Did The Knicks Show The NBA How To Beat The Small Ball Rockets?

In a complete surprise, the New York Knicks laid down a blueprint for beating the newly assembled Rockets, getting a great performance from rookie RJ Barrett and lots of second chance points to hang on for dear life at the very end.
#HoustonRockets #NewYorkKnicks #NBA
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MUSIC: Fighting For Freedom by Anno Domini
ABOUT BBALLBREAKDOWN
BBallBreakdown is devoted to deep-dive analysis of NBA basketball gameplay. If you're a coach or a player, check out the MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP - filled with an ever growing library of on court demos designed to help you improve your play and your coaching! Giving fans a taste of a pro coach's film session, host Coach Nick breaks down fundamentals, play calling, offense, defense, shooting form, officiating, and everything else basketball. In addition, see exclusive interviews with NBA players and coaches, from active super stars to retired legends.

[@BigBoss-su2us]

Signing all those power forwards comes in handy once in awhile 😂😂😂😂😂

[@KPI358]

😹🤣😂😹🤣😂🤐🤐🤐🔥

[@levro7367]

@@jayproductions5322 it's the Knicks with 9 power forwards dummy

[@Jburneyjr]

Yea being able to defend multiple positions, post moves, and offensive rebounding.

[@thedarkknight9153]

How to beat the small ball Rockets? 1. Have 9 power forwards on your team like the Knicks inexplicably do 2. Hope Harden has a terrible game 3. Hope the rest of the team shoots terribly from 3 4. Outrebound them by 30+ 5. Be a terrible team the Rockets don’t take seriously 6. Have your role player shoot the 3 like Steph Curry even though he’s a 34% shooter from there 7. Barely win by 2 See? Piece of cake.

[@udishomer5852]

Or be the Bucks, Lakers or Clippers, that also works...

[@perezye7297]

Udi Shomer small ballin 🚀 beat the lakers tho..

[@diegosmurillo]

I'm dying with the first one 😂

[@jarviskelly0206]

The Dark Knight facts 😂💯

[@hewhoisn8214]

Not the comment we deserved but the comment we needed

[@Prakashhddb]

Nah the rockets just didn’t bring their A game cause they didn’t respect their opponents. Rockets do this often, just like the game against the warriors

[@abelblock]

Prakash Ram rockets ass knicks in five!!

[@IR0CKS0BADLY]

That's why I'm never excited for games with teams below .500. They just don't care enough.

[@yrntbn4617]

Facts

[@Miltonman100]

And the kings, we have blown so many games last 2 seasons its ridiculous. Credit to the Knicks for jumping ahead early n crashing the glass

[@t9mes]

Prakash Ram and we were down by 20 to the hornets at halftime and started trying in the second half but that won’t always work.

[@darcellmcdade8944]

Can you do a video on how the heat defended the bucks

[@reauxnbears]

Darcell McDade right?

[@thegagz]

Yeah it exists. It’s called watch the raptors on defence

[@darcellmcdade8944]

thegagz nah I wanted a breakdown on the heat they played them similar but not exactly the same🤦🏾‍♂️

[@hoompaloompaa]

@@darcellmcdade8944 its the same.just different players

[@rogeliosoto6953]

No. He only cares for views and the rockets are what everyone is talking about right now on espn.

[@ddking5654]

When Coach mentioned Tucker whacking himself in the nuts, I fully braced for a Manscaped ad

[@pierreaoun9600]

Devan King OUR NEW LAWNMOWER 3.0 WILL HAVE YOU REACHING FOR THE SKIP AD BUTTON FASTER THAN GIANNIS CAN DRIVE TO THE BASKET

[@SIWeezy]

Wait so, if the Knicks beat the Rockets, the Rockets beat the Clippers, the Clippers beat the Lakers, the Lakers beat the Celtics, the Celtics beat the Bucks, and then the Bucks beat the Raptors, that means, The New York Knicks = NBA Championship Contenders

[@allsuave2689]

SI Weezy 😂😂good one , all I know the Knicks better draft well we need NY ON TOP ONE DAY

[@aryasanthoshkumar3914]

hahahahhahahhahahahahha lol

[@shaft9000]

A one-week postseason?....genius! That settles it!

[@posty5633]

Facts

[@zonzore]

Love this comment

[@michaelo6317]

Rockets where not taking this game seriously till the 2nd half. Smh

[@ripkobe248]

Clyde Western And RJ took it more serious then them in the fourth!!!

[@brianbentz9143]

Not true don’t talk you clearly didn’t watch.

[@michaelo6317]

Brian Bentz then how did they come back from being down 21 points? Majority of the defensive mistakes coach Nick is showing are down to laziness.

[@betong4908]

Seriously?

[@jeffwatson4353]

na fam nicks young core just outplayed them lmao

[@HeathBilbrey]

Shorter: Knicks had the best game of their season, Rockets did not. You're welcome.

[@alexanderlouelllopez5860]

Really? Knicks are 2 - 0 against Luka and Porzingis.

[@lordquastheonly]

What are you talking about harden dropped 35 and Westbrook dropped 24

[@yunopepper76]

THE KNICKS ARE WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP 😂😂

[@makis7383]

Look like an ESPN title...

[@believerrrrr]

Mr Pepper you’re really funny haha.... 🤦‍♂️

[@gabekoster4450]

Better stop playin like that Spike lee gonna have a heart attack if he see this

[@yunopepper76]

It’s okay his on suicide watch

[@yunopepper76]

Adan Ellefson you’re opinion means nothing to me

[@MarkHiew]

LOL at “Accidentally hit himself in the nuts” - coach: you are too funny.

[@bballbreakdown]

😂🤣🏀🏀

[@memorypalace8009]

Hilarious

[@bigty390]

Mark Hiew Time stamp

[@milesmontalvo1084]

Im happy i never thought I’d see the day when my Knicks would be here lol!

[@aryasanthoshkumar3914]

Coach Nicks channel is fun because he knows so much and its crazy how he explains so well that people that dont even know basketball understand. Ive been subscribed since 300k and its worth it. I love this channel who else agrees.

[@alpacino134]

1:51 that's the MVP's defense lol

[@kyxoki8072]

Lmaooo

[@ky5059]

He wasn’t trying to foul I think

[@texasranger9599]

8:05 most technical breakdown I've ever heard.

[@chasam1]

Yeap, Coach didn't scratch his head!!

[@Steventsang113]

Is that a foul ?

[@carllazarraga2858]

Lmfaoooo

[@TolaSeng]

So what did they show? Hope Rockets miss wide open 3s?

[@iPyroNigma]

Make use of the height they are missing, have a mobile defender for Russ, hope for missed 3s and use inside screens on offense.

[@kameronhowe9290]

Zhiyu Wang mobile defender? No disrespect but the only thing stopping Russ is his decisions

[@retiredwestbrookfan6049]

@@iPyroNigma no one is stopping russ besides himself lmfaoooo

[@Ak-qn9qc]

@@retiredwestbrookfan6049 aomine

[@toohigh4u18]

Kameron Howe ntlikina played pretty good defense

[@makis7383]

Come on now coach. It's only one game that they lost by just 2 points. Plus the Knicks are a bad matchup for the Rockets. They're the best offensive rebounding team in the league with bigs like Robinson, Randle, Gibson, Portis etc. Not every condending team has that personell. Houston is fine. People are exaggerating.

[@blackmoonsage]

Great point, didn’t even know they were the league best in offensive rebounding

[@ryansmith135]

Black Moon Sage it’s because they miss so many shots 😂😂😂

[@Miltonman100]

Julius Randle turns into Prime Charles Barkley everytime he plays the rockets its annoying lmaooooo

[@udishomer5852]

Lakers and Bucks are also long and agressive

[@jeri5192]

Did you watch the full video? He said at the end that this style against Houston isn’t sustainable and you’re just betting on Houston shooting badly 4 out of 7 games in a series to beat them.

[@YunisRajab]

I need a breakdown of how LeVert dismantled the Celtics in the 4th

[@elgeelo]

Rockets just missed a lot of shots

[@abelblock]

7kami Knicks in five!!!

[@aryasanthoshkumar3914]

@@abelblock more like knicks in 4

[@E4MB]

ARYA SANTHOSHKUMAR knicks in missing the playoffs

[@aryasanthoshkumar3914]

@@E4MB Im not a knicks fan but i think everyone can admit the knicks are the best team in the nba by far. Lebron is a knock off RJ. Anthony Davis is a knock off julius Randle, And rudy Gobert is a knock off Mitchell Robinson

[@betong4908]

Knicks just made a lot of shots

[@chenny0614]

Probably or it was probably just the last game of a road trip in NYC 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@chasam1]

Yeap, and covid19 came along and screwed the season

[@Kodreanu23]

Coach, please do how Miami stopped the Bucks and what offense worked against the team with best score.

[@karimchemaly9317]

I bet everybody shakes his head when the ball gets in on the beat😂

[@bballbreakdown]

*nods their head

[@ninomontalvo12345]

7:40, Russ had an open house jr cut to basket for an oop

[@HaveFunLosingBro]

4:09 Harden with that double stepback😂😂😂

[@joeyportia6476]

@Dean simmons Screw Harden. The Rockets play better when Westbrook runs point.

[@Syonlive]

Joey Portia H- A- T- E- R

[@aryasanthoshkumar3914]

We are all so used to it by now that no one is going crazy about it

[@aryasanthoshkumar3914]

thats kinda insane

[@joeyportia6476]

@Syon Guess who’s been playing better this past month. Here’s a hint, it’s not Harden.

[@lascellespowelljr.1109]

They can definitely go cold from the 3-point line we've seen it time and time again in the playoffs... especially with Westbrook

[@MFBOOM100]

Westbrook isnt forced to shoot 3s as much as he did in okc. Hes shooting midrange at 52% which is crazy

[@emerybmusic]

Lascelles Powell Jr. they shot 35% on threes that night compared to 36% on the season

[@Rxlphy.]

When I can be a happy Knicks fan 🥶

[@savageep8071]

the knicks has a once in 30 games performance they almost lost even tho they had one of their best performances

[@BePatientSeeLove]

and basically weren't taken serious till the second half

[@rjcarless]

Harden was tired from the great strip clubs in NY

[@eyeceeyou9566]

Those strip clubs will have you taking out 4 mortgages on your home. Beautiful woman in manhattan, I think they selectively breed.

[@misterclutchabc]

Let's not make or accept any excuses for Harden. You do not shoot your team into a deficit and play blatantly careless defense in broad daylight. Serious winners and contenders don't get down like that. Harden & Westbrook need to get back to the Triple Doubles.

[@Zachattaqr]

This video is the only bright spot of the entire Knicks season

[@checkpointofsorts]

Glad to see the Knicks make the channel this year and in a positive manner too!

[@anthonygarenani4308]

RJ Barrett did just score 27 out of nowhere. He’s been solid since the all star break

[@corvusmonedulas4895]

He was injured previously

[@gohan__]

@@corvusmonedulas4895 he was injured? no wonder i havent heard of him much since the draft......hopefully he'll develop to a star

[@anthonygarenani4308]

*didnt lol

[@sld1776]

Man, the way Mitchell moves, there's some hope after all for the Knicks. What athleticism.

[@MFBOOM100]

This is a great game for Houston to learn from.

[@shadybrain3424]

i gotta say that houston playing small ball has really put a spark into their defense, even when they aren't defending well they are putting a lot of effort into it.

[@Aquaneos1193]

Love hearing that music

[@imax014]

My favorite basketball channel talking about my favorite team!

[@dennisblancaflor6513]

I subscribe to the belief that Greg Popovich knows how to dismantle small ball. Nash-led Phoenix never got to advance against the Spurs, but the Spurs are struggling to get to the playoffs

[@bpdmf2798]

1:51 Harden guarded that like my cat trying to catch a piece of dust floating by.

[@sean14sc]

the knicks strategy of acquiring every power forward they could finally paid off with a good matchup against the small ball rockets. they truly are ahead of the curve

[@coloridodd]

INCREDIBLE DEFENSE BY THE ''MVP'' IN 0:49

[@rashb3994]

Appreciate some of that Clyde Frasier-esque dialogue sneaking its way into your commentary in the early part of the video. Those small details are why I'm always in.

[@hatuxka]

They were still feeling the high of beating BOS in BOS, didn’t focus until they got down by so much.

[@mscottlawrence2037]

Coach nick with yet another fire video, way to go and keep up the great work, I look forward to each one 👍🏀🏀

[@vdiaz123]

This game is the perfect Rockets playoff preview: 1. Team misses an "unusual" amount of 3's at a key moment in the series 2. Harden chokes an important isolation play 3. Westbrook misses an ugly/wild shot in the remaining seconds of the game

[@kingclampz6081]

Victor Isai Diaz lolllll

[@dotphew]

This 👍

[@khoile1739]

Victor Isai Diaz exactly. Two known playoff chokers.

[@noirceur_]

I love the thumbnail where Harden is clearly holding RJ (a foul) but 1. They didn't call it, and 2. RJ didn't complain. You flip that around and RJ is doing the exact same thing to Harden and you better believe they call it and Harden flops to sell it. It's become so bad I can't even watch full Rocket's games anymore.

[@denizarslan7679]

Can you make a video about Malik Beasley. He has been straight up fire since joining Timberwolves. Man is a baller.

[@simonweinstein8922]

do one on the nets and celtics crazy game

[@christopher.j.m]

no, the rockets have been known to not win games they shoulld win...plus they came off back to back...plus they've still got a really new squad that has to learn to how play ball together.

[@TheSpadre]

What they showed is that any team can win when you bring more intensity that the other team. When the Rockets finally woke up they erased a 20 point deficit really quick like, but they never really matched the Knick's intensity.

[@kennyle5338]

the knick’s absurd number of power fowards actually worked for once

[@ryandunham3952]

These two teams are two extremes a ton of power forwards against a bunch of gaurds

[@metro-sn]

Never thought I’d see my Knicks on BBALLBREAKDOWN 😢

[@WilliamPeregoy]

So you need an unexpected player to have the game of his life, the Rockets to miss a bunch of trees, and Harden to somehow blow a game-winning layup. Got it. Perfect Blueprint.

[@jesaiahkoen3465]

This entire video can be summed up as follows: the Knicks team is built to give small ball lineups problems with their length and athleticism. So in the first 3 quarters, the rockets didn't hustle or communicate on defense and rebounding and missed a lot of wide open threes. Allowing the Knicks to build a big lead with there nonchalant defense. Then when the rockets turned it on for about the last 15 minutes or so, they came back from down 21 and still almost won. The Knicks didn't crack any code, the rockets beat themselves with their lackadaisical attitude.

[@Oridginale24]

I’m not even a Rockets fan but seeing Harden miss that layup at the end hurt.

[@samuelfomoadams4612]

@7:40, Russ had a decently open lob, not sure why he didn't take it there. Also being out rebounded by 31 and losing by 2 points is not just more than acceptable, it's remarkable. I think this might be the one time The Rockets exceed our expectations and proceed, to the N.... B... A....... FINALS.

[@nikolasarcevic3762]

Out of everyone, the Knicks

[@Miltonman100]

Thats what i been saying the last 2 days -_- i know its 1 game but u gotta get Wins vs Teams belie .500 with the west playoff race so close

[@emerybmusic]

Sare knicks aren’t making the playoffs so it doesn’t matter

[@runevi]

The win was completely overshadowed in the press by Spike lee throwing a baby fit that he has to use the VIP entrance and can't use the disability/employee one.

[@ethanerickson2999]

Great vid

[@davidagullo3786]

Really the Knicks man

[@alessandroolivieri7]

I don't see how the Rockets will survive to a 7 games series. Coach you say good luck in trading putbacks 2s for open 3s, and in theory you are right, but in a PlayOff series there is so much physicality that the Rockets will be broken and abused by bigger teams. Just remember that also the original GSW (2014 to 2016) have issues in the playoff against teams that are way more physical than them (like Memphis on year and OKC).

[@williambaumert7726]

I'm really surprised the Lakers didn't trade for ntilikina this season! They don't need him to do anything on offense as LeBron in running point but he can absolutely shut down any elite guard or wing.

[@kenjoshuafoja1136]

Hey coach! Aren't you gonna make a vid from that Heat vs Bucks, which has the heat have a blueprint on stopping Giannis

[@yckmvodus6553]

5:44 damn that hurt

[@UeProductionz]

The Rockets weren't taking the Knicks seriously. That was really all there is to this game. If you look at the rebounding percentages in games against teams who are over .500 and teams under .500, you can see clearly see that Houston puts in more effort when they play against goods teams as opposed to bad teams. They get outrebounded HEAVILY against bad teams because they don't put in as much effort.

[@asizzlesu2639]

Miller needs to stay on as the Head Coach. The man knows what he is doing.

[@Chocolouf]

Crazy how many times Randle goes clogging the paint with another teammate already in when the ball handler is trying to penetrate.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

Chocolouf Probably seeking offensive rebounding position or looking for drop off pass

[@Chocolouf]

@@Thanosdidtherighthing I can understand the offensive rebound, but the wrap around pass isn't an option when he's behind the defender or another front court teammate..

[@tonystyles4040]

No cap I really want to know if any NBA coaches watch coach nicks videos

[@innojay7]

Lmao I knew you was going to do this video, I said the same thing when they beat them

[@Jimi-jw7wu]

8:03 "Accidentally on purpose steps on his foot"

[@BorisKOUKA]

Great video about. Ppl are too crazy about small balls. It's great strategy but can be beat

[@osborncarayugan4849]

that what was call LUCKY KNICKS

[@LEn704]

You do sacrifice rebounding with small but gain more scoring.... It's a gamble

[@chasam1]

Great video Coah N.

[@erix4erix]

Thanks

[@cij2]

My guy...dig the video...watch out for the Rockets

[@misterawkward6612]

Lakers Vs Bucks pls!

[@DO02129]

Please do a video on the Miami Heat. The most slept on team this season

[@123fourfive5]

Rockets were missing more of their essential 3 pointers. Which then resulted in a lack of confidence and they gave Russ the ball more to drive in. Which doesn't work great when they aren't playing iso and they have a seven footer in the key.

[@RIFICA777]

Playoffs should be starting right about now. Wish we got to see this theory play out or not in the playoffs

[@momoblue1691]

People forgot how good New York Knicks is... Big Market Team!

[@supune]

The thing about giving up easy put backs for transition 3s is that a team with one great rebounder doesn't even have to do that. They just send him to the glass and if he does his work early like Rodman used to and only concentrates on rebounding the rest of the team can concentrate on picking up Russ and James and blocking up the Rockets' somewhat predictable flow lanes. I'm kinda of sad that Tyson Chandler isn't even getting 10 min a game. He made impactful plays in few minutes for Luke Walton last year. The rockets should try to get Jemerio Jones from the Herd. An instinctual guard that has the strength and tenacity and the vision to decide when to hit the glass and when to run would be transformational for teams that want to play like the Rockets.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

Supun Edirisinghe Tyson Chandler is a senior citizen.

[@supune]

@@Thanosdidtherighthing they are going to need a rim protector or at least a body because they are going to be in a close game and have to deal with Gobert, Jokic or AD. It would have been good to keep him dusted off for at least 5min a game while he was on the roster

[@RickyPro888]

Maybe they shouldn’t have traded their only quality centres away??? What a weird move that was

[@rvsjff91]

Two part comment, Could you do a Nuggets breakdown? What is your opinion on Mike Malone and what he’s done there. A lot of Nuggs fans slam him and say he’s holding us back. When I believe he deserves most of the credit for the success of my beloved Nuggets. Love to hear from you or see a vid about it. Or both!

[@leonide8683]

Isn't that a 3 sec defensive violation by Russ at 1:58? And can someone explain to me everything about the 3 sec violation (on both sides) cause its something i really dont understand

[@bballbreakdown]

As long as he’s within an arm’s length of his man, he’s allowed to stay in the paint. If his man has the ball on the perimeter, he can sag into the paint for as long as the player has the ball. Other than that, you can have two feet in the paint for 2.9 seconds before having to step out of the key before te entering

[@A-ROD-oe8wl]

It was always a beatable tactic every kid who steps on the black top knows they need a decent sized center/rebounder

[@ttmo1757]

No tupid

[@SilkyLew]

A perfect example of any pro basketball team can beat any pro basketball team.

[@trantuanson9888]

I see warriors in them. Threes and dunks. Good job knicks

[@priscila8983]

So key to success is To make more shots then Rpckets

[@kakilla1000]

So the key is to pray that one of your players can have their best games of the season? gotcha

[@pabloamigo5778]

I was waiting for this video to come out hahaha

[@positivedirection9503]

The Knicks did show a way to beat them but the Rockets adjusted down the stretch. Mike Miller had a plan he is a good coach. Knicks got scared of success and like always lost a 20 plus lead(too many times to count this year) but got lucky and won. We showed a way that others can build from. Haters cant give credit. I believe we caught the Rockets by surprise andf they coached and played hard to solve a new chess match. Believe me the Rockets were not taking us lightly Big Mitch Robinson is longer and quicker than 90 percent of the bigs and he harrased them. Rockets came back in times Mitch and Frank were not on the court. Intangle D can make a missed shot if you scared you cant get it off in time and rush things. Those boys were scared but I knew pride would bring them back into the game and probably win. We did good got scared ourselves then got lucky to still have a chance to win and did. Good game against a scary team

[@mcchickenmcdicken]

Harden missing the go-ahead layup couldn't be less surprising

[@305dagoat4]

7:48 I wish Harden would shoot more midrange shots. Didn't he used to have a stepback midrange? A lot of their 2-3 point losses could've been wins if he used it more, especially at this moment since they wouldn't have expected it.

[@vivektripathi1511]

The problem with rockets is they heavily rely on 3 so there will be nights where they will have a drought which will eventually test them considering they will be giving up size and in playoffs this cud prove to be fatal for them

[@ahahajordy]

Reupload

[@KP-zh5dw]

Coach do a vid on KP and Luka you called it last year.

[@waterbender6427]

Love to see a video on the games Tim Duncan coached

[@MarcusExum97]

How to Beat the Rockets! 1. Have them NOT make any Open 3s they generate with their offense 2. Have them NOT give effort on defense 3. Make more 3s on Less 3 Attempts 4. Get a lot more rebounds

[@shaft9000]

5. Get Westbrook to take as many 3s as possible

[@KDSRirelandboy1]

Heres the thing, it doesn’t matter if you go small-ball, If Mitchell Robinson is 7’1 throwing 270lb around, you ain’t but a feather to the breeze when you’re trying to guard that tank of a man. You need strength, you need length, oh wait, they traded him away to the one team that could utilise him as well as Houston did. Well shit, maybe there is always room for a lengthy strong player on your team if it means bodying up on someone for a few minutes a quarter, sometimes, its the difference between a W or L next to that game.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

Adam The Turtle The Knick are one of the shittiest teams in the league lol

[@KDSRirelandboy1]

Diego Velazquez whats your point?

[@MarcusLeonard307]

To quote SAS, "THEY STINK!"