Where do you expect an inside-out team to dominate?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/stati...nba&avg=pg&split=567&season=2004&seasontype=2

I would have thought that we would dominate inside. However the rockets most dominant area of the game, currently is the 3 pt game. Yes one should not look at things in isolation as one thing affect another but I just found it impressive that we are using the 3pt play to dominate.

While we are not the best 3pt shooting team statistically, an argument can be made that we are the best at the 3pt game. Compared to our opposition, we make 3.7 more 3's (tied for 1st) and take 5.5 more 3's (4th). But unlike the other top five teams in these areas, the rockets true dominance is in the fg% differential where they enjoy a whopping +13.6% gap.

So instead of it being an "inside-out team" probably we should call it an "inside & outside team".

 

That is if you look at it only from an offensive standpoint. But the point goes beyond that as it includes what we do defensively. We do such a great job closing out on the opposing shooters we are forcing down their 3pt fg%. Remember they do not take as many as we do but when they do they do so with pressure. That suggest we are a good outside team too, which could be a reflection of our inside strength defensively.

The conclusion could be that we are getting more (quantity and quality) open 3pt shots than our opponents because our low post game, offensively and defensively, is better than our opponents. Notwithstanding, the gap is so large it seems more accurate to give the outside game more respect and view it is as a source of strength in its own right.