The defensive ratings are opponents points/100 possessions. This is the basic way to look at the defense, the others to me are just adding complexity to a very simple and useful measuring tool. Our pace is not that high btw, in the middle of the pack (#14), very low for D'antoni's teams.
I also noticed the same thing. So for the last few games, I've been watching more carefully on what actually happens on defense. Houston's scheme appears to have the philosophy of switching on every pick. The primary defender rarely fights over screens. So what you end up with is the opposing team's offensive player is rarely completely open, but it also means there is a mismatch generated very very often. You'll often see Bev or Gordon getting switched to a much bigger player and Clint getting switched to a much smaller player. In either case, the opposing player often have an advantage in speed or size which helps their field goal percentage. So what looks like a contested shot on TV because a Rocket player is in close vicinity of the offensive player is actually quite open due to the size or speed difference. This scheme is probably easier to teach and learn compared to knowing and communicating when to switch and when to fight over picks.
Entirely different from JVG's defensive philosophy that they always fight for screen and avoid mismatch. I always dreamed to have JVG to be our defensive coach and MDA as the offensive coach, since decade ago.
It's a combination of this + few team practices + we lack athletic players. What makes a team great at a defense that switches endlessly is athleticism - guys who can defend multiple positions. We're sorely lacking in that area.
Im alright with the Zone defense. I think this is what we can do with the personnel we have. It's just very soft like you mentioned. Switches seem to be working without lapses like last year when players were losing their man after 2 switches, but like you said, it seems like the offensive players are get comfortable shots, even if 'contested'. That's why we should mix it up more. Match up Zone will be much more useful tool. This is very common defense in Europe. It looks like zone and switches to intense one on one, leaves the offense guessing and not that comfortable. I'm not quite worried like last year because I do see effort and awareness, but just needs to be more aggressive and hope to see more complicated schemes with time.
We are #15 in defensive ratings since Patrick Beverly returned, and #5 in December so far . Definitely coming towards our goal defensively. Great job! http://stats.nba.com/teams/advanced...16-17&SeasonType=Regular Season&LastNGames=10
Theoretically it's a great idea, but I don't think a team can play both JVG's intense style of defense and D'Antoni's fast-paced offense. The players would be worn down by the All-Star Break.
Our pace also went dramatically up since Beverly came back. We were at # 14 and since he came back were #6 in pace as well. The offense is feeding out of the defense. More defensive intensity brings much more opportunities for transition offense. That's what is called a game changer.
Isn't that what the Spurs do to a certain extent? Almost every year for 15 years, they've been really good on both sides of the ball. The solution is to play a longer rotation and less minutes for each player so players can't make the excuse they're tired.
I think the Spurs' offense isn't as fast-paced as D'Antoni's. This is really simplifying things, but I think it relies more on good ball movement and an inside-out game based on the low-post play of the power forward. A potent offense for sure, but not as dependent on speed as ours, I think. I'd agree that a longer rotation definitely helps to be more intense on both sides of the ball. (JVG loved to shorten his rotation, which I think caused problems as the season wore on.) Also, resting up key veterans during the regular season so that they're fresh for the postseason is another great strategy. But I don't think our current roster is deep enough to take those pages out of Pop's playbook.
The defense the last two games has been excellent and if this team keeps it up we'll be very good as they are playing a top 10 defense right now.
**** Bogut. Would've made me sick to see him in Rocket red. Clint is much improved and making great leaps forward. Clint surely got outplayed by Adams in the 1st half last night but it has been rare that he gets outplayed at the center position this season. It seems as if he holds his own and has at least cancelled out the other's teams center in every game.
