well, we did run it again. And we did have Josh and Bari switch places. We did it end-game, when we needed a score. The pass to Amen won’t always connect. So, the 2nd time, Sengun and KD went into DHO, the movement got Minny to overplay, and Sengun spun away from KD to attack, with Minny unable to double, resulting in a bunny. Thus, we got a 70% 2pt bunny, which (per OP) is > 40% 3pter.
You are not wrong, I've hinted as much this season as well. You pack the paint with 4 defenders knowing Amen. Tari, Durant and Sengun need to operate in that paint area. Teams have learned Durant is automatic from 12 feet in so teams push him back to 1 7 feet and out. Sengun the same. Amen and Tari show out at 3-point line but eventually dive to paint/rim. Extra defender stays close to Sheppard....in the past I said Jabari. Now let Jabari shoot. DFS and Okogie will hit some 3's but can't sustain it throughout a 7-game series. A Holiday gets criticized here on Clutchfans often, but Udoka often turns to Holiday to open things up when teams are shutting down the others. Let see what happens in the playoffs? Yes it's 3's > 2's, but it's on the defensive end where they (Rockets) lose it. Sengun and Capela having to leave the paint to contest 3-point shooters. If teams make the extra pass along the perimeter, it's too much territory for only 4 players to have to cover (Center playing Drop Coverage) vs true contenders with a multitude of 3-point shooters. But what do I know, I said the Suns would win 44 games (+/- wins margin of error) before the season began, when many experts said the Suns would be lucky to finish 13th or 14th in the West.
You can literally read Ime's mind: "If Fred was healthy, we'd have a few less turnovers. If Steven was healthy, we'd have a few more rebounds. And then we'd win these close games." 3pt shots never enter into the equation. If they did he would always have either Reed or Holiday out there.
Shooting 51% on midrange 2pt shots is the same as shooting only 34% from 3pt range. So, KD's efficiency is actually not helping all that much. 51x2=102 34x3=102 So you have to make 17 more shots to score the same amount of points....we are losing the math game. DD
Play Fred 40 minutes a game, and Steven Adams play 28 minutes per game.....until their wheels fall off. OMG.
Yep. This is why I'm so sure the Rockets will go after Giannis. Stone sat at the tanking table, played his hands, and only won a few role players. Now he's going to the aging veterans table to wager that Fred, Steven, KD, and Giannis will hold up. But it's all just gambling - there's no plan beyond that. And it's a total abdication of responsibility. We don't get Cade or Wemby? Just bad luck. Our vets break down? Just wasn't our year. There is no strategy, there are no contingencies, just a constantly spinning roulette wheel.
Giannis will not work with KD at all, only 1 ball. Giannis is a major no for almost all NBA teams no 33 year old ball hogging physically declining player is worth building around, he is done as a lead dog. DD
This was actually a great find. Thanks for pointing it out. The spacing is a bit different on the first play and I think that helped generate the open look. Notice how Bari is moving to the strong side corner while Amen is setting the screen. Looks like this helped keep his man attached to him, forcing Josh’s defender to be the low man. One thing I appreciate about the Harden / CP3 years was how everyone was how precise the spacing was. We didnt start plays until everyone was in the right spot. To be fair, it might not have mattered, Minny could have just instructed their guys to help off of Josh no matter what. Still cool to see our actions broken down like this.
np. I already recorded this sequence for posting this week. I’ve learned that our new plays, or new emphasis, are often tested at beginning of games, so I then look for them later. Likely what we’re seeing is Minny simply had a game plan to help off Okogie as general rule of thumb, since they did it both times. But that’s not really an important take-away for the coaches. They can’t get fixated in what one specific team might do or not do, when they are evaluating actions, they are more interested in if our players can utilize the various options in that action. and I think the two clips showed they can.
Where are these 3 point snipers that you speak of? These fools missing stationary 3s , now you want em pulling up in transition and running lol... I get that we need to try something else going into the playoffs but my gawd, this is basketball suicide to the eyes..
And you’re a nobody who sits on the couch with your phone on clutchfans every single day of your life calling professional coaches and players morons while having no credentials or experience
This is the fools gold that is KD. Don't get me wrong, I wanted KD here and was glad when we got him, but now I'm beginning to realize why he never scared me when we faced a KD led team. 3s are greater than 2s and even if he scores a high volume of 2s his teams are still likely to lose again decent high volume 3 point shooting teams. Except for that time he was on a team with Steph Curry. And I say this believing we are a potentially great team. I believe in all of our guys. I just want Ime to call DD and ask him what he should do against Denver. If Ime did that and listened to what DD said I think we would be ok. DD probably has a Powerpoint/Presi already to go with pictures of 3 pt lines and stats like the "51% on midrange 2pt shots is the same as shooting only 34% from 3pt range.
I have noticed that the Rockets run more plays for Amen now. I noted in my photo thread on the Rockets offense that they have ran a lot of simple high screen and roll with the 3 or 4 for Amen opening up driving lanes for him with options to the corner. They also run iso plays for him. They did say to the media they were trying to get him more involved and he’s been getting to the rim and making plays.
It's not about the threes, it's about not taking advantage of our youth. Amen should be running, not slowly bringing it up.
Another problem we have is that our "Big 3" are not really 3 point shooters. Even Jokic has a reliable 3. So there's that. So we'll likely play the Nuggets, whose coach values Reed more than Ime does, and Ime will sit Reed in favor of Okogie. Fun fun fun
I agree with the three point argument. We need to shoot 6.5 more threes to be around SA and OKC's level (not looking at pace). The only great team at the top of the league in attempts is Bos, maybe Cleveland. Cha became feared this year and they shoot the second most 3's a game and make 37.9% of them. We would crush if we could get to that level. But we'd have to shoot 12 more 3's a game and that's unlikely to me without big roster changes. Three point makes win and lose games in the league now. I don't think anything matters close to the impact of 3's and 3pt defense.
Only twice I remember they shot a good % from threes when launching so many. The other 3 times 17%-25%.
We went from full time small ball maximum 6’7 To full time monstars where the smallest starter is 6’7 instead of space and pace we’re going cramped and amped homie hit the half shot tonight, won 10k. Let’s sign him