What matters the most, 4th quarter defense or offense? 17-27, 20-30

Great thread!

Point differential is the only thing that matters. I wouldn't care if we gave up 50 points in the 4th, as long as we scored enough to win the game.

 

wheres the meme of the little girl with the 'why not both' slogan?

Cause as ive been saying forever - its about a balance... it aint nothing to be elite if its only at one end of the court or the other... its about putting guys on the floor that can perform at both ends - or at least getting the right blend and balance of players that give you an overall decent squad at either end...

 

Obviously both matter, but if you are making pick the one that is a bigger problem it's gotta be the offense. I think our defense in the fourth quarter isn't bad, but looks worse because of the turnovers that we commit on offense. Teams score a lot more off turnovers, and also score more off misses than makes. When we make shots it's lot easier on our defense, but we can't make shots in the fourth quarter.

 

wish the guy we are paying 40 million too could lead the bench instead of taking dumb shots and turning the ball over while harden gets rest

 

not sure it matters what you focus more on.

We need to score more than the other team, either by holding them to a low score, or having a high score ourselves, or both.

That said, in most cases, they work together. Missed shots, especially 3s, and turnovers, create easy offense for the other team. Blocked shots create easy offense for the other team. And having to take the ball out of the basket makes offense harder for your team.

It's why the NBA is a game of runs. And also why when you see 2 teams just excelling in the same area at the same time, it can be fun. Liek the first half last night, super enjoyable basketball. Great offense by both teams with solid defense considering.

I personally have lots of issues:
* overall rotations. I have always thought and continue to think that EG should come off the bench, and assuming House is available he should start
* consistent inability to guard the hot hand.
* consistent decision to defend by leaving one "poor" three point shooter on the other team relatively open. this NEVER works long term. It has only worked in stretches, but comes back to bite you.
* Lack of LEGIT plays. Maybe because he had a lot of time to watch film. Maybe because he's smart and its not that hard to figure out. Rondo is all over our "plays"
* Westbrook 3s. Make em or not, he should be driving to the basket everytime he gets the ball and is open at the 3 point line. He should also be cutting when Harden is driving. Harden can learn to pass to open people instead of spots.
* Harden shrinking in "clutch" situations - elimination games, 4th quarters of playoffs, whatever. Shrinking doesn't mean if he assists on baskets down the stretch he's good. It means the dude gets frustrated with the constant double teams, and then REFUSES to ****ing move.
* Harden's rest. He takes 2 rests during the games. End of first quarter into beginning of second. End of 3rd quarter into beginning of 4th. My issue: at the end of games he's TIRED. I'd rather he be on the Lebron James rotation schedule. And btw, having EG off the bench would help with that.

 

In the 4th quarter, it's all about executing on both ends. Usually if the offense is stagnant or discombobulated, it leads to easy transition buckets off bad turnovers or long rebounds, which in turn makes our defense look worse. There has to be a balance, and there has to be an answer to when they switch things up on us. We have to be able to match their intensity, and stop with the frenetic play to start the quarter. It only plays into their hands.

 

1. Houston does not perform good defence always far away from 3 point shooter. This is their fault .
2. Lakers uses 3-2 zone defence in 4th quarter, u can go to Google how to break it.



or ask rivers to drive in


3. Lakers bench power can shoot 42 points, Houston just 17 points by Green. It makes old Leborn has full power in 4th quarter

 

I think we got like 2 good looks at the basket in the 4th quarter last game, rest were either forced chucks or out of control drives