The Lakers brilliant scheme | Game 3 defensive clinic (Patreon)

A quick look at the Lakers defensive principles that have led to such suffocating defense at times in this series. Some high-level thoughts:

• Doubling Harden isn't random, it's from a specific player after a dribble or two before he can find a rhythm.
• The backside rotations are key (as you'll see). LA has been pretty good about prioritizing corner 3s over wing ones.
• To paraphrase Marv Albert, Russell Westbrook is "receiving the treatment."

Finally, an area to attack (that you can see a few times in the video) is the middle of the floor on cuts. The Lakers are basically zoning certain areas because they know Houston cutters won't stop or look for the ball on their routes to the 3-point line. They aren't overcommitting players to the Rockets movement. Houston did successfully find a few cutters in Game 4 and I think an adjustment that emphasizes these weak spots in the defense could be a viable counter...but of course that will continue to pull Houston's 3-pt attempts down.

Otherwise, this is a brilliant scheme by Vogel and the Lakers to really attack Houston's strengths and offset the advantages they attempt to create with their smaller lineup.