There was a 10 second pause in the Zoom press conference Sunday as Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul mulled over the question: how to slow down Houston Rockets guard and former teammate James Harden.
It’s not quite clear how much of that pause was because he doesn’t know — no one truly does — and how much because he didn’t want to let any of the game plan slip.
“Um … yeah, uh… you gotta, you gotta, you know, try to … I don’t know. We’ve got different ideas over here,” he said.
In the typical transcription of quotes for an article, the first half of what Paul said, as he stuttered through the “um”s, would have been chopped off.
With this upcoming opponent, though, what Paul didn’t say feels more important than what he did.
In averaging 34.3 points per game, Harden joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only two players to ever average that many points in multiple seasons.
Harden, Jordan, Kevin Durant and George Gervin are the only players since the 1976 NBA/ABA merger to win the scoring title three years in a row.
Defenders can’t play too tight on Harden — he has perfected his step-back and draws fouls on 3-point shots better than any player ever. If he doesn’t shoot, he’ll drive, drawing help and then often either getting fouled or kicking it out to a shooter. Don’t back off, or else he’ll simply pull up himself.
“He’s unbelievable. The way he scores the ball, the way he’s constantly, you know, step-backs, whether it’s to the free throw line or what not, he just has a unique way of making sure he scores on a nightly basis,” Paul said.
So what are some of these “different ideas” that Paul alluded to?
Head coach Billy Donovan mentioned that because of how much the Rockets switch on defense, Oklahoma City’s own matchups will get crossed up in transition.
The Thunder are better equipped to handle this than most teams, though.
Chris Paul remains an excellent defender. Dennis Schroder can guard three positions, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has good size at guard that gives him switchability.
The versatility of the defenders throughout their rotation allows the Thunder to have less concern than other teams might, even if the matchup isn’t perfect.
Darius Bazley can play up to center even against some normally constructed rosters his 6-foot-8 height and 7-foot wingspan. Hamidou Diallo, with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, can reasonably be asked to play possessions against any of the five Rockets positions.
Terrance Ferguson will likely be assigned a lot of the time on Harden, especially with Lu Dort’s status in question, and he’s a reliable enough defender to match up against anyone in the Rockets’ starting lineup.
If Donovan is comfortable playing Andre Roberson, he too can guard all five Rockets positions.
Danilo Gallinari is the stretch-four that the Rockets dream of having.
Center Steven Adams and backup Nerlens Noel are the two players who will be most stuck defensively, but Donovan expects them to produce.
“Although people say (the Rockets are) small, I do think they have great length and great physicality,” Donovan said. “We’re gonna need everybody, based on what the game is dictating. I do believe Steven and Nerlens can contribute.”
Maybe simply allowing the game to dictate matchups can be beneficial to the Thunder. The Rockets want Harden to attack Bazley instead of Ferguson? Fine, let them, and focus on getting the defense in good position to help instead of scrambling in transition.
Houston wants Oklahoma City to take mid-range jumpers? Good, that’s what the Thunder are best at. Let Paul take those 2s. Get it to Adams down low. Have Schroder and Gilgeous-Alexander drive to the lane and get to the free throw line.
While Donovan did not go into specific game planning, he addressed needs different than basic scoring: Defend tightly, but don’t foul. Rebound well, and prevent Houston from getting offensive boards.
And keep the ball safe. The Rockets averaged 10.8 steals and 22.6 points off turnovers in the last eight games, both of which were the most in the bubble.
“When you look at what you’re saying — ‘OKC takes non-paint 2s with some of their guards, these guys take 3s’ — well, there’s a whole nother other variable to that too,” Donovan said.
“There’s a lot of things that go into it besides just the shots that are going up from non-paint 2 or 3s.”
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