How the Rockets can counter Lu Dort's defense. In-depth film study

Ooo nice

 

Great analysis OP, definitely seems like Harden may have let Dort get into his head, leading him to lose his usual court vision.

I do think that Harden playing off ball a little bit more when Russ returns is going to make things even more difficult for Dort, and his negative offensive presence on the court will become more glaring when his individual defense is less correlated with the outcome of the game.

 

Why don’t they just post him up?

with 4 other three point shooters they can just run mid 90s Hakeem esque offense.

harden will score everytine and start to get Dort in foul trouble.

seems simple to me.

 

This is the type of thread I like to see.

 

This is the kind of analysis ESPN needs to produce

 

How is Harden's post-up game right now though? I mean maybe it's good, I just haven't seen him do it much because he doesn't need to

 

Excellent, @foggy94!

 

This was really nice. Thanks.

 

Excellent breakdown as always!

I am certain that coaches and players are pointing out how efficient and unstoppable the PnR with Green as roller. It was too obvious so really surprised they went away from it.

1. Spam the Harden/Green 1-5 pick n roll to get Harden downhill, setting screens higher beyond the arc if needed

2. More pick n pop with Covington, Harden needs to hit the shooter if Dort is leaving him open to chase off the screen

3. More postups to try to draw fouls on Dort and hit open shooters

4. Have Harden guard somebody else in order to crossmatch in transition

I would add to these:

5. Screen slips with Covington, Green and/or EGo.

6. Inverted PnR with Green as ball handler and Harden as screener.

7. Keep feeding 3's to Green and Tucker, while instituting Westbrook rules to EGo. Drive and finish or drive and kick. Period.


8. Run elevator doors for McLemore, Rivers and Harden for wide open 3's. With Tucker, Green or EGo as the doors.


9. No more inbounds plays involving either EGo and Tucker combo. They are cursed.


10. Keep shooting step back 3's. Harden had a bad night and still put up 38. Dort is not a Harden STOPPER but he was a pest.

With Harden fouled out, Rockets were 0fer in OT. So was Dort the Houston Rockets stopper?

I think Harden's shoulder was more of a problem than Dort honestly.

And seriously consider not having EGo or House playing in crunch time, their decision making is not the best.

 

I think you nailed it @foggy94 .

 

Harden needs to get in his bag a little more. Don't try and force it all the way to the rim every time on him. It's okay to stop on a dime and pop a midrange every now and then.

 

Well we only have 2 or 3 shooters right now between McLemore-Green-House. We need some other people to become makers, and not just shooters...

 

McLemore passed up on his only 3P opportunity yesterday.

Crazy, MDA needs to put in few sets to free up McLemore for wide open looks.

As early in game as possible.

 

Harden needs to go back to playing like this:

Look at the variety of moves he shows here.

 

I like everyone is saying he is a Harden stopper. Wait till Harden gets his step back trey back.

 

Harden needs to mix it up against Dort. Post up, a few mid range jumpers, push the pace and pick and roll him to death.

 

Go back to a less evolved offensively James Harden?

Go back back to a weaker defensively James Harden?

Of course you like this version, more for you to criticize.

 

More off ball sets for Harden to loosen up defense.

 

He did post up Dort a couple of times, I think he either scored or got fouled. He did get blocked one on his head though but he was forcing things