Rockets Defensive as told by a NBA Scout

The Rockets have ran in to many problems early in this young season the offensive spacing early was off due to having both Dwight Howard and Omer Asik operating in the same space.  Defensively the Rockets at times were having trouble stopping 3 year olds from scoring.

In talking with a NBA scout he mentioned when you have a Dwight Howard you should be better defensively “you can certainly be more aggressive on the ball when you have Howard protecting the rim”. I can personally remember before the start of the season Jeremy Lin joked, the defensive was something the coaching staff stressed last season, and last season they just didn’t listen very much…. The scout I spoke to with mentioned “you should always have consistency at the defensive end, although there's let downs in some capacity during a long season.  That's why you need a consistent philosophy”. Really does anyone know what the defensive philosophy on this team is….. Anyone?

The team has defensive players and has players that have the talent to play defensive on high level, James Harden? The scout went on to say “He (Kevin McHale) has some defensive talent but they have to embrace their philosophy.” Which leads me to believe in what Jeremy Lin said, we just didn’t listen….  

Rockets 110 Raptors 104

Terrence Jones joined the Rockets rotation and join he did. Jones was a key member in the Rockets double overtime win over the Raptors 110 to 104. Before the game a flu bug was going through the team it affected James Harden and it sidelined Francisco Garcia for the night. The Rockets started off like normal and went with twin towers lineup, 6 minutes in to the game Head Coach Kevin McHale had seen enough and scrapped the lineup and inserted Omri Casspi for some spacing.

2 minutes left in the 1^st quarter Terrence Jones entered the game and Jones ended up playing 32 minutes, Jones played more minutes tonight than he played in the 1^st 8 games combined. While Jones may not have had a perfect night, he played the robin to Dwight Howard’s batman very well. Jones on the night finished with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Totally out playing Omer Asik who finished with 18 minutes despite no injury, or no foul trouble. In big spots it was Jones not Asik in the game. The Twin Towers lineup is neat and can cause problems for teams, but it seems Coach Kevin McHale might be wavering on that lineup “you have the big lineup to start off and I’m 50/50 on it”.

So if McHale does scrap the “BIG” lineup with 2 true centers, you would have Dwight Howard starting with Omer Asik providing the relief. It looks like Terrence Jones would be the favorite to start opposite Howard, coach has complained about spacing from day 1 and while Jones is by no means a 3 point shooting specialists he provides more room for the offense to operate.

Rockets vs. Raptors: Game 8

Tonight the Rockets will take on the Raptors at home, with the hopes of snapping a 2 game home losing streak. Rockets have lost to the Lakers and the Clippers in different but yet the same fashion. The Lakers got off to a hot start yet the Rockets were able to counter and take the lead before ultimately blowing it in the final minute. The Clippers game at home the Rockets had pretty much controlled the game from the start but once again had it slipped through their hands at the end.

Today the team is dealing with a problem that is invisible to the naked eye, James Harden and other members of the Rockets are dealing with a flu bug of sorts. Harden did however say that he will go tonight dispute having flu like symptoms and bad feet “I’ll be alright, just get some rest and hydrate myself” Harden said. You could see Head Coach Kevin McHale open up the bench a little bit more than normal with players dealing with this bug and the team playing 4 games in 6 nights.

The Rockets also will get a visit from Ex Rocket Kyle Lowry who will try to move his Raptors to .500 on the season. Lowry battling ankle problems will make it a go tonight and will play against his former team. Lowry after shoot around today mentioned he enjoys his trips coming back to Houston “I always get a good kick coming back here". The key tonight is rebounding the Raptors are snagging 3 extra offensive broads a game more than the Rockets while the Rockets are the number 3 team in the NBA in overall rebounds. If Dwight Howard and Omar Aisk can control the glass this game the Rockets should win.

Below is audio from Ex Rockets guard Kyle Lowry

Rockets beat Trailblazers: Game 5 (4-1)

Tonight the Rockets came back following a really tough loss to the Clippers 137 to 118 and tonight the Rockets beat the Trailblazers 116 to 101. The road trip ends 2-1 and the team heads back to Toyota center 4-1. Patrick Beverley gave it a go after suffering an injury against vs. the Bobcats in game 1, but did not start.


The Rockets started tonight's game just a little bit better than they did against the Clippers only giving up 31 points instead of the insanely high 42 1st quarter points they allowed. After the 1st quarter the Rockets pulled away scoring 86 points over the final 3 periods and limiting the Trailblazers to 70 points.

The Rockets got a HUGE effort from stars Dwight Howard (29) and James Harden (33) getting 62 points from the 2. Harden went 9-11 on shots inside the arc, Howard used monster slams to get his buckets and also manged to pull down 13 rebounds 4 of which were offensive rebounds. The Trailblazers made it close a few times, due to the fact the Rockets turned the ball over ALOT 20 to be exact.

Rockets vs Jazz preview

The Rockets head to Utah to take on the Jazz, last season the Rockets went in 4 tries with the Jazz the Rockets took 3 of 4 but lost the very 1st match up with the Jazz, tonight is the very 1st match up of the 2013-2014 season. The difference is this Jazz team is no where near the same Jazz team as it was last season. The Rockets and the Jazz will both go in to this game with changes from last years team but the Jazz have 4 new starters, Derrick Favors is the only carry over from last seasons team.


Rockets come in to the game following 2 wins at home over the Bobcats and the Mavericks. Rockets have gotta big contributions from All Stars James Harden and Dwight Howard. Harden in 1st 2 games has 55 points and Howard has 42 rebounds. The team has gotten good help off the bench both Francisco Garcia in the 1st night and Omri Casspi in the 2nd game. Rockets will still be with Patrick Beverley who was injured opening night Jeremy Lin will start with Aaron Brooks coming in the spell him.


Jazz opened at home with a loss to the Thunder 98 to 101 then at traveled and lost to the Suns 84 to 87, came with a 3 pointer of being 2-0 instead of 0-2. Gordon Hayward has filled up the stat sheet of late and is 5 for 5 on 3's this season and Enes Kanter has 2 double doubles in the 1st 2 games. Leading the Jazz in scoring is Alec Burks and he is doing his damage of the bench.

Rockets beat Mavericks 113 to 105

Rockets win against I-45noth rivals the Dallas Mavericks 113 to 105, the Rockets got major contributions from All Stars James Harden and Dwight Howard to start of the season with two wins. Harden lit up the Mavericks to the tune of 34 points while Howard cleaned up the backboard to the tune of 16 rebounds.

The Rockets unlike their previous game got off to a MUCH better start even though within minutes Omer Asik was out of the game due to picking up two quick personal fouls killing the twin towers lineup. The Rockets used pace and 3’s to take a 61 to 50 lead at the half. When the 2^nd half started the Mavs were soon to employ Hack A Howard which seemed to work for a while with Howard clanking free throws left and right. The game inching ever closer Howard was able to nail back to back free throws which pretty much ended the Hack A Howard technique.

Dwight Howard in his 1^st two games as a Houston Rocket he has 42 rebounds, 30 points showing he was worth every penny the Rockets shelled out to snag the super star free agent this past offseason. Before the game Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made comments that Howard picked the wrong team and you can see why Cuban was so frustrated, because this version of Dwight Howard makes your team 10 times better than the year before.

Below is post game comments from Dwight Howard where he talks about his game and about Mark Cuban. 

Rockets on the mend

Yesterday the Rockets suffered a few injuries in game, All Star James Harden was able to return to the game but newly minted starter Patrick Beverley did not return to the game after only 10 minutes of game time. Yesterday they were able to best the lowly Bobcats, and today during practice neither Harden nor Beverley practiced, both sitting out with injuries they got yesterday.

Harden missed due to the sore back and Beverley missed due to his bruised ribs. Both players are listed as day to day and while it's not serious injuries IMO it's best both players rest till they are completely healthy no need to force these guys to start with the depth they have on the team.

Backing up Patrick Beverley, is last years starter Jeremy Lin and old Rockets starter Aaron Brooks, now the depth behind James Harden is iffy with Francisco Garcia and Ronnie Brewer but you can live with those 2 for a game or two rather then push Harden and ride with the two for much longer.

Rockets play the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at Toyota Center.



 

Rockets not able to escape the injury bug

Game 1 went to the Rockets as the Bobcats lost 96 to 83, as sweet as the win was there was a few nervous moments for Rockets fans, as the team was not to escape game 1 with out injures. Patrick Beverly and James Harden both left during the game but only Harden returned to the game. James Harden left with stiff back but ended up checking back in to the game, he was able to finish shooting 7-16 for 21 points and finished the game in the floor. Post game Harden said it started this morning and hoped it’d be good at game time, but it got bad again during the game.

Beverly unlike Harden did not return to the game after taking a hit to the ribs, his 1^st ever start during the regular season may have ended early but he brought his full court pressure style to the game and in 10 minutes he went 2-4 for 5 points. Post game Beverly tweeted that he will be back for the Mavericks game this Friday at home.  Even Jeremy Lin had to have stiches on his chin during the game but was able to finish the game and did not seem to affect him.  

Rockets Finalize Roster

The Rockets today announced the season opening roster has been made and that the team has parted ways with two more players. Yesterday the Rockets cut ties with late addition guard Troy Daniels, today the team sent vet's Marcus Camby (Center) and Reggie Williams (guard) packing. These moves finalized the roster to the league mandated 15. The Final roster is below check it out and see who made the final 15, the highlighted is the probable starting lineup

3  - Omer Asik (C) 7-0

2 - Patrick Beverley (G) 6-1 

10 - Ronnie Brewer (F) 6-7 

0 - Aaron Brooks (G) 6-0

1 - Isaiah Canaan (G) 6-0

18 - Omri Casspi (F) 6-9

33 - Robert Covington (F) 6-9

32 - Francisco Garcia (G/F) 6-7

13 - James Harden (G) 6-5

12 - Dwight Howard (C) 6-11

6 - Terrence Jones (F) 6-9

7 - Jeremy Lin (G)

20 - Donatas Motiejunas (F/C) 7-0

25 - Chandler Parsons (F) 6-9

4 - Greg Smith (F/C) 6-10

Rockets Next Great Superpower?

Jalen Rose on Grantland said when Kevin Durant becomes a free agent he will leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Houston Rockets. If this does become a possibility, it would make the Houston Rockets the new Los Angeles Lakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_K3gWqaBk

This season the Rockets added a seemingly rejuvenated Dwight Howard to a team of budding stars. James Harden was voted by NBA General Mangers to be the best shooting guard in the league, one of many signs of the surging growth of this young talented team. Of course this is just speculation by Rose, but if true it "could" turn out to be the best collection of NBA talent the NBA has ever seen in my opinion. If the Rockets are able to keep the core group of Dwight Howard, James Harden, Chandler Parsons and add Kevin Durant to the mix, it would be a near unstoppable force, easily better then the Miami Heat's collection of current stars.