Rockets just shut down the NBA's two Best 4th Q Offenses

Good thing is it wasn't by accident.
The coaching staff told the players that information before the 4th quarter started and they responded.
Showing of strong mentality and what's more important- preparation by the coaching staff. That feels fresh

 

Watch us shut down the Lakers too.

Predictability is interesting. If your play is predictable but it requires insanely perfect defensive execution to stop, that's better than most unpredictable plays.

When we run a play where the world's #1 iso player has the ball in his hands, surrounded by 3 excellent shooters, playing the pick and roll with a young athletic big with good hands and serious hops, they can predict the outcome all they want, but they're not going to be good at stopping it. Their best bet is taking advantage of your personnel on the other side of the court.

But if your team is playing better defense than the sum of its parts, you end up with a team, which was by some accounts doubtful to make the playoffs, now sitting in 4th seed, after playing 13 of 21 on the road out of the gate, with a new coaching system and new players.

Fun times. I think we will be the 15thish best defensive team in the league by the end of the season.

 

Talking about free flow offense, that reminds of McHale. Alas "we don't even know what we are doing". That was fun for awhile until it became give it to Harden and let him dance. Dantoni is running pick and roll to death b/c in his words he's found the best PnR player in Harden. So why not. Teams have been trying to double team Harden on the pick to make Harden give up the ball randomly. I am sure Dantoni will make some adjustments. But so far, I like this "predictable" offense way better than the "we don't even know what we going to do" offense. At least, it gives me a peace of mind.

On defense, I was quite impressed last night that we were able to cut the 6 point deficit down the wire by making it really difficult for the Celtics. Looks like if we put our mind to it, we could play some high intensity defense for at least a stretch. So maybe we don't need lock down defense all game as long as we keep the scoreboard moving and play some hard-nosed D down the stretch. A lot like the Shaq and Kobe Lakers.

 

Bzdelik paying dividends

I also feel dantoni holds guys accountable/motivates them pretty well

 

LOL - at the 2nd OT - when Curry had fouled out.....come on HP....

DD

 

an mda-coached team did what? i'll have to check with my sources on this

 

I don't see how that makes it any less impressive. Curry fouled out after 1:30 minutes in OT2 from a charging foul that Harrell drew (good defense). Curry is also not GSW's best player, Durant is, and you can look at Durant's numbers in OT.

 

harrell was impressive getting a stop on horford 1on1 in the post in the waning minutes.

james also closed out well on a KD 3 in the corner to force one of the OT's

 

Wrong thread

 

Good stuff right here. These days it's about getting those necessary stops you need to help win you that game.

 

Because Durant, Green and Thompson aren't enough? After Harden, we don't have anyone on our team nearly as good as any of those guys.

 

Good post.

The best part of the Rockets' defense for me is that it isn't coming at the cost of the offense. They're not running themselves ragged by fighting through every screen to keep up with their man.
Instead, many of the players have the size and length to switch on defense and remain relatively effective. Beverley's the obvious exception, but he of course makes up for it with his defensive tenacity.

This team doesn't have to play exceptional defense throughout the game. Rather, they just need to be relatively effective most of the game, and clamp down when it matters.

 

This, and these guys used to blow us out and rain 120 pts games on us during playoffs with curry out last year...

 

Monsterez is really developing into a very good energy type role player. Capela was to slow on Horford so having an energy guy who could step out and defend Horford off the pick and pop or roll was key.

 

I don't agree with this notion.
The team needs to play solid defense throughout the game.
I also do not agree with the notion that if the Harden Pick&Roll works then we should just go with it Everytime.
We struggled against teams with good rim protector and solid defense that had a game plan against us.
All they did is give a crack to Harden to enter the paint, then trapped him with the big in the front, wing on the weakside and help for the lob.
Everytime we tried it on and on and failed.
This is exactly what we will face in the Playoffs, we should be prepared for it.
Im looking forward to the OKC game to see if we've learned from it.

 

Ariza put the hammer down on Durant in both of the OT's in Golden State.

 

Might be so, but since many claim we have improved defensively over the last stretch - not just these 2 games - how come we are still bottom 5 in defensive efficiency? I want to be optimistic, but outside of Ariza and some moments by other individuals and as a team, I don't see it. We are okay for now, but if we want to be taken seriously, that defense has to improve immensely, we need to run back in transition more since that is still a big problem and we need less Harden ISO late in the 4th. What this does is make most players just stand around and not active. Running back on defense is easier when you're already active and moving around.

 

"Not exceptional" defense doesn't mean poor defense. It's more that the team doesn't have to expend every ounce of energy on the defensive end to get a win, like they did during the JVG era.

Anways, my concern with the D'Antoni hire was that the team's defense would be a glaring weakness. But it's looking like they've got the personnel as well as the strategy to be good enough on that end without having to sacrifice their offensive advantages.