Why does everyone crash into the paint on defense?

Could be their strategy. A lot of teams sag into the paint, then run the 3 point shooter off the line. OKC does this A LOT. They're just better at recovering back to the shooter. If you can recover, it's a pretty good way of playing D. We just need to be better at recovering and rotating.

 

better question, wassup with NO ONE taking the midrange shots. OKC swarmed the 3pt line and collapsed in the paint every time on defense . rockets took only 4 midrange shots the entire game

 

I noticed that too. Harden and Lin almost always sag off all the way to just outside the paint on the weak side when their man is waiting to shoot a corner 3. They could never close fast enough with that much space to cover.

 

This. Nothing wrong with providing help defense, every team does it. But in our case, hardly anybody rotates to the open man.

 

I think it's because of slow rotations also slow defenders. Harden isn't quick enough to be able to chase 3 point shooters.

 

If our perimeter players are unwilling or unable to recover, then this strategy is dead wrong, for our team anyway. How many times have we seen Harden or Lin's man hit wide open 3's again and again?

 

We do this so consistently that it is evident it is a strategy, rather than the players screwing up. The start of this Zach Lowe article explains it somewhat, albiet for the Raptors:

http://grantland.com/features/the-toronto-raptors-sportvu-cameras-nba-analytical-revolution/

 

Guys, when a player like Derek Fisher drives to the hoop, it takes a whole team to stop him.

 

might as well play zone

 

Morey.

Think about it, points in the paint are the highest percentage shots, you know hes mentioned this to McHale and said to do something about it. Think about the way we play. If a team takes away the lane and we arent shooting well we lost.

On a side note, I thought this was why we got Dwight... With him as primary or help defender we really dont need all these other bodies being in his way.

 

The second best shot is a 3 pointer though. I think we are overplaying the paint, especially with a great deterrents in the middle like Howard and Asik. I would rather us have a designated help defender that sags than have the entire team scrambling.

 

This has to be by design from the coaching staff, because it looks like their setting up for the quick rebound to break out in transition, or to keep the other team from getting the offensive rebound. It frustrates me because i catch myself yelling at Lin and some other players DONT LEAVE YOUR GUY ON THE PERIMETER OPEN. It's like they prefer you to shoot the 3 and miss while they wait under the basket instead of contesting it. YOu can see in the game a lot, namely Lin and Parsons a lot of times get caught not even looking at their man after the 2nd or 3rd pass goes around

 

I agree, like others have mentioned, getting out on the fast break could factor into Morey's math somehow.

 

It's true. This is the real reason why we get killed by OKC and LAC. We don't need 3 help defenders every time someone gets in the paint.