[The Ringer] Inside DM's and MDA's Basketball Laboratory

Fantastic!

 

Awesome article. If we could only get a 3 and D player that could fully take over Brewer's minutes. Can we cut Bobby Brown and see if Delfino can still hang in the NBA? Brewer should not be playing in this system at all and we need to make a small move in order to play a wing player that makes a lot more sense. I really wish we would give Delfino a try.

 

"Gordon’s most important minutes occur when Harden is on the bench. For the first five or six minutes of the second and fourth quarters, Harden takes a breather and Gordon transforms from a role player into a superstar, averaging 29.2 points and 4.7 assists per 36 minutes."

 

Kyle Korver will do and hes available.

 

Great read!

I forgot...was MDA available when Mchale was fired?

 

Yes to this! I think he can be had without giving up our core. Korver in place of brewer would cause teams headaches for days. Want offense - put harden, Gordon, korver Ariza or Anderson and capela on the floor at the same time. Who do you help off of? Switch Beverly for Gordon and it would still be potent. Everyone but james would be a 40% shooter from 3.

 

I like Kyle, but realistically I don't believe we have anything to offer to Atlanta. Mike B. is not trying to tank and his system is suffering due to lack of spacing and enough shooters. I doubt any of our trash will entice him to move Korver since none of them are shooters. Moving young talent for Korver is also a huge no no in my book.

Morey will have to think outside the box and see if he can pry anybody lose. What about somebody like Jared Dudley? I know he has a long term contract, but with the cap going up, I don't think it's going to affect our ability to sign players next summer.

 

I love Jared Dudley and have always wanted him with the rockets. Everything about him says "rockets!" But I don't see t happening.

 

Love this quote. Playing in the moment. Explain why he excel at getting those 3pt foul calls - as soon as he notice a hand on his arm, he swing up for the 3pt shot.

“I honestly can’t tell you what I’m thinking,” Harden said when I asked what he’s looking for from a defender in an isolation situation. “I just need one advantage and I’m gonna take it. My game is all naturalistics. I don’t predetermine anything. It’s just whatever the defense gives me, I take it, and greatness happens after that.”

 

The GIFs in that article were great - highlighting a lot of really clever actions that only D'Antoni could come up with. In particular, I loved having the right corner cut to the left corner to free up the right side for a Capela lob, and that incredible real screen/slip screen combo that freed up Anderson. We've been a P&R team for years, but stuff like that frees Harden up to be a much better playmaker.

 

Great observations and I agree. The Andersen slip for the three is so simple, yet works.
I had noticed they had also added the simple throw it over the defenders head to the cutting guard play a bit.
The Lakers have used this play a ton.... basically the 2 guard makes a half-hearted cut to the basket as if he's not going to be in the play. The defender naturally kind of trails him and doesn't pay full attention, so you just lob it over their head to the guard who is there for a layup. Again, the Lakers were doing it a bunch and then I saw the Rockets add it and I was like, yes, doing simple, creative plays!

When the offense bogs down in some games in the 4th... I think it's because it reverts back to "pure" PnR action, instead of this PnR action with more little creative stuff off of it.

 

Fantabulous article that spoke to me on a naturalistic level. Really though, great article that was a ton of fun to read.

 

Also, as great as this article is, I'd sure like to know why I don't see more journalists covering the Rockets. I keep listen to Zach Lowe's podcast and they've only discussed it once and it was weeks ago. I know there are many stories in the NBA, but you would think the Rockets would be one of the biggest! There are so many angles:

Biggest Surprise in the NBA.
The resurrection of MDA.
Morey's near death experience (okay - so it was more of a near firing experience. I'm trying to be dramatic)
How this is proof that Howard is a net negative (I thought trashing Dwight was the Media's favorite past time?).
Harden's MVP campaign.
Gordon's Sixth Man of the Year campaign.
Capela's MIP campaign (Montrezl looks like he could be considered for this too).
Beverley's Defensive Player of the Year campaign.
How Khloe really is cursed.
How all the Rockets need to put them over the top is a true superstar like Ricky Rubio.

SO MANY ANGLES!

 

lol why trading milsap then?

 

Not necessarily directly related, but really liked that Zach Lowe noticed how the Rockets dug in defensively last night to gut out a win.

 

The Ringer NBA podcast discussed the article on their show today as well.

 

Good read. Thanks for posting.

 

because media conspiracy, silly. it is so obvious.

 

If all of this leads to a zombie breakout... that would be bad ass.