ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 1/21/2017

Could someone please post Harden's defensive highlights on Marc Gasol? Even his makes, there was a possession where he played him about as tough as you could & he made an incredibly tough turn-around jumper on him.

 

We have that already. (Gordon.) But my thing is a three point specialist gets cold as well. Look at how Gordon has cooled off of late. When their shot is not falling they should be able to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. Or be able to consistently hit a mid range shot. ( create their own shots). You don't see Livingston shot three pointers for Golden State. But he's able to create his own mid range shot and attack the rim if need be.

The problem here is a lot people get caught up in these high volume of three's. But you don't always have to have them. Ask Golden State, Cleveland and San Antonio. These teams shoots a lot of mid range jumpers too. And they have won Championships shooting them as well.

 

Good win

 

Ok I agree with what you are saying, but a specialist playing 10-15 min a game would be a lot fresher throughout the game then Eric Gordon. Honest question here, have you ever seen korver, Daniels, Novak or the like go terribly cold in their short stints in a game? I would venture those guys (since they aren't burdened with the responsibility as Gordon to lead) would probably miss their first 3 3pt attempts off the bench and then hit their 4th. I would have taken that production in numerous recent games when Ariza, Ryno, Gordon and even Harden couldn't buy a 3 in the same game. With the way Harden can create (elite level) he just needs a one dimensional dead eye specialist to knock down those brilliantly created assists. He makes it easy for the other 4 on the floor with him.

 

Not sure the reasoning with either cases

 

I almost feel like this is thread worthy, but we'll see if the Rockets do it again.

This is regarding the effect on the plays where Harden sags high. I feel like Memphis is an excellent defensive team, but we opened the can they've had on our offense and Harden (or lack there of) was the can opener. To me, they are incredibly pesky to deal with because Tony Allen is a really clever, talented defensive minded player. That picked pocket play right by the sideline proves what he does. Harden's answer was to start the play from 35 feet out or more and stay there. The effect was that it was essentially 4 on 4 with Allen being baited out of position. You do have to guard Harden when he sags and if you back off and try to help, he can always hit a catch and shoot. Forcing 4 on 4 really changed their defensive schemes more than it did our offensive ones. I wonder if we'll see that again against better defensive squads. Something to watch for. Brilliant coaching (most likely coaching, but it could just be Harden's idea) by our staff! MDmA is legit!

 

Needs its own thread, Don.

 

Great observation

 

my thoughts exactly! and when you have more 3pt specialists the lesser is the possibility they all go cold or injured and they dont have to force shots like harden or gordon when going 3-17 when there are other guys who may be hot that night
2 more 3pt specialists will do wonders for us, perhaps we saw it best earlier when sam was over or around 40% on 3s

now if sam can keep it up and we get just one more 3pt specialist that would be awesome!

 

Yes, I really think just one more dead eye pure shooter would make a big difference. I don't consider Ariza or Harden dead-eye shooters. Ryno and Gordon are pretty pure, but Gordon especially is asked to create as well so he's more so built into a very good scoring/playmaking role. We have Ryno, but we need one more Troy Daniels would actually fit perfectly here. As good as Ariza has been in recent games (shooting 3s), I would be glad to give some of his shots to Troy Daniels in those games.

 

Troy Daniels and Patrick Beverley currently shoot the same 3pt percentage for the season, and Daniels wouldn't fit anywhere in our guard rotation unless Beverly, Gordon, or Harden got hurt. I don't think he's the answer.

 

Thanks for looking into their percentages. While that is true, I for one anticipate Troy's 3s to go in more than Beverley's. I just trust Troy more as a shooter.

 

I feel you on that. Daniels is really fun to watch when he shoots. I just can't see where he'd fit into our guard rotation in a way that justifies giving him minutes over any of the current guards we have on the floor.

 

Do not think Troy Daniels is answer or fit either, but the first part of his post actually makes a ton of sense. Rockets need at least ONE more 3 point shooter. And that's not including Wiltjer, we need someone that coaches will actually play.

 

I could see someone like Steve Novak being that guy. He's currently riding the bench in Milwaukee, and we could use him situationally.

 

Is Novak better than Wiltjer? Wiltjer actually has some ability to finish and grab a board, to go along with his 3 ball. What about Bosh? Or Isaiah Austin? Both guys are higher risk than Novak, but could be much higher reward due to their ability to actually do more than shoot 3 ball, ie play defense, block shots and rebound.