Breaking down Houston's unstoppable pick-and-roll attack
The Rockets owned the Mavericks in Game 2, primarily because Dallas didn't know how to stop Houston's pick-and-roll game.
This fantastic breakdown by The Dream Shake's Jake Garcia shows all the different types of pick-and-rolls the Rockets were able to execute with flawless precision. Turns out life is easier when Dirk Nowitzki is a defender on the other team:
"Not only did the Rockets attack Nowitzki as the secondary defender in the pick and roll, they attacked him as the primary defender as well. With Nowitzki guarding Smith (I use that term loosely), Smith would initiate the action and run a 4/5 pick and roll with Dwight Howard. Nowitzki was unable to offer any sort of defensive presence on the pick and rolls and it led to disaster for the Mavs."
Slowing this down is much easier said than done, and it looks like either the San Antonio Spurs or Los Angeles Clippers will have their work cut out for them in round two.
(h/t: The Dream Shake)
