Close to the rim and 3pt are the most efficient shots. A shot chart of Harden's shots last year shows that he took almost all his shots close to the rim or 3pt. That's why Morey got him. I believe Lin was also unusual successful last year because most of his assists were to guys at the rim or at the 3pt line. That's also why Morey got him. And I wouldn't be surprised if the coaches were instructed by Morey to play Moneyball and go for the at the rim + 3pt shots. I'm also not sure this is "easy to defend". With just a little bit of passing it seems that the Rockets get wide open looks all day long at the 3pt line. With the 1 & 2 driving/passing, the 3 & 4 at the 3pt corners, and the 5 screening/relaying how is this easy to defend? The whole thing breaks down if we're not hitting our 3s but that's on us, not on the other team.
Shot chart for rockets and individual players this yr and last yr. Houston Rockets short chart 2012 - 2013 http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/team/shotchart/houston-rockets/season/2012-2013-REG 2011 - 2012 http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/team/shotchart/houston-rockets/season/2011-2012-REG James Harden 2011-2012/2012-2013 http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/player/shotchart/1112-James-Harden/season/2012-2013-REG Jeremy Lin http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/player/shotchart/1179-Jeremy-Lin/season/2012-2013-REG Chandler Parsons2011-2012/2012-2013 http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/player/shotchart/1328-Chandler-Parsons/season/2012-2013-REG Patrick Patterson2011-2012/2012-2013 http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/player/shotchart/1289-Marcus-Morris
Damn,my html code screwed over Edit Patrick Patterson http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/player/shotchart/1230-Patrick-Patterson
It's Moreyball. For years, I've heard the Rockets say that those are the most efficient shots in the NBA--3s, at the rim shots, and FTs. The team is intentionally implementing that game plan. When we let go of Adelman, it was because the FO wanted the coaching staff to be more in consonance with advanced stats.
This isn't a new concept, and it's not just the Rockets saying this. The Spurs also gameplan to shoot high percentage 2's or else three pointers, and helped draw attention to the corner 3 as one of the league's best shots. Tom Thibodeau's defenses are geared to forcing opponents to take long two pointers--low percentage, low reward shots. This is by no means some sort of Rockets-centric, Morey-centric philosophy. Literally the entire league has already adopted these philosophies.
I have been saying that the Rockets staff is only interested in FT's, shots at the rim, and three point shots. It is nice to see it backed up by game statistics though. Thanks. Those three shots are by far and away the most efficient shots in the game. And Morey knows it. And the Knicks game, with Parsons playing so well, shows what happens when there is someone other than Harden playing efficiently for the 3 or the drive. Therefore I expect several things. The Rockets roster will evolve into the PF, Parsons and Harden shooting the 3 or driving, a play making PG in Lin, and a defensive presence and rebounder at center with Asik. The team would also be ascetically pleasing to watch on offense. And frighteningly difficult to defend. With good 3 point shooters the defender has to commit to defending the three pointer, which leaves help defenders to cut off the drive. With good offensive floor spacing those help defenders are going to be a long way away. How many teams have the right personnel to defend that lineup? The Heat of course. But they would have to pull Bosh from the center position, leaving a nightmare of a rebound mismatch with Asik. I would also say that the crop of potential Rockets power forwards is much smaller than has been speculated. Who out there has 3 point range, the quickness to drive to the basket and a back to the basket game? There is a really cheap one at RGV. We can only hope. But with a line up of tall guys (6'4", 6'5", 6'9", 7'1" and 7'1") the Rockets would have a significant height advantage most nights. From a defensive stand point there may be a strength mismatch, but they are growing boys. Anyway, kudos for Moreyball.
I said it at the preseason games that Rockets is playing Moneyball offense. With this offensive system, Rockets will be a top five in offensive efficiency by the end of the year. McHale stressed time and time again that games are won and lost within the paint. This is verified by advanced statistics and McHale is in total sync with Morey on this. In order to score in the paint, Rockets need to create space in the paint, and to keep the opposition honest in defense, we have to knock down the open 3's. The game plan is simple. Players understand this, but due to their inexperience, we will see lots of TO's before Rockets become a truly offensively efficient team. On isolations or mid-range 2's: When a team iso's a lot, they don’t have that shared responsibility on defense. If a player works hard to get a guy a layup, he’ll want to return the favor and play harder on defense. This is purely human natural. Move the ball around will result in less standing around. Every player feels as a part of the team if they get their touches by moving the rock. If one guy is shooting most of the shots, it will indirectly hurt the team defensively. After all, basketball is still a team sport.
I didn't mean to imply that shooting less/more in-between shots is "good" or "bad". That's up for debate.
Come on. You mention Thibodeau and not his mentor, JVG? When JVG was here, it was basically pack the paint, don't foul, and hustle to defend the 3. And he minimized opponent transition. Basically, JVG defense centers around stopping everything we're trying to do now on offense. And he did it without looking at any advance stats. No wonder JVG always signs Morey's praises, and Morey called JVG to see if he wants to coach the Rockets again after letting Adelman go. I think JVG would be a very good match for an analytical front office.
Well like the other poster said, you don't really need advanced stats to know this. During Phil Jackson's time the Lakers didn't even have 1 number crunching guy on the squad (probably because Celts made it chic lol), and yet his triangle also employed the same thing, hence the need for 3 pt shooting pgs, slashing sgs and Cs that either pass or score in the post. Just look at the triangle, one point's at the post, and two are at the 3 pt line.
The points per attempt for a 3pt shot is probably greater than that of a mid range shot. even if you shoot only 33% from 3, you would need to shoot 50% from 2 to be equally efficient - easier at the rim, less likely from mid-range.
What are the teams to the far right in this chart? That'd be very interesting to see. Could you post these in a table format, possibly?
It was either Morey or JVG who said this In an interview. Sorry I can't remember when though. I believe it was one of Bill Simmons interviews.
Doesn't Motiejunas have a decent midrange game? With luck, we'll be able to see him soon in games that count. I'm really looking forward to it. He should be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams after he's had some experience at this level.
The offensive play calling has been so bad early on, no one has really gotten open in those areas that can actually hit those shots. The ones that can hit those shots are being coached to stand outside the arc or dash in trying to get the foul. It is like we are trying to "train" a bunch of Kevin Martin clones in play style.
Mid range and long range 2 point shots are being actively discouraged, as is demonstrated by the shot charts. And why, oh why, would we want to take them anyway? If a player is penetrating to the rim, everything in between is open. But why stop and pop? Makes no sense. And actually we are trying to train Harden clones. By far and away the most efficient play style. Did you not read the thread posts?
