They are the easiest team to scout because they have the smallest playbook and are lackadaisically coached. It’s as close to pickup basketball as there is in the NBA…I don’t think we’ll see the Orlando version of Dwight Howard again. The Magic built the team around Howard, and Stan Van Gundy created a strong defensive philosophy and held him accountable. Those things aren’t in place in Houston, which doesn’t have a stretch four to pair with Howard and is asking him to cover for too many defensive mistakes from teammates.
Playing with James Harden, who dominates many possessions, can be tough for Howard, who can’t go get the ball himself. Defenders are so mindful of Harden’s shooting that they get off balance, and when he sees that, he’s savvy about jumping in, flailing his arms and getting the call. Teams typically put their best defender on Harden, but a few of those whistles can take that guy out of the game.
Harden is lazy defensively, but you don’t see Kevin McHale put his foot down…Teams with good fours-and there are a lot of them in the West-will continue to give the Rockets trouble defensively, especially now that Omer Asik [who was traded to New Orleans] isn’t around to take on a tough matchup if Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas struggle.