ClutchFans Game Thread: Celtics @ Rockets 2/11/2020

they project the same attitude their coach has in losing

 

Not in the 2nd, gave up 30.

 

maybe Its the best time during ASB to make those decision…morey and mDA might use past (including this one) to observe and compare notes on.
I dunt think morey is the only one to nail down ( money and tilman is another aspect)

 

offense is too switch heavy and relient on 1 on 1.
Also can James stop waiting for the double team.
I hate this cerebral play style. Its ok to play off instinct sometimes.

 

Because he was in rhythm. He's out of rhythm and yet they're still doubling him...making it very hard to get the kind of looks he needs to get that rhythm back.

 

Defense is based on creating turnovers.

CF is schizophrenic.

 

Seriously, 35% shooting percentage. Lucky it is close.

 

I mentioned this after last game. I think Westbrook and Harden just don't work together at all. Both guys are at their best when they're the main ball handler. Westbrook gets way more space and time because Harden is getting those double teams..... plus, they don't respect Westbrook's shot. They couldn't do that last year due to CP3's being able to shoot 3pt shots. Now teams literally just back off Westbrook and let him drive to the paint to take heavily contested layups.

Harden just can't find his range due to all the double teaming. He can't get in rhythm if they take him off the ball half the time. It's not a coincidence Harden's gone off the boil from the 3pt since Westbrook started being basically the main ball handler.... which all started because all of the double teaming. Just sucks we don't have very good 3pt shooters. Gordon is hit or miss, so he doesn't count. And Covington isn't known as a very good 3pt shooter either. We're a team that can hit 6/10 one spell and then miss like 12 in a row.

For you guys complaining about Harden not driving to the lane. When he does, the Celtics are just switching on Harden as soon as he's in the paint.

 

I just don’t think Harden is injured in any large way that it’s affecting his shot and game, I think a lot of this is mental weakness. The refs have made it harder on him and yeah he is being doubled a lot as well and that seems to really be affecting his confidence and decision making.

 

He has to be more patient that's the adjustment for him. He is used to having a bit more freedom but without CC he has to give the ball up more and he doesn't want to. MJ Kobe had to make this unique adjustment for the better of the team to win and it's James turn . he needs to mature to the level of his greatness and then he will play better. He must figure this out if the Rox are to win

 

The main reasons trapping Harden is effective is because unlike WB, he doesn't immediately attack the defense.

Harden more often than not likes to dribble in place, back and forth, through the legs, step side to side, front and back, before attacking. This is fine if he is able to make his step-back at a respectable rate, but when he can't, this allows the defense to "load up on him" by hedging a defender closer to the paint.

Another major reason the trapping has been effective is: Harden's is often way too lackadaisical with his pass. He's also not dragging the double team back towards the halfcourt line, but he's also throwing terrible looping/hanging or bad passes to the outlet.

The vast majority of traps Harden is facing is when the Rockets try to engineer a pick and roll to iso him against a weaker defender or a center. In this game, that would be Kemba and Theis/Kanter... Knowing this, Harden needs to be prepared for it and drag them further away and throw better passes out of it. And definitely do not run that pick late in the clock since you know, it will result in an immediate trap.

 

Can we run an actually play besides isolating Harden or Russ? Can we push the pace so the defense doesn't have time to set up? Just frustrating.

 

All great points

 

It is not Westbrook imo. It might be the doubles(maybe) but hes been doubled before, hes still hit shots. You remember that Atlanta game, completely without Russ.

 

Harden doing that is literally getting those other guys wide open shots. We're just not hitting them.

I hate when people complain about it all of a sudden. Weren't complaining about it when Harden was carrying us and dropping 40 to 50 point games all the time.

 

Harden is the easiest player in the league to double.

 

He deserves no excuses. It's a make or miss league. Rhythm lol. He needs to develop a mentality that says I will find a way to get in rhythm any means necessary and impose his will.

 

no they work it just will require an ego check on James by some humble pie. See he wouldn't listen to CP3 but now The whole team leans on Westbrook and favor him because Russ can score 40 and gives the ball up without holding it for 24 hours a day

 

Harden has 2 guys draped all over him every possession hacking him like they did Shaq.

This plus his thigh bruise and knee/ankle that hes been nursing.

Hes not resting on B2B, hes not taking time for general health reasons.

He plays game in and game out and Rockets fans **** and vomit all over him for not having superhuman games every night.

Even his superhuman games are not superhuman enough.

 

LOL That covington BLOOOOCK DOOOOOE