The zone is terrible, but the 2 big lineup or when Reed is in the game (especially with Adams or Capella) it is close to a necessity. I expect they still use it quite a bit to try and work out the kinks. Without Jabari it is even more difficult to run effectively. Our starters should never run it.
It feels like OKC is going to be what the Warriors were to the Rockets for so many years, they let them get too powerful. 8-0 and dominating teams without their second best player playing a single game. They will need a miracle to get by a series against them.
I mean we'll see. We are the hardest team they've played so far, their schedule has been pretty light right now. Clippers are a good team but you never know what clipper team you are getting from night to night. They are obviously the best team in the NBA but I'm not sure they are unbeatable. The Nuggets almost beat them last year and same for the Pacers, if those teams were healthy, OKC could have very well lost those series.
I feel like GSW were still more unbeatable with Steph, KD, Klay, Dray all in their prime with Iggy and Looney
Nah. They are great now because they have the financial flexibility to be deep - which is why they are able to handle losing JDub. Next season, the second apron is going to hit them hard, and they will be forced to field a far more shallow team that won’t be able to survive a injury to Shai/Chet/JDub nearly as well.
This. Stone is doing a good job of preparing us for this eventuality, but even so we won’t be able to keep everybody. I don’t know when the next CBA is up for re-negotiation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2nd Apron rules are relaxed, because it is going to make it hard for the NBA’s poster children to dominate the stars. How long will the NBA tolerate mediocre Laker, Boston, or Golden State teams?
The Rockets rank 1st Catch and Shoot percentage 1st Offensive box outs 2nd Post ups 2nd Paint Touches 2nd Contested shots 2nd Points per touch 2nd Isolation frequency 3rd Points per possesion in isolation The Rockets rank 27th Offscreen frequency 29th Handoff frequency 30th Screen assist 30th Average speed
The Shooting is nice but once Kevin is going towards retirement it all goes a tad back. Basically the Houston Duruntulas at this point which is not bad by any means. Feels like the last years of Mr. Miyagi.
I'm too lazy to check, but the Rockets can't be ranked high in guarding the 3 point line. That needs to get fixed. Maybe their big-ness makes them less fleet of foot? They did better against the Celtics and Mavs, but Boston was on the 2nd game of a back-to-back and Dallas was undermanned.
Their 3-point defense FG% is 15th, so middle of the pack. My guess is after 4 games (before they played the Celtics), it was near the bottom.
The offense continues to learn and adapt to how defenses prioritize harassing KD and Alpi. Jabari stepped up into the Luis Scola role earlier and Amen has done so the last two games. When defenses swarm KD with a hard double-team and Alpi gets the ball unguarded at the FT line, he must learn to punish that every time.
Shooting isn't his problem. Setting screen is. Home invaders probably knew his home hardly had any screen to keep intruders out.
I like that 64% of his posts ups and 'elbow' touches are passes that lead to a direct catch and shoot or swing passes around the three pt line for a more wide open catch and shoot. (same assist and t.o rate as Jokic) When he does decide to take a FG from the post, it's a bucket. The Iso teen wolf action: Durant and Amen are the most successful, auto bucket. With Sengun shooting it at 34%... howevaaah, it's in that action that he draws a bunch of his fouls. It's a shame they'e 30th in screen assists. 10th or better last year.
