ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Kings 12/15/2015

Because Dwight didn't put pressure on himself by claiming to be the best player in the NBA.

 

The Kings won because they played harder.

 

The problem and why I emphasize in particular our transition defence is because a) the Rockets are the team who defend the transition worse 3 in the league b) the Rockets have a huge number of turnovers for years now, and that leads to more points of transition.

If we didn't have so many turnovers or we had amazing rebounding the transition defence wouldn't be such a big problem with this team.

As far as halfcourt defence goes you can hide on bad defender or even two but it depens on how many minutes they play and how bad they are. Not every bad defender is the same level of bad.
Was Kanter able to be hidden in Utah even though he was surrounded by good defenders in all other positions? Their defence was average but he wasn't able to be hidden, and when he hit the bench/traded they went to no.1.
Was Monta Ellis or IT able to be hidden? They still brought/bring down the defence (btw IT has become a good post defender which is a great improvement for him).

But it all comes down to communication. Rose is not a good defender and Pau is horrendous now, but Thibs was able to field a top 10 defence because of communication.
But also I want to add that in the last 2 years the modern NBA defences have changed the emphasis from the bigs to the wings and perimeter. Teams that have modern defences nowadays rely on the perimeter players to take away shots, not allow 3s and penetration more than they do from Cs and Fs.
For example Charlotte that has a modern NBA defence, has the worst defensive frontcourt of Hawes, Big AL, Zeller, Kaminsky and yet they have no.6 defence because of perimeter.
Boston that has Smart, Bradley and Crowder has also top 2 defence even though their frontcourt is comprised of Lee, Sully, Olynyk.
This is the way the league is going right now defensive wise. (other teams that use more old type defences still rely a lot on their bigs but it changes more and more).

This makes the problem even bigger with Harden since he can't defend his position and he can't defend most 3s either.

 

Howard contributed nothing this game from statistics box.

 

I wish Dwight did. I would love to hear it from Dwight man. Even just among his position. "I'm the best Center in the league."

I would love that. Tell you what, you are never going to hear a great player say "I'm the 3rd best." Never.

You can't be the best if you don't even believe your the best...and if you keep it to yourself and don't tell anyone then you don't really believe it all.

 

If you only knew.

 

The problem with Harden is he doesn't defend a position but he 'defends' an area.

 

I guess it's all about confidence. I think without Harden we would be a lot worse off than we are. We should be thankful we have him. Other guys are not doing there jobs. I think all Morey has to do is make some trades and get a better coach and we'll be fine.

 

It would be much easier for Dwight to say he's the best center in the league vs being the best player in the NBA, no?

 

Homers and Daryl Maury fans must be on suicide alert.

 

The entire blame is not on Harden. Brewer and Jones and Lawson will likely be gone by January. Harden is the star an dmain guy of the team, the same way as his positives are hailed and is loved, the same way his flaws should be critisized. This is what happens with franchise players and is the burden of being a "Star".
Where is your proof that for a guy who plays so many minutes his isn't the most influence on our horrendous defence? At least Lawson plays 3 minutes nowadays.

It's not ALL it's like 75% on him. He's the mian guy to blame for that and so on the whole defence since transition is our main plague.

These stats are too early to be taken into account. Need at least about 20 more games.
And here lies the problem with those who want to be blind homers and require stats. Analytic stats on the first place are very few that are available to the public and for them to be reliable they require a big sample. Right now it is too soon for most of them.
Will be interesting to see about transition defence what is available.

 

You know, most of this is correct and I can agree with.

One thing though is that Harden CAN play defense. We've seen so many examples of it and that's why people get on him for that because he's frustrating.

My thing is the coaches don't challenge him to do so. We've seen Harden at the end of games all of a sudden turn into a good defender, making big steals or blocks, or contesting a Dirk shot...we've seen this from him.

He can do it but for one reason or another these coaches can't get it out of him consistently.

Maybe it's because he just has bad stamina and can't do it even if he tries so he opts to do it in spurts.

I don't know, he certainly can do it. Half court wise.

As for transition. This team just needs to stop playing stupid offense, jacking up 3s which lead to fast breaks and all the dumb TOs, that would help tremendously.

 

I agree, but Harden has to change for this team to take the next step.

Don't see that happening anytime soon.

 

You need some sort of proof to back your claims though, lol. You call people blind homers because expect them to just believe you without what you are saying being provable at this point, do you not get that?

Anyway as I said Harden is not perfect especially on D but that was never the argument, at least not on my side. The argument is whether or not Harden surrounded by better role players and a better second star could have a winning team playing the way he is playing now and I believe the answer is yes. His overall positive is better than the negatives he's never really been good at defense.

 

The only way to make a player do something he is able to but doesn't want is by controlling the only thing you can as a coach. Playing time. In my team the Bucks who is young and so the coach has much more control than with the Rockets, this is the way it's done. You play bad defence you are benched. If you want playing time you play good or at least average defence. Skiles does the same in Orlando. Clifford does the same with Big Al.
But teams with already established stars and older teams the coach has to have a lot of confidence in hsi position and absolute support from managment and ownership to even try this.
But that's the only way, that and hard a$$ double practices that make the spit blood every free day solely on defence like Thibs was doing.

 

Either way, you have to believe that.

Was watching Connor McGregor post conference and he had the right of it. "If you can see it and have the courage to speak it, it will happen." If you think your the best but never say it, it's not really true to you. You don't have the confidence in yourself to prove it to those you say it to.

There has never been a great player that didn't have the ego. Not saying that Harden saying this means he's going to be an all-time great, but every great player from Lebron, Jordan, to Curry now (Who said he thinks he can surpass Jordan...JORDAN...) don't go into the game thinking they are lesser than any player.

I wish Dwight still thought he's the best player on the court every night. I wish that. It's clear he doesn't though.

 

I've been saying this for a long time.

Parker had a lot of the same Problems Harden had at the start of his career. Little defense and silly TOs and bad offense. Wild play. Popovic would sit him so fast...Popovic would sit the entire team so fast if they play bad.

I was so proud of JB tonight. So proud. He had taken out ALL of the starters and benched them! I was ready to take this loss in stride, knowing the message had been sent...wait...no...JB gave in and maybe 2 mins later comes right back in with Harden of all people. It's useless.

 

BTW Harden's defensive rating (A stat I don't really take seriously) in 13-14 was -2.84 and we were doing just fine that year.

 

Yes. Have you even watched one game this season? If you have you wouldn't doubt the horrendousness (sp?) that is Harden in transition defence. I think there is a video with his lowlights from the Dallas game if you want to see it for yourself. Do you need stats to see what is in front of you?

 

WHAT? So you are also proud of JB give Thornton 0 minute for first half?