ClutchFans Game Thread: Spurs @ Rockets 12/15/2017

I honestly find it humorous how much everyone was hating on Harden last night.

He had an off night, for sure. It's not to excuse his poor play in that game (..when we won by 20 points) but it happens. He had 28 points on 6/18 shots.

Mwanwhile, Westbrook had 27 points. In 10/33 shooting. And it was business as usual for him because he had a triple double and a highlight dunk.

We are lucky to have a hall of fame player to pick up the slack when Harden has an off night. And to have Harden to do the same with Paul does.
CP3 had pretty good games in both of them, but we wouldn't even be at this point of our streak- we would have lost to Portland and New Orleans- if it wasn't for Harden.

 

Spurs plays dirty. If spurs is unable to defence, they wiill use this pull the player or use fake drop on the floor like Patty.

 

Espn mentioned how Russ was on fire last night.

How he could not be denied....

My god.

 

yup as usual bspn jumping on westbrick's D real quick

 

Spurs are better than the Rockets? Question answered.
REAL Rockets fans be like this this morning. . .. .

 

I’ve never seen so many negative posts in a Rockets blowout of another contender.

Was shameful really.

 

MDA and Laurel matching the Rox and Spurs...nice!

 

how the F is that not a flagrant? the scrub pulls down the mvp in mid-air at high speed

 

What a statement win.

CP3 is so good...

 

Even Embiid said Russ took 33 shots

Main reason this team sucks. Russ isn’t efficient. George should be shooting like 25 he’s your best shooter, Melo in 15-20 range and Russ in that same range

 

We need to manage expectation man. He is 4th year into the league. Finishing when defense focusing on him? Like be the focal point of offense facing double team inside? I Think you are talking about superstars here, in this era that is extremely rare to find. Capela far exceeded expectations as a 16th pick we should give him credits when it’s due. 18/10 night against twin tower spurs is superb performance.

 

Russ was the only reason they went into OT in the first place. Dude gave Philly a shot to steal it. But you know ESPN doesn't watch the games.

 

I re-watched the game (I usually re-watch Rocket wins) to see if Harden was as bad as I thought during the live broadcast. He wasn't. Sure Harden missed a bunch of shots, but they were shots he usually makes.

Harden had a very nice first qtr. Watching live, I thought he looked slow, but on second watch, he was playing normally. I remember saying he was "methodically ballin" in the game thread. The rest of the game he overall played decent basketball. There were a few very bad plays, but not as many as I thought I was going to see.

He did get a lot of 3's hit in his face, but his post defense on Pau was stellar and his help defense was pretty solid.

I'm chalking up some of my Game thread criticisms on thinking this was a revenge game for Harden. I wanted him to slaughter the Spurs on national TV (with Beadle watching) after the game 5 and 6 debacle. I still struggle with game 5 and 6.

I also think because CP3 was playing at a different speed, and playing very well, it made Harden's struggle seem larger than it really was.

Rockets play Spurs a few more times. If this is the worst Harden plays against the Spurs.. Spurs are in real trouble.

 

there were at least 4 plays on defense where he didn't even attempt to put a hand up and gave up easy scores. there were a couple very lazy passes and he also got easily ripped with the lackadaisical dribble at the top of the arc. seemed to me his head wasn't in the game on a lot of possessions.

 

Harden's post defense has always been good. It's when their team starts setting picks. He doesn't want to go around the pick to put his hands up in front of the 3 pt shooter or he sags off so much that he gives them too much space to shoot the 3 ball.

 

one word : playoffs (aka "big games on national TV") Harden

 

Yeah, those times when Harden wasn't getting a hand up he was getting dominated from beyond the arc; Once in the first half and 3 or 4 times straight in the 2nd half.

There were some bad TO's, one VERY BAD inbound pass to CP3 that thankfully didn't get stolen. 2 turnovers were to Nene that weren't that bad since Rockets were up 17-20 points and Nene usually catches them. There were some bad TO's in 4th against the third string.

Harden's head was in the game for the most part. That first qtr Harden was putting on a clinic getting to the line and passing. Harden started to struggle after he got hit in the eye at the end of the first qtr.

For the most part I think Harden played fine. And this is coming from someone who thought he initially had a bad game.