ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 1/5/2019

Is Tucker athletic enough to play on wings? I'm not sure he is anymore.

 

The bench was actually playing well. Had gotten the momentum back and took the lead. Instead of letting them play a little longer MDA brings back Tucker and Harden who both weren’t playing well at the time and they lost the lead and the deficit ballooned. After that the Rockets never really got back into the game.

The coach needs to quit being a robot and go with the flow of the game. Recognize when Harden is struggling and not always expect him to bail you out with a monster game.

 

Brandon Knight looked pretty impressive in limited minutes.

 

You guys are delusional. They made 27 3s with Gordon and Paul. I love reactionaries who automatically assume that just because a team is squeaking by with wins, the injured players don't make that team better. It's like if the Warriors are winning with Quinn Cook starting and Steph Curry out injured, people would be really really dumb to say the team is better without Curry.

 

No reason to be mad about this game, tough after an emotional game against a truly big team with Nene inability to defend and Tucker just too short. Like others have said, we need a 4 and then move PJ to the 3.

 

Why do we need a 4? Are you worried about losing to another team prior to playing the Warriors?

We don't need another person to guard Draymond and Looney; we need someone to help guard Durant.

priorities people

 

Because rebounding has been a serious issue, Tucker is our only ‘big’ forward and we have no big man off the bench. A starting 4 who can play back up 4 and 5 or just a back-up big is definitely priority number 1. A big SF who can play 4 works too, has to be a strong rebounder and defender though.

 

Cp3 only started breaking down this year, Love has battled injuries his whole career. Cp3 is also smaller so he has less weight on his body when he is running around, Love's a big man he will age terribly. Also guards are much easier to replace look at Rivers or House we got decent guards for the minimum because there are a lot of them just looking for the right opportunity. But if a big man goes down it is GG they always come at a premium.

We are already lacking in depth as is we can't have

 

ya if he can make steady improvement between now and april we'll have a very solid 5-guard lineup + GG if any get injured. just need to upgrade the forward spots now. someone to give tucker a rest and/or be able to guard durant/lebron/pg13

 

Yes, I was being a little sarcastic, but I would much rather see Rivers start over Gordon when we go to 3 guard lineup. We might not have to go to 3 guard lineups as much with the emergence of House. I really like what I am seeing from House, in both scoring and on the boards. Everyone knows CP3 will probably be playing less minutes when he comes back, and will probably need more resting than others because of his injury issues. Harden will be able to rest more too, which is good. I just think Rivers is the best replacement for those extra minutes we can give James and Chris on the bench.

 

A PF that can play the C and hit a 3 would be AWESOME to add......someone like a Patrick Patterson - it would allow us to stretch the floor even more and open the lane for Harden's drives.

DD

 

This one is on you

 

Dayum, did the Blazers dominate the last 2 minutes of the 2nd quarter.

 

I really hope Moreys number one priority is for a player with size.

We are built to beat the Warriors. But we are not built to win four playoff series’ in a row right now. And the biggest issue will be match ups, especially when we face a team with size. We’re not getting a big time player at PF cuz Tucker ain’t going anywhere but we need toughness and size. I want Markieff but we can’t get him with our contracts.

 

With Aaron Gordon as their focal point and franchise player, ORL has gone nowhere in last 4 seasons.

The closest thing to all star production is coming from Vooch who is best at 4/5 and who's also going to get paid in offsesaon. Vucevic does well, Magic wins. Even with Vooch they need upgrade at PG. Vooch, Mamba, Isaac & Fournier are the true core for this team.

HOU trades: Knight/Nene/Chriss/Melo/VEdwards/2019, 2021, 2023 FRP
HOU receives: Aaron Gordon/Willie Cauley-Stein, ORL 2019 SRP

ORL trades: Aaron Gordon/ 2019 SRP
ORL receives: John Wall/Skal Labissiere

WAS trades: John Wall/2019 SRP
WAS receives: Knight/Melo/HOU 2021 FRP

SAC trades: Willie Cauley-Stein/Skal Labissiere
SAC receives: Chriss/Nene/Vince Edwards/ HOU 2019 & 2023 FRP/WAS 2019 SRP

Houston gains starting 4/small ball 5, improves overall defense, 4-5 depth, scoring, rebounding and gets younger. WCS is insurance for Clint during regular and post season.

Orlando finally acquires an All Star PG while clearing up logjam at 4-5 and allowing them to pay Vucevic next season. Vucevic is Magic's true franchise player of the present, not Gordon, while Isaac is their future franchise player who complements Vucevic. Mamba provides rim protection at pivot.

Washington is rid of Wall's contract and internal issues (Wall vs. Beal), adds a young former lottery pick PG as well plus a first round pick in 2021. Also adds another scorer in Melo for practically zero dollars. East is likely only place Melo can continue to play (with MEM as only possible exception).

Sacramento gains 2 first round picks, high 2nd round pick and contracts it can shed to enter the FA sweepstakes next season. Also reduces congestion at 4-5 with their multitude of young 4-5 players. Kings were not going to pay WCS with so many young bigs acquired in last few seasons (Bagley, Giles, Koufos, etc.). Nene can mentor their young bigs while Chriss is popular local kid returning home. VE is a free look at wing, a need.

 

I am not really broken up about this loss. Look, the injuries were going to catch up with them. Less margin for error without CP/EG. EG needs to get back soon.

Only downside is the Rockets lost the season series to the Blazers 2-1 because they only play 3 times. Those tie-breakers can matter in seeding later in the year. They are 0-2 vs Clippers so there is work to do there as well.

 

With Aaron Gordon as their focal point and franchise player, ORL has gone nowhere in last 4 seasons.

The closest thing to all star production is coming from Vooch who is best at 4/5 and who's also going to get paid in offsesaon. Vucevic does well, Magic wins. Even with Vooch they need upgrade at PG. Vooch, Mamba, Isaac & Fournier are the true core for this team.

HOU trades: Knight/Nene/Chriss/Melo/VEdwards/2019, 2021, 2023 FRP
HOU receives: Aaron Gordon/Willie Cauley-Stein, ORL 2019 SRP

ORL trades: Aaron Gordon/ 2019 SRP
ORL receives: John Wall/Skal Labissiere

WAS trades: John Wall/2019 SRP
WAS receives: Knight/Melo/HOU 2021 FRP

SAC trades: Willie Cauley-Stein/Skal Labissiere
SAC receives: Chriss/Nene/Vince Edwards/ HOU 2019 & 2023 FRP/WAS 2019 SRP

Houston gains starting 4/small ball 5, improves overall defense, 4-5 depth, scoring, rebounding and gets younger. WCS is insurance for Clint during regular and post season.

Orlando finally acquires an All Star PG while clearing up logjam at 4-5 and allowing them to pay Vucevic next season. Vucevic is Magic's true franchise player of the present, not Gordon, while Isaac is their future franchise player who complements Vucevic. Mamba provides rim protection at pivot.

Washington is rid of Wall's contract and internal issues (Wall vs. Beal), adds a young former lottery pick PG as well plus a first round pick in 2021. Also adds another scorer in Melo for practically zero dollars. East is likely only place Melo can continue to play (with MEM as only possible exception).

Sacramento gains 2 first round picks, high 2nd round pick and contracts it can shed to enter the FA sweepstakes next season. Also reduces congestion at 4-5 with their multitude of young 4-5 players. Kings were not going to pay WCS with so many young bigs acquired in last few seasons (Bagley, Giles, Koufos, etc.). Nene can mentor their young bigs while Chriss is popular local kid returning home. VE is a free look at wing, a need.

Rockets Roster:

Harden/EGo
CP3/Rivers
House/Green
AGordon/Tucker/Clark
Capela/WCS/Bruno

Ennis, MCW, Hartenstein are end of bench reserves.

Notwithstanding injuries, this is legit 9-10 man rotation.

 

Kieff is out for 6 weeks with transient cervical neurapraxia. Loss of sensory conduction leading to "stingers". This will exceed the Feb 7th deadline.