ClutchFans Game Thread: Blazers @ Rockets 11/18/2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A happy Les Alexander just came up to me after the Rockets' victory and said &quot;I told you we would win.&quot; ... That he did.</p>&mdash; Jerome Solomon (@JeromeSolomon) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeromeSolomon/status/667191783051268096">November 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bickerstaff had said he especially wants to rebuild Rockets defense. Blazers shot 39.8 %, 1st opponent to shoot worse than 43 % this season.</p>&mdash; Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/667206846629941248">November 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Thanks. I had to bump it

 

Stay humble. Les is more and more is less.

 

Jerome got told!

 

Holy ****, that Brewer shot! I couldn't even react, all I could muster was a "what the ****.."

Wow. Obviously good to get a win. But I hate to say it, I wasn't really happy at all tonight.

Negatives:

1) Another game where Harden has to score 40 for us to even have a shot at winning. Clearly offensiely we need to make some adjustments, and get Ty going somehow.

2) Ty is playing so weak and scared right now. He is utterly useless out there. He needs to handle the ball more, he needs to run pick and rolls, and he needs to have either 10+ assists or 12+ field goal attempts. If he doesn't have either of those, he ain't doing his job.

Now I did see some positives tonight:

1) It was clear that the Rockets were playing harder defensively. I know JB hasn't had time to put any new schemes in, but guys seemed to play harder and we defended decently. Not great by any stretch but miles better than we have been.

2) Hopefully the 4th quarter/overtime helps Harden in getting his mind right. Until late in the 4th he seemed to be sleepwalking through the game.

3) Dwight playing well, he really needs more shots. But doing what we are asking him to do: rebound and defend.

Overall, I'm anxious to see what we start to do differently once JB gets some practices under his belt. Both our offense and defense need vast improvement. Great win, but still lots to be concerned about going forward.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">James Harden: &quot;Something had to change. I feel like for me, I had to change.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockets?src=hash">#Rockets</a></p>&mdash; Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/667211811037446148">November 19, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Finally Harden. Some accountability. Welcome to the season.

 

I was taking a poop after our comeback stalled with about 2 minutes left. Came back to the tv just in time to see harden pass it to Brewer to nail the tying 3. almost pooped all over myself.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Harden said starting tonight he's trying to be &quot;more positive.&quot; Energy had been off, which affected team. Acknowledged focus also off.</p>&mdash; Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/667213751792177152">November 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Damn those kardashians!

 

Khloe got a Staph infection sitting at Odum's bed side. She is sick.

 

Not gonna lie -- I tried selling my tickets for tonight bc I couldn't stomach the thought of going and watching things go left again. Ended up going and am so glad I did. Didn't realize just how much I needed that win (sounds dumb I know, but it felt personal) until it happened.

 

How come we dont try a line up with Brewer/Ariza/Bev/Howard/James ? The length is there and we have our best defensive line up at the same time ?

 

btw, as expected after jones' hot start he's back to his old self. 30 mintues, 2 rebounds. hurry up dmo

 

2 things have to happen for you to see that lineup:

1.) Bev has to not be hurt, and therefore actually playing

2.) The opposing team has to also be going small and spreading the floor - because as good as Ariza is at perimeter defense, he's downright awful in the paint.

 

Seriously.

I'm so tired of hearing Clyde say over and over every game that Howard needs to get the ball in the post. It just doesn't work, Howard is a turnover machine in the post, he can't pass out properly and even if he does manage to get a shot up its usually a highly contested jump hook that he almost always missed.

Howard has rare games when he gets on a roll in the post but he just isn't nearly consistent enough to justify making posting him up a keg part of our offense. If anything we should just cut it completely.

Howard pick and rolls, Howard lobs, offensive put backs, and inside drop off assist should be how we get him involved.

Completely agree, leave the post ups to Dmo and now Harden.

 

Poop fetish much?

You manage to squeeze it in twice in one sentence

Congrats

 

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Brian T. Smith
Brian T. Smith – Verified account ‏@ChronBrianSmith

#Rockets met with James Harden. Made it clear he must make more of an effort on defense.
5:19 PM - 18 Nov 2015

 

I'm tired of hearing Clyde say Howard needs the ball in the post.


I am also very tired and fed up with Harden aborting the pick-and-roll with Howard by passing out or taking the shot before the play can even develop with Howard rolling.


Harden is doing this intentionally. He doesn't want to run pick-and-roll with Howard. He aborted it all night long tonight. By the same token when Capela was in there he went ahead and ran it with the young fella.

That is absolutely ridiculous. Very disappointed in Harden. Doesn't matter that we won this game. We were playing a lottery team. And our offense struggled the whole night. And Harden kept aborting the pick-and-roll with Dwight. That.has.to.change.

 

I am impressed that 10 players get playing time tonight.

 

Yeah, it is pathetic seeing the home crowd support a come back victory led by a player who put up 45 points.