So, should an effective Rocket Defense be to do the offense in reverse?

They were actually talking about this on yesterdays Ringer NBA Show podcast. This is exactly what the Spurs do, and one of the reasons their defense is so good historically.

 

What if we did this and then the rockets had to play a mirror image of themselves in an alternate dimension? Would they be able to overcome offense vs defense

 

The art of the mid-range shot has started to evaporate. It's a lower percentage shot when have your back to the basket and have to raise up over your opponent to shoot. Many players are opting to extend their range to open 3s or drive to the basket to draw the foul. Kobe was one of the last great mid-range assassins (and his percentage was low by his standards). So to leave that as the open shot and close out on 3 point shooters is usually quite effective defense. Especially when you can score 3s yourself at will. Trading a 3 for 2 continuously increases your lead.

 

Well I think it worked well in 14/15 with dmo when he was a pretty decent defenfer under the rim as well as Dwight protecting the rim.

IIRC we often chose to chase shooters off the 3 and funnel them inside towards Dwight/dmo.

Only issue is if you don't have a top notch interior defender to thwart drives your giving up the highest % shot outside of FTs which is 0-3ft.

Also conversely, you have to have solid recovery rotations, other wise backdoor cuts will eat up the interior defender who shades the protect the drive.

But yes, if you guard the rim and the 3 above average odds are you will have a top notch defense.

 

It's basically the goal of every team in the league nowadays.
But easier said then done. You have to really know the areas in the court where you want to direct your opponent. The Spurs did that very well over the years, so is Utah now.
But you need to have great one on one defenders as well as keen awareness of team defense and cover-ups when you have to defend a good penetrator.
That's what this team is trying to do with the zone defense, were not quite there yet but getting much better at it.

 

Could this be why derozan is feasting?

 

Well we specifically switch every screen and pick and roll now this year, and while it can create mismatches individually Bullard on 790 stated that even mismatches, with a set defense being in position via switching, produces at a lower percentage compared to an offense running through its original play call.

So do we have the personnel? Not really. Beverley is playing very good perimeter defense as well as ariza. Gordon has been much better and harden is giving effort. But while Capela has been a revelation, we don't have that great interior defender, but we are getting better.

Another stat I heard from Bullard was that, since Beverley has came back we have the 5th best offensive rating BUT the 4th best defensive rating. So Beverley has absolutely done wonders. I would just love to acquire an extra interior defender to split time with Capela, someone like Tyson Chandler who would be a very solid backup.

 

With defenses gearing up to protect more against the three, I would think at some point an uncontested midrange two > contested three point. In 10yrs time when the entire league only shoots threes and in the paint, some team will start employing deadly midrange two specialists and take over the league.

 

I have said for YEARS that you can teach a great offensive player how to play some Defense much more easily than trying to teach a Defender how to shoot.

FINALLY, we have a team of elite offensive players.......Man, it feels good.

DD

 

Yes, Captain obvious. Who's your running mate?

 

You have a little more experience than me. I've coached junior high aged private league teams. Coaching actual JrH would be a step up. BUT...

I trust JVG when it comes to defense and this was his exact priority. Guard the paint, guard the 3 point line, force long 2's and get a rebound. I personally believe you do not employ that defense against the Spurs. They hit the midrange quite well.

Now, if I'm coaching JrH: full court press, trap, force mistakes that lead to easy baskets, and also...

 

DD,

I'm working on a theory that reflects this post. MDmA is a terrible offensive coach, but has a system that offensive players thrive in. He's a great defensive coach, but can't get his highly talented offensive groups to listen to his philosophy. So, he just keeps preaching offense because the defense ain't listenin'.

Edit: forgot protocol-
DAG

 

This squad does need to get better at running teams off the three point line between now and the postseason, but things have been trending in a positive direction during the streak.

 

WTF man, it's not like he came out blowing hard like you probably would. It's a discussion, discuss.

 

I feel like we do that well for most of the game, then teams blow our paint up in the 4th quarter to shrink our leads. Time to do some research, you could be right. Stop me if you've already done the research.

Edit:

We're 16th in 3pt % at .355 (.533 eFG%)
We're 22nd in FG% at .455 (50% 2pt %)

Perhaps you're right, but stats indicate there's a balance there that could easily swing if you do too much of one and not the other. I'm at an impasse on how to improve.

 

Town of 1 million or so! I win!!! Okay, not really. It all depends on whether you're in a basketball town or not, I am not. If you live where Morehead State plays, you win. That town is all bball all the time. I've seen a doc on that town.