The Houston Rockets have always been trend-setters. Under the leadership of general manager Daryl Morey, Houston led the charge toward modernizing the NBA by emphasizing three-pointers, layups, and running the floor. James Harden, whose instincts were already primed for such a style, turned into one of the NBA’s most lethal scorers once he was traded to Houston by completely cutting the mid-range jumpers out of his diet.
Pace, three-point attempts, and shots at the rim skyrocketed in the intervening years. Most of the league tried to catch up to the Rockets by emphasizing ball movement and introducing intricate sets to open players up in high-leverage areas. Efficiency skyrocketed. The resultant increase in movement, some speculate, might be a cause for the rise serious non-contact injuries plaguing the league. This modern style forces every player on the court to be been responsible for doing so many more things at once than ever before.
Much more at the quote.
From a writing standpoint, I love what Seerat Sohi did to open the article. He shows a step-by-step possession by the Milwaukee Bucks in that recent game which resulted in a Bucks three...and then illustrates Houston's response beautifully. On a purely aesthetic level that was a brilliant way to combine prose with the visual aid of a video clip. Well done, indeed!
This is a good breakdown of how the Rockets system has evolved, and I think that the article should be another bullet point for an MDA Coach of the Year vote, and even moreso a Daryl Morey Executive of the Year vote.
