James Harden Houston Rockets Isolation Set Play

Billy Donovan Florida Gators Basketball Playbook

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Set Plays

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May 28, 2015

James Harden Houston Rockets Isolation Set Play

The Houston rockets advanced to the western conference finals this year, in large part to their offensive system dubbed “morey ball.” the theory is to avoid contests two point jump shots and attack the rim with multiple pick and rolls and great spacing. With this spacing they allow their offense to attack in different ways and against multiple styles of defense. The Golden State Warriors are one of the best defensive teams, 1st in the NBA this season, that can defend in different ways. The rockets combat the style the Warriors play with different formations and having 3-4 shooters on the floor at all times, creating hard rotations. This is not the only strength of the Rockets on offense, their star player James harden is one of the best scorers in the NBA and Coach Mchale runs a great isolation set for him to attack out of.

James Harden attacking defenses in space has been a key this year. He is incredible in isolation situations, and can attack with various moves and against any defender. The Golden State Warriors have defended Harden with three to four defenders throughout this series and against favorable matchups (usually Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes) they run this middle isolation set.
The rockets have not run this set much in this years playoffs, but in their last game down 0-3 and trying to avoid elimination McHale turned to this set 3 times. A guard cuts across the court, as the two big men exchange and the 4 man (usually josh smith) pops to the wing. As 4 cuts to the wing, 1 cuts through to the ballside corner, and 5 (Dwight Howard) sets a down screen for James Harden who flashes to the middle of the floor for an isolation. The other players play off Harden and move around to not allow the defense to sit and wait for him to attack. Sometimes the point guard and four man interchange on the wing, and other times the low men clear out to provide more space. Look for the Rockets to go to this set in the next matchup, it may be key to allow Harden to attack the multiple defenders the Warriors utilize.

James Harden

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