[NBA.COM] Excellent article on Rox ISO-heavy offense

Fwiw my response worked alot better when the title was something like "Rox thrive in isolation."

But @topfive had to go changing it

 

Finally, an article that correctly attributes this to the increase of switching defense.

The frequency with which the Rockets isolated was partially dependent on the defense. They were more likely to isolate against switching defenses than they were against opponents that didn't switch often.
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The switching defense against us is an attempt to stop our primary attack ... PnR. We largely don't ISO without first creating a switch.

Of course, the Rockets themselves switched screens often. As a result, 11.2 percent of their opponents' possessions were isolations, and that was the league's highest opponent rate. They defended those isolations well, allowing just 0.84 points per possession, the league's sixth best mark.
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Then due to the Rockets switching disrupting even the Warriors motion, making teams do more ISO than they like, we basically dictate the game ... by applying the strategy: if we are both going to switch, our ISO players are better than yours. Good luck with winning that % game.

And the % efficiency isn't just about the ISO player, as Capela providing spacing with the Vertical game will still be in play ... as after the switch, he just goes to the short corner. He can also start at the short corner, while a Wing (Melo, Green, Ennis) provide the screen that causes the switch.

 

Everything we're doing is to counter the Warriors and take them out of their game.