The Rockets Have Taken Their Offense to Radical Extremes!

No we aren't. But we're talking about whether a system or methodology works, so us not being the Spurs is kinda not the point.

 

Solid post!

 

I would say I would be SHOCKED that Cole Aldrich knocks us out of the playoffs in the first round 2 yrs in a row with his midrange keke

 

Can you guess which of these is the spurs?

 

Ehhh, has anybody EVER argued that taking a long two right inside the 3-pt line is a good shot?

If you have a team of consistent three-point shooters and also significant ability to score inside, then yeah, I'd imagine nobody argues with getting the extra point on the three. But, the Rockets don't have consistent three point shooting. We average 35%, so we knock down about 1 in 3 of them. On average. The Rockets don't like averages; they like to either shoot 45% or 25% in games. I still consider the three, which is a long difficult shot to be just too risky to hang so much of our hopes on. It might average out over the year and get us a decent playoff seed, but a couple bad shooting games in the playoffs and you're gone.

In addition, if the close shots are plugged up, we have no recourse except to chuck it from downtown. You can see this in the way we play against any team that's got big guys guarding the basket. We just wing the ball around the arc, and if it's falling, we're golden; if it's not, the other team takes a pickaxe to our lead.

I think when most people argue for the presence of a mid range jumper, it's not an argument to build an offense around it. It's an argument that you need a backup option to score when you can't get the optimal option. One of the reasons Harden has been incinerating teams this year is that he's added a good step back jumper to his game. If he can't drive on a play or if his threes aren't falling, he's still scoring on people from 15-20 feet away. Kudos to the Beard for continuing to add to his skill set.

I'd argue that without the ability to make short-to-midrange jumpers, you're like a baseball closer out there with only a fastball and a slider. Most of the time, that's all you'll need, but if they're not working for you that night, and you don't have a change-up or something else in your pocket, you're going to blow a save.

Then again, if we could just get a team free throw average as high as the Grizzlies or the Thunder or the Spurs, I might not mind if we never scored a point again that wasn't a three or a dunk. I just think strategies without contingency plans are doomed to spectacular failures at the most inopportune times.

 

It is the point. The Spurs offense is PROVEN to work in the postseason. The jury is still out on ours. If we lose another 1st round match up we can't blame the defense this year

 

http://vorped.com/1-nba/2013-2014/team/417/san-antonio-spurs/shotchart/

The Spurs shoot from everywhere and it's very balanced.

 

The mid-range area isn't going to become a "no-mans land". It's where a large portion of PnRs are set, and it's still an efficient shot for Harden/Durant/Nowitzki/etc. Hopefully this will just get rid of the chuckers that can't make it consistently.

 

THIS

Also factor in free throws. If we don't get calls our chances dwindle. If we DO get calls, we HAVE TO hit them. I don't like all our eggs being in 2 baskets (3pt shooting & free throws). Plus we don't run many halfcourt sets, so our offense goes thru long periods of ugliness. I'd like to see JT, Brewer & Smooth involved in more weakside screens, pindowns & pick n rolls. If we can get those guys open looks consistently, we will be completely unstoppable. Would like to see Dwight get more alley's too

 

Not sure where you are getting this idea. Our eggs are in THREE baskets; close range shots (layups, post ups, dunks), free throws, and three pointers. What we eschew are long midrange shots due to preferring to take a step or 2 back before shooting. A long 2 is a horrible shot and rarely the best option available.