James Harden Catch and Shoot Threes (2015-2020)

Wow. I didn't realize his percentages on catch and shoot 3's were that good. No wonder Morey wanted Chris Paul. No wonder Morey didn't want CP3 traded to OKC for Westbrook. Maybe Silas can get James more of those. Definitely more ball movement. Harden only needs a moment open with the ball delivered where he needs it to make those. He shouldn't have to take a step back every time.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but we don't yet know how much training camp we'll have. I assume it will be much shorter than usual.

If that's the case, then I will be very interested to see if Silas even has time to implement a different offensive system/style. I imagine it will be hard for James to adjust his playstyle too much in such a short amount of time because he's been doing his style for a long time now.

 

Can I get the catch and shoot numbers for some guys like Lillard, Leonard, Tatum etc?

Just curious if it’s similar.

 

Here's the website if anyone wants to look it up themselves - https://www.nba.com/stats/players/catch-shoot/

Didn't feel like spending too much time going back that far, but here's the past two years for the guys you asked about -
2019-20
Lillard- 40.3%
Leonard- 40.4%
Tatum - 39.9%

2018-19
Lillard - 38.9%
Leonard - 40.8%
Tatum - 39.4

 

Harden is very versatile. Silas hinted at some more action. We've seen some Harden to Russ lob connections past season. Imagine a Russ drive and dish to a Harden catch and shoot.

 

Harden stand catch n shoot jumpers look weird now.

 

Great but when the playoffs come around, he can take ton of these if he open and when hes double team each time trying to take one, he can pass the ball to westbrick for a brick. But for real thou run shake and bake? Back to iso ball.

So your saying make Westbrick be the leader of the team, and Harden just as a 3pt shooter ? I dont see this happening tbh.

 

Yes please!! He’s great in rhythm... if this is all he did, and play like a real 2 guard. He will stay deadly and even be better than Klay at the 2.

 

So we have arguably the best shot creator/paint driver in NBA history (Westbrook) and an elite catch and shoot player, who happens to get double teamed every possession. Maybe we could try Westbrook creating shots for Harden once in a while? I get that JH is the best 1 on 1 player of all-time, but when he is double teamed 75% of the time and forced to pass it off, it might be time for him to start playing off-ball on occasion.

 

Westbrook/Capela PnR should've been better than it was. Harden and PJ camping corners around it...why wasn't this a play?!?!

 

Clutchfans doesn't seem to think Russ can pass or create. Russ is not garbage, he can't shoot, but he can create something with an actual offense.. MDa trying to Iso him was an absolute killer. Russ is not an ISO player IMO.

 

MDa only had one play and this was not it.

 

MDA is an all-time great level at designing an offense, but he was definitely leaving something on the table with this iteration of the Rockets.

 

Yea but he never does this, he gets the ball and iso's . They just drop it off to him , so he can iso ball again. You saying silas comes in and runs Harden around looking for quick shots like curry outside the 3. I want to see Harden do this, but hes too big of a dude, and brings the ball down every time, so he can iso ball.

 

Harden gets his 3's only when hes open, and usually if he about to drive then steps back 3. I never see him open for 3 anymore ...

 

Well...

If Westbrook is what you claim he is then he should have been creating offensive magic when Harden dumped off to him off of the doubles.

But that’s not what he is anymore and that’s why for most of the season and nearly all of the playoffs we saw an offensive train wreck with Westbrook running things.

There was a time when just giving Westbrook the ball and saying go use your elite athletic ability to drive and kick and it worked pretty well. The problem is those days were years ago. He’s not that guy anymore.

 

Instead of all his energy devoted to 1-1 he can use this for off-ball movement and work off screens and flares. Silas said he wanted to attack early before traps and when defenses are set. As mentioned in previous posts Harden can’t do it alone. Need a better 4 and true 5 to break zones when harden passes ball in the middle or play short corner when harden passes to russ to dribble drive this creates mismatches and 2-1 opportunities for rox instead of PJ standing in the corner. Hopefully Silas addresses this as well as the management team.

 

No. The problem is sometimes Russ gets the ball in the middle of the defense at the FT line or at the wings. When he starts his dribble drive he is met with AD or maybe even 2 guys. Usually he dumps it to the corner 3 with PJ. But that pass isn’t always efficient or there. PJ or whoever plays the 4/5 can play short corner ready to get dumpoffs when AD switches to cover a driving westbrook. Last years playoffs we saw this time and time again. Need better bigs and a better 4.

 

Been trying to tell you guys Harden isos were because of MDA coaching. That was MDA’s style that he saw as the most efficient way to play. The rox as a whole was an iso 1-1 team. Russ, James, Gordon, Rivers all played 1-1 ball. That was MDA’s style. Harden iso or high screen and roll dumpoff to other players to shoot or 1-1. This was the simple MDA offensive set. Only screens they set were high screen or double screens for harden. Rarely any offball screens. Hopefully silas uses more offball screens to get harden open which i think he will.