Nikola Jokić will absolutely destroy those small ball lineups in a series, better start getting Harty some playing time during the regular season. Preparation meets opportunity, but you cannot expect to throw him in the playoffs when you need him, if you didn't develop him at all the second half of the season. The Rockets were down one last night with like 4 minutes to go, and they had a 30 point differential in 3-pointers last night against the lakers - an outlier for sure. Are you really going to count on Tucker, House and the rest of the role player to consistently hit their 3 pointers in a playoff series - good luck with that! Did you notice how easily a 35 year Lebron blew past Covington last night late in the game? RW had an above average game, but the Lakers will adjust by putting Pope on him, and moving AD out of being isolated one on one, or (Kuzma being isolated - he is terrible at defense - looks to have gone Hollywood). The Playoffs are about adjustments - and taking stuff away - see CC against the GSWs. The Rockets played with a little more energy last night, but couldn't stop a ham sandwich still, and could not separate themselves in a game. There have been very few games the Rockets have been able to gain separation from, and put the other team away - whether good or bad teams. This is a sign of good teams, they all have this ability. Finally, one of my criticisms of the Rockets organization is that they build strategies and teams that have success in the regular season, and playoff basketball is what counts. Build a strategy that works well in the playoffs, especially in a 7-game serious where teams focus on defensive schemes to stop first and second options. P.S. The spacing wasn't that good even with 5 small guys on the court, spacing is only good when RW has the ball because they back off of him, and cover everyone else. But when RW is on the court, and doesn't have the ball in his hands, the spacing is really bad for the rest of the shooters like Gordon and Harden. Russell Westbrook is the worse spacer in all of the NBA, and you can see James Harden wasn't happy with the kinds of looks he gets to drive with RW on the court, its good for RW, but bad for JH - that's why he was in a funk last night - terrible spacing for his drives even with no Clint Capela on the court. This problem will only get worse in the playoffs where defenses rotate much harder with better effort. Enjoy the regular season Rockets fans, you won't make it past the second round again this year - is my prediction.
We have not abandoned pick n roll basketball. The first order of business is to solidify our new style. Next is integrate cuabolo and H Stein into pick n roll game as needed. Tyson will be of help to. This is going to work because the fix are dictating the match up and the tempo on both ends. The league knows now that James one on one can reek havoc. If they double James you are going to give up a layup or corner rythym. And the other team is at a mismatch every game.
Daryl and Tilman, please make this man a Rocket an put in the waiver claim. Perfect fit and great team friendly contract. This could make up for the trades if you can get this talent for our system at this cost. We can still play small with him at C and not lose any shooting, heck, he would enhance the system.
The thread title is absolutely A++++ material but it's all downhill from there. Literally not one mention of Hartenstein in all of that.
This does concern me. PJ could wear down, or we might actually need to spot him at times. Hartenstein will be far too rusty, and not develop at all if he gets no minutes in the games for the next 2 months. If they never plan on developing him then I hope another team gives him that opportunity. He is only 21, and being an MVP on a Championship G League team shows me he has promise to be really good.
Harden specifically called this out in postgame interview He said "we're not big, but we play with big Hart" Another quality catch from Terps legend @Joe Smith
This crap has been going on long enough. First the Rockets are 9-1 without Capela. In those 10 games the Rockets out rebounded their opponents by +6. Further the Rockets have shown that they can still win games when being out rebounded. Second, the Rockets defense has vastly improved. It isn't the 1990's anymore. Long wings are more important defensively than post defenders. Also, Capela wasn't even a good post defender, over the last couple years guys have shot like 68% against him in the post. If you are curious, guys have shot 51% against Harden in the post. Covington is also a very good rebounder, as is Harden and Westbrook is the greatest rebounding guard in NBA history. Also, with a stretch 5 and Covington aboard, the Rockets are going to be running more with Westbrook. That has an impact on post rebounding and post scoring. As for Jokic......... Covington is a better defender against him than most centers. Also, I would like to know how exactly Jokic is going to defend anyone with his lack of speed when the Rockets are running Tucker or Covington at the 5 and have Westbrook in transition. He will not be able to stay on the court. Time will tell how this all plays out, but the Rockets have a better chance of winning a title right now, than a week ago. Also, as far as the Lakers are concerned.......... Harden took 10 shots and the Rockets won by 10......... the Rockets 3rd best player hasn't even practiced with the Rockets yet and came off the bench. Anthony Davis had a huge game and they still lost. It is funny, LeBron James did not look at good having Covington guard him.... but I am sure that is coincidence right? Also lets look at what those big Lakers centers did last night.......6 rebounds and 9 points........ and something odd happened........ the Lakers stopped playing Howard and McGee and went to a smaller line up........ I wonder why?.... It wouldn't be that the Rockets had the second highest % of OPEN 3's against the Lakers in over 40 games. Why did the Rockets have so many open 3's? Why did Westbrook get so many open looks in the paint? How did the Rockets manage to win the fast break point differential after struggling to all season......... I know, I know...... the Rockets just went to the line a lot more, right? Nope.......... but all that running, caused turnovers? Nope, the Lakers had the same number of turnovers.
I disagree with your entire post. LeBron James blows by EVERYONE on the court. He may have lost a step defensively, but on offense, he's still the fast, strong juggernaut he's always been. This is not breaking news. How are they going to "move" AD out of being isolated, one on one? AD is their best defender; if they need to mask his defensive deficiencies, that's just even better news for the opposing team. You think KCP, of everyone on the Lakers roster, has the best chance at guarding a motivated Westbrook? LOLOL. Rockets won by 10 last night...by LITERALLY separating themselves from the Lakers in the last few minutes of the game. Did you even watch? MDA and the staff has plenty of time to optimize the current roster to take on WC playoff teams - the fact that we still have half a season to go, only bodes well for us because we can analyze the regular season games, moving forward. James Harden wasn't happy because he was doubled at the the logo, THE ENTIRE GAME. Again, DID. YOU. WATCH? Your analysis is completely off, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Because it seemed like you didn't watch.
Cool post, LA dude who also posted yesterday that he thought the Dodgers would win it all and that the Angels would give the Astros a run for their money next season. It's OK, man, its just the regular season. No reason to be this butt-hurt over one game.
AD, McGee and Dwight should have had career nights against midget Tucker...but McGee and Dwight couldn't even see minutes down the stretch. We made the Lakers play our way. It's sad how OP thinks Hartenstein is the only reason we advance past the second round. Found Barkley/Shaq's CF account, guys!
Hartenstein can get rebounds and he hustles....... but he isn't a good defender and he has a lot of limitations. I am fine with them keeping him for now, in case they get in a situation they decide they needed his rebounding..... but that is about all he brings.
Joker has to harden up, man up, he is semi soft. Capela could run circles around his unathletic butt.
Don't quote me 11 and 1 without Capela crap, what was the record in 2017 regular season with Paul, Harden and Capela all playing, didn't mean anything in the playoffs. You guys are really under appreciating Nikola Jokić, he played crazy minutes in that Portland series, and was the best player on the court. They will just cover for him on defense with their quick wings, actually Capela gave him trouble. Tucker has no chance, Covington..really, Jokic will just move him with his lower body, and play volleyball with him - you guys are clueless if you think the Denver Nuggets would be a good match up for the Rockets in the playoffs. Yes the lakers made some mistakes last night, they should have given howard more time, he was abusing the rockets inside. But everything slows down in the playoffs. The Rockets will need a viable center in the playoffs - whiteside abused them the other night in Portland, and here at home a while ago. It is one game, talk your stuff now, because you will all be looking stupid in the summer. There is no way this team is doing jack in the playoffs, nobody even plays defense during the regular season. Playoffs are what matters. I don't have a problem trading Capela, I just have a problem sending out first round picks like candy every year. Lou Williams had a good first game for us, and played well at times, but didn't do jack against the spurs in the playoffs. Until you actually win something, same as it ever was with the rockets. If you cannot beat the Warriors at home without Durant, and steph in foul trouble, and given RW and JH playoff history, you guys have some nerve thinking you are favorites for anything. You hit your three last night ok, what happens when you don't hit your threes in a game? What is plan B?
