Harden, Lin try to change luck against ‘aggressive’ Heat

mr. 13 in 33 · Nov 11, 2012

When President Obama predicted a rout of Mitt Romney, the basketball lover in him went to an analogy he knew would reveal his confidence nine months before the election.

“We’re the Miami Heat, and he’s Jeremy Lin,” Obama was reported to have said last February, days after the eventual NBA champion Heat dominated Lin, forcing him into eight turnovers and a 1 of 11 shooting game in a 102-88 rout.

Months later, James Harden did better against the Heat, but never broke out as he had throughout the playoffs, making 37.5 percent of his shots and averaging 12.4 points per game in the Finals.

Tonight, both face the Heat again for the first time since last season’s struggles, hoping to take their success on Saturday against the team that could be the league’s worst to Monday’s test against the team still considered the NBA’s best.

The stakes won’t be nearly as great as when Harden last ventured into the teeth of Miami’s defensive traps, and it won’t generate the attention that came with Lin’s month in the national spotlight. It will, however, measure the Rockets’ progress in ways the woeful Pistons and even the Grizzlies on Friday could not.

“They’re aggressive,” Lin said. “They’re an attacking defense. Not just us, but they do that to everybody. That’s their style. That’s what we have to be prepared for. The best way to handle an attacking defense is to attack on offense. That’s what we want to try to do.”

Harden would not discuss tonight’s reunion with the champions.

“It’s my day off,” he said. “I’m not talking.”

The Rockets did, however, spend at least a portion of the day preparing, taking the unusual step of practicing the day after playing two games in as many nights. After two weeks of trying to meld the shift to Harden as the focal point of the offense with the determination to maintain the motion-offense style they needed before they had him, the Rockets will go against a defense that will require that kind of movement.The fast start of the Miami offense has been most conspicuous, with the Heat going into Sunday’s game in Memphis as the league’s top-scoring, best shooting team. For the Rockets, however, attention quickly went to a defensive style that forces teams to do exactly what the Rockets have had most trouble doing.

“For us, it’s not necessarily an adjustment as much as a commitment to how we want to play,” Rockets acting head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “When they miss, we have to get it and go. We don’t want this to be a slow-down, halfcourt game. We want to push it in transition.

“LeBron (James) and (Mario) Chalmers – people don’t realize what a good defender Chalmers is – can almost bring you to a standstill on one side of the floor. There’s a huge emphasis against Miami on not playing on the strong side. As long as the ball is on one side, they do such a great job loading to one side of the floor there is no room. Ball movement will be at a premium.”

The Rockets have struggled to have the ball movement they need while still giving Harden the freedom to create. That was much better against the Pistons, even when the Rockets opened the game making just 3 of 15 shots. But the Pistons posed little threat and the Rockets felt no pressure. The Heat will not be as forgiving of a 3 of 15 stretch of misfiring.

“(Miami) did the same thing as … those middle two teams. Portland and Denver blitzed him,” Sampson said. “What we’ve done is bring the next pass in. James, when he gets blitzed, can’t try to beat the double team. The most important pass in pick-and-roll or double team is to pass out of it. That pass leads to the next pass. Detroit tried to do a little bit of that in the first quarter, but James did a great job of not trying to beat the double team, or passing it real quick.”

Harden has had some success splitting the double teams, usually by weaving his way into the lane and drawing fouls. But he has also been turnover prone when trying that high-risk move. The Rockets have led the league in turnovers, averaging 19 per game and cannot get away with giving the Heat extra possessions.

Though Harden had just two assists on Saturday, he had many more passes that led to the next pass and the open shot. That will be much more difficult against the Heat, as Lin and Harden have seen firsthand. The key this time, Lin said, could be to lean on each other.

“It’s split responsibility,” Lin said. “When you play a team like Miami, they don’t let one person beat them so it’s going to have to be all of us.

“They’re really fast. They have that experience together. They have incredible athletes.”

He should know – even without a presidential reminder.
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http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/11/harden-lin-try-to-change-luck-against-aggressive-heat/

Miracles Boys33 · Nov 11, 2012

the heat are gonna be super pissed tomorrow and are probly gonna take their anger out on us lol

MKL · Nov 11, 2012

We should be like Memphis and do it dirty on Wade. Wade 8pts and 3 for 15 shooting. Flopped all around too.

Heat has been blown out 2 times now. They can't defend the 3pters.

Aleron · Nov 11, 2012

MKL said: ↑

We should be like Memphis and do it dirty on Wade. Wade 8pts and 3 for 15 shooting. Flopped all around too.

Heat has been blown out 2 times now. They can't defend the 3pters.
Click to expand...

Good thing for them we can't shoot 3pters

hcw128 · Nov 11, 2012

Heat will be so damn focused tomorrow,
poor rockets

split41 · Nov 11, 2012

Heat wil demolish us after how the went against the Grizzlies...

Also, I forgot to quote it, but the "lucky for them we can't shoot three pointers" comment made me laugh.

teebone21 · Nov 11, 2012

going to be hard to watch that game tomorrow

TC777JLIN168 · Nov 11, 2012

Aleron said: ↑

Good thing for them we can't shoot 3pters
Click to expand...

Lol. Rec'ed.

flamingdts · Nov 11, 2012

We are going to need a lot of things going our way to beat the Heat tomorrow.

At least they're on a back to back game.

PhiSlammaJamma · Nov 11, 2012

If Harden really is the best player in the league, chance to prove it.

TimeZone · Nov 11, 2012

teebone21 said: ↑

going to be hard to watch that game tomorrow
Click to expand...

Yes, if it's on CSN Houston it's going to be real tough to watch it.

kuku · Nov 11, 2012

Heat is one of the most opportunistic teams in NBA. They are also one of the worst teams against the 3's.

To win, Rockets need to trim down the TO's (12 or less) and hit 3's with high % (.400 or better).

tomato · Nov 12, 2012

PhiSlammaJamma said: ↑

If Harden really is the best player in the league, chance to prove it.
Click to expand...

No one EVER said that. Not even Harden said that.

Carl Herrera · Nov 12, 2012

Wade suffering from flu-like symptoms. Hope he still has it tomorrow and it spreads to the rest of the locker room.

sidestep · Nov 12, 2012

MKL said: ↑

We should be like Memphis and do it dirty on Wade. Wade 8pts and 3 for 15 shooting. Flopped all around too.

Heat has been blown out 2 times now. They can't defend the 3pters.
Click to expand...

The officials let them play; it was pretty physical, which suits the Memphis front court. Lebron and Wade seemed taken aback about not getting some light-contact fouls that they are used to getting.

Lebron was grimacing at one point. Couldn't tell what it was, but he seemed to be at a lower gear after that. I doubt it will be an issue on Monday tho.

Anyway, I am still so impressed by how well the Heat trap on PnR. Here, Skip Bayless is trapped after he goes around the pick by Randolph. Lebron's positioning is perfect, and his timing in closing out Randolph to get Bayless to attempt the cross court pass is right on the money. (Rudy Gay at the top right probably should be cutting diagnonally to let Bayless pass out of the trap, but he fails to do so.) The play ends with Ray Allen stealing the cross court pass. It'll be interesting to see how Rox, esp Harden, handles these traps.

Jontro · Nov 12, 2012

The beating from the Grizz has the Heat demoralized. They will continue to suxorz against us.

Mr. Dominant · Nov 12, 2012

Harden and Lin will be near a triple double against the Heat... and we'll win.

I smell it!

catch22 · Nov 12, 2012

Mr. Dominant said: ↑

Harden and Lin will be near a triple double against the Heat... and we'll win.

I smell it!
Click to expand...

i smell alcohol or some weed...

JayGoogle · Nov 12, 2012

Harden would not discuss tonight’s reunion with the champions.

“It’s my day off,” he said. “I’m not talking.”
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Lol. Harden does not like to be questioned much I can tell.

Geronimo · Nov 12, 2012

If Lin doesn't have the quickness and handles to shake off the ball pressure, because we all know Chalmers is going to be on his azz all night, he needs to throw his body against defenders, Lin is actually deceptively strong, he can't let Chalmers and Cole punk him again like the first game.

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Harden, Lin try to change luck against ‘aggressive’ Heat

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