D'Antoni defended his isolation-centric playbook with Harden in Houston: 'If that 1-on-1 was not efficient, we wouldn't do it'

It's an understatement to say that the James Harden-led Houston Rockets had one of the most unique playbooks in history. Instead of relying on motion, passing, and cutting, Mike D'Antoni instructed his team to either jack up 3-pointers or drive to the hoop.

The system had relative success in the regular and postseason. However, it was ultimately declared a failure because it did not result in an NBA championship. Amid the criticisms thrown at D'Antoni, the head coach has remained firm in his belief in the isolation-centric offensive system.

"If that 1-on-1 was not efficient, we wouldn't do it," he said in 2022 on Thinking Basketball podcast with Ben Taylor.

"But it was doing, if I'm not mistaken, 1.2-something (points per possession) — something ridiculous. For a long time, 1.16 was the standard of the best offense an NBA team had. Our isolation game was 1.25 or 1.24. So why wouldn't we isolate?"

3-point circus

D'Antoni's Rockets jacked up 45.4 and 45.3 3-pointers per game in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season, respectively. Excluding the ongoing 2024-25 season, this is the most 3-pointers attempted per game by a team in NBA history, according to data culled by StatMuse.

Harden orchestrated this unorthodox system of perfection. The offense was pretty simple. He had several options: lull his defender to sleep before taking a step back 3-pointer or drive to the hole for a lay-up or an alley-oop to Clint Capela.

When the Capela isn't open, Harden kicked it out to someone like PJ Tucker, Eric Gordon, or Trevor Ariza. If open, these players tossed up a 3-pointer. If not, then they drove to the basket.

"People don't like it. Aesthetically, it's not good; I don't love it," D'Antoni continued. "I'd rather pass the ball around. If I had a team that didn't have James Harden, guess what? We'd be passing the ball around. If you've got James Harden, then I'm going to make James Harden the best player he can possibly be."

Mike did maximize Harden's talents. From being Sixth Man of the Year in 2012, the six-time All-Star rose to MVP status in 2018. Under D'Antoni's watch, the Arizona State product led the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons. He also led the league in assists in 2017.

The downfall

However, such a crazy and revolutionary system has long been forgotten because it did not yield a title. Houston was closest in 2018 when the Rockets were one win away from making it to the NBA Finals.

But in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, the 3-pointers they routinely made in the regular season and the playoffs failed to find their mark. 

D'Antoni's crew went 1-of-30 from the 3-point line to close out the game. The Warriors capitalized on their mistakes and booked another ticket to the NBA Finals as Harden and crew watched from their sofas.