The wonder of microball

In the NBA, “small ball” has gotten even smaller so that now, the Houston Rockets are employing “microball” with 6-5 P. J. Tucker playing center on a team that relies on perimeter shooting, slashing and kick-outs. Entering the playoffs, the Rockets are No. 2 in offense, averaging 117.8 points but a lowly No. 23 in defense, giving up 114.8 a game. They’re taking 45.3 and making 15.6 threes an outing – the most of any team in the league – but the downside is their three-point shooting marksmanship, 34.5 percent, is only No. 24 in the standings.

Houston coach Mike D’Antoni, 69, is the oldest mentor left among the bubble survivors in the 16-team playoffs. San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, 71, has left Florida after the Spurs failed to advance beyond the seeding games. Another senior coach New Orleans’ Alvin Gentry, 65, has also packed his bags from the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. The bad news for Gentry is he’s just been fired and L. A. Clippers assistant coach Tyronn Lue, who was once LeBron James’ whipping boy at Cleveland, is rumored to be a candidate for the vacant job.

The Rockets face Oklahoma City in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs and D’Antoni, wiser with age, is hoping to outsmart Thunder coach Billy Donovan by sticking to his “microball” system. With Tucker at center, Donovan is enticed to go to 6-11 Steven Adams as the focus of his offense because of the mismatch inside. D’Antoni knows Adams won’t beat Houston by himself so he’d rather the New Zealander get his touches than Chris Paul. Once Adams gets the ball at the low block, expect the Rockets to swarm all over him. Adams isn’t a brilliant passer, averaging 2.3 assists, so D’Antoni will take his chances to gobble him up even if the big guy is able to release to an open man.

During the regular season, OKC beat Houston twice in three games.  For sure, the Rockets won’t silence the Thunder without Russell Westbrook who’s norming 27.2 points, 7 rebounds and 7.9 assists. Westbrook is recovering from a quad strain and may miss up to three games of the playoffs. By the time he suits up, it may be too late for the Rockets to recover. James Harden is an exceptional gunner. He’s No. 1 in the league in scoring, averaging 34.3 points and shooting 86.5 percent from the line. In the bubble, The Beard hit at a 35.3 clip. But without Westbrook, not even Harden can get the Rockets to win consistently. Houston lost its last three games in the bubble, two without Westbrook. Against Indiana last Aug. 12, Harden erupted for 45 points, knocking down 7-of-14 treys, but the Rockets still lost to the Pacers, 108-104 as Westbrook was out of commission.

Thabo Sefolosha could’ve helped with his wing defense and aggressiveness off the boards but he opted out of the bubble. D’Antoni has 7-foot Tyson Chandler, a 37-year-old veteran, to call on to protect the rim but he doesn’t fit in the “microball” framework. D’Antoni, who used to play in the Italian league, likes “positionless” players who can move anywhere on the court and be a threat. Chandler is purely a center and unable to play multiple positions. Eric Gordon will help in the backcourt but with Harden playing both No. 1 and No. 2, his game adjusts to what The Beard wants to do, meaning he’ll play second fiddle.

OKC isn’t as offense-minded as Houston but compensates by playing tougher defense, giving up 108.4 a game, No. 7 in the league. If the Thunder manages to limit Houston to less than 110 a contest, OKC raises its probability of winning. The man who makes the Thunder roar is Paul who’s only the team’s fourth leading scorer behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dennis Schroeder and Danilo Gallinari. CP3 is averaging 17.6 points, 5 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Donovan has the pieces to repulse Houston but it remains to be seen if he can outwit the oldest remaining coach in the bubble.