Understood, Cousins lineups would require Rockets to play zone or drop coverage. I have acknowledged this. But going away from your best defense entirely is just bad news. If switch everything is not the base defense anymore then be prepared for the worst, just my 2 cents. Especially because Harden, PJ, EGo, House strongly advocated and completely trusted it. This is why it was so effective, the commitment lead to greater effort. McLemore loves that there is less switch everything because he was putrid at it.
Well there are several possible reasons. The first is that Silas has a background in different types of defenses and has his own preferences. For example he is a bid advocate of size inside. Second, last year the Rockets were a substantially different team when they attempted to do less switching. The Rockets had a different center, point guard, small forward and bench. Third, you want to stay ahead of the curve. If it doesn't work the Rockets can always switch back. This years team IMO is more talented on the defensive side of the ball than the team last year and they have overall better size and perimeter defenders. John Wall is light years ahead of Westbrook on that side of the ball. We lost the steady Covington but added Wood inside and he can defensively do some things that Tucker cannot and we have shifted Tucker back to where he should be.
Just because he strikes you as that guy does not mean he is that guy, have you ever heared of projection? I am from a single parent home, so I probably "get" Harden more than others, if he had a father figure it was probably Morey and I think that has impacted him more than anything. You can trust a co-worker friend or brother, why is father figure being brought up? What does mentally tough have to do with this conversation? What does any of this have to do with Silas being a father figure a rookie head coach who is only 15 years older than him.
Yes, Russell Westbrook simply does not know how to react defensively in a disciplined manner. He always reacts slow, he gives too big a cushion and most of the time was standing around the free throw line. That causes major issues for the Rockets on defense as everyone had to switch or cover for him. With Wall, if he is healthy, the Rockets will not need to do that. Wall has been a very good defensive player in the past and at a minimum is capable of being average. That opens things up for the Rockets on the defensive end... there is also Nwaba, who, if healthy, is an exceptional perimeter defender... Gordon is also healthier and in better shape.... and Wood gives the Rockets mobility and size that were lacking at the 5 spot last year.
Westbrook would gamble a lot as well, just got everyone out of position. It was extremely frustrating that he would attempt to go for the homerun play, rather than just play solid defense. I won't really miss him.
I will miss the sheer athleticism of Westbrook and his ability to carry a substantial load offensively.... those are important and nice to have.... but it isn't worth his complete inability to hit an open shot, his inability to handle traps, his lack of understanding of spacing, his inability to defend and most of all.... his complete inability to be flexible in his approach to the game.
I really hope its the nasal (poke your brain) swabs and not the saliva test. Love you Harden, but you do deserve the brain poke.
You mean like the ones that cost us at least one game down the stretch in the playoffs where Russ literally threw it at the sideline.
