ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 11/18/2012

Remember when JChrist took the Apostles on that 9-0 run? That was like a miracle.

 

I definitely think we can win. It all depends how stupid/coaching or how soft/Patterson we get.

 

http://www.theonion.com/articles/christ-returns-to-nba,1996/

 

The Lakers have no point guard. Lin better exploit this.

 

I think this game is totally winnable. Lakers are slow as fuq.

But there were other winnable games too... really have no faith in the coaching, sad to say.

 

The game should just be decided mano y mano -- one-on-one game between Sampson and D'antoni on his crutches. D'antoni can use his crutches to hand check, to make it fair.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rockets injury update from shootaround: Carlos Delfino (groin) not participating. Safe to assume he'll be out tonight vs. Lakers.</p>&mdash; Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/270236728755908608" data-datetime="2012-11-18T18:47:11+00:00">November 18, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

When Jeremy Lin plays passively or poorly due to using his weaknesses rather than his strengths of creating, remember that the coaches are telling him to play that way.

 

It's going to be a late game for those of us on the east coast with work in the morning. So instead of wasting valuable sleep time on here after the game I will just make my contribution now and say that was a dumb move by Sampson.

 

Field goal attempts down by 0.6
3 point attempts up by 1.2
Free throw attempts down by 2.1

This shows me that the coaching staff is trying to limit Lin's field goal attempts and make him shoot 3s more. His free throws are less because he is not getting fouls by going into the paint.

On the plus side his rebounds, assists and blocks is up and his TOs is down.

He is averaging 2.7 steals so far this season and he should be allowed to have at least 3 TOs or more per game since his steals and blocks are up.

 

If you're going to compare FGA and FTA, it's better to compare per-36min stats instead per-game stats.

The difference this season is 4 fewer field goal attempts and 4 fewer free throw attempts per 36 min (equivalent to 3 quarters of play, and is close to typical minutes of a starter per game).
Lin's steals per 36 actually aren't much higher than last season (2.4 versus 2.1); it's just that ppl didn't talk about it before because the prevailing narrative last season was that he was a poor defender.

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=bbr&url=%2Fplayers%2Fl%2Flinje01.html&div=div_per_minute"></script>

 

coach sampson said players are making lin go left so he's choosing to pass, offload instead because of that.

it doesn't help his jumper is broken this year. he was shooting around 46% for jump shots with the knicks. once he gets more strength in his knee that number should get better as would the rest of his game.

 

You also have the 10 games where Lin was on the bench in NY. So this lowered his FG attempts, 3 point attempts, etc. for his stats as a Knick.

 

let the battle of the 4-5 teams be played

 

Lakers are gonna play with angels flying out of their butts to impress their new coach. Why we had to stand in front of the wrecking ball is a vagary of the scheduling gods. This might get ugly, but the Rockets have risen to the occasion before.

 

The Rox have yet to suffer a blowout game, even after playing Miami (currently 8-3) and Memphis (currently 8-1). So far, the average point differential is less than one point.

 

Don't players usually play better after a coaching change? Lakers are going to come out with everything they have, so I think this will be a tough one. And as much as I'd love to see a Nash vs. Lin matchup, I'm glad he won't be playing. He's the one who can run D'Antoni's system the best.

 

Jeremy's is so gracious http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/jeremy-lin-11182012

 

Loved what Duhon said about Coach D. When you make a mistake, you're not going to be yanked. Sampson, add that to your playbook.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/s...kers-mike-dantoni-and-rockets-jeremy-lin.html

This is what Nash and MWP said about Lin.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/hello_again_LIv76Rl3RTRzl2CAy5mk7H