NBA 2019-20: 3 burning questions for Houston Rockets heading into next season

Jame
Can James Harden lead this team before the Western Conference Finals next season?
Can James Harden lead this team before the Western Conference Finals next season?

#2 Just how effective is Mike D'Antoni's system?

D'Antoni will be under a lot of pressure next season
D'Antoni will be under a lot of pressure next season

Under Mike D'Antoni, the Rockets have been continuously making records for the number of three-point attempts in a game. Developed for a run-and-gun offense, his system means players take up perimeter positions and the ball-handler dishes the ball early or late into the shot clock, prompting them to shoot from distance.

In the last two regular seasons, this tactic proved very effective but once it got to playoff time, the Rockets' system has been exposed by a man-on-man defensive zone which has forced errors leading to turnovers and an increasing number of low-percentage shots being taken as a consequence.

With that in mind, D'Antoni must be more creative with his offensive scheme ahead of the upcoming season. Having lost to the Golden State Warriors in successive years, the Western Conference has become more competitive even despite Steve Kerr's team losing some of their firepower in recent months. The pressure is on D'Antoni to deliver and it's clear he must tweak things accordingly before getting the desired results.

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