ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Timberwolves 1/11/2017

It's games like this that I would just love to see Wiltjer come in, just to see what he can do. When guys are shooting 3 for 15 or 2 for 10 on 3's, could he be any worse?

 

BUmmer. Yeah.....that's uh....that's a bummer man.

Missing Gordon's scoring, missing how he keeps the chains moving when Harden sits. Missing some size in the middle from Capela. And missing shots. Just not their night.

Get healthy, get right fellas.

 

Are there teams knocking on his door ready to hand over players of need that we're unaware of? Are there teams knocking on his door begging to take Brewer of his hands?

 

Seems like the Rockets hit a wall. They need to get back in the lab and get to work. I know they are shorthanded, and tired.

So hard to balance rest and training in this league, especially when you're the Rockets. Always getting schedule fked.

 

An acceptable lost....being away and shorthanded.

 

While I agree in part. I don't like the fact that the last few games we have spit oil coming out of the gate. We were torching teams in the first. 37-40 points. Now we are struggling in the first. What I don't want is this team thinking they can just turn it on whenever they need. They need to come out with that killer instinct in mind and put teams away.

I guess I shouldn't b**** too much. Most of this board expected us to be what, 21-20 at this point. But still. Losing to a 12-26 team sucks. That and Friday is a TOUGH matchup for us.

 

Its unfortunate that they lost. I do believe this was a schedule loss but at the same time a winnable game if the Rockets were healthy. That being said the Rockets are in the most brutal stretch of their season schedule in terms of opponents and frequency of games. 11 games in 17 cities, 4 sets of b2b games with 6 of them being on the road. Personally I felt the second Grizz game and Bucks games were going to be schedule losses in this stretch but given the injury situation that changes.

Still if you said 41 games in that Rockets would be 31-10 I would be super duper happy.

 

Reading this game thread, I can't believe how fans of such a tortured franchise (in recent years) can get SO spoiled SO quickly. Jesus Christ people, do you not remember last year?

 

called it.. but so did alot of other posters on here lol. just a schedule loss. it happens. move on and hopefully win vs memphis on friday

 

my mind is blow that people are actually complaining about this loss...

 

Some lost in a long season are fine. Players needs rest both physically and mentally. This is why teams like the Spurs and Cleveland will rest their top players ever now and then. I think this version of the Rockets will continue to improve with MDA and the new style of play. The breaded one may win a couple of MVP with MDA. If we can get a few key pieces like GS did just before their last two Championship run, we can be back on top again after 20+ years.

 

Rockets were getting the shots they wanted and have been making all year. I noticed a lot of the shots coming up short - this is always because of tired legs and not getting enough lift on the shots.

20-3 over their last 23? Psh... i'll take that in a heart beat! And still only half a game out of 2nd and 3 out of 1st? Yeah.. i'll take that!

 

he was assigned to D-League this past sunday. wasn't even available to play

 

defense is mostly about effort and a great deal of effort depends on how rested or fatigued your players are. between injuries to two key players and playing a ridiculous first half of the season on the road and in back-to-backs, the D is bound to get worse before it gets better. i think we could see our first mini losing streak of the season because of those issues. teams like memphis are far too big and physical for a tired and hobbled rockets squad.

i won't be concerned if we do lose 2 or 3 in row here as i think it's almost inevitable given the conditions. if we get healthy i think those are games we can easily make up for in the 2nd half when the schedule becomes much more favorable.

 

holy **** i hope this post was sarcastic.

 

The Wolves played like the better team last night...aside from all the excuses.

 

I love MDA but him playing Harden and Ariza so deep into the 4Q when the game was clearly out of hand was a huge mistake. Especially on a back to back in a rough part of the schedule (number of games wise).

Minutes are starting to pile up for those two.

 

The Rockets just finished a 5 games in 7 nights stretch with a 4-1 record despite missing Capela for all of the games, Gordon for 2 of them, and Bev playing hurt the entire time. Sure, the competition wasn't that tough(aside from Toronto who fortunately were on their own horrible B2B), but it's amazing they've played this well given the hand that's been dealt them thus far by the schedule makers.

If they can get Gordon back and not slip up between now and the Golden State game next Friday and then not do poorly on the 5-game road trip afterwards(which will be no picnic, BTW), the rest of the season will reward them with a much easier schedule.

 

Noticeable amount of lag in the 2nd night of a back to back.

But hey, you can't win every game, so no big deal, and on to the next.

 

I know the ship has sailed but, yes, DMo would definitely have helped this game.