Yao-less Rockets not hungry for attack
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The Energy Solutions Arena seems not long the dire straits for Houston Rockets with power center Yao Ming and genius shooting guard Tracy McGrady on the injury list as eight players scored in double digits in Rockets' 113-96 thrash over Utah Jazz on Monday.
Rockets snatched three wins in a row in last five days tarnishing the Charles Barkley's appraisal "these Rockets will finish with the worst record in the West".
Fellow Bleacher Report NBA writer Andrew Ungvari opined they (Rockets) "would be lucky to finish 12th" in the conference.
Now the Yao-less Rockets announced they're not the team to be beaten, instead the team can beat. The same tough Jazz with tough guys like Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, and tough Jerry Sloan, just find the Yao-less Rockets tougher.
Without Yao, Jazz lost the key to the Rockets lock. In the latest seasons, Jazz just have been GPSing their favorite opponents upon Rockets, who lost twice to Utah in playoff clashes with Yao and McGrady on court.
Yao's disappearance just plunged Jazz astray. As the tallest active center in the league, Yao is in match against any power player and positioned focus of Houston's offense. Jazz sucked the pith to fight Rockets, stifling big Yao and forcing turnovers and lame shooting. Of course their tactics paid off in Sloan's witty deliberation, but they have to awaken now from the bygone sweetness in restraining Yao and capitalizing Rockets' tardy attack.
Now, Yao is on the bench in suit. Attack expert Rick Adelman is recovering in time his excellence of taking offense fast and running in flexibility. Each one shoots fast when the ball comes and each one passes fast as shooting is not ready. Who to defend? Jazz lost their minds.
"It's like we picked up right where we left off," Jazz all-star guard Williams said after Monday's game, referring last season's 2-7 collapse to finish the regular season. "We haven't played a good game of basketball yet. It doesn't look too good right now from the inside. I'm sure it doesn't look good from the outside."
Which side to go? That puzzles not only the Jazz and quite likely a lot more in the coming games facing off the run-and-shoot brand new Rockets.
Rockets wake up to see they lose no power in attack with 104.8 points per games compared with Yao-time line-up. The major modification for Rockets the season is the signings of Trevor Ariza and rookie Chase Budinger in the cost of Ron Artest's departure.
Aaron Brooks is capable of long shot and fast break; Ariza attacks as well as his specialty defense showcased on the way to last season's championship in Lakers; Shane Battier, a similar player; Luis Scola, an effective shooter inside as well middle-distance shot.
Without Yao, the Rockets bring pace into full play. Brooks breaks fast making defenders laggard; Budinger can go coast to coast in a wink, receiving easy balls for easy scores, all overthrowing position fight with Yao on.
Running, running and running fast also facilitate Brooks' assists, which amount to 8.5 each game, ranking sixth in season table.
The Yao-less Rockets boast stronger? Yes, but only to some games like the one against Jazz, and those style alike such as run-and-shoot teams of Suns, Warriors etc.
The overall defense of Rockets is dropping off, without Yao, though Chuck Hayes stands sturdy inside including the slip-off of rebounds control.
To teams with power centers as Magics, Nuggets and Lakers, the Rockets need Yao's dominance inside. The rigorous defense from Celtics will also make Rockets hard to score without Yao's height.
Yao's absence renders Adelman to drill out a new format, while Yao's return next season should also not smash Rockets' established shape, instead append a card for a two-format Rockets towards better prospects.
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