ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 1/29/2020

I've actually looked back from Harden last season and he kinda had a slump like this season but we probably forgot because we were winning at the time:

 

But still nowhere near what is going on now.
At this point it almost looks like he has trouble dribbling the ball without it getting stolen.

There is definitely something wrong with him physically I have no doubt about this.

 

No matter Harden is injured or not, Harden hurt the team now!

Without him playing, we possibly get a loss, but at least it’s fun to watch.

 

Pretending we're contending

Spoiler

Month ahead
Mavs
Pelicans
Hornets
@ Lakers (Trade deadline)
@ Suns (B2B)
Jazz
Celtics
All-Star Break
@ Warriors
@ Jazz
Knicks
Grizzlies
@ Celtics

 

Paging @D-rock pls tell me how come the Dumbtoni system didnt result in EG getting 50 pts and a win now?

I mean saying EG just got hot last game was such a ridiculous take right? We won last game due to Dumbtoni system+ coaching and not EG having his best game ever right?

Isn't it funny we lose when EG who scored 50 pts last game on 50% 3 pt scored only scored 12 pts now on 20% FG? It's almost like he just got hot last game and it had nothing to do with the system or coaching.

Imagine that.

 

So my take on this game:
- We come out with great energy, something I've rarely seen and Westbrook in particular is up for this one. Harden got caught up in it too. Our defense lead to offense, which was great to see.
- We got hot from 3 and kept them at bay with hot shooting.
- Westbrook attacked for the rest of the game, with okay results.
- Harden got doubled and got taken out of the game for most of it, he also didn't seem very interested in playing any defense.
- Westbrook took the challenge with Lilliard, but gave him way too much room and was also not sprinting back as much.
- We moved the ball around in the beginning, then went back to iso and just standing around the 3pt line.
- D'antoni called time-outs, but I didn't see much change.
- The moving into the starting line-up of Gordon, I get it after a 50 point explosion, but at the same time I think it's foolish given the opponent.
- The bench was great, kept us in the game.
- With their size and Capela's awful play, D'Antoni again failed to use a big and didn't even allow Thabo to get into it.
- Once Harden got doubled we struggled once again, which is not going to change with our lack of a wing who can truly create.
- Capela was completely and utterly useless. Should not have played. Same goes for Harden given how he didn't have the energy. I would've trusted Westbrook along with the team that beat the Jazz.
- Defensively is where we lost this, on the boards, lack of effort and some odd double-teams and switches.

 

Hate to say it but Rockets are horrible with Harden. Not necessarily his fault but we had no answer for opponents double teaming Harden. It was miserable to watch, I turn my stream off in the 3rd quarter.

 

Going to be a long summer.

 

Watching Harden berate and yell at his teammates of their defensive errors never ceases to amaze me. That must wear so thin with players

 

PJ Tucker has to come out with a Draymond Green type of mentality. He looks to have the same reach and comparable proportions so there's no reason for him not to be that all around position-less front court player other than age but it's not like he has super high mileage.

 

Another rockets game oh would you look at that another double digit lead into a double digit deficit.

Like clockwork.

Harden forcing players to switch puts unnecessary pressure on our defense and the Blazers capitalised on that numerous times in the first half so far.

lollll. Also. Dude. Get some self respect. I’m sick of clowns punking him and acting like he’s a nobody in this league and he does nothing about it.

What an absolute woeful third quarter so far. Those three turnovers for him are the classic Harden-type turnovers. Careless. Lackadaisical. Not giving a ****/sulking turnovers. Dude is so mentally weak

 

I can't watch things that aren't working for the Rockets shooting countless 3 pointers and not going to the FT line. Bad combo for the Rockets. At halftime, I think they shoot no more than 3- 4 FTs. And down by double-digits, on 1 possession I saw 3 Rockets on a fast break with 1 defender in the paint. Guess what they do, shoot more 3s instead of driving to the basket. Formula for disaster and me to sleep early, wake up early I think the Rockets have a 3 pt specialist in Ben McLemore, career high in jacking up 3s like astronomical numbers. Check G League stats, almost all players jack 3s.... On to the next game.

 

Positives:
1. I believe James will get his shot back
2. I think the whole team will start shooting better after the all star break

Negatives:
1. We need Harden to play better D (stay in front of your man, don't reach and get your hand up)
2. Become involved in the offense off the ball.

It's going to take a 1st round exit for the Rockets to blow it up and make some tough decisions.

 

Also saw that, Ben Mac was jacking up shots while Russ was always in attack mode.

 

Lillard dragging his nuts all over the Rockets.
6 minutes to go. Let me take a guess at what Harden does about it ... nothing.

im 93% confident he does nothing about it.

Man two seasons ago seems like an eternity ago. Went into every game confident. To now - is harden going to drop 50; is harden going to score 15; is harden going to sulk the whole game on defense; is harden going to care about the game. An utter crapshoot

 

Wow.... so we bring everyone back on the court and are back suddenly to frustrating play and losing to anyone.

My god.

 

If the man is hurt he needs to sit his a$$ down. He's not Jordan or Kobe. He hurts his team as a hurt player. Even when healthy he takes tons of possessions off. It's comical when you look at the idea of thinking this guy is serious about competing for a ring now. All he does is go through the motions now.

 

When Capela, Harden, Gordon, Westbrook and Tucker were on the court together they only allowed 14 of Portland's 125 pts.

The trade deadline is approaching, and it's time to get another forward who can play defense. Boy do I miss Ariza