Dort Dungeon

Harden has been placed in a dungeon recently. The Dort Dungeon.

Or, at the very least, that is what people want you to believe.

In the four games that Dort has been available to guard Harden, Harden has averaged 30.5 points, 9.25 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. Obviously, Dort hasn’t completely shut Harden down, but what he has done is allow the Thunder defense to play Harden more straight-up.

Houston sets a pick at the top of the key for Harden on just about every possession to try to free Harden from the length of Dort, but recently the screener has been whoever Gilgeous-Alexander is guarding.

Houston has also been flipping the screen or Harden drives opposite the screen once Dort makes contact with the screener. All three of these things have given Harden some open shots and space to navigate.

And even though Dort can play Harden 1-on-1 the Thunder defense still overhelps on the drive leaving shooters open and also creative driving lanes.

These things with the addition of Dort’s gaudy three-point shooting beg the question. Is he really the answer to Harden that everyone is giving him credit for during this series?

Dort is a good defender and shows great effort against Harden, which is more than 90% of defenders that try to guard “The Beard.” This effort has even awarded Dort with the benefit of numerous no-calls.

Harden is only shooting 8.75 free throws per game with Dort as the primary defender. Which is still high, but down from the 11 he has averaged this season.

Even though Dort has proved to knock Harden down a half-notch, the Thunder should look at going all in on beating Houston at their own game. It has been clear that the three-guard line-up of Paul, SGA, and Schroder has been successful all season and in this series.

A line-up for OKC that features Paul, SGA, Schroder, Bazely and Gallinari might get torched defensively by Harden, but should easily be able to punish Houston on the offensive end and especially in transition after a missed Houston 3.

If Billy Donovan elects to continue to play Dort in big minutes then Houston can be expected to layoff of Dort on defense like they have.

Offensively for Houston with Dort on the floor they will continue to attack SGA in the half court, but with the return of Westbrook the transition game is where Houston will pull away.

The speed and threat of Westbrook in transition should force OKC into mismatches where Dort gets stuck guarding a trailing shooter vs. seeking out Harden in the half court. Occasionally, Dort might be forced to pick up Westbrook on the fast-break and everyone knows what kind of nightmare that creates for defenders.

Look for Westbrook to find his rhythm again in the fast-break, Harden to bolt around a hedging defender, and Gordon to punish SGA or a slower big. And look for Houston leaving Dort with 10 feet of space behind the arc.

Realistically, it might be best for OKC to lock Dort in his own dungeon and give playing time to better shooters.

Comment below with thoughts, reactions, and predictions!

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