More than luxury brands can drive lane
Offense designed to give Westbrook space helps others
When Russell Westbrook returns to the Rockets’ practices Wednesday, he will look up to see the lane wide open and no center anywhere near the paint should he choose to attack off the dribble as he often does.
This will not be a new development and was probably not forgotten while his arrival at the NBA restart training camp was delayed by league protocols after a positive COVID-19 test.
It turns out there was no center near the lane — save occasional turns on the floor for Tyson Chandler — when Westbrook was away and Austin Rivers had the ball. Or Danuel House Jr. Or Eric Gordon.
The style change five months and nine restart practices ago that was designed in large part to exploit Westbrook’s explosiveness or James Harden’s power off the dribble could benefit more than the headliners and has been on display in workouts so far.
“If there is a big guy stationed in there, sometimes it’s hard to get yourself going, especially if you’re a role player, because all he’s getting is a few opportunities here and there,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “If you have an opportunity to get to the rim and get an easy bucket and get yourself going, that should benefit those guys a lot, I think.
“We’re always trying to do that. I just think the lanes are open, and they see it, and it’s just a natural thing. Like Austin, the best part of his game is driving. Eric Gordon, a great part of his game is going to the rim. Danuel House getting to the rim more is better. James is always going to score, but getting to the rim and getting to the foul line, he can be even more efficient. He’s very efficient but can be even better.”
The Rockets have the secondrated offense in the NBA this season, but general manager Daryl Morey said he expects to have the top-ranked offense in the postseason. Freeing role players to go beyond catch-and-shoot duties playing off the headliners could do that.
Since the Rockets’ move to playing without a center in the wake of Clint Capela’s injury and subsequent trade, they are fifth in the
NBA in drives per game and No. 1 in points scored off drives. (The Rockets are 20th in points in the paint, averaging two fewer per game since the lineup change.)
Westbrook’s play in that stretch has a lot to do with it. While Harden, who will lead the NBA in scoring for a third consecutive season, is the league’s top scorer on drives, Westbrook leads since the start of 2020 and since the Rockets’ lineup change.
There is reason to believe opening the court can work for more than just the MVP backcourt.
“For sure, with the style of play we have now, the floor is very open,” Rivers said. “I think other than Russ, I’m the best at getting to the basket on the team. I think I’m one of the better guys in the NBA at getting to the basket, and I play with the best guy at getting to the basket, and that’s Russell. The way we play, it’s just so easy. And then if someone helps and they converge, we have shooters all around. So I’m definitely looking forward to getting to that when this restart happens.
“With Russ not being here, I’ve been able to play with both units. I usually play with the second unit a lot and mix in with the first unit. There will be games I’ll be out there at the end and there will be four or five guards out there.”
Though getting Westbrook up to speed by the start of the postseason next month will be a greater priority, practices without him have offered a chance for other players to find ways to use the wide-open spaces in the Rockets’ offense.
Though there has not been a greater emphasis on using the spacing since it comes automatically without a center on the floor, the Rockets have stressed playing faster, making decisions more quickly, and getting more of their 3-pointers off drive-and-kick rather than perimeter passing. All of that comes by attacking off the dribble.
“It allows us to focus on some of the concepts we would be talking about during the season, but when you can practice some and talk about more, then every day that goes by, they get more comfortable with that,” D’Antoni said. “I think it’s definitely beneficial, and it does help other guys. Jeff Green’s playing real well right now. It helps Eric and James and everybody else to be able to play with a wide-open floor and do what they do best.
“Because James and Russell have the ball, it’ll help them the most, but in percentage, it helps everybody about the same. Hopefully, it will help everybody.”