[Sports-Yahoo] One person to blame for Rockets’ demise — it’s not Howard or Harden

Maybe this?

https://nbaward.wordpress.com/2014/12/02/the-concept-and-innovations-of-moreyball/


Moreyball. That is the phrase being used to describe the current moves around the Houston Rockets’ franchise. A spread read-and-react offensive system that involves many dribble-drive sets with 4-out style. A system in which the Houston Rockets have shot a widespread amount of three-pointers as well as shots at the rim. Daryl Morey and Kevin McHale’s system is not all necessarily about taking the right shot, as much as it is about not taking the wrong shot. That shot would be known as the mid-range shot a la long two-pointer (Sorry Randy Wittman and Byron Scott). The mid-range shot is resembled as the most inefficient shot in basketball from an advanced metric standpoint. Houston’s system makes sure that this shot is avoided by all means necessary and replaced with much more efficient shots such as the three-pointer, a shot close at the rim, or a free-throw. The Houston Rockets currently lead the league in three-pointers made, attempted, and have shot 43.8% of their shots from three-point range (league average hovers around 26%). The Rockets are shooting well above the league-average in this area. The Rockets are the only team in the league that have attempted over thirty-two percent of their shots from three-point range. While posting those impressive numbers, the Rockets have only taken 7.7% of their shots from the mid-range area. The Rockets are also getting their shots up at the rim as they have currently shot 30.7% of their shots in that area (mainly 0-3 feet from the basket). These numbers are serving as indications of how the system places an emphasis on taking shots around the perimeter and at the rim.

 

If this team accomplished nothing the last two years, I would completely agree. But, there are teams that would love to make it to the WCF. Those exact teams that make it to the WCF would probably make minor tweaks to that exact team. Morey's biggest fault is not willing to get a coach that has a voice. Once Morey gets over that, he will be the NBA's best GM

 

Morey failed to get a coach who could field his vision. He failed to get the correct players for his stupid vision. He allowed Harden to take too much of the burden. Last year wasn't a fluke or due to Morey's or a coaching genius it was due to Harden's crazy season. There are things that needed to be a addressed that Morey ignored because we got to the WCF's. Finally there were changes that Morey could have made before the trade deadline that could helped. Even with the changes Morey needed to assist JB when he did questionable things like over playing Brewer and not giving play time to those who deserved it. The Rockets lack true leadership and it starts with Morey and Coaching.

 

virtually every good team since the rockets won their titles in the 90's has built their team around 3&D role players. this isn't a moreyball concept. it's just about spreading the floor for your stars with guys who don't demand the ball and then being able to play D on the other end. the lakers' 3-peat, most of the spurs' titles, the heat's titles, the mavs. basically everyone looks for 3&D guys, even though there are aren't any more knockdown shooters than you just pointed out above.

the 3&D guys are rarely knockdown shooters, because those guys don't tend to be good at defense. finding 3&D guys is perfectly logical based on the construction of almost every contender we've seen. the warriors have just upped it to having 3&D guys who also are good at dribbling and passing. which is why they are historically great, because that truly isn't easy or cheap to do. but outside of catching lightning in a bottle, non-dribbling 3&D guys are pretty common on contenders.

people act like the rockets are crazy for shooting 3's. everyone in the league does it. we're just slightly ahead in attempts (outside of the warriors). the mavs and hawks shoot a high number of attempts while shooting almost the exact same percentage. not because they are stupid, but because you should be looking to take as many 3's as possible and as few mid-range jumpers as possible.

it isn't even moreyball at this point. it's just the direction virtually everyone in the nba is going. everyone on the team hating each other and quitting on the season in the preseason doesn't mean you should take more mid-range jumpers.

 

In the press, he did take the blame. I do believe "sources" are to blame for bringing negative team problems to our free agency, some local and not so local reporters included. I am a fan of the team, and am looking forward. The past is behind us, let the team work on future. Defense and team mentality to regroup.

 

ID even know why the hell Morey had to surround Harden with 3 and D guys.....

He is not a big guy and post presence. 3 n Ds are best used in an In and Out system.

We uses them to mask Harden's weak D and shoot tons of 3s just to please a nerd GM.

Live and Die by 3pt shooting without any other formula that is just weak.

 

Had the Rockets had a top 10 defense and our 3 point shooting was top 10 in the league, we'd be playing Golden State...in the 2nd round instead of the 1st - and no one would be crying about Moreyball.

Harden is a brilliant playmaker who create more wide-open 3 point misses than anyone in the league - perhaps in league history.

 

he would be brilliant if he was not so.darn mistake prone,
turnover prone

in my books only good playmaker, very good for a SG

guys like Nash are elite playmakers

 

changing the pace of the game, born to assist like state farm guy

 

i'm not saying i don't want better 3 point shooters, who wouldn't. but the 1993-94 rockets were only 15th in 3 point shooting and yet led the league in 3 point attempts by a huge margin. rudyball was basically moreyball before it had a name. and none of the lakers 5 championships were better than 13th in 3 point shooting. while it helps, the 3&D guys don't have to be elite shooters. just not memphis-level awful. 3&D is a proven strategy and really isn't moreyball. it's just how most teams have been built. the large increase in 3 point attempts that usually defines moreyball is just understanding that mid-range jumpers are largely bad for your offense and is now a league-wide trend. it's not something we're trying and everyone else is saying is crazy.

but i do agree about defense. our defense certainly has to be in the top 10, and probably top 5 no matter what we're doing on offense. in general the best way to achieve that is with 3&D guys because they tend to allow for a good defense and a good offense without breaking the bank. guys who can play defense and then be ball-handlers/passers/creators tend to cost too much.