That's the problem. Harden is the head dog, You bring someone else in that starts barking when someone isn't carrying their load and chemistry will probably suffer. I really don't know what to think at this point. It has been a sh*t month. Very demoralized at this point. After tomorrow they don't play until Tuesday then we play 5 teams we should beat. We best run the table or go no worse than 4-1 or this team really is fools gold. Sat, Sun, Mon is plenty of rest to get their legs back if that is the issue.
There were 2 timeouts. One was 7:22 (97-83; 8-3 Hawks run) One at 2:49 (106-104; 21-9 Hawks run since last timeout)
All this leadership talk is nonsense and too abstract. What I want from Harden is to show up in the late, tight game situations, and he hasn't done that since the beginning of this season. When is the last time that Harden scored in bunches and just willed his team to victory in the late 4Q, when the whole game was on the line? Typically, MVPs have several of those moments during the course of entire season. Harden has none.
1. Rockets apparently thought they won the game after the 3rd quarter. 2. Rockets shooters were too busy building Donald Trump's wall. 3. Rockets defense couldn't stop Tim Hardaway or the Hawks 4. See #1.
Was out most of the evening. Got back in time to see the debacle that was the last 2:30 Couldn't believe what I saw. I was told we had been up by 16 pts or something. Typical 4thQ meltdown and the play during those last few minutes was just sad. I felt like I was watching a wildlife show where the wolves were stalking the baby moose for miles until he finally succumbed and then they all pounced on him and I had to watch him get eaten. . . Yeah, it was like THAT.
This meltdown in the 4th Q really pissed me off Ruined my evening. Inexcusable to let THJ go MJ on our asses.
I hate to say it but once again another team shooting over 51% against us. The Hawks should not be having a 40point 4th quarter if we focus defensively. Been a while since we have had a 2 game win streak.
In Ariza's post-game above, he mentions twice that they "stopped communicating" as the key. I assume he means communicating on defense. That's lazy confidence when up by 20pts, but seems like something one timeout should put an end to. I trust Ariza as the defensive leader would bring that up. I guess they kept doing it.
