The difference between the Warriors and Rockets is playmaking ability

Its not really about play-makers when comparing Houston to Golden State. Totally different offense. The Warriors offense revolves around constant movement, coming off picks, and quick passing.

The Rockets offense revolves around Harden high P&R, and drive a kicks. Some 4/5 P&R's as well, and some sets out of Horns.

The Rockets really just don't have the all around shooting to run an offense like GS or The Spurs for that matter. They are a spot up 3 point shooting team, and drive and kick.

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Its not about play-making off the dribble because the Warriors aren't really the most creative in terms of play-making. Curry can Iso, but their 2nd play-maker from the perimeter (Klay) is really just putting the ball into their sets, and then from that point on, they rely on movement from the perimeter guys coming off screens, and the bigs often are assisting. Its more or less a system offense. Less creativity from the perimeter players. If you have the personnel to do so, its beautiful basketball. The Rockets during the Adelman years had some complementary players to that type of system, but ultimately didn't have the healthy star talent to truly compete.

What the Rockets need is probably something more or less that resembles the Lebron Miami position-less teams where Harden plays the Lebron role with spacing. Harden really just needs better shooting, better disciplined team defense, and someone who can play that Wade role who can take over at times. The Rockets don't have the defense consistently, and they don't have that second play-maker.

The Rockets are right there honestly. With their system, and a few improvements in certain areas I think they could win it all next year. Especially since the Warriors had super lucky health throughout the year, and likely will have a let down after winning the title (yes, i would be shocked if they didn't win it this year easily).

But yes, the Rockets more than other contenders that have a system that doesn't need one, need a second play-maker to play that Wade role. If they don't do that, then their system needs to change a bit in order to make the Rockets get more action off the ball. Alot of Horns sets, some stuff that resembles triangle offense (no not to the extent of what the Phil Jackson teams do it) and if D-Mo comes back healthy I expect to see him have a large role in the offense.

 

If the Rockets had a PG who could create and shoot, I think they'd be very similar to the Warriors.

They'd have Harden and the PG who can both make plays and shoot, they'd have Ariza who is great on defense and can hit 3's on offense, they'd have Motiejunas who is a decent defender, can spread the floor by hitting the 3, and can also score by posting up, and then you have Dwight in the middle playing great defense, rebounding, and being a beast in the pick and roll.

1-4 would be able to hit 3's and there would be two perimeter playmakers, and they'd also have a defensive stopper.

 

Duh. And at no time was that more apparent than last night's game. Everyone on GS can pass. This includes Bogut and Green (also Lee is a good passer when playing).

As for us...Howard can pass (out of the post) but doesn't. Terry doesn't pass. Brewer is a finisher, not a passer. Jones is a finisher who sometimes passes. Smith passes, but half of his passes end up in the front row. Papinikolou passes but doesn't play. Beverley doesn't (i.e. can't) pass. Ariza has no passing ability whatsoever either. And so Harden has to make up for all the lack of ball movement.

 

I'm sure the Rockets are aware of this. Morey's heart must have been broken when Dragic said he didn't want to come back. Could you imagine our lefty back-court with Harden/Dragic.

Hell, Harden/Bosh would've been awesome too. So many near misses.

 

should of changed the thread to say we need a real point guard

 

forget about Dragic, we don't have cap room to sign a star FA this summer anyway.

trade TJones + Papa + draft right to Llull + 2016 1st pk for George Hill.
or add a few expiring contracts to trade for Lawson.

Trade #18+#32 to move into lottery and select Myles Turner

Trade N.Johnson+Prig for Dunlavy(S&T)

re-sign Bev, Brewer, Terry, Smith, McDaniel

sign Scola & Turkoglu with Vet. min.

Howard, Capela, Turner
DMo, Smith, Scola
Ariza, Dunleavy, Turkoglu
Harden, Brewer, McDaniel
Hill, Beverley, Terry

this is a Championship team and this is very doable

 

It's not just about ability but system. The Warriors put pressure on the defense by constantly being in motion and finding openings. When Harden doesn't have the ball, he mostly stands there or floats a little - the person guarding him doesn't have a hard job unless Harden has the ball. When Curry or Thompson don't have the ball, they are constantly running around in circles trying to lose their defenders. It (a) tires out the defense and (b) forces defensive mistakes. You lose them on one screen or try to cheat and they change direction, and they'll get a wide open shot.

Adding a playmaking PG doesn't do much for the Rockets because of their offensive style. Harden needs the ball to be effective and likes to get it in a set position instead of running around screens or getting it on the move. So the PG just isn't going to have the ball all that much. It's similar to other offenses with a dominant SG or SF (a Jordan or Kobe-offense or the Lebron offenses of recent years): the PG always is forgettable because they aren't the primary ball-handler. The Rockets' PG primarily just needs to be a shooter who keeps defenses honest, unless they are willing to redesign their overall offensive system.

 

Curry is one of the greatest shooters ever in a system that was made for him. All curry has to do is run around where ever he go someone is setting screens (moving screens) to free him. The basketball gods has blessed this team

 

This is hilarious, as if Curry is a great shooter only because he runs around. All great shooters run around to get open and their teams all set multiple screens for them.

We don't do that because we don't really have great shooters. Harden is not a great shooter. He's a great scorer. He doesn't run around to get open when he doesn't have the ball. Or the system simply does not design anything for him to use off ball screens to get open shots. Anyway, Harden is just not as consistent a shooter as guys like Allen, Hamilton, and Curry.

The only really great shooter we have is Jason Terry but he doesn't have the legs to run around on offense and chase the other guy on defense.

Our spot up shooters don't run around and don't use screens. They just stand around, waiting for Harden to suck the double team and kick the ball to them. And they shoot only around .333 when open.

 

I don't think it's the playmaking ability of the individual players, more of the playmaking ability of the team, or system.

There are only two other teams in today's NBA are doing what the Warriors do, constant movement of bodies and ball, the Spurs, and the "regular season" Hawks. It's very hard to defend them because you have to CONSTANTLY pay attention to the man you are guarding, AND be ready to help your teammates, AND worrying about yourself get screened, because so much of their movement away from the ball. On top of that, they don't stop when the initial play doesn't produce expected result, they will run again, and again before the shot clock expires.

I don't think you need special talent to run that system, players made to NBA certainly have the skills to do that. It's their willingness to commit to it, and keep working at it. Of course, you need a coach staff to put that in place first.

The Rockets doesn't have much options other than Harden PnR, or ISO. Once a team sends another player to shadow the lane behind the primary defender, then the Rockets pretty much out of option, game 3 made that painfully obvious.

 

This is why we should have pulled the trigger on the Dragic trade. We probably could have convinced him to stay.

 

It's not about a pg and/or a playmaker. It's about constant OFF ball movement, stretching the court, and reading the defense. This is the Kings early 200 offense with better backcourt shooting, and much better defensive strategy.

 

Warriors are more talented on offense for sure, especially when it comes to pure shooting. But what really sets them apart from the Rockets is they play with purpose. Everyone seems to know what they are supposed to do and they let the offense create easy shots (or mismatches that can be exploited). The Rockets ad lib way too often which results in wasted possessions because nobody knows what's going on.

The Warriors have a huge advantage in coaching on both ends of the floor.

 

They have more quality depth than the Rockets.
They have a better coach and coaching staff.
They have a better GM, owner, and hca.

 

Pay the lux tax, Les, give players their "player's option", DM, and playmaking talent gap gets closed

Dragic didnt want to be here. Chasing the cash and biggest offensive role over winning. Dragic had to "lie in the bed" that he made when he went player-option route. The point of it was to maximize his earnings showcasing himself to the fullest, so he wasnt gonna go where there's even the slightest threat of diminished role and money. Houston offered none of those.

 

Terence Jones has been a poor finisher at the rim during the playoffs overall.

 

When Harden has the ball, everybody else just stands around and watches. Unlike the Warriors who cut to the rim and have movement.

 

And speaking of finishers, Terence Jones is incapable of getting the ball close to the basket without bending down to take a dribble before attempting a shot, giving the paint defenders plenty of time to block him.