Rachel Nichols, Amin Elhassan and Scottie Pippen discuss how the Boston Celtics should combat the small-ball Houston Rockets lineup featuring James Harden and Russell Westbrook in their Saturday matchup. They then (2:35) discuss the surprising season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who traded Paul George and Westbrook in the offseason but are flourishing behind Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dennis Schroder, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams.
#TheJump #NBA #Sports
More on ESPN.com: https://www.espn.com
Francis Vincent Ong
March 2, 2020 at 5:15 am
Houston’s small ball only works when ALL of their players are fighting for every rebound and boxing out while also playing tough, physical defense on the taller players. Whatever team plays against them has to do the same with their taller players. The height difference lulls the opposing players into laziness and complacency. The opposite happens to the Rockets players, since they know a seven foot center isn’t going to bail them out.
John Evander
March 2, 2020 at 6:45 am
Paying a guy 40 million in in order for a team to reach 50+ wins don’t seem like such a bad contract now tbh.
Lucci7272
March 2, 2020 at 8:31 am
What if okc faced the rockets in the playoffs and beat them😏
Roc-a- fella07
March 2, 2020 at 8:39 am
If chris paul can get the thunder out the first round, I’m have to look at westbrook in a different light and applaud KD for leaving and telling the truth that you can’t win with him. This would be a big mark against westbrool career
Jorge Perez
March 2, 2020 at 10:28 am
They Better without Russ
Stephen Multiverse
March 2, 2020 at 11:43 am
We’d be a top team if we didn’t have such a slow start (like if we had the post-thanksgiving momentum at the beginning of the year).
One Skill Point
March 2, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Because that team is suited for a point general like CP3. Whereas the open spacing is suitable for an attacking guard like Russ. It’s literally just a system fit switch.
Carlos Belmontes
March 2, 2020 at 1:03 pm
😂 these clowns don’t know basketball at all. LAL, UTAH, BOS, MEM, and DEN all tried to leave a big men out there and got smacked.
Bullet Toof Tony
March 2, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Too many outside weapons to play bigs on defense.
Em B
March 2, 2020 at 1:29 pm
is Bostion supposed to be good or something? stop
Wali Toor
March 2, 2020 at 4:37 pm
bless you scottie.
Midwest Mall
March 2, 2020 at 6:29 pm
Rachel stay hating on people lol
Midwest Mall
March 2, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Pippen was wrong about Houston
Blake Pierce
March 2, 2020 at 9:04 pm
At 3:06 steven Adams goaltends lol
Ben Off
March 2, 2020 at 9:51 pm
Last year’s thunder would no question beat this year’s thunder. Idk why I listen to these guys.
FrankW1029
March 3, 2020 at 2:45 am
lmao… the first slow-mo shows Harden going up and flailing that right arm
Collin Huey
March 3, 2020 at 5:24 am
in playground ball the short skillfull guys kept all day on the court bar none. small ball or asian ball would win all the time
i. e
March 3, 2020 at 6:11 am
Both teams got better to me
Keyshaun Baker
March 3, 2020 at 7:06 am
ANY TEAM MY BOY PAUL GOES TOO GETS GOOD
Sage Henry
March 3, 2020 at 8:49 am
Why is this Amin guy on here all the time? He is awful to listen to.
James Winny
March 3, 2020 at 9:38 am
Yes because Russ was focused on carrying them when they could just ball and develop for themselves. CP3 is not going to grabbing rebounds or taking hits at the rim for them because he can’t and even he could he wouldn’t. He’ll let them develop but he’s closing games when they need him to.
raymond johnson
March 3, 2020 at 10:00 am
I think they are more well rounded team with parts the mesh better. Instead of relying on 2 to get you 25-30 a game they have 4 who get you 20-25 keeping teams more honest on defense while being solid on defense themselves.
Joe Cool
March 3, 2020 at 11:39 am
Thunder playing as a TEAM! The word is TEAM!
Willie Roland
March 3, 2020 at 12:50 pm
chris paul be lookin a lil underrated sometimes
Kristofer Westerman
March 3, 2020 at 3:41 pm
I fell like they both better ..