Game #52: Toronto Raptors 115 - Indiana Pacers 106

[planetmars]

I think the type of guys who will really expose it are big strong dudes who actually play with their back to the basket. AD doesn't really play like that. Embiid, Jokic even J.V could just back down P.J tucker and score baby hooks all day. Nugs may actually be the team houston wants to avoid. Not only can Jokic just back you down, if you send the double he will burn you with the pass

It's more about defense than offense though. Is Jokic fast enough to slide over to the wing to cover a shooter, and then run back to the paint to prevent a layup/dunk? It's a tough system to defend.

[planetmars]

The Drummonds and the Whitesides watch the experiment nervously, as their careers hang in the balance

Drummond probably already learned his lesson at the deadline. He got traded for a really bad poo poo platter, and got moved to Cleveland of all teams. Can't get worse than that.

[bertarapsfan]

The Drummonds and the Whitesides watch the experiment nervously, as their careers hang in the balance

I think the type of guys who will really expose it are big strong dudes who actually play with their back to the basket. AD doesn't really play like that. Embiid, Jokic even J.V could just back down P.J tucker and score baby hooks all day. Nugs may actually be the team houston wants to avoid. Not only can Jokic just back you down, if you send the double he will burn you with the pass

[planetmars]

I saw the first 2.5 quarters of that game.. Houston and LA were pretty close when I logged off.. so they must have had a big run in the 4th. They are a lot of fun to watch. The 5 out system with two dominant ISO scorers, and 3 guys that can shoot is actually a lot of fun.

LA had their way in the paint, but everyone knows how to box out. There is a reason why Russ and Harden average triple doubles. Covington was a really good get. He can stay in his lane.. cover the best player on the other side and shoot. He'll get a lot of open looks.

For a team defending the 5 out system you have to really be okay with surrendering points in the paint or have bigs be agile enough to run to the middle to try and protect the rim. You can't let the guys in the corner be open for too long. You also need really good perimeter defense to try and contain Russ and Harden from making you look silly.

Anyway I'm glad they're out West.. and I'm happy that they've changed their style. The old give the Harden the ball and set a screen system was extremely boring.

[KeonClark]

lol fuck is this actually going to work for the rockets? They just beat one of the 3 potential playoffs teams with a dominant center on the road.

The Drummonds and the Whitesides watch the experiment nervously, as their careers hang in the balance

[G__Deane]

I sense more of a blowout one way or the other, after the last 1 point edge-of-your-seater

[LJ2]

lol fuck is this actually going to work for the rockets? They just beat one of the 3 potential playoffs teams with a dominant center on the road.

Yeah but it was the Lakers who are a lot like the Raptors in that they seem to win all the games against sub .500 teams and lose the majority to the good teams.

[Gonzz]

Jclaw go for that bakers dozen! That’s the first thing I thought of.

[golden]

Who needs load management? Not JClaw. Dude is showing no signs of fatigue. Friday the 13th... ftw.

[DanH]

JClaw, this is some impressive stuff. Usually I’d say that if you barely sneak out the win at home you’ll likely lose on the road, but the Pacers losing like that must be devastating to the confidence. Go get another one.

[inthepaint]

If we win tonight we'll be tied for 2nd most W's in the league. Pacers will come out guns blazing with and with a lockdown focus on defence though, they now lost 3 in a row including a game to the Knicks and that 1pt loss to us, so it will be really tough. Certainly winnable though.

[chris]

This Houston team is wild, so unlike any other team in the league. They’re just playing five guys on the perimeter, barely using any screens

Insane, their tallest starter was 6'6" and the tallest guy to play so far is Robert Covington.

How does AD not have a billion points? That man is a 7 footer who still wants to be a point guard. He could be even better than he is if he played his size.

lol fuck is this actually going to work for the rockets? They just beat one of the 3 potential playoffs teams with a dominant center on the road.

i've never seen a team make such sweeping stylistic changes in-season. they went from being the most onerous, impossible-to-watch team to one of the most enjoyable almost overnight.

that whole game was reminiscent of when they killed us with wide open corner 3's earlier this season, except those were created because we trapped harden as soon as he crossed half-court. now they can create them just by opening up the middle and letting harden and westbrook get downhill.

d'antoni really is a genius. he is andy reid without his super bowl yet. i hope he gets one one day.

it will fail this year and he'll probably get fired for it, but that doesn't mean it was the wrong approach or wasn't worth trying. just don't think the personnel is quite good enough against the LA teams. but it will be fun to watch.

[GOLDBLUM]

One of the all time great game threads. Bravo J

[MixxAOR]

lol fuck is this actually going to work for the rockets? They just beat one of the 3 potential playoffs teams with a dominant center on the road.

fucking Rockets are going to destroy centre position

[bertarapsfan]

lol fuck is this actually going to work for the rockets? They just beat one of the 3 potential playoffs teams with a dominant center on the road.