What happened to the Rockets defense?

[JR Giddens]

I thought the Rockets would crush the lakers and I stopped watching after the 1st quarter and the score was 28-16. I thought this was the night the Lakers would be exposed. What happened to the Rockets and how did LAL win the game by 29 points. Their margin of victory this year is insane.

[crownsy]

thier an elite team like us, and IMO the rockets are not yet. the rockets, assuming the big If of them being healthy, should get better as it goes along.

Thier's only 3 "elite" teams right now, subject to change as teams gel.

Boston
LA
NO

and NO is on the bubble, CP3 is playing to well for them to drop to just "very good" though. Anytime on of those teams is on, like LA was last night with offense, and we were with defense on the pistons, its going to be a long night for the other squad.

[JR Giddens]

Yeah but Artest and Mcgrady combined for 3-21. What happened?

[BballTim]

  Isn't TMac having knee issues?

[Steve Weinman]

Yeah but Artest and Mcgrady combined for 3-21. What happened?

As is noted in the Daily Babble coming out in the next couple of hours, I think as you allude to here that the real problem in Houston overall (though they didn't defend particularly well last night) is their offense.  They don't move the ball well as a unit (Artest especially), and Rafer Alston is killing them right now with his inability to get in the lane and the fact that he couldn't hit the ocean if he was shooting the ball off a boat right now.

-sw

[crownsy]

  Isn't TMac having knee issues?

yea, he can't stay in front of anyone right now.

[Who]

Rockets miss Shane Battier and Dikembe Mutombo. Battier was the anchor to their defense. Their defense will return when Battier returns.

Artest isn't nearly as well rounded defensively. He's an elite stopper but he doesn't organize a defense, he doesn't bark out instructions, he doesn't help teammates. Not like Battier.

I never understood why people felt Artest was a better defender than Battier. This is how it was always going to be with Battier out injured.

I wouldn't be worried about Houston's D, that'll return. I would be worried about their offense .... that's in awful shape considering the talent at their disposal, both their top trio and the supporting cast.

[cordobes]

Rockets miss Shane Battier and Dikembe Mutombo. Battier was the anchor to their defense. Their defense will return when Battier returns.

Artest isn't nearly as well rounded defensively. He's an elite stopper but he doesn't organize a defense, he doesn't bark out instructions, he doesn't help teammates. Not like Battier.

I never understood why people felt Artest was a better defender than Battier. This is how it was always going to be with Battier out injured.

I wouldn't be worried about Houston's D, that'll return. I would be worried about their offense .... that's in awful shape considering the talent at their disposal, both their top trio and the supporting cast.

I absolutely agree. Artest is a very egoistic defender, he plays lock-down defense on his man but he's a lazy and uninterested helper.

As for their offense, Adelman should quit the Princenton-style offense. It's painful to watch Yao trying to lob passes from the top of the key.

[housecall]

I  think Yao and McGrady both are playing hurt.It looks as though they are downplaying those 2 injuries.Tracey is limping midway through most games and giving most of his energy to offense,and Yao doesnt seem to have much lift.I know Yao is not very athletic to start but he just dont seem to have the lift he had in the past.

[Hoops]

I'm glad somebody made a topic of Houston's D. A lot of the national media seem to be making a bigger deal of the Rockets' offense. But when I saw the Rockets in Portland last week, I was blown away by how little effort they put forth on the defensive end. They were going through the motions unlike anything I've seen in a long time. Maybe I'm too used to watching the Celtics D. Maybe Battier will make a difference.

McGrady looks like a shell. He's probably hurt, but he also suffers from superstar-itis (i.e., too lazy to play defense). I wouldn't be surprised if Yao is also playing hurt - he hasn't looked good at all.

[RockinRyA]

ive watched the portland game.. and their defense is really absent that game. my brother(an avid rockets fan) was averya upset with artest in that last play. he was several feet away from roy. with .8 secs all you need is a hand in front of the shooter

[D Dub]

They have 3 starters that don't defend.  TMac, Alston, and Yao. 

I'm not sure what to make of Tmac and Yao, but they both look very pedestrian so far this season.

[ManUp]

What happened to the Rockets defense?

Rick Adelman is coaching them. I was shocked when they still had the defense last year.