Small Ball Rockets at 118.6 points per 100 possessions

I’ll start believing when it’s not used stubbornly and can beat the Lakers, Bucks, Raptors etc.

 

Don’t worry about that. What really matters to this coach is offensive numbers over the course of the season.

When we go cold shooting In the playoffs, that’s when we are done. No defense to fill in the gap. Not enough time in a 7 game series for the law of averages to balance out. It’s going to take a miracle run of hot shooting to win a championship like this.

MDA has been making this same mistake since he was coaching the Suns.

 

And it works because Russ and Harden are going to average 20 rebounds a night. So you just need some tough ass 3 & D Forwards that can hit their assignments and clean up the rest.

 

Some of the best defense I've seen the rockets play had Tucker at C and Ariza at PF, switching everything, in the playoffs.

 

3 and 0 playing smallball. And Rockets beat a fully healthy Jazz team quite convincingly

Would have beat Mavs with Luka too IMO.

 

It's damn hard to beat James when he is swagging, and giving him 3-4 shooters at all times gives him maximum space to get funky.

 

Did not need 20 from either and still won. But will need the screener to pick up double digits.

House first career double double. Cannot expect him to do that consistently with his limitations at only 6'6 with 6'8 wingspan

Need better screener and diver. That's not Tucker, that's not even Covington.

Think Faried but with DEFENSE.

We need AG.

 

Whoever it is needs to be able to shoot too, that's the catch. That is not an easy player to find. I'd rather use Westbrook as a screener in most cases.

 

I agree in short timeframes. Like to close out a game. I don’t think it is sustainable though. Our guys will get tired and break down. Then their shots will stop falling. It looks like we are going to find out though. I certainly hope I’m wrong!

 

Need more than just WB, especially when he does not play B2B.

Need Kenneth Faried type but plays high end defense.

Aaron Gordon should be Morey's primary target, not Covington.

Use FRP to pick up young Covington - Mikal Bridges.

 

Coach D is on board:

"Yes...Probably won't happen because Clint (Capela) will be back and we'll go normal and play small some...But right now if we can get that lineup really good. Then, yeah, it can help us going forward"

I disagree (Not when WB sits of course). Need at least 3 shooters in the game with Harden at all times, imo.

 

I put this question in my 2nd post

How much will a wing like Covington and some decent C that plays maybe 20 mpg while we go super small the rest of the time improve the defense and rebounding? That is the key.

I am only concerned with if we will be able to hold our own against the big frontcourts of good teams...If the defensive rebounding won’t be an absolute joke

I’m not that interested in our offensive efficiency when going small as offense is not, and has never been, our biggest issue...defense and rebounding gotta be on point

 

I don’t agree with the assumption that the Rockets will be worse defensively if the acquire someone like Covington and lose Capela.

The rebounding will suffer but whoever replaces Capela will get double digit rebounds if they play 25 or more minutes a game and they will likely get rebounding help from the players they add.

The transition defense will also be greatly improved which likely means they will be more willing to run more.

 

Milwaukee can defend, Milwaukee can rebound...Milwaukee is #1 because they are elite on both ends

Lakers at the top of the West because they are elite on both ends...Clippers are elite on both ends

What math are those 2 teams using?

good offense + good defense = good chance at title contending...that’s the only math I’m trying to hear

 

Aaron Gordon? This guy: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gordoaa01.html

30% from 3? Doesn't really get the the FT line much. Low eFG percentage. How does he fix our efficiency lulls?

 

I think you have forgotten or severely underestimate the dunker position.

 

Magic system is slowball full court & paint congested, AG plays with 2 bigs at all times.

He is lethal in transiton and PnR. Something Magic do not emphasize.

When AG plays in system emphasizing space, he takes production to another level. 2nd in offense to GSW in 2018.

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/10/31/aaron-gordon-orlando-magic-three-point-shooting-frank-vogel

 

Meed wings with wingspans of 7'0 plus and are gritty rebounders.

Think Faried.

Collins & AG are like Faried but at least one is a much better defender.

 

These stats don't take into account the moves that could be made. It's simply the small ball roster as it is. It doesn't take into account adding Robert Covington to the rotation. It doesn't take into account any other players who might be added.

The fact of the matter is Capela and Westbrook do not work well together on offense because neither one of them can shoot. Teams sag off and pack the paint making it harder for everyone to score.

I think a move for Capela has to be made. They can't win with both him and Westbrook.