Bucks’ defense a tall task for Rockets

When the Bucks stifled the Rockets’ offense last season in a sweep of two games much was made of their defensive technique.

In the two wins, including a blowout in Milwaukee when the Rockets scored just 94 points, guards played next to or even behind James Harden to take away his step-back 3-pointer and big men dropped to the rim.

The Rockets, who face the Bucks in Thursday’s season opener, argued Milwaukee’s success was about something other than strategy.

“More than anything, they were really good defensively,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It was a different look. Sometimes, that takes a little while to get adjusted to. Again, it comes down to personnel. They have long guys that make it hard for anybody whatever scheme they play.”

Harden said he did not pick up useful ideas about how to attack the Bucks’ defensive schemes.

“Not really, other than they beat us twice,” he said of mental notes taken from those games. “We want to get a win, especially on opening night. Honestly, we’re not focused on any other team. It’s a long season. We’re going to have a lot of different opponents.

We’re just focused on ourselves and getting better and trying to find a rhythm and a groove we can get to.

“I work on every aspect of my game. I just take what the defense gives me. I don’t control what they do defensively. In the summertime, when I’m working on my game, I’m working on what I might see defensively, whether it’s my floater, whether it’s my step-back, when it’s my handles. In the course of the game, whatever they give me, I just try my instincts.”

Harden, P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon combined to made 2 of 22 3-pointers in Milwaukee, but the Rockets said better looks could come from playing with greater pace.

“I just think Milwaukee is a great team,” said Gordon, who played in one of the games against the Bucks last season, missing all seven of his shots while trying to play through a sprained right ankle in Milwaukee. “They have a lot of size and they’re a really good defensive team.

“They played us kind of differently than a lot of teams last year. We just have to play basketball. We’ve got to take the best opportunity of shot and we have to play fast. When we play fast, I don’t care what defense (an opponent) tries to play.”