The NBA Mid-Seasson Report Card
Everybody and their domesticated pets are compiling report cards that rank the NBA's 30 teams. It's only natural considering football is nearing season's end, baseball spring training is still a few months away, while the basketball season is far from over. Basketball is the greatest sport in the world and the NBA is the greatest sports league that has ever existed. While no other sport is being played at the level of professional basketball, the 2006-07 season has seen its share of blunders, tumbles and graceful exits.
Let's face it, most teams are under performing, and if you had to pick one team to win the championship, there's only one obvious choice - unless of course you're demented.
Ranking the top 10 is a synch; easier than ordering a pizza, but adequately notching the other 20 teams is a difficult affair. At least six teams are in the severe rebuilding stage, three have no idea what the hell they're doing and the rest have talent but lack sufficient personnel at a key position.
At face value, the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns are the only definite title contenders. The glamorous records both clubs sport shows their grit and determination to finish at the top of the heap. Problem is, this years bevy of NBA teams really is a heap. Some are suffocating and have no hope of catching air, while other need just a few big pushes to be back in the hot (Eastern Conference, I'm looking in your direction).
To call the Eastern Conference putrid would be a term of endearment. Few nasty words could accurately describe how despicable and detestable the East teams are. The Western Conference is packed with playoff hopefuls, while the East is literally up for grabs.
As of Friday, January 19, 2007, here is the definitive ranking of the NBA 30.
1.
DALLAS MAVERICKSThis choice couldn't be more obvious if owner Mark Cuban were yelling it and hoisting a sign. Thankfully, we don't have to listen to Mr. Cuban run his goatee-stricken face off. While the unabashed owner might still be the referees and fans' greatest menace, his basketball team is one of the most impressive franchises this league has ever seen. At 33-8, easily the league's best record, Avery Johnson has his rotation thinking in a championship mentality. Since starting the 0-4, the Mavs have left the doubt and poor clutch decision making that cost them last year's championship miles behind them. In 29 games, the Mavs have lost 4. As of late, Johnson's bunch have been doing whatever it takes to win - from sending Kobe's dunks all the Sansibar to knocking down tough shots at the buzzer. No other team has exhibited or matched the creativity of this Dallas franchise. They play like a team, have a bench full of players who are good for more than sitting on their derrière's, while the superstars muscle all the hard work. From confusing 3 time MVP Tim Duncan to making a mockery of star guard Chris Paul, the Mavs have made this their season to lose.
Why they're winning: You could say that the success of this ball club starts with forward Josh Howard and no longer be laughed at. Whether he's swinging a tough 3-point play, draining a three-pointer or grabbing a clutch steal, Howard is the Mavericks' most complete player. He can play defense and as of late can score from virtually any spot on the floor. The additions of Anthony Johnson and Devean George as reserve defenders has allowed Avery to try a variety of methods in shutting down superstar shooters. Austin Croshere hasn't been a compelling factor, but he's still a nice addition.
Short-term worries: None.
Long-term worries: What transpires in this year's playoffs will be the only thing that matters and Avery is surely keeping this is mind. Dallas should have no problem cornering and beating Phoenix, but San Antonio and Houston, who may not have a shot at getting the league's best record, will be waiting for whoever dares to face them. Nothing Dallas has accomplished against either of these teams in the regular season will matter. Contrary to what Mavs fans might say, the team was not asleep when it lost the season opener to the Spurs. And Miami, despite blowing for most of this season, could still stab with the same knife they used last year.
2.
PHOENIX SUNSAt 30-8, the Suns are showing an impressive composure against tough teams and have found ways to come from behind. However, despite the Suns easily snagging second place, this review will contain mostly criticisms. Bill Walton and other players who played in the "no-defense" era are easily swayed by Phoenix's lightning fast game. At home, this team operates at hyperspeed. Problem is, nothing has changed about this beautiful, one-trick pony. No one is as fun to watch as Phoenix, but no one that's winning most of their game is as far off from championship as Phoenix is. A few years ago, the Mavericks found themselves at 33-8, an identical record to what they have now. Difference is, that team, coached by Don Nelson, didn't have a prayer to win the coveted title.
Why they're winning: This team's success starts with two time MVP Steve Nash. He deserves every accolade that comes his way and the team has the most balanced and dynamic scoring unit in the league. How many teams can say they have six players who average more than 16 points per game? The answer is none. But it's what the Suns don't have that will kill them.
Short-term worries: see below.
Long-term worries: It will be the same old story for D'Antoni when he gets to playoffs. The Suns will win an incredible number of games running their fast break offense. They run up and down the court and outscore oppoenents. They succeed because no one can match their speed or depth of weaponry. But this Phoenix team has no defense, absolutely NONE. The Suns worries won't be fixed by improving a few numbers, such as taking charges or getting teams to miss 3-pointers. The Suns will never win a championship until they start playing a defensive-centric game. Until they slow down and let their offense extend from their defense, a championship is a lost cause. Yes, Bill, that means Phoenix will have to stop playing your beloved run-and-gun. Hyperspeed, one-dimensional offense doesn't win championships. Defense does. Until the Suns start playing a game where the halftime score is 38-39, they will never win the big one. And if D'Antoni thinks he can convince other teams in the West to play Phoenix's tempo, he should remember that both Dallas and San Antonio have done that the last two years in at least one game and won. They're fun to watch, but doomed to fail in the end.
3.
MIAMI HEATYou're wondering if I'm serious when I say this under. 500 ballclub is the third best ballclub in the land. In fact, I am. Consider it an insult to the half-asleep Spurs who need to wake the hell up. The Heat are six wins away from the best record in the East. As the defending champions, they deserve the benefit of the doubt to do just that. No other under performing team can say they are a few wins away from being a title contender. If Miami pulls itself together, it won't be because Shaquille O' Neal is back in the lineup. It will be the bench players and the young starter assisting Dwyane Wade deciding that they are in fact for real. Wade can score 40 and O' Neal is priceless in the paint, even in his twilight, but it will be James Kapono, Dorell Wright, Michael Doleac and Udonis Haslem that have to pick up the slack. James Posey, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker and Jason Williams will also have to conjure brilliance. Miami is the one Eastern Conference team without a winning record I wouldn't bet on to lose to whichever Western Conference team reaches the finals.
Why they're #3: Dwyane Wade is the best player in the league. He's figured out the secret to winning close games - getting to the free throw line at all costs - will always borne fruit as it did in last season's finals. Kapono is one of the most efficient shooters in the game. He may not take that many shots, but when he does they usually go in. Antoine Walker as a bench player intrigues me, as him taking less shots and shooting a higher percentage is always a good thing. And though Shaq is hardly anything a great player should be afraid of anymore, the O' Neal/Mourning center combo is bested only by the Yao Ming/Dikembe Mutombo dynamic on the Rockets. This team has a chance, so don't count them out of the title discussions.
Short-term worries: The psychological, not the physical impact of Shaq not playing. He's not that great anymore, but everyone worships at his altar and just the image of the big man back in the lineup is a comfort to this Heat team.
Long-term worries: If this supposed "15 strong" franchise somehow gets to the finals, they have to like their chances of a Mavs-Heat rematch. This time, however, the Mavs won't be caught losing on national television. If the mediocre Heat want to win another "white-hot" championship, Sunday's regular season matchup in Miami would be an opportune time to show they have the intangibles. Dallas is 33-8, so Miami had better come with some stuff, championship stuff.
4.
SAN ANTONIO SPURSThose who know me might expect me to put the Rockets and the Spurs first and second, respectively, on every list, but that wouldn't be giving me credit for my analytical faculties. The Spurs deserve a fourth place ranking for they are sleepwalking as of late. Spurs fans can only hope somebody or someone will wake them the hell up. In the last three weeks, the Spurs have made Denver look like a respectable team (even though the Spurs won by 9), lost to the Bulls sans Andres Nocioni and Ben Wallace, made game costing decisions against the Los Angeles Lakers and that doesn't include all of the stacked losses that should have been Spurs blowouts.
The Spurs had only 7 home losses all last season and have already accrued that number this season and their recent 3-point shooting has been vomit-inducing, despite still holding the top spot in that percentage. However, no team deserves a benefit of the doubt more than the Spurs. San Antonio is much deeper this year, the bench has been high-octane at many points this season and the scoring is up. Standing at 27-12, the Spurs are still one of the NBA's elite and with a lighter schedule ahead, the Spurs have an opportunity to redeem themselves.
Why they've slipped: Poor foul shooting and too many clunks have been this team's recent Achilee's Heel. The foul shooting had improved earlier in the year, but now, seems to have returned to its old decrepit form. When the Spurs are great defensively, their offense is something to behold. Against the Lakers and the Bulls, the defense looked a bit like an airplane trying to hold a 30,000 ft. altitude with a bursted fuel tank. Tim Duncan is the healthiest he's been in quite some time and yet his numbers don't fully reflect that. More aggresive inside play from Timmy and more consistent numbers from Brent Barry, Beno Udrih, Michael Finley, Fabricio Oberto, Eric Williams, Matt Bonner, Jacque Vaughn and Francisco Elson's return will get this team back on track. As far as Robert Horry goes, they don't call him "Big Shot Bobby" for nothing. Somtimes that one big shot is all he does.
Why the Spurs are still the team to model after: Defense is the greatest one-dimensional skill a team can have. The surging Mavericks should take some notes. Dallas fans believe that their teams ability to also play run-and-gun is a plus against other NBA teams. The ability to play fool's gold offense is a nice touch and sometimes its a creative way to win. The Mavs, who have borrowed much from the Spurs, should hold defense in the highest regard. Slow half-court defense that holds teams to under 90 points is the only kind of championship basketball. Greg Poppovich knows you don't win titles with speed and fastbreak shots, which is why this Spurs team will likely never play that kind of basketball.
5.
HOUSTON ROCKETSThe Rockets have had a championship roster since Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells signed in the offseason. Helmed by Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, undoubtedly the best center in the league, this team has the personnel, the depth, the coach and the gameplan to win a championship. This trouble this season has been getting all of those components on the same floor at the same time. But I am one of the few who see the Rockets' swath of injuries as a blessing in disguise. The Rockets have needed to play without Yao and McGrady to confirm that there is in fact a rest of the team. Houston is far from where it needs to be if a title is in the works, but this could very well mirror the storybook 94-95 season which ended with a gleaming Hakeem Olajuwon hoisting the Larry O' Brien Trophy.
The Rockets will need Wells, Yao, McGrady and all of the other parts to succeed in the postseason. When they reach the playoff berth they have battled for this seasson, no team in either conference will want to face them. Jason Terry will be punching himself in the groin so he doesn't have to play this team.
Why they're a title contender: The aforementioned off-season additions have proved to be some of the best in the league. But one stands out above the rest. Shane Battier has spent this season putting himself and this Rockets team above the numbers. He doesn't need to have better statistical numbers than another player to outplay them, he just needs a little will and determination. Although McGrady's return to high scoring form may have been the biggest offensive catalyst to the Rockets success with Yao out, it has been Battier's clutch shots, charges taken and defensive stops that has turned this team into a formidable champion. Dikembe Mutombo has stolen the fountain of youth and has sucked every last gulp from its bowl. Nobody, not even me, expected him to play like he was 20 again when he took over the reigns with Yao's absence. He recently passed Kareem Abdul Jabar on the all-time blocked shots list. The rest of the team's success is uncertain as that worry is addressed below.
Short-term worries: The Rockets haven't quite gelled yet. Perhaps it's the fact that the roster has seldome been complete this season or that many of the players are young and lack enough professional experience. This shortcoming will need to be fixed if a deep playoff run is to be expected. The posts below contrasting the Rockets' play against Dallas in Phoenix (both losses), explains those perfectly. Also, two names: Alston and Head. That issue is also explained below.
Long-term worries: Yao and McGrady will need to get healthy and remain so for the rest of the season. Other than that, see above.
6. DETROIT PISTONS
7. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
8. CHICAGO BULLS
9. ORLANDO MAGIC
10. UTAH JAZZ
11. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
12. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
13. NEW JERSEY NETS
14. DENVER NUGGETS
15. SACRAMENTO KINGS
16. NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY
17. INDIANA PACERS
18. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
19. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
20. BOSTON CELTICS
21. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
22. TORONTO RAPTORS
23. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
24. SEATLLE SUPERSONICS
25. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
26. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
27. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
28. PHILADELPHIA 76'ers
29. NEW YORK KNICKS
30. ATLANTA HAWKS
Take it From Somebody Who Actually Watched the Phoenix/Houston Game
When the average basketballl analysts looks at the final score of Wednesday's Houston/Phoenix matchup-100-91-they'll likely reach a pedestrian conclusion.
Especially if that person is Bill Walton. I can hear it coming now:
"The Rockets just don't have enough firepower. They are not on the same level with Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio. This loss proves that."
Of course, I doubt Walton or any of the other Rockets naysayers actually watched the game. If they did, however, they'd come to a much different conclusion.
With T-Mac suffering from another round of back spasms and Yao still injured, taking on the lightning hot Suns would be a monstrous task. The Suns score a lot of points and they do it in the blink of any eye. That's why the Rockets through three and a half quarters looked so impressive. The stifling Houston defense held Phoenix to just 19 points in the first quarter. The Suns had scored less than 50 at the half. The third quarter could have ended with a more emphatic Rockets defense, but they were still hanging in there.
Rafer "skip to my lou" Alston, who would finish with a brilliant 29 points (a career best), rose to the challenge. Shane Battier dropped 16 and Luther Head added 16. Bozi Wells, returning from injury, offered a mediocre 6 points.
With less than 3 minutes left in the game, the Rockets were down by four, still hanging around with the biggest guns. It seemed the victory was right there for the taking. Just score on the next possession and get a defensive stop, something Phoenix struggles to do in close games.
But the Rockets stopped themselves, thanks to a rookie mistake from John Lucas on the fastbreak. It's funny how one play can alter the course of a close game.
Head picked Nash's pocket for the steal to get the crowd reved and ready, but when he got to the other end in a one on one situation, he broke the cardinal rule of the fastbreak. He shot a 3 pointer and missed.
And in case you don't know why that's a mistake, here's a brief lesson:
1) You NEVER take a jumpshot or a three pointer on the fastbreak, especially in a one on one situation. Especially when the game is on the line.
2) Fastbreak points are uncontested points, so you always go for the layup dunk to make sure all your hard work on the defensive end isn't lost with a miss. Even if Ray Allen is on the fastbreak, there's no gaurantee his three pointer would go. You go for inside shot, one that has a 98 percent chance of going in. And unlike shooting a jumper or a three, if you miss, you're near the basket to get the rebound.
Because Lucas was still behind the arc after chunking up his three, Amare easily grabbed the rebound, allowing Phoenix another possession. Two plays later, four Rockets literally stood and watched Leandro Barbosa take a three-pointer and swoosh it in. That, in a nutshell, cost Houston the game.
It wasn't firepower or lackthereof. It was stupid decisions down the stretch.
Take it from me, I actually watched the game.
Loss to Mavs a Wake Up Call
The Rockets knew their stretch without Yao Ming would be a tight fit of games, but they needed the Mavs to show them how much.
As the final score read 109-96, the Rockets watched any chance of an extended win streak evaporate as quickly as Tracy McGrady's hot hand had in the fouth quarter. Jeff Van Gundy needed this 13-point lesson so he could see the kind of improvements that need to be made.
Championships are never won with two players. If you're raising your hand and interjecting the names Scottie and Michael, perhaps you've forgotten the names Paxson, Kerr, Longley, Rodman, Harper and Kukoc. And while the Bulls dynamic duo would prove to be one of the greatest professional basketball has ever seen, they had helping hands.
And last year's willful 4th quarter performances by Miami superstar Dwyane Wade were allowed to happen because other players on the Heat flourished in their supporting roles. The Heat reserves outplayed the Mavs reserves just enough to secure the victories in Miami and ultimately, the title cclincher in Dallas.
You wouldn't be afraid of the Lakers if Kobe was the only threat.
The Rockets now know they have a ways to go in securing consistent offensive help for McGrady and Yao. Howard and Alston kept things rolling, but no one else could answer the challenge. Battier finished with only five and Head and Hayes were mostly non-factors.
The defense, for the most part, has been solid as a freight train. Last night, giving up 109 points, the effort left a little to be desired.
As a defensive mined basketball guru, I consider run-and-gun offense fool's gold. The Mavs resorted to such old tendencies in the third quarter of last night's game. When a team decides to start playing this fun to watch, yet ridiculous style of play, the Rockets must lock down defensively and slow them before they explode.
Holding teams to less than 90 points is not one-dimensional, it's championship material. The Mavs didn't run up and down the court in high energy fashion in last year's finals, so why the hell do they need to do it in the regular season?
The fact is, Avery Johnson is witty and intelligent enough to craft a game where his team can get defensive stops without sacrificing speed. This is where the Rockets need someone other than T-Mac to be a consistent threat.
Below, I will post the recorded rosters for both teams and you will see what I mean when I say the Rockets don't have personnel issues. Houston has all of the right parts, but some are working more functionally than others. Sure another defender and scorer would be nice, but let's not get needy. The Rockets can win a title with what they have and here's why.
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
13 Maurice Ager G 6-5 202 02/09/1984 Michigan State R
11 Jose Barea G 6-0 175 06/26/1984 Northeastern R
1 Greg Buckner G-F 6-4 210 09/16/1976 Clemson 7
44 Austin Croshere F 6-10 235 05/01/1975 Providence 9
25 Erick Dampier C 6-11 265 07/14/1975 Mississippi State 10
7 DeSagana Diop C 7-0 280 01/30/1982 Oak Hill Academy HS (VA) 5
40 Devean George G-F 6-8 235 08/29/1977 Augsburg 7
34 Devin Harris G 6-3 185 02/27/1983 Wisconsin 2
5 Josh Howard F-G 6-7 210 04/28/1980 Wake Forest 3
28 Didier Ilunga-Mbenga C 7-0 255 12/30/1980 Congo 2
8 Anthony Johnson G 6-3 195 10/02/1974 Charleston (SC) 9
21 Pops Mensah-Bonsu F 6-9 240 09/07/1983 George Washington R
41 Dirk Nowitzki - C F 7-0 245 06/19/1978 Germany 8
42 Jerry Stackhouse F-G 6-6 218 11/05/1974 North Carolina 11
31 Jason Terry G 6-2 180 09/15/1977 Arizona 7
NOW, THE ROCKETS
2006-07 Roster
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
12 Rafer Alston G 6-2 175 07/24/1976 Fresno State 7
31 Shane Battier F 6-8 220 09/09/1978 Duke 5
44 Chuck Hayes F 6-6 238 06/11/1983 Kentucky 1
2 Luther Head G 6-3 185 11/26/1982 Illinois 1
5 Juwan Howard F 6-9 253 02/07/1973 Michigan 12
15 John Lucas III G 5-11 165 11/21/1982 Oklahoma State 1
1 Tracy McGrady - C G-F 6-8 223 05/24/1979 Mount Zion Christian Acad. HS (NC) 9
55 Dikembe Mutombo C 7-2 260 06/25/1966 Georgetown 15
20 Steve Novak F 6-10 220 06/13/1984 Marquette R
35 Scott Padgett F 6-9 240 04/19/1976 Kentucky 7
13 Kirk Snyder G 6-6 225 06/05/1983 Nevada-Reno 2
10 Vassilis Spanoulis G 6-4 195 07/08/1982 Greece R
3 Bob Sura G 6-5 200 03/25/1973 Florida State 10
6 Bonzi Wells G-F 6-5 210 09/20/1976 Ball State 8
11 Yao Ming C 7-6 310 09/12/1980 China 4
I don't look at these two rosters and see sharp differences. Neither should you. And yet, when you look at the records of both teams and the comparison of win streaks, Dallas has an easy advantage.
The gap, you ask? The Rockets have just as many young players as the Mavs and age-ridden players on both teams cancel each other out. The difference is simple - confidence.
With the Mavs, George, Stackhouse, Johnson, Croshere and Ager all have the confidence to be great bench producers. They've played enough minutes to become reliable, significant helping hands.
For the Rockets, Novak, Head, Spanoulis, Wells, Snyder, Padgett, Lucas III and Hayes have all been spotty this season. Notice, I listed more Rockets players than Mavs players. I believe Houston has more depth than Dallas, but you wouldn't know from the way these two teams have been playing.
Obviously, missing Yao and Wells is injury to this team. But if all the pieces fit together and can begin playing consistently, look out Avery, you just might be out-depth-ed.
Getting to this point will be cumbersome for Van Gundy and the Rockets. The role players will have to learn to knock down the shots that Yao and T-Mac's penetration sets up for them. And Battier's 25 point nights will need to come with greater frequency.
The Rockets have a chance to win a title this year-a big chance-but the Mavs reminded the team last night that's it's still a chance and not an absolution.
Rockets Will Face Toughest Test of Season in Dallas Mavericks
The Houston Rockets may have turned a few heads winning 9 of 11 since Yao's injury departure, but nothing Jeff Van Gundy's team has faced in the last two weeks could measure up to what awaits tonight.
They're ferocious, they're vengeful, their German star's David Hasselhoff humming seems to do the trick at the free throw line and most importantly, they can count their losses with just two hands. The Rockets head into the American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks, who at 31-8, like their chances of a repeat trip to the NBA Finals.
In the last 11-game stretch, Dikembe Mutombo passed Kareem Abdul-Jabar to nab second place on the all time blocked shots list, about 600 behind first place Hakeem Olajuwon. Shane Battier has been the leading scorer, twice. The Rockets' team has made more than 12 three pointers, four times. Tracy McGrady has scored more than 30 in nine of those games. The Rockets have passed two teams in the playoff hunt. The Rockets beat both of those teams-Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers-in blowouts.
Coming in to face the determined Mavs, the Rockets don't need momentum. They've spent the last month gathering it.
No, a win against the Mavs would be something far greater. A hint that maybe this franchise is championship material when Yao Ming returns in late February/early March.
In Tuesday night's matchup, the Rockets will be the ultimate underdog. Coach Van Gundy knows Avery Johnson will not allow his Mavs to lose by 30 points again. This is a different Dallas team than the one that started the season 0-4.
The Rockets will have to keep their defensive targets aimed at one Josh Howard, who has already accrued more 20+ point games this season than he did all of last season. Dirk Nowitzki, who has suffered some off-nights this season, is still the same Nowitzki that's nearly impossible to stop down the stretch. And don't forget about the Jet, who has had a handful of 30+ point games, currently averaging about 15 per contest.
The Mavs ranked third in PPG allowed to opponents. The two centers, Diop and Dampier, have traded starting duties at many points in the season, but facing Deke and his shaking finger, they'll be looking for a block party.
How the Rockets can lose:The Rockets clutch decision making as of late has been spectacular. The ball movement, not so much. The team ended the first half against Sacramento shooting 7-11 from beyond the arc, an incredibly respectable percentage. By game's end, they made 12 out of the 31 they heaved up.
If Dallas sees that Houston is willing to settle for jump looks, they will eat the Rockets perimeter shooting alive. Relying on T-Mac's over the defender three bombs to beat an attacking Mavs team will not cut the mustard. For the game winner, maybe.
While the Rockets clinched road games in Denver and Sacramento with Shane Battier taking charges and three pointers and T-Mac taking over, their turnovers have also come at inopportune times. Attacking the basket and getting to the free thrown line will alleviate the concerns posed by chalking up long jumpshots on every other posession with 10 seconds left on the clock.
The Rockets have struggled to find the hoop in many of their victories, in some cases, their blowouts. Shooting less than 48 percent against this Mavs team will be the dagger in the skull. It would be nice if Luther Head continues his three point shooting streak to 37 or 38 games, but again, attack the basket. Free throws. Important. Got it guys?
The Rockets have won 9 out of 11, the possibility of a 10-game win streak broken in the middle by an overtime loss to Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves. The Mavs have won 16 of 17. It's pretty obvious who has both the streak and momentum advantage.
How the Rockets can win:
T-Mac is back, the understatement of that phrase almost as funny as K-Fed's acting. But as well as #1 has been able to rack up 30 point games, he's needed the scoring support his teamates have given him. In two of the last nine victories, McGrady has scored 12 or less. Against the Lakers in the 102-77 blowout, he only scored eight. Battier. Howard. Alston. Head. Lucas III. Even Deke and Hayes on the putbacks. These are all secondary weapons the Rockets will need to be in fine form if they hope to dismantle the Mavericks on the road.
The Rockets have discovered in the last two weeks that a little confidence goes a long way. Playing with supreme confidence, there's no gaurantee the Rockets will win. But their chances are 10 times better.
Wins for the Mavs and losses for the Rockets as of late have been close. The Rockets should note that Dallas barely edged out the Toronto Raptors with a game-winning layup by Josh Howard and won in overtime by 2 over the Indiana Pacers. A win is a win and for Avery's club that's all that will matter come April, May and June. However, for the Rockets these tough wins for the Mavs should be psychological and pedagogical boosters for their confidence. If Indiana and the Toronto, both of which are struggling to play .500 basketball, can take on the Mavs for a full 48 minutes, certainly the Rockets who are 12 games over .500 can steal this win.
The Rockets defense prior to the Sacramento game was impeccable. Holding the Bulls, Lakers and Nuggets to shooting in the 30's. Now, that's great defense. Against the struggling Denver team, they forced Iverson to take more than 70 percent of the club's shots. And the Rockets shouldn't worry about that 90-86 win. The Mavs only beat them by four in their last meeting and the Spurs only notched a nine-point win.
Iverson is good, you know?
The Rockets have a lot hinging on this back to back. Let's hope they really have as much stuff as we all think they do. A little confidence against Dallas might go a long way.
Bill Walton amazes with his numbing stupidity...
Three things heard from tonight's Rockets/Nuggets telecast on ESPN.
"Phoenix is going to win the championship this year."
--see below post for a full rebuttal.
"I'm looking at the Rockets defense right now with my own two eyes and I don't see this team in the same class as Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio and Utah. I would take Phoenix's defense over the Rockets anyday."
I respect Bill as a hall of famer and an intelligent commentator, but this sequence of obsenities (obscene because they're stupid) really threw me for a loop. If Walton was really watching the Houston defense he would have noticed it limiting Denver to an average of 34 percent shooting, mostly well-contested outside jumpshots and four quarters of less than 25 points. The Rockets are nearing more than 50 quarters of allowing less than 20 points to an opponent. If that's not the best defense in the NBA, then I ought to banish myself from basketball for the rest of my life. I obviously don't understand the game, Bill.
And excuse me Luke's father, but the Rockets have beaten three of the aforementioned teams by at least 20 points. Only one of those wins came with both Yao and T-Mac on the court. Phoenix only beat Houston because they were allowed to play run-and-gun for four quarters. I'm still waiting for Phoenix to beat Houston this season in a defensive-centric game.
"How many points do the Rockets average per game--(Jon Barry chimes in) uh, 94--Yeah, see the Rockets play a lower scoring style of game. I just don't see it happening for this Houston team."
Bill, the Rockets scoring average has nothing to do with the style of game they play. The Rockets are only averaging about 94 points per game becuase they have struggled all season long to put the ball in the basket. In many games the Rockets have won they shot in the low 40s. That this team has achieved more than 10 blowouts shooting such a low percentage should say something about their defense.
The Van Gundy approach to winning ball games is similar to the Pops approach. Hold teams to a low shooting percentage, contest every shot, keep them out of the paint and on the other end, move the ball around and look for wide open, high-percentage shots. The Rockets could easily be scoring more than 100 points per game if they could string together a few more baskets.
Of course, then again Bill, maybe I'm a complete idiot and don't know a thing about basketball.
The Bill Walton Rebuttal ... Why Phoenix Will Never Win a Championship.
The Phoenix Suns have a lot going for them. A two-time Most Valuable Player winner in Steve Nash, the best offense in the league and the second best record in the league at 27-8. Unfortunately, a shot at the league's coveted Larry O' Brien trophy is not one of them. As long as Phoenix champions the D'antoni/Nelson run-and-gun style of play, a championship will always be two steps further than this Suns team can take.
ESPN's Tim Legler, former NBA coach Doug Collins and hall of famer Bill Walton have all jumped on the Suns' bandwagon, proclaiming that this is the year for the Steve Nash team to win it all. Nash is an unrivaled play creator, a high percentage shooter and a deserving recipient of two MVP nods. Amare is back and in excellent form. Leandro Barbosa has found his role as a lightning fast scorer. While the stars may seem to align with Phoenix finishing sans-peril, here's why they will come short as they have the previous two years.
BILL WALTON
"I just don't see the same fire and drive to win a championship in San Antonio that I do in Phoenix."
Walton's observation is not completely ludicrous as the Spurs have lost more than 5 games they know they should have dominated. Losing to Charlotte, Milwaukee, Golden State and Minnesota does not bode well for the Spurs being at the top of the NBA's totem pole. However, the Spurs have avenged all but one of these losses with massive blowout victories.
Less than halfway through the season, The Spurs sit 15 games over 500 at 26-11, just four games behind the piping hot Mavericks. Four games? Geez Bill, I guess the world is falling down for the Spurs and we should predict armageddon. Give me a break Walton.
"The Suns are just beating everybody with their unique style of play. They're going to win the championship."
If the Suns style is unique, which in fact it isn't, it's because teams who win championships know how to play real defense. Phoenix supporters have thrown numbers out that might suggest they have improved defensively. #1 in defending the 3-pointer, 3rd in opp. FG percentage.
These stats are great, but they are not the only keys to great defense. Phoenix runs teams up and down the floor at hyperspeed, outscoring and outrunning them. When most teams try to play at Phoenix tempo, they're tricked into taking quick, wild outside shots that ultimately clunk. Nobody can consistently play run-and-gun better than Phoenix. Golden State and Washington play a similar tempo game, but are likely losers when trying to outrun Phoenix. They're the Miles Davis, the Queen Elizabeth of this style of offensive-centric basketball.
There's a difference between forcing your opponents to shoot outside jumpers because of stellar interior defense and daring them to match your speed. Phoenix does the latter. It's not defense Doug and Bill, it's speed.
Phoenix still ranks in the bottom five defensively. With the All-Star break around the corner, that stat is as reliable as a high electric bill.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, three of the eight losses in that L column have come thanks to Dallas and San Antonio, the latter team of which you said is not hungry enough to win a championship. I may be brain-challenged Bill, but how many times has Phoenix reached the Finals in the last two years? None.
Dallas and San Antonio may only be two out of 30 teams, but for Phoenix they're the only two teams that matter.
The Spurs play a methodical, defensive-centric game. The Mavs are learning to imitate their I-35 rivals and reaping the benefits. Both the Mavs and Spurs have beaten the Suns playing run-and-gun in a playoff situation. Until Phoenix starts generating their offense from defense, they will not be NBA champions.
Offense may win games, but defense wins championships.
The San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76'ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks--all teams that have reached the Finals in the last 11 years.
Did any of these teams get there playing Phoenix style run-and-gun? Defense wins championships. I rest my case.
The Best 25 CD's of 2006
1. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE "Future Sex/Love Sounds"
2. DAUGHTRY "Daughtry"
3. LUDACRIS "Release Therapy"
4. PAPA ROACH "The Paramour Sessions"
5. JEWEL "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland"
6. TODD SNIDER "The Devil You Know"
7. ARCTIC MONKEYS "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
8. JOHN MAYER "Continuum"
9. CHRISTINA AGUILERA "Back to Basics"
10. ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO "The Boxing Mirror"
11. BREAKING BENJAMIN "Phobia"
12. T BONE BURNETT "The True False Identity"
13. KT TUNSTALL "Eye to the Telescope"
14. FERGIE "The Dutchess"
15. MARK KNOPFLER AND EMMYLOU HARRIS "All The Roadrunning"
16. EVANESCENCE "The Open Door"
17. YO LA TENGO "I am Not Afraid of You And I Will Beat Your Ass"
18. LYFE JENNINGS "The Phoenix"
19. RASCAL FLATTS "Me and My Gang"
20. PLACEBO "Meds"
21. BETH ORTON "Comfort of Strangers
22. THE ROOTS "Game Theory"
23. JULIETA VENEGAS "Limon y Sol"
24. ROSA PASSOS "Rosa"
25. AUDIOSLAVE "Revelations"
26. LUPE FIASCO "Food and Liquor"
27. GHOSTFACE KILLAH "Fishscale"
28. ALI FAKA TOURE "Savane"
29. JOHN LEGEND "Once Again"
30. RIHANNA "A Girl Like Me"
31. AZAM ALI "Elysium for the Brave"
32. ENIGMA "A Posteriori"
33. RICHARD WAGNER "Wagner: Siegfried"
34. ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER "Mozart: The Violin Sonatas"
35. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "Stadium Arcadium"
36. RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT "I Stand Alone"
37. BILLY HART "Quartet"
38. BOB DYLAN "Modern Times"
39. ROSEANNE CASH "Black Cadillac"
40. ROBERT RANDOLPH "Colorblind"
41. AKON "Konvicted"
42. MADELINE PEYROUX "Half the Perfect World"
43. THE BEATLES "Love (Cirque du Soleil)"
44. DEFTONES "Saturday Night Wrist"
45. STONE SOUR "Come What(Ever) May"
THE MOST DEPLORABLE CD'S OF 20061. WOLFMOTHER "Wolfmother"
2. RUBEN STUDDARD "The Return"
3. THE RACONTEURS "Broken Boy Soldiers"
4. YEAH YEAH YEAHS "Show Your Bones"
5. BARRY MANILOW "The Greatest Songs of the 60's"
...more to come...
MOST DISSAPOINTING/MEDIOCRE OFFERING OF 2006
1. TOOL "10,000 Days"
BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED
1. ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA "Rockstar: Supernova"
2. KEVIN FEDERLINE "Playing With Fire"--actually better than a drink coaster or piss on. This is not any worse than the dreck 50 Cent calls "rap."
2007 already? What happened to Spring Break?
Time flies like Superman on a bad acid trip, but where does it go? It seems unfathomable that 2007 is already upon us. It just can't be.
Just yesterday, the Texas Longhorns and the USC Trojans squared off in a college championship game destined to become a perennial sports classic. Less than a breath ago, the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks fought relentlessly in one of the most ulcer-inducing game 7's in playoff history. And the last time I filled my water glass, the Houston Astros were pursuing a wonderous 9-game winning streak, as the St. Louis Cardinals were collapsing like an imploding 44-story building.
It really seems like yesterday, 2006 had barely gripped its quick hands on us. That's how fast the years can race by.
With another 365 days to do things differently, I've set forth a few resolutions which I hope to follow strictly.
1) As an avid sports fan, I realize that there are other talented sports franchises besides the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Astros. As such, I will no longer throw a tantrum, scream "you suck" and yell obscenities anytime another team beats one of my beloveds. I will also try not to shout such vulgarities after every play.
2) I will not put my heart and soul into the Rockets or Spurs winning a championship. I must realize professional basketball is a game intended for spectator entertainment and losing to the Dallas Mavericks is not the same as being evicted from your home, which is how I treat it.
I will not, however, refrain from calling Dirk Nowitzki "Dork Monkeyface" during regular season and playoff games.
3) I promise to say "puke-jols" at least 100 times less than I did in 2006. It won't be much of an improvement, but every little bit helps. It's a 12-step program, folks.
4) I promise not to think of the Arcade Fire everytime I shit and it smells really bad. I promise to do the same for all the indie bands like them.
5) I WILL get a girlfriend. That's an emphatic "will!" I have a lot to offer a woman and it's time for me to toughen up and ask a girl out.
6) I promise even less frivolous spending.
7) I will treasure the wonderful bond I have with my family more than I did in 2006.
8) I promise to challenge myself intellectualy. Enough that I'll spell intellectually right the first time.
9) I am not dating Jewel Kilcher nor is Tim Duncan's cell phone number on my speed dial. I will come to grips with these tough facts, even if it takes the full 12 months.
Most of all...
10) I pledge to enjoy every minute of 2007 so that when Dec. 31 rolls around again, I'm not asking "where did the time go?"
