Rocket's Pet Play - Flare Screens

smr6 · Apr 19, 2013

They are doing a breakdown of each playoff teams favorite plays so I thought it was pretty neat to see them break down ours.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vyi6baXVeJ4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Houston Rockets, by their own admission, run a simple offense. They spread the floor with shooters, push the ball relentlessly, use Omer Asik's ability to screen and roll and let James Harden make plays. At some point, they'll need to add more plays to their arsenal, but for now, simple works. (That is, unless it's in the final few minutes of a close game, like we saw Wednesday against the Lakers).
Such a simple offense is normally prone to the overloading strong-side defenses we see in the NBA. But the Rockets do have an ace in the hole to counter that coverage: Harden himself.
The entire premise of an overloading strong-side defense is that giving up the skip pass crosscourt is a sacrifice worth making to contain the ball. This is because there are very few players who can throw that pass accurately. But as it turns out, the Rockets have one such player in Harden. His ability to see over the defense allows Houston to set flare screens for shooters to fade into the corner, thereby beating the strong-side zone.
This is the Rockets' pet play.
Click to expand...

They have a break down with pictures for it in the link below

http://www.sbnation.com/2013/4/19/4242328/houston-rockets-video-breakdown-james-harden

HMMMHMM · Apr 19, 2013

Just to be clear, the vast majority of the clips that were used in that compilation are not flare sets -- the Rockets are just taught to set flare screens when the opportunity presents itself.

0:20 is the Rockets being opportunistic out of "Chin"
0:43 is the Rockets being opportunistic out of "Loop"
0:53 is an actual Flare set, see http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=7858129&postcount=120
1:00 again is the Rockets being opportunistic out of "Loop"
1:39 is the Rockets version of the Heat's High Pick&Roll Chest, which is a high&pick with the screener coming off a flare screen as the first option.

The Bobcats play looks like it may been drawn up in the huddle during a timeout. The other possessions are just 'random', though.

j3i · Apr 19, 2013

Dat skip pass.

Karolik · Apr 19, 2013

HMMMHMM said: ↑

Just to be clear, the vast majority of the clips that were used in that compilation are not flare sets -- the Rockets are just taught to set flare screens when the opportunity presents itself.

0:20 is the Rockets being opportunistic out of "Chin"
0:43 is the Rockets being opportunistic out of "Loop"
0:53 is an actual Flare set, see http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=7858129&postcount=120
1:00 again is the Rockets being opportunistic out of "Loop"
1:39 is the Rockets version of the Heat's High Pick&Roll Chest, which is a high&pick with the screener coming off a flare screen as the first option.

The Bobcats play looks like it may been drawn up in the huddle during a timeout. The other possessions are just 'random', though.
Click to expand...

How are you so knowledgeable. Are you a coach?

CantBeRight · Apr 19, 2013

You mean the Harden Iso right?

jocar · Apr 20, 2013

CantBeRight said: ↑

You mean the Harden Iso right?
Click to expand...

I agree! Every play is Harden Iso. Rep!

jocar · Apr 20, 2013

That oop to Parsons @ :20 is a spicy meat-a-ball!

Jontro · Apr 20, 2013

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