Differences we're likely to see out there in the post season vs. regular season..

Nene cancels out Zaza/MeGee

Ryan may do well, he may not. This past stretch of 8 home games is the best I have seen Ryan Anderson
shoot at Toyota Center (to my recollection). Hope it carries over into playoff action. Hope is not a game plan.
Just do it Ryan. Flyin Ryan is our secret weapon. 97.2 NBA percentile in post ups.

P.S. some would argue Capela was our second past player in the playoffs last year. He did a
number vs Steven Adams/Sabonis in that Thunder series

 

Harden’s fta during the season and postseason since he’s been in Houston

regular season: 10.2, 9.1, 10.2, 10.2, 10.9

postseason: 11, 8.3, 10.5, 9, 10.5

Harden’s free throw rate during the season and postseason

regular season: .592, .552, .561, .518, .575

postseason: .574, .376, .605, .450, .528

free throw rate declines a bit, but he still gets to the line a ton in the playoffs

 

More physicality. At least one bench clearing incident in the playoffs.

James and Gerald can get rattled with dirty plays behind purposely blind refs. It'll be up to the others to taper down that fire and control the burn.

 

hopefully fans in their seats by the tip

 

Rockets play lock down defense for 2.5 quarters instead of 1.

 

This really and Reeko's post before. A commitment to staying focused on defense and attacking the paint. We need to get teams in foul trouble and that comes from forcing the issue more. Yes, we will take a lot of 3s but teams will be expecting that. We need to go to the hole to combat the Boston and Toronto foul defensive tactics. Teams like NOLA, Utah, San Antonio, Portland, and OKMe will adopt this tactic to lull you into taking 3s and then they can collapse the defense more when you become predictable and lazy with the 3s that usually miss because you get out of rhythm. Let the D set the tone every night. When the other teams tactics derail they have no other plan. We have seen every tactic so we know what to expect. We purposely slowed the pace to match playoff and half court games and became a team that experimented with how to use our advantages against every set.

 

8 man rotations.

I love Gerald green as much as the next guy but he’s out. Same with isoJoe and even NeNe

They may get a few minutes here or there so you can consider it a 8.5man rotation.

Gerald may get some minutes one game if we are in a slump or need some energy.
Nene may play some backup minutes if we are facing a bruiser like Adams.
IsoJoe may get some minutes if we see a defensive weakness we can exploit from the post.

Otherwise it’s..
harden for 36-40
Cp3 for 32-36
Ariza for 34-38
Ego for 28-32
Tucker for 28-32
Clint for 28-32
Luc for 24-28
Ryan for 16-28

Potential to steal 5-10 minutes
Green
Nene
Isojoe

 

I hope we play the same style that got us to this point, taking 45 to 50 3's a game. Alley oop, alley oop, alley oop to Clint. No weird lineups or small ball. Stick with the lineups and style of play that worked all year, but change the following:

1) Bring the D from the start, and not in the 2nd quarter.
2) Focus on making shots and not trying to draw fouls. Pass to the open man and don't press forced shots.
3) Do not lose composure when it gets physical. Get physical back, but smartly, not out of blatant frustration or anger.

 

A handful of games with enormous blowouts! Think back to the Bulls pounding the Jazz by 42 in a Finals game!

With all of the "rest", "injuries", "trying new rotations" we really have yet to see a complete team this year (mind blowing)!

When the Rockets need it in a game or series, DM and MD have some special things up their sleeves that other teams have not seen or planned for....leading to some great comebacks or more likely a couple of close games that then get bust wide open and ending in a complete and utter blowout!

Personally hope we destroy the resolve of the following teams: Clippers, Warriors, Spurs, and Jazz.

 

Chris Paul and James Harden will play on the same nights. Whoda thunkit!

 

Someone posted this on Twitter a couple months back:

Harden reg season FT/g as a Rocket: 10.1.
Harden playoff FT/g as a Rocket:
.
..
Also 10.1.

 

How about FT/ FGA stat?

 

I posted that earlier in this thread...it declines, but still remains very high

 

I think this is a real treat, albeit a weaker frontcourt excl. Capela.

 

The difference is, teams will play against the same team minimum of 4 times in a row, max 7.

Seriously, though, that is what makes playoffs tough, in my opinion. Scouting becomes concentrated on a single team. If you win the previous game, the other team can focus on adjusting to your team, making your next win, supposed to be, harder.

 

Strong teams will win out but it becomes a tedious day business going against the same ball club night in night out.

 

Yes sir, a lot more physicality and dirty plays,along with all the rest of stuff that you have pointed out.

 

Rockets need to continue their regular season dominance but kick it into higher gear.

Maintain the hunger and focus to destroy opposing teams will from start to finish. Going to get the best from the best teams, physically and mentally. In playoffs, if teams sense any weakness they will attack it with reckless abandon. Much better to keep teams on their heels, keep them reeling trying to fend off/survive deluge of offensive onslaught. Rockets need to dictate tempo offensively and defensively, not other way around.

If Rockets thought Suns and Spurs games were physical, they ain't seen nothing yet.

 

Establish defense first, hit the boards, and let Harden and Chris dribble the ball, and attack quickly before the opposition can set up their
defense. Gordon will have to play a similar role to a certain extent. DON'T settle for the 3's. Hit mid-rangers too.
The 3's will automatically start falling in time. Don't commit silly fouls and silly turnovers. Don't get rattled by the physical and dirty stuff, then victory will be ours.

 

This is not overly promising since everyone seems to agree .. . . the playoffs are FAR MORE Physical
So
This means he is getting hack more but called at the same rate
that is not good

Rocket River