We play 14 games from now thru the 18th of November. Of those games, 6 seem tough including 4 games against Memphis, 1 against Cleveland and 1 against Utah. It really bothers me that we have to face the whole season worth of games against one team without our 2nd best player. Harden can handle them but it still sucks. They're a good team. Don't tell @what I said that.
yeah but still need a better backup than DJ or a starting PG even better. or add harden's backup now that ego is starting PG the whole point having CP3 is to give harden rest and not play him more than 37 minutes a game
This is going to help Paul fit in better when he comes back. The camp and preseason this year was shorter than last year so there was less time to get comfortable with the system, especially for a player of Paul's caliber. Tucker and Mbah a Moute fit in more seamlessly because they were basically replicating their roles from their previous teams just kicking it up a notch. Paul is being asked to run the team and be the key cog especially when Harden sits and during the games where the pace is all half court. During the GS game (which is great since they have the best defense in the league) you could see how out of sorts Paul was when he was playing off ball and how he wasn't used to pushing it in transition as much. His knee may have contributed to the pushing the pace part, but we'll see. I think he needs far more reps with Clint though because it seemed on PnR with Clint that Paul was not used to moving and probing a certain way which was different from James and on a few plays it looked like Clint got in Paul's way. There was also another play where Paul made a high bounce pass that Clint was just not ready for off the baseline. Paul will figure it out he is one of the smartest players of his generation. Everyone else in the starting lineup and the 6th man are in year 2 of the D'Antoni system they know where to be and when. Paul needs to learn also where the others are going to be and when. There are times where James throws a pass without really looking because he knows a guy is going to be in that general area. The Rockets just need to stay afloat which I think they can once they get the 3rd string PG situation addressed and once Paul gets back they can get going
Don't kid yourself. Nene got in foul trouble, which forced him to put in Tarik. We still had a huge lead by the end of the 3rd and Harden is no longer playing "I want to win MVP blowout minutes", which also helped not having to play Trevor much more either. If it's a close game tonight, expect Harden/Ariza to play 35+ minutes.
Umm, if it's a close game then hell yeah I expect Harden and Ariza to be playing 35+. Do you want to experiment with an expanded rotation against an unbeaten division rival? And CP3 is out, of course people are going to have to step up. We're a team aiming for 60 wins.
He should be watching tape of Bev as a Rocket. He should strive to do exactly that in addition to his amazing job of running point when Harden is out or resting on the floor. If he can do that then we're unstoppable.
I don't. Mike can manage their minutes to give them more rest during the game and allow for them to be rested in the fourth. Ariza is some who especially can be rested since we have a lot more depth this year. I really think Ariza should be at 32 minutes. When Chris Paul comes back I definitely would like Hardens minutes to be at 34 a game or so.
Harden already sits the first six minutes of the fourth. I don't know how much more rested he needs to be. Ariza played 34.7mpg last year with zero depth behind him. Expect both of their minutes to drop with the additions of CP3, PJ, and LMM. But in close games, they need to play more. Kawhi had his games and playing time managed last year and averaged 33.4mpg. In the four regular season games against Houston, which were tough games, he averaged 38.2 mpg. You play more in tough games, especially when seeding and a division title are on the line.
I like Tarik and I think he can contribute a solid 5-15 min off the bench if necessary. I think improved some while he was in LA. Besides, for the guys that play LoL...Gems are Truly Outrageous!
