ClutchFans Game Thread: Pelicans @ Rockets 10/17/2018

If you were at the game you'd know MCW wasn't part of the problem. I know because I was at the game.

 

All this is normall, new players, guys sitting out preseason games etc..But let's not skim past how atrocious Harden's effort was last night. The same night he got his mvp ceremony was the night he chose not to take the game seriously

 

Rockets allowed two 30 point scorers and two 20 point scorers. I don't recall that ever happening before. Ugly.

 

I can't even listen to basketball podcasts today because I don't want to risk hearing any of these guys talking about "SEE! WE TOLD YOU THE ROCKETS TOOK A STEP BACK WITH THE LOSS OF ARIZA AND MBAH A MOUTE!".

 

No reason to light your hair on fire after the first game. Speaking of hair, the worst thing about last night was Capela's hair. WTF?

 

Capela's hair actually scares me a bit cause they give me Balotelli/Pogba/Schroder vibes...not exactly the smartest dude out there lol

 

He's not even in the league anymore. He's washed.

 

I did feel like the Pelicans were going to come out swinging and we'd get down early, but I didn't think it would be a L. Ah well, not the worst loss of the night...

 

Yeeeah. I was worried for a reason on that AD matchup.

 

When I saw Niko making all those damn threes and crashing the glass. Knew it was a wrap. Just can't allow it to happen.


I know AD/Randle was going to be an issue. However, the others... yikes.

 

Pretty fair actually, except for Ariza and Mbah for Melo. Ennis is also part of that equation. Rockets got hit in their big mouth, now it’s time to learn to shut up and play.

The championship teams had a fire, talked trash, but never talked like this until they won one! The way these guys have been mouthing off and gloating about how they got better was not a good look to begin with and for that alone they deserve all the criticism that comes their way.

 

There are a ton of things wrong with that game last night. National Media will pin it on the low hanging fruit narratives. (they will do it all season, btw).

Be prepared for this National Media Narrative
1) Rockets lose = they are missing Ariza, Moute and Melo is a negative
2) Rockets win = that's nice, but lets see what happens in the playoffs.

Just be prepared for that spin ALL SEASON long.

Now, to this game.....I was most disappointed in Capela. #PlayoffCapela was nowhere to be found. This is not the same Capela that took it right at KAT and Gobert. He got his "weak attempt" shots blocked twice by AD and then played tentative. With AD, you have to GO INTO HIM to reduce his jumps. Being physical, stamina, and consistency are the things that hold Capela back.

Rockets had other issues obviously, but that is one that frustrated me the most.

Against the Lakers, Capela should FEAST. He better do it.

 

@J Sizzle was being sarcastic....but yet he called it on the first page.

 

Yeah, people really did not appreciate Ariza's ability to defend the ADs, KDs, all the way down to the DeRozans of the world. His versatility on D was pretty crucial. Sure, most can fit within a switch everything scheme but knowing how to defend on certain switches is another story.

Also, the Freedom of Movement rule is killing Ennis right now. Still early so hopefully he adjusts.

 

Yeah, this is why I was pushing to get another "4/5" versus another "2/3" wing. Why I brought up James Johnson a number of times. Maybe Gary Clark CAN be that guy eventually. But it is asking alot this soon since he is a rookie.

 

(Ariza was a good communicator....just saying)

 

he has played poorly every single game since getting paid. needs to get it better shape so he can jump again. needs to stop being a p***y, but that'll probably never change.

 

hi