ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Bulls 12/25/2012

Rockets offense gonna struggle facing bulls elite defense. Close win. 125-90.

 

Which was said about the Grizzlies as well.

 

(didn't think this needed its own thread)......
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1451350-report-card-grades-for-every-nba-coach-so-far/page/12

Houston coaching staff gets a B+

"Unlike most coaches who own a signature style and feel reluctant to adapt, the Rockets coaching staff devised a plan that plays to the strengths of its core players.

With James Harden and Jeremy Lin, the Rockets have two lightning-quick guards whose strengths revolve around speed, dribble penetration and attacking the rim. The Rockets push the tempo more than any team in the league, looking to catch defenses sleeping and earn easy points in transition.

HoopData says the Rockets rank first in the league in pace, which measures the number of possessions per game.

Without scorers who can create their own shot, other than Harden, McHale has his backcourt pushing the ball off makes and misses, eliminating as many half-court possessions as he can.

McHale and Sampson have allowed the Rockets to overachieve with one star and a few useful counterparts. They're 13-12 to start the year."

 

The coaching staff needs to take advantage of Harden as the spot up shooter a lot more. He shoots 41% from 3 as the spot up shooter but only does it 8% of the time. Lin on the other hand spots up 24% of the time & shoots 36% 3FG%. Parsons shoots 37% 3FG as the spot up shooter & does it 41% of the time. If Harden were to spot up more that would really help our spacing. A screen & roll with Lin & Smith & Lin having the option to hit Parsons or Harden at the wings or Greg as the roll man would be great. Hopefully the coaching staff makes that adjustment as time goes on.

 

Agree 100%, especially when Harden is gassed. I feel like this could/should become one of our bread-and-butter plays.

 

Lin struggled against Krypton Nate last time but nate shot themselves out of that win.


I'm expecting Lin will do a better job this time around

 

Nate doesn't start for the Bulls. Unless Kirk is injured but I doubt that he is. I don't watch a lot of Bulls games ever since Omer left & Rose got hurt. Anyway, Kirk is a solid defender so we shall see.

 

Need to bring the energy and poise to road games, where it is 12 v 20,000. Road record hasn't been stunning so hoping for the best.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/bask...asik-having-breakout-season-with-rockets.html


Hopefully it's Noah plays like [expletive] tomorrow.

 

Harden only spots up 8% of the time because no one in their right minds would leave him open, especially with the personnel around him.

It is nice to have all these stats readily on hand now, but still have to interpret them.

 

This could be dangerous. The Bulls will be playing at home, and will want to avenge the close loss at TC.

Last game, both teams shot poorly– in low 40th percentile, but the Bulls 3 point shooting was especially bad 2-16 --- it will likely improve from that in tomorrow’s game. On the other side, the Rockets gave up 16 offensive rebounds, and 23 turnovers. They had only 14 fast break points and 15 assists. Omer was effectively neutralized: 6 rebounds and 4 points on 2-8 shooting. It will be interesting to see if the Rockets and O can do better.

PPatt -- scored 20 on 8-16 shooting and had 8 rebounds in last game, but won’t be available for this game.

Lin -- had a terrible game, 5 TOs and 4 points, and was benched after he could not contain Nate Robinson. (TD was able to do that, as well as score some critical last minute points.) Lin has to do better.

 

Sure but let's not pretend that there aren't ways to get him open though, it really isn't that hard. And he doesn't spot up that much because the ball in his hands a lot running the PNR. Although, this has started to change though over the last few games, his %time running the PNR has slowly but surely started to decrease. The point is that the Rockets rarely use him as a threat to spot up. Even if he isn't able to get off a wide open look just his presence as a threat to do that would help spacing. The last game where I remember them using him exclusively in that role was the Utah game where he was sick. If you look at the % of his 3's that are assisted it is really low for a person who is a great 3 point shooter.

 

Jon Barry LOL. Last game on ESPN, Jon kept criticizing Lin. When Lin made a nice pass or scored on a drive to the basket, Jon was like, "You've gotta force Lin left." Then when he interviewed McHale, he later said to the other announcer that he was gonna ask McHale if Lin should come off the bench if he had the time.

 

They're personalized with the Rockets logo and the player's number. Not sure if he'll use it if he gets waived:

https://twitter.com/JHarden13/status/283365657490378752

 

This is Harden's new move, the backwards eurostep. Once perfected, it will be unguardable.

 

Haha... it looks like the ball suddenly came to live and James was scared of it :grin:

 

The Barry family is funny. First you have the HOF dad Rick Barry who yelled at Warriors fans for booing the owner during Chris Mullin's jersey retirement ceremony. Then you got Jon Barry who's the white Steven A Smith on all issues related to Jeremy Lin, while his brother, Brent, followed Lin's career since high school in the bay area, and is the one of the biggest Lin fans on NBAtv.

 

:grin:

 

Told you guys that Jon is a Lin hater. For every nice play by Lin, Jon must remind us that Lin cannot go left.

 

Brent Barry is bettuh!

he won a dunk contest!