ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 12/9/2016

i felt uncomfortable the whole way.
however, i wouldnt make a thing out of it, it was one of those games when your prey makes one final stand. yes, harden had some hart attack to and assists as always. but overall, after the win is in the pocket, when my levels of adrenaline is back to normal, i think we looked like a good system team, when everybody chips in a bit to achieve that what counts the most.

 

Cappela was -15 in the +/-.
The only negative player with Brewer -2
He has great chemistry with harden but he look lost in defense.

 

Great thing about this game is that the Rockets won despite the refs taking over and trying to force an OKC win. Rockets showed character to stay firm in the face of adversity

 

Win baby!! WIN!!

 

Rockets also won this game on the back of their big D because offensively we were shooting bricks

 

I swear you stole my thought or something, just when I was about to write this I noticed you already did it!

 

Smart fans think alike.

 

We play Dallas today & there's no thread yet?

 

Forgot which broadcast it was but they were discussing this and the term they used with Beard is "effortless" compared to WB.

 

I've noticed they've started using words like this for harden only recently. Things like "deceptively quick" or "never in a hurry" and "doesn't throw hammer dunks but doesn't have to"

These were never said about him 2 years ago. He was very quick and explosive. He's adjusting his play style for whatever reason. Not sure if I like it.

 

Yule C .

 

Yes, but show many anything that described Harden having elite athleticism or top 5 speed/quickness. You're reaching here.

I see where you're going with this....but you are taking their comments out of context, and repurposing them to your theory/point. Many pure PGs are described that way. That's their point. You have to slow yourself down a little to "slow down" the game in your mind, too, and see the floor.

You've been saying Harden doesn't probe like Nash. He probes the lane like Brandon Roy did, and he was a classic "never in a hurry" guy. And btw: Ginobody was always described in your terms, too.

 

Hmm I don't care that Harden doesn't probe like Nash. I don't want him to.

I agree he was never an elite athlete like a lebron or Westbrook, but he also was never slow or lacking in explosiveness at the rim

Where I'm going with this is not the Nash angle but that Harden should slim down and get back to where he was 2 years ago. He's 27, this should be possible.

 

In the early days, Harden was a decent athlete - not super elite - but still above average.

Not sure if I can say that about current Harden tho.

 

At this point seems like you are telling Harden what to do, and how to play the game.

I know where you're going with this, and my point is, don't tell Harden whether he needs to speed up or not or always go for nasty slams. Ginobody also always had the ability to do that, too, but never really cared to. I don't agree with you at all, refering to speeding up and jump. You've been saying this for two years, now. It's the defensive adjustments and the clog lanes of last year, and this year, he's exploiting the open lane perfectly fine.

The validity of you point might pertain to sustainable health ... but I contend the pure PG, slowing it down and not go for flashing dunk is what allowed Ginobody to play to 39, when he almost wrecked his career with ankle injuries. I think this approach is better for sustain health to.

It is BETTER on all fronts, imo.

Seems like you are telling Harden what to do, and how to play the game.

 

Hard to believe we're an elite team, but we are. Complete 180 from last year. Pretty funny since everyone was moping all offseason.

 

I still don't understand how Brewer get minutes...

 

He brings the energy and professionalism and is baiting opponents into running up and down the court game.

 

Believe it or not, a regular season victory over a team that will likely struggle to make the playoffs by the end of the season actually is less important than an individual netting their 7th straight triple double. Anyone with even a simple grasp of basketball knowledge knows this.