Hoop Vision

The 2017 Houston Rockets contributed to a revolution in basketball that has lasted to this day. Led by the greatest offensive player I’ve ever seen over a two year span, James Harden. The combination of coach Mark D’Antoni, and general manager Daryl Morey, embraced an offensive system based on five out sets along with pick and roll, putting extreme emphasis on corner threes and layups. This system that was based highly on analytics, allowed them to compete with teams like the Warriors although they had far inferior talent. Although they never achieved ultimate team success, aspects of their model should be used to create a numbers advantage over opponents. Where Houston went wrong was their complete dependence on analytics, instead of using feel and intuition at times. Their heavy dependence on threes led to unprecedented cold spells that ultimately led to their downfall. In part Houston’s dominance was due to James Harden’s offensive prowess, averaging 36 points per game in the 18-19 season. His combination of scoring and facilitating was optimal for the team, keeping teammates involved while also scoring in bunches. Harden created such a problem for teams that defenders began to play defense on his side to prevent his step back threes. Harden’s offense along with support from Chris Paul, and role players like PJ Tucker, Trevor Ariza and Clint Capela were a combination of players perfectly suited for their roles. By using aspects of the Rockets system NBA front offices can gain advantages over their opponents but, a balance has to be facilitated that also includes basketball feel and intuition that’s developed through experience.