ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Suns 10/13/2015 (PRESEASON)

Terrence Jones is going to break out big time this year. He showed you last night. Where are all the Markief >>>>> Jones people now? BBQ chicken

 

Unless he has learned to play defense, he won't. His offense has never been a problem, he has a lot of tools to work with, but he gives away a ton defensively. Too much for a PF that plays big minutes.

3 years in, and I haven't seen improvement in the one area that he needs it the most.

 

Xfinity internet and cable cut out for me around the 7:00 4th quarter mark, so I'll watch the rest tonight. But I really like what I see from Jones, Ariza, Brewer, Capela, Fo' Sammiches, and Beverley had a nice game as well.

Jumped off my couch for that Capela dunk, lol.

 

What did you think of his defensive performance last night? I'll let you go first. I want to hear what you saw.

 

And I got a lot of hate for calling Dekker a scrub who won't contribute to Rockets for the next 2 seasons. Some kool aiders don't know how to judge talent. He has no single skill set good enough to earn him playing time.

Just because he was drafted by the Rockets and gawd Moaury doesn't mean he is good. He is a scrub just like Papa scrub

 

I agree. Dekker is a bonafide scrub. Hopefully he can be half of a CP25

 

No, he has the tools... he just has to get used to playing in the NBA.

He's too timid and passive right now and isn't sure of his role or where he is supposed to be on the court a lot of the time.

He needs playing time (in RGV) to get him the confidence that he needs to execute at this level. He has the physical ability. He needs to work on what's between his ears right now.

It's much easier for Montrezl because his game is so simple. Grab the rebounds, block the shots, dunk the ball. That's about it. Which is great because he's good at it and it makes it easier for him to contribute right away.

But don't count out Dekker. He'll settle in eventually, and when he does that's when you'll really see a big improvement.

 

Missed the game. Anyone have a recap vid? or highlights?

 

I liked this game, up until the scrubs came in. Some thoughts:
- TJ, what in the world, where did that come from? He really needs to play like that all the time! He went up strong for rebounds and lay-ups.
- Brewer is a monster. 7 steals!! He looks very sharp
- Ariza solid
- Capela looked great, but needs to work on his hands, he lets lose of too many rebounds. Other than that though, he's sharp.
- Beverley looked okay
- Harrell makes some crazy shots, all about energy. Some dumb fouls, way too out of control. Not an NBA player yet.
- Joshua Smith, he has many good things going for him. Hope he makes the cut.
- KJ needs to stop that flashy 1-on-1 stuff out if he wants to get minutes. He's not as good as he thinks he is indeed.
- I wish we could cut Dekker for Livingston / Cummings since they could maybe get some minutes if we lose someone to injury. Dekker will be okay along the line though, D-League is awaiting.

 

Capela - Looked great against essentially backups. Really liked how he got up and down the court. There was a tremendous amount of back-and-forth action the whole game and he maintained pace well. I think he can get in even better shape. Also liked his free throws. I saw something in his stroke I really liked. He's holding it high and releasing it after an almost vertical stroke to get it to roll off his fingertips. Nice, nice adjustment. If he continues to build on those mechanics, his accuracy will improve greatly.

Terrence - Cleaned up in a preseason game against essentially PHX's backup squad. Contrary to what many people here think, Markieff is dogging it in PHX. It's obvious. That being the case, and Terrence knowing who he was playing with and against, he was aggressive early and often and did his thing. But....none of what he did offensively is going to work come the regular season except against smaller scrubs, and won't work at all in the playoffs. He took Markieff down in the low blocks, spun back to his right and finished with the little left-handed hook. Looks good. But won't work against legit NBA big man defenders. Because he's not big enough to execute that play without them deflecting/blocking/changing his shot. He did bang down a couple 3's. Of course he was totally relaxed and just stepped into them. But the first one was sheer luck. Defensively he was a zero. This is an aberration and a possible showcase.

Beverley - meh. not much to see here. I continue to believe Bev should be traded along with Terrence. He wasn't bad. Just wasn't a difference maker.

Brewer - super aggressive on both ends. Dude loves to turn the corner, catch and dive to the rim. It worked very well for him last night as did his overplaying defense. Hopefully he can carry this over to the regular season. He's really good for us off the bench in regards to getting the game turned into a helter-skelter affair that we want.

Ariza - nothing to see here. Ariza is what he is. Looks in midseason form.

McDaniels - really would like to see him with the starters and/or rotation players instead of just with the scrubs. I can't take much out of his performance besides the fact that his jumper still needs a ton of work and it looks nothing like the jumper I saw him practice with over the summer.

Joshua Smith - very intriguing. But needs to drop 50 lbs minimum. Has incredible hands. Suction cups to catch and grab the ball with, and incredible soft touch to let go of his shot with. Looked great banging in the paint. Looked like crap setting picks. Tried to force the pick on the defender. I think he got called like 3 times for that play. Interesting project though. Could become the 15th man later on in the season.

Sam Dekker - still like his stroke, handle, and size. He didn't look good in his stints but he was playing with the guys that are going to get cut. He's ok. And will get better with minutes played alongside other legit NBA players.

Harrell - interesting game for Harrell. Picked up like 4 fouls in the 1st quarter, including a couple cheapies and one call that was really a flop by the shooter. All the same, he came back in the second half and acquitted himself quite well...staying in the game without fouling out...and making positive contributions on the glass, finishing, and yes, dishing the ball as well. Was very patient but at the same time was super-aggressive when his opportunities came to him. He can definitely play. Like his mentality. Like his teamwork. Like his attitude. Played well.

Will Cummings - meh...so/so performance.

Denzel Livingston - definitely a scorer. But that's about it. He missed a couple guys who were wide open for easy buckets. Stared at Capela on one possession when Capela had sealed off his defender on the post up, and then Livingston dribbled away from him. Has scoring instincts if you spread the floor for him but needs to work on other aspects of his game to have a chance to play in the NBA.

Jason Terry - same ole same ole. we know what he is. struggled to run the point. can still shoot it.

Chris Walker - not an NBA player by any stretch of the imagination. Looked bad playing against the scrubs. Anxious to get his hands on the ball and then has no clue what do to with it. Botched many plays on both ends. He's just a tall athlete that really can't play basketball very well. I don't look for him to stick in the NBA any time soon....if ever.

 

Agree w/ everything except cutting Dekker. As for TJ, I think he's just a confidence player... he virtually always has a great game when things go his way early. Can't always depend on that, obviously, but it seems to be his MO.

I hope Livingston gets an opportunity somewhere. Dude is a flat out scorer.

 

TJ telling all you haters to STFU and letting you know what the damn deal is when there isn't 2 superstars on the court demanding the ball first

 

Capela has soft hands, so why does he lose rebounds? How can he get better at it? 10 boards in 25 mins isn't that bad.

 

I always like it when TJ scores, but I would be really happy to see him get better on defense and rebounding.

 

Yea, TJ showed tonight that without Harden/Lawson getting all that usage, he can score quite a bit. I could see him averaging 15-20ppg on a team where he's the #1 option.

With Harden, Howard and Lawson he has to focus more on doing dirty work and playing off/complimenting them. He did that quite well up until the end of last season. Hopefully he takes another step this season.

 

Good post. Gotta love the people that want to write a kid off after 4 games in the preseason. He could never develop, but at this point in time, saying anything definitively is ridiculous. There are plenty of examples of a kid supposedly needing 3-4 years, that develops in 1, as well as kids that are supposed to be NBA ready that take 3 years to develop. It all depends on when the game slows down, and how much effort they put into developing their game.

 

That would apply to everyone then so I disagree. Dekker needs to dominate when he's playing with scrubs, not play down to their level.

 

I like how the section about Terrence Jones was your longest post.

You needed a lot of words to explain the mental gymnastics that you had to o to discredit his good game.

You said what he did won't work in the regular season... he's been scoring at the basket on face-ups and baby hooks since he came into the league. He has already been doing it in the regular season.

 

Jones was a great defender in the regular season last year. But only once the playoffs started he disseappeared. To be fair to Jones, Josh Smith was just as bad defensively in the playoffs.

 

To piggyback on what bmd said, it's funny how 'holic trashes Jones since it was just preseason, but was really encouraged by Capela even though it's only preseason.

Jones was solid until the Faried rib injury late in the year, after that he sucked on both ends. Looked like he was playing scared.