from The Athletic https://www.google.com/amp/s/theathletic.com/1523460/2020/01/13/rockets-film-room-why-does-james-harden-stand-back-at-halfcourt/?amp Moving onto the 2019-2020 season, Christmas was not the first time Harden stood alone near midcourt. Often when Russell Westbrook pushes the pace in transition, Harden will take his time across halfcourt, either as a trailer or to provide as much space as possible for his teammates to score. With how much the coaching staff has emphasized getting the basketball in Westbrook’s hands early in games and in transition, Harden has made a habit of doing this more and more as the season has gone on. Privately, when approached about this topic, coaches discussed the positives and mentioned that Harden creates many scoring opportunities for his teammates. From 4-on-3 when defenses trap Harden, to 4-on-4 when defenses face-guard and he is off-ball or when he has the ball in his hands and creates for others. When teams first began implementing double-teams on Harden, the coaching staff was dumbfounded at the lengths opposing defenses went to deny Harden the basketball. Defenses essentially allowed another former MVP in Westbrook to create for himself and others in 4-on-3 situations. In that scenario, the math always favors the Rockets. The trapping scheme only works when all five defenders are inside or near the perimeter to make crisp, fast rotations and hard closeouts. Take away two defenders, and the 4-on-3 is an optimal situation for both Westbrook and Eric Gordon to take advantage. Ideally, the coaches want Westbrook adjacent to Harden, where Westbrook can drive to his preferred left hand on rolls and slashes to the rim, with Gordon opposite of Harden for deep catch-and-shoot attempts. A similar success rate is seen when Harden takes himself out of plays and creates a 4-on-4 for his teammates. Harden often begins offensive possessions with the opposing team’s best perimeter defender pressuring him with or without the basketball. On these 4-on-4 possessions, Harden essentially concedes himself off-ball and makes it a halfcourt game for his teammates. Opposing defenses know that the Rockets are 14-1 this season when Harden scores 40 or more points in a game. The purpose of their complex schemes is to limit his touches and force his teammates to score. This is why the best perimeter defender always shades Harden. You would think having the best perimeter defender face-guard Harden would be a blessing and deny the Rockets offense to develop a rhythm. However, that leaves Westbrook and three other players to contend against defenders that are not quite as good. When Harden takes himself out of plays and stands stationary away from the perimeter, near halfcourt, or even toward the sideline, that is one less defender, one less player, and more empty space in the halfcourt on which ballhandlers can capitalize. In these 4-on-4 situations, Westbrook often isolates and attempts to get near the basket, an area where he’s shooting 58 percent. As of Jan. 15, Houston was 15-2 in games where he shoots 43 percent or better from the field. With his fingers back to normal, it’s no coincidence that he had shot 43 percent or better in eight of his 12 games (10-2 record) through Jan. 15. Watching Harden on these possessions, the same patterns occur. Harden takes the lengthy defender away from the play, often away from the camera angle completely. Westbrook isolates in the middle of the floor. Two or three shooters go deep in the corners or toward the sideline in the slot, creating empty voids of space. Westbrook beats the initial defender off the dribble to create a layup for himself or penetration for a catch-and-shoot attempt. A major critique is how uninvolved and disinterested Harden looks on some of these possessions. But these plays add up and ultimately help him conserve energy in parts of the game where he gets tired. As the engine of a top offense in the league, and as a player who needs the basketball in his hands, he will take possessions off. And strategically, this alignment of 4-on-4 still creates efficient and optimal scoring opportunities. Coach Mike D’Antoni discussed Harden’s off-ball play with The Athletic, emphasizing that defenders never help off of him and that he would not like Harden to move around off-ball with the way defenses are playing. “Where to go?” D’Antoni said on the reason he would not want Harden to move around with how teams are defending him. “I mean, are you going to get into Russell’s way? Russell’s going to the hoop. So just stand there. If they come off, he’s going to catch-and-shoot. But to move around and run around and get him tired for no reason? No. You can’t make James more efficient, I don’t think, than what he is. I think it’d just wear him down.” Recently, some defenders have caught onto this. They will leave him near the sideline or deep beyond the perimeter to stunt at Westbrook or another ball-handler driving to the rim. Harden and the Rockets must adjust. Although only 4.4 percent of his possessions are spot-up attempts, Harden is in the 90th percentile and is shooting 49 percent on such attempts. To deny predictability, more catch-and-shoot attempts could be a positive for the offense. Moving forward, teams will create schemes intended for Harden to have to move and create without the basketball. Westbrook and Harden have struck a great balance in the first half of the season, but issues remain that need to be fixed. This doesn’t mean having Harden and Westbrook come off staggered off-ball screens or fancy halfcourt sets. However, implementing more 1/2 pick-and-roll, which will become more common late in the season, will give Harden more off-ball possessions as a screener. This will allow Harden to defer to Westbrook, achieve the same positives from the current 4-on-4 possessions, and create advantageous offensive opportunities.
This stuff really isn't that confusing or difficult. Sometimes I wonder if particular posters are trolls or do not understand the game. It isn't that they do not understand the game, because they will perfectly explain other aspects of the game. There is a reason to everything James Harden does.... he is very much like Barry Bonds in that way. It isn't because Harden is lazy or stupid......... he has gotten better every single season, that isn't something that happens unless a player really puts in the work. He isn't stupid either, he is incredibly bright and is usually the smartest player on the court and his instincts are exceptional. He isn't perfect (no one is) but everything he does is calculated.
CF has been pushing the false narrative that Harden and MDA are clueless, lazy, etc. Used to the negativity and lies from haters, nonfans and media but the fact that we are facing this ignorance internally is sad and troubling.
Ive only said this exact thing for 2-3 years but nobody wanted to hear it. Rockets value spscing and 4 on 4 with secondary ball handler at worst is a plus for this offense. Better even with westbrooks speed
That can not be more incorrect. The stats line of Harden in 18 and 19 up to this point is almost identical, there is no such things of getting better each year, this year his scoring is up about a point currently because up to now his 3 point % is better than last year (which also started to cool off of late). 2018 is a forgettable season for the ROX because of the slow start and the bad performance in the playoff. Some will argue Harden was having a MVP season if you only judge by the stats and many will also argue the slow start of the Rox in 2018 is all CP3's fault. Bottom line, no matter how you will see his style of play, there is one thing you can't argue about so far, you did not see the jump about one specific aspects of all the superstars from Harden - making the players around him play above their ability and eventually elevate the team (not just himself) to another level. 2018-19 29 HOU NBA PG 78 78 36.8 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 6.0 11.3 .528 .541 9.7 11.0 .879 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 36.1 2019-20 30 HOU NBA SG 37 37 37.1 10.9 24.2 .453 5.1 13.5 .380 5.8 10.7 .544 .558 10.7 12.4 .861 1.0 5.2 6.2 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.8 3.2 37.7
Good to know, seriously did not think it was a tactical move. Go ahead, blast me for it, I just admit my mistake.
I would say it is precisely because they do not understand the game mixed with the fact that they think they do and think they know better than coaching lifers and some of the best basketball minds in the league that we happen to employ here in Houston. Terrible combo.
If ironic well done. Here is a plan: When Harden is creating 4 on 4 and 4 on 3s at the half court line, can't he just Sprint laterally from sideline to sideline? And then every once in a while BOOM HE GETS VERTICAL and dives from the circle to the hoop. How could this not work (other than laziness)?
No, he has gotten better every season for a number of years. He is also carrying a bigger load than ever before.
Right, this isn't new to this year. CP3 would destroy 4 on 4 defenses, as well. Another thing to note is defenses do not practice 4 on 4 defense. They don't have the same rotational help, etc. So, aside from the fact that less players on each side favors the offense, independent of just the numbers, it also takes the defense out of what they practice.
It would be good if he maybe 35 feet away from the hoop so at leats he is a threat to launch one of those Ryan Anderson 3 pointers.
