ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Raptors 1/8/2017

Lol ok 64 wins

 

Tonight, James Harden became the first opposing player to drop a 40-point triple-double at Toronto. https://www.statmuse.com/questions/6b370839-78cc-47be-a34c-64c00aaee746

 

Raps should suck it up Rox have won all their B2Bs no excuses

 

Jonathan Feigen

✔@Jonathan_Feigen
I asked Harden if he preferred the 40-10-10 or the two blocks on his buddy, DeRozan. Huge smile ensured. "Two blocks, for sure. Key plays."

 

Sweet dreams my brotha, we'll wake you up for a snack on the next second or 3rd qtr.

 

Harden is smart as hell. He plays like a quarterback a lot... looks for the long pass first.. thus pushing the pace for the whole team. He doesn't have to run up there every time. If defenders are back, no need to go full speed. That''s pretty much how he conserve energy and is now playing more on the defensive end... watch out.

 

Strong win. One of the best of the season.
We managed to fought through a horrible first half shooting. Played stretches of solid D on a very good offensive team and smashed them in the paint whenever there was a crack there.
That was a performance of a strong team.
*Still need to find more plays for Anderson or Harden from the elbow. Can't rely on the PickNroll for every single play

 

I think the Rox put sooo much pressure on opposing teams launching 3's they loose compusure even when the Rox are playing bad cuz they're always playing under duress due to a potential pile on of 3's launching like tonight against the Raptors

 

I think this season really puts an exclamation point on how important a good bench is. Outside of maybe our 08-09 team, this might be the deepest team, 1-10, we have ever had. In the past, we were so reliant on Harden, you would hope the bench could simply maintain a lead, or at minimum not fall too far behind. But this year, the bench is extending leads, making comebacks, and has become a huge weapon for us. I think back to those CD days, when we had Yao / Tracy, but only like 4-5 NBA caliber players on the roster, and how frustrating it was watching Luther Head be your best player off the bench.

It really comes down to good cap management, nabbing under valued contributors, and getting good production out of later picks, on cheap contracts. Morey really deserves a lot of credit for the work he did on this team.

If we can just land a premiere free agent (star / superstar) without having to sacrifice too much depth, this team can be very very good over the next couple of years. We really just need to get some lucky breaks. Winning 60+ games would certainly help, in that regard, and hopefully help us become more of a destination this off-season. I am crossing my fingers the Clippers fall apart and both Paul and Griffin look for new homes.

 

Clippers typically fall apart come playoff time as we know and altho GSW most likely wins the west it's good to know Rockets can beat them and are not AFRAID of Golden State or San Antonio and definitely not the Clippers and that's more than half the battle especially with Golden State. Rox have proven they can beat all 3 teams. I agree...Rox are in position for any of those teams to have some bad luck and the Rox will just jump right over any or all three of them just like that.

Clips are not dealing with injuries that well and it remains to be seen how GSW deals with an injury or two this season if they get some of that bad luck...Rox doing pretty good so far with their injuries tho =)

 

MDA said the PNR is pretty much unstoppable but he's got plays if he ever needs to install them but right now MDA said what's the point when the PNR has been automatic for the Rox

 

Perhaps, but Ariza is currently #8 at his position defensively in the NBA... http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/5

 

Of those top 8, only 2 are better offensively rated, and Trevor is also the #8 offensive rated SF.....

That being said, they rate Kawhi Leonard 21st defensively......

So, grain of salts. Trevor is still playing spectacular for us, should not, and will not be traded.

 

Because by now, we should get ready for the Playoffs.
This is what the great teams do. You can't implement new drills and sets in the Playoffs, or even a month before. You need to use the regular season for that.
As of now, we play great but in the playoff, when you play in a series against good defensive teams, they will find a way to stop you if you have only 1 M.O. even if it's a great one.
I know D'antoni has a lot more in his play book. And I can't wait to see it.

 

The funny thing is we are playing bad in some games with low shooting percentages and still winning! We are also able to frustrate other teams by making big comebacks it really shows how much we have improved. When our shooting percentages are high the Rockets team is very extremely deadly opponent.

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/...mbers-were-astounding-but-not-why-rockets-won

People are starting to use Harden's turnovers as excuse to devalue his contributions to the game. Kevin Pelton did this few days ago, and now this article. Homers gonna homer, but believe me, if Harden averages close to or more than 6 TOs per game, he's not winning MVP.

 

I really liked Harden's response in the post game interview concerning his turnovers.

1. He said the team only had 15 turnovers on the whole and he had 10 of them. He said it's to be expected when he controls the ball 90% of the time. Said he can have all 15 turnovers as long as as a team they keep them down and do what they have to do to win games.

2. He also acknowledged that the team has room for improvement, especially himself and he called out his turnovers specifically and stated they'll go down as he gets better learning his teammates and where they are on the court as the team is still relatively new.

There's a lot that will likely get flamed here but I liked it.

 

This win streak is amazing & all but I still think don't we're ready for the playoffs. We desperately need to trade Brewer for a 3+D wing.

Imagine if Ariza goes down or is in foul trouble in the playoffs. We'd have Dekker guarding KD, Kawhi or Hayward.

 

Completely agree with your post. Would like to add Ryan Bowen starting to your Luther Head reference.