1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Defensive mindset of PJ Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by sirjesse, Oct 18, 2017.

  1. sirjesse

    sirjesse The Udoker has spoken!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2002
    Messages:
    8,318
    Likes Received:
    21,320
    Per Jonathan

    The defensive mindset brought by P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute was irreplaceable, helping to key the second half improvement of the Rockets defense. It might have been more than that. It could be influential, with the Rockets seeming not just to say they will value defense, but to really mean it. The Warriors had scored 71 points in the first half, but the Rockets halfcourt defense was not that bad. The transition defense was horrible, but in the halfcourt, the Rockets had many possessions that showed signs of defensive improvement. If they could repair a few of the breakdowns and start getting back in transition, the Rockets had a chance to get the stops they would need to rally from down 17. They went with small lineups, allowing Tucker, Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza to switch on the Warriors as regularly as the Warriors switch on everyone else. That opened the door for the Rockets' comeback. The Warriors can tear through any defense with their own offensive excellence, as they had in the first half. But when they slowed a bit, the Rockets defense tightened, holding Golden State to 20 fourth-quarter points. That improvement keyed the win. More than that, it was an encouraging sign that the retooled Rockets can have a defense that won't embarrass their high-scoring offense when seen in public together.




    I am glad I did not miss the season opener. The lineup with Mbah a Moute, Ariza, and Tucker caused havoc on the defensive side in the second half that was a joy to watch after we posed no defense in the first half.
     
  2. 13 in 33

    13 in 33 Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2013
    Messages:
    332
    Likes Received:
    360
    Don't forget about 6-time 1st Team All-Defense and All World defender Chris Paul!
     
  3. seeingredtx

    seeingredtx Enlightened

    Joined:
    May 13, 2016
    Messages:
    1,266
    Likes Received:
    1,884
    Harden will be forced to play Defense with Tucker, Paul and Luc. Not to mention Nene, Capela, Gordon and Ariza which are all legit defenders. Anderson and Harden are by far the weakest D-up guys. They will both be forced into playing good defense...
     
    Hakeemtheking, DonKnock and RudyTBag like this.
  4. YallMean

    YallMean Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2003
    Messages:
    14,277
    Likes Received:
    3,807
    There is no excuse for Anderson. It was too easy against him. The dude just cant play defense. If he doesn't score enough, he is a liability.
     
    amaru and seeingredtx like this.
  5. YOLO

    YOLO Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2012
    Messages:
    46,472
    Likes Received:
    44,648
    yeah that definitely showed this to be true last night :rolleyes:
     
    DudeWah and Mathloom like this.
  6. mockster

    mockster Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,351
    Likes Received:
    2,859
    Tucker was great but I never knew how good mbah was. He's actually really athletic, solid dribbling for his position, he can drive it in fairly well and doesn't look Ariza or brewer chaotic and has a solid shot. Obviously his defense is also very good.

    I was just surprised how versatile he looked.
     
    DonKnock, StrawberryJamm and Tfor3 like this.
  7. hakeemthagreat

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    6,127
    Likes Received:
    4,103
    I thought Anderson played decent defense last night. He also grabbed a few rebounds. There were a few times I thought I was seeing things out there, he actually made some nice plays defensively
     
    Mathloom and dje243 like this.
  8. DreamShook

    DreamShook Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    70,459
    Likes Received:
    114,295
    You got this Anderson hate on default. Yesterday was not the game to point to and say Anderson is trash defensively. All this talk about "Harden will be forced to play defense with a defensive lineup", it seems Anderson has already upped his game.

    There will be plenty of time to hate on Anderson on defense this season (OR MAYBE NOT!?), the GSW game was not one of them.
     
    topfive likes this.
  9. Vivi

    Vivi Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    Messages:
    18,561
    Likes Received:
    20,774
    Ryan is generally a poor defender, anybody knows this, but at least he tries, can't deny and/or no respect that. I respect more a poor defender which tries than a good defender which doesn't even try.
     
  10. sirjesse

    sirjesse The Udoker has spoken!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2002
    Messages:
    8,318
    Likes Received:
    21,320
    The most you can get from Anderson, and he provided some of it last night, is positioning, boxing out, and some veteran tricks. He had his moments, both good and bad on defense last night. But he brought an intensity, he was battling.
     
    DonKnock and hakeemthagreat like this.
  11. hakeemthagreat

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    6,127
    Likes Received:
    4,103
    Yep. He was playing with a unseen intensity I haven't seen from him as a Rocket
     
    Plowman likes this.
  12. theimpossibles1

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2007
    Messages:
    4,265
    Likes Received:
    5,102
    Tucker was an absolute beast down the stretch. He added an element we sorely needed. Hit open 3s, played lockdown D, and went h.a.m. on the boards. GS kryptonite!
     
    DonKnock likes this.
  13. RocketsFido

    RocketsFido Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2013
    Messages:
    8,958
    Likes Received:
    10,077
    Tucker deserves the defensive MVP this game and EG was the offensive MVP. Harden is the real MVP, doing Harden things (good and bad).
     
    theimpossibles1 likes this.
  14. dkoune

    dkoune Rookie

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    2,850
    Likes Received:
    763
    Cp3 had some huge defensive plays in the final stretch! That pick pocket on KD then came up with the steal and assist to capela for a jam! That post defense on David West that led to a steal! Amazing!

    But but... his skillset is "useless" for this rockets team...according to Charles Barkley.
     
  15. theimpossibles1

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2007
    Messages:
    4,265
    Likes Received:
    5,102
    "You're da real MVP mom!"
    -anonymous loser
     
  16. bongman

    bongman Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    4,213
    Likes Received:
    1,411
    "We got some dawgs" - Harden
     
  17. Noob Cake

    Noob Cake Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2008
    Messages:
    3,541
    Likes Received:
    699
    Anderson just needs to go 110% on defense. He isn't being ask to do much on offense. A screen or two then camp the lines most of the time anyways.
     
  18. RockWest

    RockWest Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2015
    Messages:
    1,378
    Likes Received:
    898
    Harden defense > EG defense? Since EG was offensive MVP and all
    Jk. Harden got in the way of KD right before his last shot , that's defense XD
     
  19. mvpcrossxover

    mvpcrossxover Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2008
    Messages:
    22,110
    Likes Received:
    8,250
    This board is going to turn against them so fast once they start missing shots.
     
    DudeWah likes this.
  20. DudeWah

    DudeWah Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2007
    Messages:
    9,643
    Likes Received:
    3,523
    Just wait until they start missing shots.

    This team can get all-world defenders, but the philosophy of this organization will make our defense look terrible at some point no matter what.

    I have zero trust in this team when it comes to the playoffs.
     
    #20 DudeWah, Oct 18, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2017

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now