First of all let’s not forget the bucks are title contenders, ranked in the top 5 on both ends last year. I feel like this game gave us a taste of what we could be. The defense solid for 3 quarters and we were crushing them on the glass, and still finished out rebounding them by 4. I know many of you may have watched the game and thought the defense was the problem but really it was the offense. No problem generating shots, but shot making. If we get the same looks the majority of the time we will make much higher percent than we did in the 2nd half. Our misses fueled their offense. They were able to push off long rebounds instead of us setting a defense. We played at the proper pace and it was easy to see what Westbrook can do for us. James and Eric were 6-32 guys.... even if they shot a pathetic 30% we would have won this game. that was a fluke. If we can outrebound a big team like the bucks, and create all these open looks against a top defensive team, I think we will be just fine.
I feel very optimistic. Westbrook Chandler and Sefolosha greatly improved our rebounding. Our defense was fine when before we went to that small ball lineup. The issue was the offense going cold and poor decision making by D’Antoni. I liked what I saw from McLemore too. Rivers.. gave us nothing.. but he’ll come up big in the playoffs.
Yea I'm enouraged, Im just thinking long term. As soon someone on the Rockets(coaches or players) figure out the forcing him right crap, then I think we can contend. I liked a lot of what I saw tonight, our defense was surprisingly good.
Yeah, the season is long. This new group needs to build some chemistry. ALL that matters is health and HCA, everything else is fluff. It's fun to win but when you lose, tip your hat, make adjustments and move on.
Encouraged by Brodie, disappointed in tonight's coaching, optimistic about the potential of the team and satisfied with Harden's response to his poor game. All in all, it look ok.
Yep bad shooting night for Harden and Westbrook. We had a nice flow until we stop in the 3rd. And too many bad calls by refs preventing Harden to even get some flow. First game of the season we looked good we just stopped defending and we stopped moving in the 3rd and some bad decisions specially by Harden. He needed to attack the basket more but also he probably held back because of he was in foul trouble.
Yes, the team looked a hell of lot better than pre-season. I was worried that Westbrook would shoot poorly or turn over the ball in the 4th, but OMG he was the only thing keeping us in the game. We have 10 usable and playoff proven guys that MDA seems to trust. Our guards look good, we have Harden/Westbrook backed by Gordon/Rivers Our bigs look good, Chandler was an awesome pickup. We just need MDA to use them better in crunch time. We have all the tools needed for a deep playoff run, and may i cautiously say that this team looks better than last years team?
I liked what I saw. I’m hopeful Clemons gets some burn. He is capable of pushing us upward when shots aren’t falling.
I'm encouraged that it looks like the Harden / Westbrook duo won't be the disaster that most NBA writers and Media personalities think or wish it will be. But some of the problems that the Rockets had last year seem to be an underlining problem that could rear it's ugly head down the line
Yep bad shooting night for Harden and Westbrook. We had a nice flow until we stop in the 3rd. And too many bad calls by refs preventing Harden to even get some flow. First game of the season we looked good we just stopped defending and we stopped moving in the 3rd and some bad decisions specially by Harden. He needed to attack the basket more but also he probably held back because of he was in foul trouble.[/QUOTE] Westbrook was 7/17 from the field and 3/7 from 3.. how much better do you want him to shoot? Maybe you meant Eric Gordon?
I mean, the Bucks handled us pretty easily last year, one of those games was an embarrassment, so yeah. I think the team is better only because Westbrook can take over games and that's not something we have not had with old CP3 If Harden or Ego shoots a little better, we win...but also if MDA doesn't do dumb things too.
You should be encouraged. Rockets will finish 2 or 3rd in the West because they will beat up on the dregs of the NBA. But since MDA is your coach and don't know how to manage a game, Rockets will get throttled in the playoffs once again. Tonight's game is proof that MDA does not know how to manage a game.
I saw a lot to be encouraged by. Westbrook did a good job of not trying to play hero ball, and House showed some nice drive and kick skills when teams close out on him hard. The Rockets also did a good job on the boards. However, D’Antoni showed an inability to adjust when the Bucks started posting Brook Lopez by putting Chandler or Capela in the game to guard him, and James Harden refused to take the driving lanes the Bucks were giving him far too often.
