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Is Rockets Small Ball Replicable?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by kevcai, Feb 27, 2020.

  1. D-rock

    D-rock Member

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    Height or girth. And OP goes into great detail why.
     
  2. D-rock

    D-rock Member

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    Most important are Russ and Harden. They are drivers of this system.

    But having elite complementary players like RoCo and Tucker that are threats from 3 and can defend 1-5 unlocks it for us.

    Having the right complementary roster is critical. This system is not happenstance, it was deliberate and carefully constructed.
     
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  3. DeBeards

    DeBeards Member

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    agreed. it might be a little too early to tell, but yes, we actually are built for full-time super small ball based on all those pieces we systematicly drew in plan n equipped with.

    True. Thats why i used 'barely' n question mark noted in my post, cuz Its quite predictable that should any of those (a/m teams) tried to compete us with their part-time mall lineup, they got to face a cache-22 having 1-2 starting players nailed on bench who are unqualified to play small (either too small or too big), replacing with their second best but who can matchup with ours in that poisons.
    In that way they are gonna lost a great deal of their competitive advantage they were building for, thus in the end they might try to play small to compete us in our fashion for a while as an experiment, most possibly would not stick to it n quit half way.
    Lets see what gonna happened in the coming 4 critical games i.e. celtics n clippers (mar), Lakers n bucks(aprl)
     
    #23 DeBeards, Feb 27, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2020
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  4. DeBeards

    DeBeards Member

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    Short but impressive take on our 2nd round exit.
    specificly you picked out one of the intriguing things that might inspire morey n MDA make their mind to stick to play mismatching small '5out' game.
    Brilliant.
     
    #24 DeBeards, Feb 27, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2020
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  5. TimDuncanDonaut

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    Fantastic write up.
     
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  6. MultipleSauces

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    Micro ball or small ball ? I think it’s more of a medium ball . 6’3-6’8 , no midgets or giants just skilled basketball players is all we need . Skills Win All Games
     
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  7. pr0wler

    pr0wler Member

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    That thiccc PJ though.

    Also, I love when teams say like "oh we'll just counter the Rockets by going small too" THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT. They don't have the personnel to run micro ball as well as the Rockets, as the OP pointed out. The only way they can attempt to exploit the mismatches is by over utilizing their center down low on in the paint on offense. Other than maybe a few guys in the league, that is definitely not going to work and is a very tough path to victory.
     
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  8. ksny15

    ksny15 Member

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    While I agree about Harden and Russ obviously as they are the engine that makes us go I'm not so sure we are as successful without Tuck. Without him our defense would suffer horrendously. People unjustly hate on him because he doesn't put up stats. He is criminally underrated.
     
  9. D-rock

    D-rock Member

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    Yet Rockets do not jump up in defensive efficiency including blocks and steals until Covington arrived.

    It takes a village. And these 4 are critical, in different ways.
     
  10. smoothie_king

    smoothie_king Member

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    The Rockets are boy cried wolf and the rockets media narrative basically goes like this....

    1. Media pundits argue that rockets are under-rated
    Reality check...No Rockets are actually on the decline since 2015 wcf appearance!

    2. Media pundits argue rockets are innovative with small ball
    Reality check...Rockets have unsuccessfully used small ball in a low key way since 2015 wcf hack a howard!

    3. Media pundits argue rockets under-rated b/c Harden get ignored
    Reality check...Harden got mvp so he has not been ignored w/ multiple all-star appearances yet no fiba appearance !

    4. Media pundits argues rockets are hated on because they don't use bigs
    Reality check...Rockets have struggled to effectively use bigs since 2015 wcf hack a howard!
     
  11. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

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    This small ball existed with MDA suns in mid 00's. Stoudemire was a pf that had a jumper playing center.
     
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  12. Verbal Christ

    Verbal Christ Member

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    Houston vs the world. Learn it. Love it. Live it.
     
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  13. smoothie_king

    smoothie_king Member

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    Do you recall Phoenix actually winning or reaching a finals under MDA?

    No need for research, just answer off the top of your head please.
     
  14. chance46

    chance46 Member

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    I recall the refs choosing the lakers over the suns and Steve nashes bloody nose.
     
  15. smoothie_king

    smoothie_king Member

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    So basically are you saying that small ball didn't get Mike Dantoni over the hump?

    Can I ask a question?

    Do you think there is anything magical that might make small ball work this time for Dantoni?

    Do you feel Dantoni will maybe get lucky a second time around?

    Do you think small ball is some irish luck, type of bullshiet that has the nba fooled?
     
  16. Rustyrig

    Rustyrig Member

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    i THINK...Your next good post, will be your 1st
     
  17. StrawberryJamm

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    Just wanted to thank you for the many hours of hard and meaningful work smoothieking. You've been so persuasive that most of the misguided rockets fans I've talked to have already switched over to Jazz or Mavericks forums. We would hate to see you waste your talents, come stop by and say hi!
     
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  18. smoothie_king

    smoothie_king Member

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    They need to tell Dantoni that this aint the desert casino in Phoenix, and it is time out for gambling on "small ball"!
     
  19. Nook

    Nook Member

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    In the past coaches forced players to adapt to their system.

    Now the best coaches adjust their system to the talents of the players on the roster.

    It is en vogue right now to talk about the Rockets “going small” but really it is more a philosophy with the idea being to have skilled, versatile players that can guard multiple spots. In the case of the THIS Rockets team it is to go small but that is by default.

    Also the Rockets plan on adding a center this summer. It will be someone long and athletic but a real center.

    As far as what teams can match the Rockets small line up? The Clippers because they have the two best wings in the NBA. The Celtics as well. The Bucks can do what the Rockets do but with length.
     
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  20. ApacheWarrior

    ApacheWarrior Member

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    Lakers
    maybe add KCP or Avery Bradley to the mix. Two catalysts in LBJ/AD surrounded by shooters (I would have blocked Markieff to LA..... Puts them at our level) ......maybe.

    Clippers....Marcus Morris
    maybe add Beverley (played KD tough last playoffs). Shamet or JaMychal Green or Reggie Jackson to mix. 3 or 4 catalysts (PG13/Claw/SweetLou/Reggie Jackson) with decent shooters around them.

    Bucks
    add Wes Matthews to the mix. Shooting 37% from 3. Plays taller like Avery Bradley.
    2 catalysts (Freak/Bledsoe) surrounded by shooters.

    Celtics
    add Kemba Walker and Ojeleye (36% from 3). 2 catalysts (Tatum/Kemba) surrounded by shooters.

    Throw in Raptors:
    Ibaka
    Siakam
    Anunoby (37% from 3)
    Lowry
    Norman Powell (40%) or VanVleet (39% from 3)
    Smaller team with Lowry/VanVleet
    2 catalysts (Lowry and VanVleet) surrounded by shooters

    Miami
    Whole team
    Tyler Herro (39% from 3)
    Nunn (35% from 3)
    Butler
    Iggy (43% from 3)
    Derrick Jones? (28% from 3)
    Crowder
    Duncan Robinson (44% from 3)
    3 catalysts? (Nunn/Butler/D Jones.......Dragic?) shooters surrounding them.


    But the catalysts for the Rockets need no picks.......amazing in iso.
     

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