“Everyone has a big problem with the small ball,” Tucker said. “Well, I’ve protected Anthony Davis every time I’ve played him, ever since he first entered the league. There’s no difference. It really doesn’t matter. It all comes down to making them do the shots we want them to do. You don’t want to give anyone 3s and you don’t want to give anyone layups.
“Each game will be different. What we do will have changes, you never know in the playoffs. We will make the changes. “
Tucker will start on Davis and rotate as needed to LeBron, who will initially draw Robert Covington. The idea is to keep changing and giving those Laker superstars different looks, body types and levels of physicality, and also avoid picking up fouls, since the Rockets aren’t deep in defenders. Since Covington was acquired mid-season and doesn’t carry the same body of defensive work, Tucker is the Rockets’ most proven defender against big men.
“Just his tenacity, don’t give up a game, use his strength, just a combination of that,” D’Antoni said. “What he lacks in height, he makes up for with willpower and a big heart. Look, if you want to play a great defense and bring the skills to do it, you also need the mindset, and obviously he has it. “
He will need it. LeBron and Davis are coming out of a stellar first round, where they showed the expected 1-2 punch that makes the Lakers a title favorite. They have a combined average of 57 points and nearly 20 rebounds against the Blazers, and Portland was up to par with Jusuf Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside. LeBron and Davis are solid out of dribbling and can reach the circle, but also shoot with distance. They are difficult for anyone to defend, even the best defenders in the game. That’s why Tucker, and Covington too, are completely in place here.
“There are pros and cons to what we do,” D’Antoni said. “They know what weaknesses are. We have to reduce that blow with tenacity and fight to do it. “
D’Antoni mentioned the “weakness” only in reference to height. He believes Tucker will be more than credible; that’s why the Rockets traded Capela to bet a lot on Tucker in the first place
“PJ was easy only because his whole career he fought against the big 4,” said D’Antoni.
The system devised and perfected by D’Antoni allows high-score play and serves as a stage for James Harden. What he hasn’t done yet is reach the NBA Finals – not bearing fruit in Houston or a previous iteration in Phoenix, where D’Antoni coached Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.
There are certainly other issues the Rockets face against the Lakers, including whether they can limit Russell Westbrook’s turnover and shot slippage.
Obviously, keeping LeBron in check is at the top of the list.
“He is who he is,” Tucker said. “LeBron will try to separate you.”
Overall, the small-ball system will be tried again in the post-season. Not that the Rockets are saying they have second thoughts.
“We are safer and more confident in the way we play,” D’Antoni said. “They are the biggest team we will see, so it will be a challenge, but we are really confident in what we are doing.”
There’s nothing Tucker can do about his height; it’s stuck at 6-5. However, if they don’t accept LeBron and Davis’ challenge, the Lakers will be one step closer to the finals … and the little ball to extinction.
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email here, find his archive here and follow it Twitter .
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