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B.S. Report with Zach Lowe 3/3/14

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by jordnnnn, Mar 3, 2014.

  1. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

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    http://cdn16.castfire.com/audio/303...=http://m.espn.go.com/general/cast?id=2864045

    Lots of Rockets talk on the podcast today. Specifically us vs the clippers. Simmons was trashing Hardens defense pretty bad. Lowe acknowledged the embarrassing effort sometimes, but defended his effort recently.

    Interesting tidbit Lowe brought up was a convo he had with Sampson about giving up on the twin towers kind of quickly and how Sampson told him he wouldn't be surprised if we saw it sparingly down the road against certain teams and that's exactly what happened the other day. I bet if we see Memphis or the clips we see it again in the playoffs.

    Other than that it's never bad to listen to Lowe talk about the NBA, he knows his stuff.

    One other thing I didn't get was at one point they were discussing the 3-5 spots on the MVP ballot and Simmons said being a one way player(love and harden) immediately disqualifies you in his book, then went on to say Dirk and Curry should be in the conversation. It's starting to become hit or miss with his takes, just doesn't seem to be keeping up with league as much as he used to.
     
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  2. HamJam

    HamJam Contributing Member

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    I completely agree. I've always loved Simmons, and I still read most of his stuff and listen to most of he podcasts, but he is spread too thin it seems, and does not follow the Association as much as he used to (though he talks with as much confidence -- which is not helping anything).

    Grantland is one of my favorite websites on the intertubes, but Simmons is just not the same anymore. Still not terrible -- but he doesn't hold a candle to Zach Lowe.
     
  3. Midixinormous

    Midixinormous Member

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    Summary of other parts about the rockets.

    Really liked Beverly and what he brings to the Rockets.

    Asik's not happy and looks like he's being forced to play at gunpoint (their words not mine). But is playing hard despite being unhappy.

    The Jeremy Lin experiment is not working at all.

    Really likes Melo to Houston in the summer.
     
  4. bmd

    bmd Member

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    Melo with Howard and Harden seems like it would be a disaster.
     
  5. larsv8

    larsv8 Contributing Member

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  6. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

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    About Simmons and the talks of Harden's defense: Like many national media types, Simmons tend to watch each team fairly sparingly (except the Celtics and the Clippers, his "home town" teams). Simmons tends to form an opinion about a player based on his earliest impression of him and doesn't change it for a long time. Here, Simmons still remembers Harden's very poor defensive effort in the first HOU-LAC game at Staples and he hasn't watched enough of HOU games since then to notice Harden's improved effort where as we home fans who watch close to every Harden game notice these things.

    Some of the NBA focused national guys like Zach Lowe do watch a ton of footage of every team (even the games like PHI vs. MIL). But Lowe is a more specialized reporter-- not only does he focus exclusively on the NBA, he is focused on his niche as the guy who breaks down games and provides X's and O's analysis (as oppose to "breaking transaction news and rumors" guys like Stein and Woj). Simmons, on the other hand, is a general sports commentator who has more areas to cover.
     
  7. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Why? It isn't like Rockets are getting good defense and rebounding from the 4 anyway. Granted, Morey would have to fit him with a shock collar every time he took a mid range shot.
     
  8. Nook

    Nook Member

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    I will take my chances.
     
  9. larsv8

    larsv8 Contributing Member

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    I disagree.

    Current minutes and shot attempts:
    Harden: 38 minutes, 16 shot attempts
    Parsons: 38 minutes, 13 shot attempts
    Lin: 30 minutes, 10 shot attempts

    Melo: 39 minutes, 22 shot attempts

    Hypothetical minutes and shot attempts after trade:
    Harden: 34 minutes, 14 shot attempts
    Parsons: 34 minutes, 11 shot attempts
    Melo: 34 minutes, 14 shot attempts

    Less turnovers, less minutes played for everyone, more efficient scoring all around.
     
  10. jtr

    jtr Contributing Member

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    Who has ever held a candle to Lowe since he moved to Grantland? I mightily enjoy Simmons articles because he has one of the sharpest wits and tongues around. He is perfect for a two minute soundbite on ESPN. In depth analysis and insight? Lowe every time.
     
  11. 2016Champions

    2016Champions Member

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    Simmons is emotional. Emotion clouds judgement. Overall, I still respect him as a basketball mind, but I take things he has to say with a grain of salt. Zach Lowe on the other hand is not only a great writer with insightful observations, but he always comes off as very cool, calm, and collected. Lowe's word is almost gospel to me, I absolutely love his work.
     
  12. Honeybager81

    Honeybager81 Member

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    Melo in Houston, it either works perfect, or will be a disaster waiting
     
  13. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

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    Some notable points:

    1. They discussed how Butler could be helpful to OKC because Sefolosha is out and Jeremy Lamb has been slumping. I had no idea that Lamb has been slumping, not having followed OKC closely. This is the kind of stuff that makes a listening to and reading Zach Lowe informative to me.


    2. They think Melo is leaving NYK at the end of the season. Simmons raised the possibility of Melo to HOU and Lowe spoke about speculations of Melo to Miami (with Bosh maybe leaving). There may be an interesting musical chairs situation going on come July.

    3. Lowe noted that Jeremy Lin had been struggling for a couple of weeks coming off the bench. I don't think it's a bench thing. He wasn't this bad early in the season whether starting or coming off the bench. Might be something physically wrong (like the back injury reported today) since the break.
     
  14. shastarocket

    shastarocket Contributing Member

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    Melo isn't coming here if Chicago comes calling.
     
  15. meh

    meh Contributing Member

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    Is this one of Simmons' random made up scenario like Kevin Love to the Celtics? Or are they actually hearing things?

    I've been a proponent of Melo to Houston for a while now, even back when he was pouting in Denver. I just never thought it was realistic.
     
  16. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    The problem with Melo is not so much about shot attempts but about ball movement. If you think Harden is sticky, think Melo.
     
  17. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

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    Other than a strong preference for the city of Chicago the Rockets are a much better team.

    Rose has not proven that he's able to make it back from injury.

    Howard is superior to Noah

    Gibson and Boozer would both have to be moved.

    An injury prone Rose and a core of Mirotic/Butler/Noah is not as good as Harden/Howard/Parsons/Jones/Dmo/Bev.

    The pick they got from Charlotte is decent but is not going to get them a lotto stud and it's top 10 protected.
     
  18. meh

    meh Contributing Member

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    So what? Melo has a TS% of .560 this season despite playing with the likes of Raymond Felton, JR Smith, Bargnani of the world. On a team with better floor spacing, better P&R teammate(Chandler isn't what he used to be), less double teams, so what if he shoots the ball a lot? He's a very effcient scorer.

    The knock on Melo has always been that he "doesn't make his teammates better." The Rockets don't care if he he can't make Harden, Parsons, Howard better. On a team with stars, not making your teammates better is not a liability.
     
  19. RocketsJumer

    RocketsJumer Member

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    Not defending Melo because he is the premier ball stopper in the NBA but who does he have to pass it to exactly? Chandler whose effectiveness is only within 6 feet? The "supreme chucker" J.R Smith? No knees Amare? Felton.. LOL? The only one on the Knicks who is worth passing to is Hardaway.

    If Melo become the catch and shoot and a post up guy on this team, then this team would be dangerous. He is elite, if not the best, star player at catch and shoot situations and he is arguably the best post up wing scorer in the NBA. Posting up is the one thing Melo is better than Durant is, scoring wise. Just look at how he preformed at the 2012 FIBA Olympics and even the recent All Star game when he was the catch and shoot guy playing off drive and kick passes? Simply dangerous.

    With Melo, the offense of the Rockets would have an elite talent, everywhere on the floor and at every aspect of offense. Harden (perimeter/driving in the lane), Howard (paint/offensive rebounds), and Melo (catch and shoot/Mid-range/post).
     
  20. xiki

    xiki Contributing Member

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    My sense, which is the equal to non-sense, is Melo is going nowhere. However, the very idea of Melo conforming into a Thibs' coached squad is as entertaining as it gets.
     

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