As @DreamShook said...it's sad that effort is still an issue for this team, especially for Harden/Paul who's reputations are so thoroughly on the line. The performance in the 1st half was embarrassing. I will not complain about the media's view on Harden/Paul/D'Antoni again if they lose this series. They will be completely justified saying whatever they want. Game 3 will be a very big moment in all 3 of their careers.
And our personnel (Ariza, Moute, Tucker, Paul) shouldn't be falling victim to stuff like this. Capela was still hustling and trying. It's just mystifying how these group-think games come along where the whole team looks casual and overconfident.
Utah coaching staff made some good adjustments, Rockets seemed to have gone on a roll towards the end of the 2nd quarter and into the 3rd. In the 4th they went back to playing the way they played in the 1st quarter offensively. Utah is a good team unless you are shooting lights out you are not likely to beat them if they are shooting almost 47% from 3. From the Thunder series, Ingles and Crowder have been huge hitting the 3 point shot, you can't leave them wide open. Burks likes to drive to the rim before the defense sets so the transition defense has to block him from getting to the paint. On offense the Rockets have to be smart, the defense is funneling drives to Gobert, when Harden, CP3 or Gordon drive into Gobert's body they need to slip a pass to Capela it is probably resulting in a dunk (done a lot in late 2nd and 3rd), otherwise it is a block or a difficult lay up attempt over Gobert. Another option since Gobert is waiting at the rim instead of a floater Harden and Gordon should pull up and shoot a very short range jumper a few times (just like CP3) if Gobert continues to stay at the rim when the Rockets go small without Capela. Coach Snyder is very intelligent, he may have noted what the Spurs did last year against the Rockets offensive philosophy, run them off the 3 point line and have the shot blocker wait at the rim. MDA, CP3 and Harden are too creative and smart not find a way to crack this defense. On defense no open 3s especially for Crowder and Ingles.
You're focusing on the offensive end of the floor. What about the defensive end? This is where the Rockets came in completely unprepared and unfocused. And fixing that is on D'Antoni. When they were down big in the first quarter, THAT'S when he should've taken control as the coach. Make substitutions. Switch your defensive sets. Fix mistakes like leaving Gobert wide open under the basket. Don't wait til you're down 19 points. Hell, even then he didn't really change anything. Harden just took over offensively and shaved 10 points off that lead.
Did we defend a single Ingles 3-pointer? He was 7-9 and I seem to remember no one within 10 feet of him at any time. I can't believe Crowder-Exum-Ingles shot 12-18 from 3. On the season they average 4.7-12.6.
Too much walking the ball up the court, letting the league's best defense get set. Except Green, who shoots like a maniac.
Have to agree with MDA team came out flat no energy....can’t get too confident now boys! We be shooting like “Sandy Lyle” raindrops
Yea, I'm not gonna lie and say I'm not at least apprehensive. But they gotta do it to prove themselves.
It was just what Mike said, this isn't easy, and if you act like it is your going to lose. Nothing really he can do. Players didn't make shots.
MDA is a bunch of bs! You can tell by his postgame interview HE didn’t take the Jazz seriously either. It starts from the top! And all the players followed suit!
