[Coach Daniel] How The Rockets Undersized Defense Has Shut Down OKC

Rockets off ball switching is seamless. You can see them all recognizing and communicating when off ball switch needed.

PJ and RoCo have been the best gap and help defenders. But every single Rockets player has bought in and the results speak for itself.

Believe it or not, this defense is still improving.

Crazy.

 

Billy D is a decent coach, just overrated.

 

Russ was a great defender at UCLA.

What you suggest is not impossible.

 

Great video. Two things jump out:

1. House was simply ballin' on defense. His play at 1:50 is beautiful.

2. Elston Turner has done a bang-up job at planning for OKC's offense. Kudos to him.

 

I have been banging the drum to replace Turner for most of season.

But ditching his hybrid defense so Rockets could go back to switch everything has me changing my tune. Rockets players have all committed to this system change and credit should also go to Turner, not just MDA and Morey.

Turner deserves his kudos as well as my thanks and apologies.

 

The Rockets have shown the ability to take over on D on a moment's notice.
The beginning in game 1..then coasting.
In the second half yesterday.
When they crank it up...its over.
A demoralizing knockout punch.
Again, OKC is the 5 seed in the West...a pretty decent team.
And, we are sans Russ.
While it remains to be seen how this will work against the bigger/longer teams like LAL.....
It's damn impressive.

 

should be coach danuel

 

you know who's a great coach? Dave Joerger

 

I could rewind and watch Rockets on defense all day (and I have ... often - LOL).

I love how PJ and RoCo are quarterbacking this defense. When Rivers is switched up on the center, RoCo sees it immediately and from the low post is yelling for Rivers to scram to the opposite corner so he can move up and guard the center.

That concise communication allows Rivers to sprint full speed to the right spot. No hesitation.

And the vid goes into rebounding (yawn) and post ups (no data provided) but fails to address an extremely critical component of Rockets Switch Everything Defense, forcing turnovers.

Every single Rocket is trying to disrupt passing AND driving lanes. Steals, deflections, strips and blocks - Pickpocket Rockets galore.

 

Very fair . Compared to the ringer guys , if you wanna point out a future concern (rebounding) then do it with statistics.

our D has held up well and the effort level is incredible to watch . Obviously the sample size is small and objectively, OKC lack the firepower of top teams we will have to beat .

fighting and tipping for those rebounds was the best thing to watch yesterday. Nothing is more deflating than when you play great defense but can’t finish the possession with a rebound .

 

LOL

Of course, the great Dave Joerger.

Where does he coach again?

 

this needs some clips fo sho

 

At 2:49 in above vid.

 

PJ is the master.

 

@foggy94

This is a very good question.

Will Rockets defense be able to contain a team with better shooters because Rockets cannot sag as much?



My answer is yes, they can.

Rockets do not need to cheat, they only do so because there are non shooters on the floor.

This defense was designed to defeat the greatest team ever assembled, Durant's Hamptons 5.

Only team that can challenge Rockets is another 5 out offense where every player can beat their man 1v1.

Need at least 3 great iso players to hurt Rockets IMO.

And they better be as good as Rockets defensively.

 

We're locked in for sure.
They're having to shoot pretty much every shot over a defender.
If they make it, it was a difficult shot. A shot we can live with.
Keeping them in front of us has pretty much negated any advantages they might have had with our lack of height.
This is the best our D has looked since the 65-win team.