Tag: KCP

Salman Ali on Lakers-Rockets: “This Is Big Ball Vs. Micro Ball”

September 8, 2020 / Aaron Fischman / 0 Comments

Eric Gordon can make or break the Rockets’ chances of playoff survival according to Salman Ali (Keith Allison/Creative Commons).

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With the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers tied at one win apiece, Rockets reporter Salman Ali lends his insight and analysis about the intriguing matchup that’s only just begun. A General NBA writer for Clutch Points, Salman also covers the Rockets for the Red Nation Hoops Podcast, ESPN’s Houston-based FM station, and his own new Substack newsletter called “State of the Rockets.” In the series, he argues, two styles are pitted against each other: Big Ball vs. Micro Ball. Which does he believe will prevail? Tune in to find out.

*Time stamps may vary due to dynamic advertising:

8:00-8:59: “I think when the Lakers started trapping the Rockets yesterday, they were startled, and they hadn’t seen that defense in a long time. And I think Russ[ell Westbrook] just forgot how he usually attacks that defense, or at least he was as shell-shocked as the Rockets were…If you give them [the Rockets offense] time with it, they’re always gonna figure it out because they have so many shooters on the floor. That’s the benefit of trading Clint Capela for Robert Covington. You’re always gonna have more shooters on the floor no matter what roster you throw out there.”

12:52-14:04: “Eric Gordon is a huge X factor for the Rockets, not only in this series but in the playoffs because his 3-point shooting and his drives to the basket unlock so much for them. The Rockets aren’t playing this style of basketball unless they have Eric Gordon on the perimeter. Point blank, he makes a lot of this possible for them…The reason I believe this is a bad matchup for the Lakers is because the Rockets and their floor spacing and the way they play just force so many mismatches for the Lakers. And if they’re hitting their shots, there’s not really a defense the Lakers can utilize that will stop them.” Continue reading

Dan Feldman: Pistons’ Andre Drummond Is a “Work in Progress”

January 10, 2017 / Joshua Fischman / 0 Comments

Feldman calls Drummond the best Piston since Chauncey Billups but recognizes that there are still improvements to be made (Keith Allison/Flickr).

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Last time Dan Feldman of NBC Sports’ Pro Basketball Talk joined the podcast, he detailed the Pistons’ inconsistency. Again, a season later, Feldman breaks down the team’s streakiness and many other salient issues, including Stan Van Gundy’s unique brand of leadership, Reggie Jackson’s improving play, and why star center Andre Drummond can, at times, be so frustrating to watch. Here are some excerpts to get your engine revving:

1:50-1:58: During the recent 3-9 skid: “The entire difference almost was defensively. They went from defending like, give or take, the best team in the league to defending like the worst team in the league.”

7:55-8:27: “One thing that is helping [Tobias Harris] is that when you start the game, the Pistons want to get touches for Reggie Jackson. They want to get Marcus Morris involved. They’re running more plays for KCP. They’re running more plays for Andre Drummond. They’ve got to get all these guys involved… When [Tobias Harris] comes off the bench, it’s his turn to get involved. There’s no ambiguity of, ‘Hey is it my turn or is it somebody else’s turn?’ When he comes in, it’s his turn; he can get going and get into a rhythm. He’s a talented player and a good scorer and when he’s the focal point, that’s something that works for him.”

Dan Feldman Gives Pistons a “Coin-Flip Chance” to Make Playoffs

March 2, 2016 / Loren Chen / 0 Comments

At only 22, Andre Drummond has become a dominant force in the NBA. (Keith Allison/Flickr)

At only 22, Andre Drummond has already become a dominant force in the NBA (Keith Allison/Flickr).

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Hovering just around .500, the Detroit Pistons are probably the streakiest team in the NBA this season, amassing long winning and losing streaks alike. However, for all the team’s inconsistency, Detroit remains in the thick of the playoff race. Dan Feldman of NBC Sports’ Pro Basketball Talk joins the show to dissect Andre Drummond’s historic dominance, Detroit’s team-building strategy under Stan Van Gundy, Reggie Jackson’s continual growth and so much more. Choice excerpts are below:

4:25-6:00 On Andre Drummond’s free-throw shooting and where he fits in the modern NBA:

“I think a lot of fans get worked up on, ‘How could you give a max contract to a guy who makes 40 percent of his free throws?’ I just think it’s just nitpicking one thing because it’s so easy to diagnose… It’s so much harder to assess the other things he does well that I think the free-throw shooting has taken an outsized part of assessing his game… But it’s so helpful to have one guy you can run the pick and roll with, who can finish at the rim, who can defend the rim. He really fits as this modern center if you have the pieces around him. He’s definitely someone you can build around.”

7:15-8:05 On the short- and long-term effects of acquiring Tobias Harris at the trade deadline:

“It’ll take some adjustments to make him an ideal fit in this system. He’s going to have to become a better 3-point shooter, and I think he can. He’s been somebody who’s been streaky. But I think once there’s a comfort level… in the long run, this could really work… It was probably the biggest steal of the trade deadline week.”
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Tag: KCP

Salman Ali on Lakers-Rockets: “This Is Big Ball Vs. Micro Ball”

Dan Feldman: Pistons’ Andre Drummond Is a “Work in Progress”

Dan Feldman Gives Pistons a “Coin-Flip Chance” to Make Playoffs

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