Then rest them !! I don't like the "resting while playing" thing. If you are on the floor you should be playing hard. If you need a break then sit , or rest a game or two or three. Playing lackadaisically is the gateway to bad habits . It's counter to the killer instinct that we should be tryin to attain . I hope we can "flip the switch" and I really live what the rockets have done this year.... And I have faith in the team because of how we've played this season . But, lets not fall into bad habits . I understand that the team is taking a mental break and looking towards the postseason .... As they should. But , my opinion on the matter is that you should play guys that are gonna play hard . If you have to play G-leaguers then so be it. I understand if You don't play then there will be rust . But I can tell the difference between being rusty/out of rhythm an just not playing hard ... Play focused or sit
I'm very calm . I just don't like this particular aspect of our plan going into the playoffs. How are we keeping chemistry when we are running everything at 60% ?
The price of meaningless games. Shouldn't be much of a surprise. At this point, the biggest priority is that every player is fine going into the playoffs. Win or lose makes no difference.
MDA - "We were playing like a team that just clinched HCA throughout the playoffs..." Guess what Mike - CAUSE YOU HAD! GET A CLUE! Players know the game is meaningless and don't want to get hurt prior to the playoffs... THEY understand the concept - even if MDA is too stupid to grasp it... That's why you play guys like Black, RJ, etc... guys who want/need to play well even in meaningless situations - cause they're a step away from working a t a Winchell's or something... MDA has his attributes... but dayum, the dude has blindspots that you could drive a semi through... smh....
Not sure about the mandate playing the starters for the full game. Play hard for a half and then sit them.
We are dealing with injuries then sit them indeed, but if not then make up your mind as a coach and a player. Either you give it a 100% or sit; if you know you won’t or see you aren’t then work harder or as a coach punish that player.
Agree completely . I don't care if you play , or how much you play ... As long as you are playing hard and focused when you are playing .
Not only that but we aren't even playing our style of ball. We have taken 10 less 3's than our average these past two games. The style of ball that got us to this point shouldn't change, just because we clinched the top seed. We are going to get into bad habits by playing sloppy, lazy, and differently now. I agree, play hard, limit minutes, and work on perfecting our game.
One day off isn’t going to ruin chemistry I bet Tucker getting hurt for a week will ruin chemistry more than sitting him for a game
Also cause you can always get hurt if you play (just look at PJ's fall and Gerlad taking a hit on his knee), i mean, what's the point of playing if you just don't give a ****? Just don't take risks at this point.
it's even more dangerous when you're playing teams going pedal to the metal while your half stepping it.
if we wants players to "keep their rhythm" then just have starters go hard for the 1st half and call it a night for the starters then bench players go hard the 2nd half absolutely no need to run harden to the ground 35 minutes in a meaningless game with HCA's throughout the playoffs is secured btw while harden played 35 mins, every one else played less than 30 minutes.. is he trying to get harden injured or something?
GARM in meltdown mode Play starters hard for 30 minutes a game and then rest them for scrubs like JJ No point in Joe Johnson taking up minutes in the 1st Q when you should be ironing out the exact 8-9 playoff rotation JJ will have plenty garbage minutes in the 4th
It’s just a gameeeeeee. We will rev it up soon. Also to ppl wondering if Harden was out before the phoenix game... he wasn’t. But after the Suns game. Him n Green went out. Overall Hardens not that type of guy anymore. I think he knows now what’s best.
What I’ve been barking about in game threads....HOWEVER it seems no matter when Harden goes in he’s in coast mode. They ALL know these games mean much of nothing and it appears that ain’t changing no matter how MDA does it.
