Forget and Learn from Game 5....Game 6 Adjustments

Looks like you left off the biggest thing that's killing the Rockets.......Harden's turnovers. Especially in critical moments. Unfortunately he's been doing it all season. When he takes care of the ball the Rockets are extremely tough to beat.

 

Everybody on the planet knows what the Rockets need to do to win Game 6 and Game 7. They need to attack relentlessly. Make them play transition defense the entire game.

Now, it's just a matter of this team dropping their nuts and doing it.

 

We are going to win game 7 barring a really bad performance from us .

NBA wants game 7 , if we don't get blown out of the water ... The refs will make it happen .

See how BS the Redding was for us last night ? It's because the NBA didn't wanna take the chance we end it in 6 .

 

Okay beyond the obvious run and rotation ideas, here are some other adjustments:

1. When Patty Mills guards Harden, have Beverley bring it up and give it to Harden at the Free Throw line or the post. This will force the officials to call that early body contact as a foul. We should have, as a strategy, trying to get Patty Mills in foul trouble so he's not on the court in fourth quarter shooting 3s.

2. If Capela catches the ball as an outlet in the 4th quarter in the middle of the court, rather than outlet the ball to a guard 29 feet from the basket, make a pivot and face the basket. Then, be a pro and make a basketball move: two dribbles, get in the paint and finish a baby hook. There's no reason that he can't initiate a simple play like this from 15-17 feet--especially if he's all alone. I think it's imperative to stay aggressive, and I'd like to force the Spurs to stop him on a quality move under control.

3. Keep setting screens for Eric Gordon off the ball. This would especially be effective if Capela or Ariza is over setting a pick for Harden. I'd even go so far as to have 2 players set a staggered screen for Gordon and leave Harden to read the play and drive.

4. Try to keep that snug body bump that the Spurs use on a drive. No hands, no reach, but sharp hip to hip contact when they leave the ground.

5. Why not let Harden take Simmons into the post? He's only 6'6" and he's not Andre Robertson. Again closer to the basket, you'll get the foul call. Remember, early fouls keep guys out of the game late.

 

Thanks for calling me an idiot, but his track record speaks for itself. He's an excellent coach. He just needs to expand his rotations - that philosophy is stuck in the 80's.

 

Game 5. Never forget, never remember!

 

I'd personally have a difficult time trusting my "safe" players if they are fatigued. A fatigued "trustworthy" player is worse than a fresh "serviceable" player.

 

Plenty of intelligent people would call D'Antoni a genius, don't be a dismissive jerk. Steve Kerr even said that his Warriors team finished the job that D'Antoni started.

The offense that D'Antoni implemented in Phoenix has influenced the modern NBA in a huge way, so it's not a stretch to praise D'Antoni as a visionary. And the Game 5 choke-job doesn't fall squarely on his shoulders, no matter how much you want it to.

 

I think the formula from Game 5 works for tonight and we win. I think many of the threes that didn't fall in SA will fall at home. The real challenge will be game 7 where it will be a war of attrition. Then I think it will be vital we can keep our stars still playing strong late into the game which means taking a risk and expanding the rotation. Hopefully if we can get a blowout tonight we can get some more rest for Harden etc... If it goes to OT and even if we win with a 7 man rotation I will be very nervous about game 7.

 

Good points. I especially like #1. Getting Mills into foul trouble can cause the Spurs problems. Mills has been aggressive on Harden. He needs to use that aggressiveness against him.

 

If we really want to run as one, that ain't gonna work with a 7-man rotation