Hoops Habit
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NBA recap: Rockets’ simple style of hoops, Hawks improving and more

By Michael Dugger

(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

This week’s NBA recap looks at the Houston Rockets’ simple style of basketball, the Atlanta Hawks’ improvements and much more.

There’s been plenty of conversation among NBA writers about the offensive style of James Harden and the Houston Rockets. They have been at the forefront of the analytics movement since Daryl Morey took over the front office with their uncanny commitment to shoot 3-pointers, shots at the rim and free throws.

They don’t swing the ball around the perimeter often, but rely on a singular player, Harden, to make all the decisions off the dribble. It’s the most difficult defensive assignment in the NBA at the moment to be isolated with Harden on the perimeter, even if you know he’s simply going to take you off the dribble or step back and attempt a 3-pointer. You make one mistake and you’ll get scored on or foul him, and the frustration over 48 minutes of the game slowly builds.

The quibbles about Harden’s game don’t make sense. If you have a player whose greatest strength is isolation basketball, why stray from it? It’s like having a Shaquille O’Neal or another dominant big and not tossing him the ball 30 times a game. Harden just does his scoring and getting opponents in foul trouble mostly from the perimeter and not the paint.

The simplicity of their system is what makes it so successful. Harden gets a screen and tries to get switched onto the opponent’s weakest defender then goes to work. If they double him, he is one of the best passers in the NBA and finds a rolling Clint Capela. Capela, an above-average passer for a big, either finishes it himself or kicks it to an open player spotting-up in the corner or perimeter. It’s really that simple.

The Rockets’ slow start had to do with finding the right rotational pieces. Daniel House Jr., Austin Rivers and James Ennis III are perfect off-ball fits for their system and replaced Carmelo Anthony’s minutes. Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker remain staples in the rotation along with Capela from last year’s Western Conference finalist team. Eric Gordon and Chris Paul are injured, yet the Rockets are 12-2 in their last 14 games.

Over that span, they lead the league in 3-points attempts per game (43.9), are fifth in 3-point percentage (38.0) and rank third in free throw attempts per game (27.6). More than half of their shot attempts come from the 3-point line. This is Morey’s dream, and he has a player he considers among the most gifted offensive players ever leading the charge.

It all comes back to James Harden. He’s now firmly in the MVP race once again, averaging 39.4 points, 9.2 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals over that 14-game stretch. He’s attempting 14.4 3-pointers and 13.4 free throws per game, producing highlight after highlight in the process.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1082630500982947840

He’s a gift to watch, whether you enjoy his style or not, and is leading the best team in the NBA over the last month, all while playing the game as simply as possible.