Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 2000. (Read 874399 times)

You got some points when it comes to the talks of height problem but we know that rebound is definitely a big factor that should be considered.
We have seen on how this thing messed up on Rockets.Lacking Westbrook is really a big issue when it comes on inside ring defense and offense.
Its early to say but i highly agree to that playoffs problem thing.

On offense it is not a matter for Gobert to be tall or not against people who are usually three point shooters, harden can shoot very well and
actually rockets in general could shoot very well, if gobert is too much outside than westbrook could just cut inside and finish off strong. The
problem is the rebounds, last night rockets were almost outrebounded 2 to 1 , it was something like 29 to 51 if I don't remember wrong, and that is Suns, if they play like that against everyone then they will have a serious serious problem in the playoffs.

Westbrook has to pick up the rebounds a lot more than he usually does and make a change. I would have understand a team not playing with a center if they had a guy like giannis for example but not playing with a center and having PJ Tucker equals to bad rebounds for sure.

 Everyone keeps talking about how Rockets got outrebounded and how this will be basically the example of literally whats about to happen constantly but the reality is they lacked westbrook and he is one of the best rebounding guards in the history of basketball, lacking him is just waaaay too important. The reason why they were capable of beating Lakers for example was they were grabbing same amount of rebounds on lakers game, they got outrebounded like hell in this game because westbrook wasn't around.

 Sure rockets have a height problem, thats definitely a problem in the playoffs, however I doubt its as overrated as people think it is, everyone is acting like Warriors didn't win the ring without a center. They were literally playing curry-klay-iggy-barnes-draymond for a whole year and they won a ring like that, when they switched durant with barnes, they still didn't really had a "center" but just durant as a tall dude, still no centers at all.

If westbrook will be back in that game maybe they have a chance again.
But man, Jazz are so talll with Gobert playing as the center so they will likely struggle again and we know Jazz are a good defensive team also and they don't like to rely on one or two players, they like to move the ball very well so the points will be spread, I don't know what the odds yet but I'll likely put my bet on the Jazz here.

It's not that they dont want to win, as you can see(if you watched the game) their rebounders are not effective and the Suns team has many player who got some power and huge height difference beating th on rebound, we all knew how important rebound in the game. Not having westbrook clearly dictates that their are still needed of some few players with skills. Anyway the win against Lakers is a huge victory but dont worry this lose against Suns will likely be a good reason for them to win their next game against Utaz Jazz.

That's not gonna be a surprise, they are expected to be out rebounded by any team. The Rockets are way too underestimating the league's center position. That huge win against the Lakers is because they are shooting good, plus Vogel didn't maximize the opportunity to dominate them on the paint letting McGee sit a lot of time and played just 15 mins. While Howard had only 4 mins.

That's a big disparity of rebound, maybe they really miss Westbrook in this game, if he only played, he will surely get at least 10 rebounds as this guy is a double double machine, sometimes even tally a triple double. Westbrook was out due to load management. https://dknation.draftkings.com/2020/2/6/21127082/russell-westbrook-injury-status-rest-load-management-rockets-dfs-fantasy-basketball-lineup-advice

Yeah it's surprising since he is a solid center and thrown away to the other team but guess I think there's a good plan made by their coach since small ball is not new and this strategy has been used by GSW already but let see how the adjustment bring up unto them since the rockets small ball could bring a different dimension of the game since for sure the their opponent will adjust the fast phase game and it will be not easy to them since the 5 rockets can shoot 3s which is big problem for slow pokes.

I'm surprise the Rockets gave up easily against the Suns, they came from a big win against the Lakers, I understand they are in a back to back game, they maybe tired, they are playing without westbrook but losing by 36 points againts the suns, looks like they didn't come to play.

This game, we saw the real disadvantage of the small ball Rockets, they got out-rebounded by a huge margin.
let's compare the rebounds this game.

Rockets - 29 while Suns - 51.

It does work.
Also a Finals contender during the Nash time.
But we all know Mike D'Antoni never won a title. That kind of strategy has its weakness and it had always been spotted by the opposing team.

It will be a strategy of offense which opens three pointers in their designated areas while one man will penetrate the paint.
That is how Nash did it before. But there is an Amare at that time where Nash could choose to just play the pick and pop as an option.
Here he will be using two agility type guys which is WB and Harden.

Let us see if how will this be fruitful.

Edit: So just finished watching the Lakers vs Rockets game.
Looks like what I said did happen.
Davis and McGee might have dominated the paint but those are 2 point shots.
Rockets team will just get back with a three.
Nice work. Can they keep this pace up?

So far it already brought good outcome playing small, of course without a center it will be a match up problem with them. But they are an improved Phoenix Suns in the mid--to-late 2000's of Mike D'Antoni. Now they have two stars with a lot of good three point shooters. Run and gun, if the opponents take advantage of post up plays against a small center of the team, they will come back and shoot three's. But I don't know how long this system will works though, and that is the big question.

Well, he realized it quickly after the news. There's no doubt that he is a productive player for the Pistons but no offense to Drummond because I just don't see him being their franchise player. He has been overshadowed by the likes of Giannis and Embiid in the past years. He had his time to showcase his ability to lead the team but I guess time run out. Was it last season when Blake Griffin carried the Pistons team into the playoff and played until the end even though he had an injured leg?

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Look out for the Warriors in the free agency this summer. They will be splashing out some cash to support the returning splash brothers. I'm pretty sure many stars would still want to be playing with those two despite the GS team having the worst record (so far) this season.

Difficult to understand but I got your point and it looks like that is the way.
They just need a back up for Steph and not another Steph.

Wiggins is more like catch and shoot, more like Klay.
They need players like that and not ball handlers.
The ball doesn't stay for a long time in one player when it comes to the GSW play.
There are time when it is Draymond who marks the play for offense while handling the ball.
Yeah, GSW ain't a Rockets team. 

This Capela trade is really surprising. Not sure what the coaching staff are thinking and why the management approve this trade,  but considering your insight chances that they are seeing something and they are willing to gamble this small players lineup and let their stars to handle and lift the team. It will be decided once the next round begin whether this changes brings them good outcome or another adjustment will be needed for them.

Detroit Pistons is the team that drafted him. Playing since 2012 and currently can considered as still in his "prime". Never requested any trades despite his good performance and the team always does have a fail rally season by season. Received good offers by other teams but remained loyal to the Pistons franchise. I even think he will become a franchise player of Pistons or his trade will just be considered once he reached his veteran status or so-called post-prime. NBA is really business and Drummond already knows that. It's just that he can't believe it will happen to him despite his loyalty to the franchise.

Pistons are still fighting for the playoffs spot and now that he transferred to Cavaliers, no more playoffs to him this year at 100%.

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That's the best role he should do at the Warriors but that's the problem here. He can't just shift into something that not his usual. Knowing Wiggins, and for the record, he does have an attitude problem even back from the start of his career.

I don't know if he will be fit into Kerr's system but if he will just allow himself to shift into much more of a defensive phase once the Splash Brothers come back, I'm seeing a successful run to this team next season. Right now, obviously he will remain on his usual since that's what Warriors need. A good opportunity to learn the Kerr's system.

Denver not in the conversation?  Denver can play inside or out and can score in various ways to beat teams.  Even when a coue starters are down they beat teams like the bucks, jazz etc as of late.  I think with the nuggets depth they are the team in the west to worry about

Yeah I think so also. They lack the power of forwards this is why they need someone to do that job for them. And as we all know, he is a rhythmic player. By that, it means that he can do what he ought to do when he holds the ball more often. And as of this time he's reviving his career. But man I'm really surprised on these trades man. Especially the Clint Capela trade. Wanna know the real reason why that trade happened? It's simply because the offense rating of rockets is low whenever he's on the floor. That's why they decided to pull off the trade. Not only that, the defensive rating is lower. The score in the paint is so high compare to other centers. No wonder he didn't get the same money as Steven Adams get even though they are the same stat. And I really wonder how the big men of Lakers didn't dominated the board on last night game. Hmm

Lakers still maintaining a terrible win rate against 500 teams. I do not know if this is deliberate but they need to up their game against contenders. Rockets are undersized but they still managed to beat the Lakers. I have serious doubts in how the Lakers will perform come playoffs.

GSW was successful in implementing small ball against Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 NBA Finals but unlike Rockets line up right now, GSW still had centers in their roster. If they will not fill up the center position, Rockets is taking a big gamble going small ball the rest of the season.

Once klay and steph come back you might see a resurgence come from Wiggins because he has never played with talent on the outside like that before.  He would get doubled quickly on minn, he wont be seeing the same defenses otherwise if he does expect to see 10+ assists out of him.  Imagine being able to pass to a wide open klay or steph out of a double team lol.  And if minn still sucks that draft pick is going to be the icing on the deal.  Combine that with a front end draft pick of their own and gs might again be set up for years to come.

Both LA franchise have the dominating edge from the West side, the rally of houston bringing small lineup can be eaten alive by those big dominating forces inside. Players like AD and Harrell where very commanding when inside the post.  Houston's fate will be depends from how the coaching staff will
bring good system for the rest of the team.