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Hidden Advantages Houston Rockets Have in the Playoffs
ByKenny DeJohn(Featured Columnist) on April 6
http://0rz.tw/UAvTC

The Houston Rockets have more advantages than what's on the surface
in the 2012-13 playoffs. These hidden advantages should help to give
Houston a fighting chance against the tougher teams of the
Western Conference.

As the No. 7 seed, the Rockets will play the West's No. 2 seed in
the first-round of the playoffs. That team is currently the Oklahoma
City Thunder, though they are just 0.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs
for the top spot in the conference. The Rockets will have to capitalize
on every little advantage they have if they want to pull off the
first-round upset.

Several of Houston's advantages are obvious. For starters, they have
a superstar in James Harden that can take over games.
Their offense also ranks amongst the top in the NBA (106.0 points per game),
and their bench has the depth necessary to succeed.

It's the hidden advantages that will give the Rockets an edge in the playoffs,
though.

火箭隊今年比去年在季後賽相對更有優勢。
而這些隱藏的優勢應該能幫助火箭隊去挑戰西區更難纏的對手。
以目前第七種子的成績，將會在第一輪面對到第二種子(OKC or SPURS)。
火箭需要將所有優勢最大化來免於第一輪被淘汰的命運。

目前火箭有幾點較明顯的優勢:
1.有如HARDEN這種超級球星的先發陣容。
2.聯盟頂級的火力，場均106pts/Per Game
3.有足夠的板凳深度取得勝利。(我個人對這點有小問號)

除此之外，火箭還有其他隱藏優勢。


Greg Smith and Patrick Beverley

As good as Harden and Chandler Parsons have been offensively this
season, Greg Smith and Patrick Beverley have gone relatively
unnoticed in terms of their scoring abilities.

Their offensive ratings (ORtg) have been off the charts.
Actually, Smith's ORtg (125.7) and Beverley's ORtg (115.7) rank first
and third on the team, respectively (Harden's ORtg of 117.7 ranks second).

Offensive rating is simply the number of points a player would score
per 100 possessions.
This statistic has to do with a player's scoring efficiency
(though that is also it's own statistic), though it is effective
because it neglects how many minutes a player plays per contest.

今年HARDEN與CP在進攻面的表現十分優秀搶眼。
而相對於G.SMITH與PB在得分能力上，普遍被忽略了。
以ORTG的數據來看每個隊員的表現:
＊註:我已將數據更新與原文不同，並列舉前十名。
NO.1 - G.Smith       [127]
NO.2 - James Harden  [117]
NO.3 - PB            [117]
NO.4 - GARCIA        [115]
NO.5 - CP            [113] 原為離隊的PPT
NO.6 - DEFINO        [108]
NO.7 - J.ANDERSON    [108]
NO.8 - TJ            [107]
NO.9 - LIN           [106]
NO.10- ASIK          [106]

ORTG:該球員在100次進攻回合中能取的得分預估值。
這個數據對於一個球員的進攻效率評估算是非常有效的。
因為他不受該球員的場均上場時間受影響，比較客觀。

Smith and Beverley have been stellar off the bench for Houston.
Both players have different roles on the team, even though each player
averages under 17.0 minutes per game.

Smith, a low-post player, has been incredibly efficient this season.
His player efficiency rating (PER) of 16.2 ranks third on the team.
His field-goal percentage of 62.5 is tops on the team. Smith has been
invaluable because of the production he gives the team either starting
at power forward or spelling Omer Asik at center.

Beverley, the team's No. 2 point guard, is generally praised for
his perimeter defense. He's been quite good offensively as well.

This will surprise many people. He's shooting just 39.7 percent from
the floor and 38 percent from deep. That doesn't matter, though.
He's actually an efficient scorer and is a good replacement for
Jeremy Lin when he's on the bench.

Having strong role players coming off the bench is a huge advantage for Houston.
While they won't be playing many minutes, Smith and Beverley will be
a part of the regular rotation. In the playoffs, every minute is a big minute.
Their production will not go unnoticed, but it may not be recognized
until after a game or two.

Smith與PB已經成為板凳席上不可或缺的重要角色。
他們的場均上場時間都在17分左右。＊註:Smith MP15.3 PB MP17.2

Smith在扮演一位低位球員上，本季有難以置信的優秀表現。
他的PER值16.4名列球隊第二名，他的FG%62.5名列第一。
而他在近期以先發PF身分上場(與Asik搭配)的表現，帶給全隊難以估價的價值。

PB，球隊中的第一替補PG，他被廣為稱讚的是他的防守能力。
而他在進攻端的表現是一樣優秀的。
他有著FG% 0.419 3PTG% 0.384的驚人表現。＊註數據已更新，與原文不同。
所以他不但是一個非常有效率的得分手，也是JLIN休息時的稱職替補。

擁有強大的板凳角色球員，對火箭隊來說是一大優勢。
雖然他們並沒有非常多的上場時間(林迷表示:...)，但絕對是正常輪替的一部份。
況且，在季後賽的每一分每一秒都十分關鍵。
他們的表現或許將不會再繼續被忽略，但也很難在一兩場比賽中被發現。

＊註:我已將數據更新與原文不同，並列舉前十名。
PER:該球員每分鐘的產值 (聯盟平均值為15)
NO.1 - James Harden   [23.3]
NO.2 - G.Smith        [16.4]
NO.3 - PB             [16.2]
NO.4 - TJ             [15.5] 與已離隊的PPT並列
NO.5 - CP             [15.1]
NO.6 - LIN            [15.1]
NO.7 - ASIK           [15.1]
NO.8 - J.ANDERSON     [14.0]
NO.9 - Garcia         [13.8]
NO.10- DEFINO         [13.3]

Not Allowing Many Offensive Rebounds

Rebounding in general is a relative advantage for the Rockets.
They are ninth in the NBA with 43.3 rebounds per game and a differential
of plus-two.
That can be seen by simply viewing the stat sheet, however.
The Rockets' hidden advantage in rebounding comes from digging a little deeper.

As a team, Houston doesn't grab all that many offensive boards.
Their mark of 11.1 puts them 17th in the league. They allow just 10.4
offensive boards per game, however,
and this is good enough for fourth-lowest in the NBA.

This is almost entirely because of Omer Asik's dominance on the glass.
Asik is the NBA's second-leading rebounder with 11.6 per game.
His ability to box out defenders and prevent them from getting
second-chance opportunities has been one of the lone bright spots
for Houston's defense.

Houston's ability to limit second-chance opportunities for their opponents
will prove valuable in the playoffs. Teams like the Thunder and the Spurs
cannot be given second chances at scoring. They are almost certain to
capitalize on those opportunities given their skills on offense.

Asik can't be the only guy working hard down low, though. Smith,
Donatas Motiejunas and Thomas Robinson all have to work to box out
their assignments and prevent them from getting position under the glass.
Even the "little" guys need to box out their assignments, especially those
on the perimeter.

Jump-shooting teams often produce longer rebounds. Allowing opposing guards
to grab those long boards can kill the Rockets
(or any team, for that matter) going forward.

鞏固籃板對於火箭隊來說也是優勢之一。
團隊籃板場均為43.3名列聯盟第七，而進攻籃板則沒那麼優秀。
以上數據是非常容易被理解的，但還有更深層的涵義在裡面。

對於火箭隊來說，他們並沒有抓下許多進攻籃板。
場均進攻籃板為11.2名列聯盟第十七，然而他們只讓對手抓下了場均10.4顆進攻籃板。
這對整體身高排名第四矮的火箭隊來說，已經是夠優秀了。

而這大部分的功勞都要歸功於ASIK在禁區的統治力，ASIK的場均籃板11.6名列聯盟第二。
他在籃下的卡位能力以及阻擋對手二次進攻的能力，是火箭隊防守的孤星淚。

火箭隊在限制對方二次進攻的能力將在季後賽有極大的價值體現。
＊註：被對手抓進攻籃板場均10.52，排名聯盟第四低。
當面對到像OKC或者SPURS這種球隊，你絕對不能給他有二次進攻的機會。
而對手肯定會充分利用這些機會去展現他們的進攻能力。

當然ASIK不能再繼續孤軍奮戰，不論是內線球員如:Smith，DMO，T-ROB，
甚至連後場球員，都要做好卡位的工作，誓死讓敵人遠離禁區。
＊註:DMO場均籃板輸PB 0.5顆 ~ 冏。

通常像火箭隊這種善於跳投的球隊，都會有給予對方後場球員搶到長籃板的機會。
如果我們後場不把該對位球員卡好，讓對方搶到長籃板進而被反快攻 = 冏。
＊註：火箭隊令人詬病的transition denfense。

James Harden's Willingness to Dish the Ball

The ball is in James Harden's hands a lot—28.61 percent of the time
he's on the floor, to be exact.
While his primary job is to score (obviously),
he's also done a nice job distributing the ball to his teammates.

On the season, he sports an assist percentage (AST%) of 25.75.
This means that Harden has assisted on nearly 26 percent of the shots
made by his teammates per game. He averages 5.89 assists per game,
just below Lin's team-leading 6.08.

Harden's willingness to pass gives the Rockets an element that's
different from other teams with big-name superstars. Generally speaking,
superstars look to shoot much more often than they look to pass.
Harden has recognized open teammates this season and that has resulted
in his high assist percentage.

Harden's skills at orchestrating the offense will be important to the success
of the Rockets in the playoffs. One scorer can't get it done,
so he'll have to look to Chandler Parsons, Asik and Lin to help
on the offensive end.

If Harden continues to set up his teammates like he has thus far,
the Rockets can use that to their advantage.

James Harden在場上時，他的USG%28.7排名全隊第一，也就是進攻第一選擇。
＊註：Usage (USG%)- 100 * ((Field Goal Attempts + 0.44 * Free Throw Attempts +
 Turnovers) * (Team Minutes Played/5)) / (Minutes Played *
(Team Field Goal Attempts + 0.44 * Team Free Throw Attempts + Team Turnovers)
(看不懂 冏)

A player's usage is derived by calculating the percent of plays used
by a specific player when he is on the floor.
(USG用來計算單一球員在球場上參與每次進攻的比率，內含FG，FT，TO)


當然身為一個專業的SG，他的首要任務就是得分。
但他在傳導與助攻方面的能力也十分優秀。

James Harden的AST%25.8排名全隊第第三。＊註：馬查多跟小AB出場時間太少不予參考。
AST%25.8的意義在於:當HARDEN在場上時，其他隊友受到他助攻而得分比率佔總得分約26%。
而HARDEN的場均助功為5.9Asts，僅次於排名第一的J.Lin(6.1Asts)。

James Harden的樂於分享球權為火箭隊注入新的元素。
一般來說，在其他球隊的超級球星會更重視出手次數更甚於傳球。
而HARDEN這季的表現則是更著重於傳導讓隊友們出手，產生多點開花的效果 = 高AST%。

當然扮演球隊進攻主旋律角色的HARDEN在季後賽很重要。
但籃球是團隊的運動，無法靠一人ISO帶領球隊走向勝利的道路。
所以HARDEN勢必要借重無論是CP，LIN，ASIK..等其他人來完成進攻的拼圖。
如果HARDEN在季後賽仍能如此建立和隊友間的良好化學效應，這將是季後賽的利多。

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＊編按1:LIN的USG%20.6，扣除離隊球員與小AB+新人T.O排名全隊第四，先發第二。
  老實說有點低，僅高於聯盟PG平均USG%19.94一點點。
  如果把條件限制在已出賽30+，場均時間30Mins+的主力PG，
  則聯盟平均USG%23.62。而LIN排名則在第24名。
  身為一個第一次先發的一整季的Rookie Prospect來說，我舉幾個人來比較好了:
  Kemba Walker:上個賽季跟這個賽季都是USG%25.2左右。
  Damian Lillard:本季USG%24.13。
  Greivis Vasquez:本季也是第一次整季先發USG%23.27。
  Jeff Teague:已在聯盟出賽過四年，今年第二次年整年先發USG%23.03。

  與去年相比LIN的USG%從28.1大幅降到20.6，雖然USG%跟球權或許沒有正相關。
  但顯現出今年參與進攻的比率下降許多，究竟是甚麼原因，有沒有高手願意分析。
  戰術?開火權?健康狀況?改變打法?.....(令人欣慰的是ORTG是略為+2的106)
                                                 好謎。

  但考慮到今年是傷後復出，而且第一次完整賽季。
  無論我之前多討厭KM，今年都還能接受這樣的結果。
  不過既然傷好了，也要打季後賽了。
  希望LIN能在季後賽有多點時間去歷練。

＊編按2:關於哈登，同原文。希望鬍黑們不要再攻擊他了。
        雖然我本季一開始也覺得他很獨，但是跟其他隊某些老大比，相對算好了。
        何況數據也顯示，他是有能力而且願意分享球權的人。
        對於突然來到火箭的HARDEN，能作出應變與付出，我表示肯定。
        而展望明年，雖然陣容還不定，但肯定要再作出一些調整。
        不然Harden的雙腿表示:........ 。


        新人嘛，受點挫折應該的。暑假好好跟教練團討論，未來的方向，
        到底是要成為偶而有進攻亮點的大後鋒，還是乖乖增重扛下禁區重任呢。
        而TJ跟T-ROB，短期來看季後TJ肯定多點時間，攻守兩端，戰術理解相對成熟。
        TROB則暫為角色球員非PROSPECT，上來跑跑龍套，鞏固防守與籃板就好。
        這真的沒辦法，都要季後賽了，時不我予呀。
        如果明年沒被交易掉，也是好好暑假進修吧。別辜負大家對你的期望。

＊編按4:關於USG%再補充一點，其實火箭隊每個人都USG%因為所屬位置的關係有差異，
        但是整體看來是很平均的，球隊一哥HARDEN不用說，攻擊第一選擇。
        可以說是非常打團隊籃球的球隊，也因此球隊氣氛也蠻不錯的吧，或許。
        而一件蠻有趣的事情是PB的USG%15.7僅大於G.SMITH的USG%14.8(倒數第一與二)，
        但ORTG部份，PB的ORTG 117，G.SMITH127，各別為球隊第二與第一。
        只能說他們是非常有進攻效率的球員啊。
        也因此獲得更多上場時間，而擔任LIN替補的PB來跟HARDEN搭可以說是天造之合。
        而LIN與PB兩者的差異性，也是令人玩味。

        今年教練的調度一直是熱門TOPIC，到過去就讓他過去，或許他也有難言之隱吧。
        展望明年，希望會有更好的輪替模式與化學效應。
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最後，這篇文章對我來說獲得更多解答，也產生其他問號，
希望大家來共同討論，多多指教。
但這都不重要，
重要的是:















We're Playoff Bound!
Go Go Rockets!!!


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                        J.LIN#7 @ RedNation
                          Go Go ROCKETS!!

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※ 編輯: KenRock         來自: 111.253.95.46        (04/11 17:20)

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