ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 12/8/2018

Loved every second of my trip to Houston to binge on Lowry and Scola for several games even though it was L after L after L.

So glad I'm not wasting money on next year's trip to Texas to watch these Rockets.

 

Note - what follows is a mix of speculation and fact:

As to why Clark has not been played after signing his contract:

Clark has been a pawn piece. MDA used him to justify the "release" of Melo. MDA didn't like Melo, ran nothing for him, and wanted a reason to drop Melo after 10 games -- an abrupt decision for a team headed no where. So he went with the false narrative that he had to keep Clark to explain why Melo had to go, even though he never planned to feature Clark post-Melo. Again, raising Clark's profile was always designed to create the momentum to drop Melo. MDA: "The young guy needs to play and he has all the right weapons and IQ, so Melo needs to sit." This justification to drop Melo was even more necessary once Jeff B (the defensive wiz) made clear he was returning. Rumor has it that Melo was responsible for previous firings of both MDA, in NY, and Jeff B, in Denver. Too much acrimonious history for Melo to sit on a bench with two coaches he helped can.

MDA won with his "Clark is the future" argument and Melo was told he would have no more playing time. Now... To your question.... The contract was extended to Clark to make the manipulation complete and to make sure MDA's real motivation in getting rid of Melo (at all cost) was not exposed. Extending Clark a contract says... " We are serious about what we told you fans about needing to get rid of Melo to make room for Clark's development." Had they not extended the contract, we would all clearly (and quickly) see that it was a manipulation all along.

But here's the truth: The Rockets are not committed to Clark. Never have been. That is fraud. His playing time won't increase much and he will soon be removed. More tragic is that while he plays he will not develop much in MDA's three-point system. He will stand on the wing and heave threes. That will be his game. And he will perform dutifully out of his belief that the Rockets are clearly committed to him, having raised him over Melo-- a ten time all star. He will only begin to realize the manipulation done to him once he has left the Rockets. Poor guy. It's just a business though.

 

James Harden alone. Ever since he got here has gotten us to the playoffs every single season except maybe this one from the looks of it. He has done it all by himself. So To think a team with Harden, Capela, Chris Paul, PJ Tucker is not enough to clearly be in the top eight of the west is crazy. They are talented, but other teams have caught on to what the Rockets are doing and mimicking it. That’s what happens when you Win 65 games, teams notice you seriously. And copy you.

Because of this - In order to be good at this system, we have to play play it better, not worse. And we still have a glaring holes at the starting power forward spot and the starting small forward spot is barely being patched up. Tucker should start at 3. We are getting killed on the boards and need a 4 with size.

 

I didn't delve into it so much. I just saw the points in paint disparity and assumed the obvious. If there was some sort of ref conspiracy behind it, that's obviously not cool at all.

If Houston and Dallas met in playoffs, HOU is my pick every time.

 

Great, our defense is so bad we're now creating viral moments for opposing players.

How many times are we going to switch centers on perimeter players before we realize it doesn't work? The worst part of the Luca 11-0 run highlights is seeing him easily make stepback threes over Capela.

That loss and the team's struggles starts with coaching -- mainly on the defensive side. The sooner they abandon switching, the better.

 

the team learned a tremendous amount about itself from this game

 

There's a silver lining in this **** show. If the rockets keep playing like donkey balls I'll be able to afford floor seats when LeBron comes to town. They're going to solve the lower bowl issue in one season

 

You blew a 8 pt lead with like 4 mins to go

 

**** man

 

Pretty infuriating ending. Rockets played better at least. Until the end.

Like Detroit with Griffin, here we have Capela at the top of the arch defending the best player and they continue to burry 3pt jumpers over him.

Oh what I wouldn't give to make sure Jimmy Butler was glued to Donic's hip.

Aside from the ending. Once again the REBOUNDING issue is just too big to ignore. Rockets seem pretty stubborn to stay with their switching and that seems to be giving them problems rebound-wise. Perhaps people are out of position. Perhaps in the margins Ariza's strength and position is vastly better than Ennis in grabbing rebounds. We miss Luc's long arms. These are things in the margins that make a difference.

And then the turnovers. Too many sloppy passes. And if they are of the "live ball" variety, transition scores. Remember the last Spurs game when the Rockets only had 1 turnover? And blew out the Spurs? How did that happen?

 

Ok Harden is elite. But Capela without elite pg cant get his own shot, CP is shell of himself and Tucker was playing minor role in Germany couple of years ago and now is just one dimenshional role player. Plus we have no depth. say what you want but we are far from top teams instead of talent. Last year Paul was still elite and that made difference

 

Is paul getting tired faster? He looks good, but doesnt seem to have it for long. His game is not predicated on athleticism, but he still needs the first step to get by his opponent which you see sometimes. He still has everything, and it makes me question is it really fatigue or injury?

Also, tucker is amazing at his role and if the rockets had another player like him we would be a top team.

 

Rockets are masters in giving confidence back to the other teams, everytime they're up and think they already won, they give up...just look at the Detroit game, yesterday, with the Bulls happened again....of course making big mistakes which translate into easy baskets for the other team, gives that team confindence...Bullock left wide open by Harden, the dumb/lazy turnovers, forced shots...most of these things give the other team a free transition opportunity which usually translates in two easy points also cause yeah, our transition D sucks. Paul missing two free throws was something i didn't really expect to see yesterday and...welp.

 

Paul missing free throws is definitely a confidence issue. It is something he has done his entire career around 90%.

He is a vet and should be a leader. Missing one at that stage is ok, but two shifts all momentum. Not sure what is going on, but it doesnt look good.

 

It's also possible his wrist still bother him but yeah, missing two fts there...eh.

 

Thats another thing that pisses me off this season, we make all these teams we play look like heroes and world beaters when they are really just hot trash.

 

The thing is, Harden was making them last night. At one point in the game he was 6/10 from the 3pt line, and pretty certain 3 of his 6 last 3pt attempts was desperate shots. So I don't mind him shooting them if he was making them.

Regardless, I'll give Harden a pass, because he's been the only consistent player this season.... and he still had 35 points last night. Gordon has had too many bad shooting nights. Paul did play well last night, but he's been way off this season.

I'm just sick of people blaming Harden. Yeah, he could take smarter shots in situations, but he took those shots last season and was making them, and he's been taken those shots this season and made most. The difference being, people are getting on his back because we're losing. People can call it empty stats all they want, but at least he's putting in those stats most nights..... can't say the same for the rest.