I like the fact we stop settling for jump shots and drove the paint aggressively. Put it high off the backboard to give Josh and D12 a chance to get rebound since Jordan and/or Blake are out of position
We gotta let them score less points, or score more points than them. This is very important. To do that, we need Harden to be the closer in 4th qtr, and we have to play with more urgency and effort.
James needs to keep his dribble alive in the paint like he did in game 5. Clippers may adjust and stay home on Terry and Ariza so that will give him more space to work in the lane, James has to take advantage of that space. He was picking that d apart getting everyone wide open looks, this game may be one where he needs to do more scoring if they stay home on 3 point shooters. If they can limit Crawford, Reddick, and Rivers then there's a good chance we can outscore them and push this to 7!
1) Harden needs to attack Jordan. 2) Harden needs to finish drives, stop passing it out. We've had too many turnovers this series where guys keep fumbling around the ball on those passes. 3) Dwight needs to stay out of foul trouble. 4) PLAY WITH URGENCY.
Strategy for game 6? Play hard... so far the Rockets have played hard only about 40% of this series. If the Rockets want it more, there is a good chance they will win in game 6. Keep in mind that the Clippers REALLY want this one... this is their last home game and they REALLY don't want a game 7 on the road with a Rockets team having hypothetically regained momentum by winning games 5 and 6.
Interesting to note, the Clippers also had the "fortitude" to win game 6 down 3-2 on the Road against SA in the first round. This game will be very tough. Rockets have to give it their all to keep it close.
I have been thinking this every single game. Body him. Wtf at letting him walk the ball up the court like it is a pick up game. Rockets need to contain 3/4 of Barnes, JJ, Rivers, and Crawford. As well as 1/3 of Paul, Griffin, Jordan Meanwhile 3/6 of Ariza, Brewer, Smith, Terry, Prigioni, and Jones need to have very good games.
1. Show up in the 1st quarter 2. Show up in the 2nd quarter 3. Show up in the 3rd quarter 4. Show up in the 4th quarter
attack the paint and DeAndre head on. Ariza did a good job of that early in the first quarter. DeAndre is an excellent weakside shot blocker but isnt a guy who stays vertical when you challenge him head on. He has very poor defensive tendencies in that sense. But only if you have him on the move - trying to post him up he probably isnt going to foul you or at the very least he will not be called for anything. You need to get him going side to side and moving his feet. The Rockets have a huge advantage when DeAndre is not playing the clippers have no other shot blockers at all. Let Paul and Griffin get their points -- I doubt they'll be able to score a combined 85+ between them to lead that team. Do not double them at all - do not switch on the picks. Stay at home with their shooters - their shooters have been doing the most damage to this team. They have been getting way too many open looks in transition and in the half court when trying to double team. The clippers do a great job at moving the ball around the perimeter out of the double team and finding the open shooter. The more you crowd their space the less comfortable they will be so even when they do have an open look they will be less likely to make it. Find the open shooters on in transition. The Clippers look to run and get to the three point line - I cant count how many open looks that they have had in transition in this series. The Rockets needs to communicate this and get back. Despite not shooting a large volume - Harden looked like himself last night - he was much more aggressive in attacking the basket. He still kicked the ball out for open looks which was fine but in the previous games his passes came from outside of the paint as opposed to in the paint this game. He needs to do more of that - Redick does a good job at denying Harden the ball (and getting away with a lot of grabs/holds) but once he has the ball Harden needs to realize he can take Redick off the dribble and attack. Dwight NEEDS to stay on the floor - he did a great job last night after getting the first quick foul. No way the Rockets win if he plays less than 28 minutes tomorrow night.
All of the points YoYo made are spot on. Keep in mind that Spencer Hawes went 5 for 7, with a couple of key 3 pointers, and Game 5 wouldn't have even been as close early on as it was. Continue to play with aggression, and with a authority, while remaining tenacious on the defensive end, and in the very least, this will be a close game in the 4th quarter. Do not allow Crawford, Redick, or Rivers an ounce of space.
The key last game was getting DJ in foul trouble and keeping him off the floor in key segments and guarding Paul and others closely... I just don't know if this team can do that again.
More screens and pick to free up Harden. Given the opportunity, attack Jordan directly. No more center-less line-up. Capella or Howard always in. Even 3rd string C if Capella struggle to rebound. More balanced talent in each quarters - Harden / Howard playing equivalent mins for each quarter to lessen the chance of a Clipper run. Make CP3 and Griffin scorers and limit them from making plays for others. Stay focus, block out the fan, don't get discouraged from bad calls. Rebound, Transition D, no goofy TO. For Harden - play downhill more and less dribble side to side.
yip, that'd disrupt the flow of the offense it's CP3 that should be doubled, it'd disrupts the flow might as well
Deandre in foul trouble is honestly the key for us. Hawes and Davis can be serviceable for LA but def not in Dj's level. Harden seems more comfortable attacking the lane without him, Dwight is a much better player than both of them. Redick and Rivers combining for 50 points again is unheard of. Transition 3's Ariza just seems more comfortable in those plays, going to need a good spark from Jones and Brewer as well. It can be done, forget about history or anything like that just win game 6.
