The Rockets are now tied with the Showtime Lakers for the second greatest offense of all time. They are currently ahead of the 73 win warriors, the 72 win Bulls, etc. James Harden is a basketball god.
It's good, but the fact there are 3 teams from this year on the top 5 list shows it's difficult to maintain such offense throughout the season. We still have half of the season left. Too early to do the comparison. It would be nice to compare historic first 41 games. That would serve as a more appropriate comparison.
the fact that 72 win bulls has the highest net rating of 13.8 (Ortg minus Drtg) versus stupid 73 win GSW team's net rating of 10.7 proves 72 win Bulls is still the best team all time?? Defense is much better in the old days because of the physical plays?
Remember when Dallas and Spurs couple years ago similarly started out with greatest offenses of all time? (Mavs ruined it with Rondo trade. But) theyre not even on that list. Lots more season to be played. Still a very nice thing to be at historically great level.
I wonder what are the reason for this statistically historic season. Ye a big part of it is analytics and use of the 3 point shot over midrange. Pace is high but not crazy high. Defenses are weaker maybe? Why is every statistical line is so inflated this year?
The answer is Moreyball (the shot selection Moreyball, not the "asset collection" Moreyball) The math behind the point output of the different types of shots is solid and is becoming widely accepted.
and the thing is I dont even think the Rockets have played their best offense yet. Eventually these slow starts will become a thing of the past once Capela gets back in the rotation. Would cause not to rely on the 3 pointer so early in the game which causes these starts lately, yet we're still playing at a higher pace than our opponents.
Exactly. The biggest believer in Moreyball is Lebron James. Literally every move he has made since he took over as the GM of the Cavs has been to add players that shoot the 3 and space the floor for his star player (also coincidentally named Lebron James ) or rebound and play garbage offense at the bucket. Other Born Again Moreyites include the Golden State Warriors brain trust, the Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs*. It's essentially Gospel now for good NBA franchises. Mid-range shots are poor shots. The exception to this rule among good teams is in fact the Spurs who believe that the mid range shot is good as long as the player taking it is really good at it (see Leonard, Kawhi.) However, lurking in the darkness is Charles Barkley. He is a fall angel and seeks to destroy the Gospel of Morey. His only disciple still among NBA coaches was Deacon Byron Scott. Scott was unfortunately excommunicated from the league for being a dunce.
Or maybe this just happens to be the best the NBA has ever been offensively. Both explanations are possible, and only time will tell.
I see what you're saying, and hopefully don't come across as a contrarian, because the conversation is more interesting to me than trying to be right. My addition to your comment is that Toronto only ranks 22nd in three point attempts, although they are 3rd in 3P%. Not exactly Morey-ball by any stretch. In fact, DeRozen is the poster-child for the midrange game. Also note that the list really only counts since 1980, because 3ptrs weren't allowed prior to that. And fwiw, that that list of Top 15 only has 4 teams that won the title, 3 were pretty much the same Bulls team, who were also renowned for exceptional defense When I think about the analytics of Morey ball and MDA, and GSW, I find the topic rich in discussion, and want to bring up a lot of ideas for how this offensive change is occurring, but almost too much to say to get into posts in a message board. Guess I'll leave it at that and say defensive freedom and adjustments in the post illegal defense era might also have a big role in forcing it, more than analytics figured out defenses. Would love to have a round table discussion one say with y'all vs trying to exchange ideas in a post and reply format of a bbs
Unfortunately I'm about 6000 miles away so can't sit by the table but I would love to hear what you think. I'm really trying to understand the inflation in efficiency this year. Ok Rockets is a prime example of pure shot selection. Toronto might just be an anomaly and they will get down to earth with time, and Golden State just have enormous offensive talent. But how it all relates to defense? Do you mean that the Zone defense is still not implemented to perfection in the NBA and this is why it is easier to find wholes in it? Or do you mean that the defensive schemes of the teams allow them to produce more offensive power (by guards and wings taking more rebounds and running the floor more easily?)
