *a 52 win season mind you* there was really only Tmac or Yao.
The Rockets are going to take a while to get used to an offense that isn't one dimensional (or two dimensional) like last years and by the end of the season this will be a team that no one wants to face in the playoffs.
Hayesfan
Erlanger , KY
Total Comments (1)
Omaar, you are a very angry guy! The only reason Argentina didn't qualify for the Olympics recently is because most of their top players didn't play! Heard of Ginobili, Noccioni, Oberto??
Only Luis Scola and Carlos Delfino were there, out of their NBA guys.
SydneyKings
Total Comments (1)
hey guys, Argentina made it to the Olympics... top two teams advance. So that team featuring only Scola and Delfino made qualified to the Olympics.
That's why for our team the really important game was against Brazil at the semis, cause the was the game that would give the winner a ticket to Beijing
Mau
Total Comments (1)
Caps lock=Brain lock
Great article. The Rockets are a team in transition obviously and also obviously how they will do depends on how this new machine functions over the long haul.
There are a lot of good signs if Scola turns rookie of the year and into the young hot superstud the Rockets have needed. Will T-Mac's back hold up, will Yao's toes and knees hold up, will Bonzi show up for practices and games, will Stevie show up for practices and game and not ball hog...lots of questions. Personally, I don't see them winning it all this year, but they should be competative. I really wish we could get Kobe for T-Mac because I like Kobe's talent a little better and T-Mac has been letting his back dictate if he will drive inside or pull up and try a jumper. I would like to jettison T-Mac really when his contract ends or by a trade for a stud in one of the next 2 drafts.
By the end of the season, we'll see if Scola might be the next guy who is the sparkplug that Dirk is for Dallas or Nash is for Phoenix. The Spurs are getting old though and their days may be numbered. We'll see.
madhatter
Total Comments (1134)
I am STOKED about this Rockets team.. the only thing I wish .. is we had picked up "Big Baby" Glen Davis in the second round .. instead of Landry... Glen Davis scored 21 points and a ton of rebounds in the Celtics preseason game.. This guy may end up being a tough guy ..all 289 pounds of him .. any feedback on that?
wuffe
Decatur , GA
Total Comments (29)
"Big Baby" Glen Davis - is going to the D-league! fyi
justpassinby...
Total Comments (1)
Dear Chris,
I really love your work (although I tell you that all the time). Just wanted to say I'll keep on reading all season long! I love the NBA! Thanks again for the credentials up in Boston, that was a HUGE help for the story I was working on.
Kisses,
Julie M.
Julie M.
New York , NY
Total Comments (1)
52 team win last season where the main offense runs through Yoa and Tmac last year, who by the way both missed plenty of games with injuries. They barely lose to a talent deep benched, well coached Utah team in a full seven games in the last minute, and you don't think they can be better. C'mon any team is the west seems to be alot stronger than some of the Eastern Conference teams. Wait don't tell me you think the Knicks actually have a chance to beat anybody?
CasaNova
Houston , TX
Total Comments (3)
I would have been shocked if the Celtics had released "Big Baby" Glenn Davis ... this quick .. are you saying he is going to the D league sometime in the future ... cause he is still on the Celts roster..
wuffe
Decatur , GA
Total Comments (29)
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