If you notice the stars for Miami set screens for the role players that is but one of the characteristics that show you their teams trust. Our trust level will improve once our guys play more together
https://www.insider.com/jimmy-butler-dared-shoot-3-pointers-lakers-finals-2020-10 Butler shot 24.4% and Westbrook 25.8% from 3 during the regular season. I think the big thing is we need to be willing as a team to go for the midrange shot. With only 3s and layups we get way too predictable... Still pretty disappointed that we could have had Jimmy Butler and Chris Paul with Harden....
Man Jimmy Butler is such a good player man. Dude can draw fouls, pass, defend and he can hit the midrange at a respectable rate. All stuff I wish Russ could actually do.
Both Harden and Russ also set screens for another as well as ball handoffs. But I agree, there needs to be more of these plays as well as more motion OFF BALL. Morey should consider bringing in Jim Crutchfield as consultant and pick his brain like Spoelstra did. Before this season Spo was considered a defense minded coach, but his Pace and Space offense was influenced by up tempo division III coach Crutchfield. https://www.hothothoops.com/2019/5/13/18620129/erik-spoelstra-miami-heat-offense-visit https://www.fivereasonssports.com/voices/how-erik-spoelstra-transformed-the-heats-offense/ But the right personnel makes a huge difference. Spo prefers actions over plays. Moreso than even MDA, Spoelstra's offense is designed to have players react to defense instead of utilizing set plays. So having players that fit the system is critical. https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article238517208.html
These are basic concepts when playing 5 out. The movement without the ball is vital, but the issue was minimizing or eliminating the midrange which is a fail approach playing 5 out when you have no post presence.
Rockets did not eliminate mid range, Westbrook, Harden and the short rollers have carte blanche to shoot the 2. Even in Miami's offense, not every player has green light for mid range. It's just that the Heat's 2 best players are heavy mid range shooters. The offense reliance on spacing requires threats from the 3, just like the Rockets. The real difference is the off ball motion.
Ideally we would be running a motion offense for most of the game and saving Harden's energy for isolation in the clutch. Asking Harden to breakdown multiple defenders all game long is not only aesthetically unpleasing as a team offense but probably takes a toll on his stamina. Russ could easily pass from the high post or get to the rim in the Bam role.
KD said that GS knew harden would eventually get tired. Harden isolation rate at max should what it was from his mvp season. Last 2 years has been waaaay too much.
Chris Paul knew this. Some of us on this board know this. The Warriors know this. Does Harden know this and do the people that want JVG know this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL-MbrBDGUA&t=28s&ab_channel=CoachDanie This is an interesting video. For one....I think with these flat screens we could have gotten Russ some good isolations possessions on Kuzma. Also another big thing here is the way these guys are using Duncan Robinson....We can definitely be using Maclemore. Like we could use Maclemore like this a whole lot. Man....we should have been doing that more. Its not like we dont do dribble hand offs either.
