ClutchFans Game Thread: Clippers @ Rockets 12/22/2017

Honestly had no idea because I've never heard our casters call him by his full name. I thought it was a joke at first.

 

The Rockets lost because they took a bad, injury-depleted team lightly, and then they compounded that by throwing a tantrum over the fact that they got their asses kicked by a bad, injury-depleted team. Just a pathetic mental breakdown.

 

I Agree that those calls affected the game, I'm just saying we need to play a lot better on defense.

I 100% agree though, I hate when people say "Don't blame the refs for the loss." because it just excuses them when they are so terrible. SO TERRIBLE.

And they are never punished for it.

 

Cod. You seem to know Basketball. From a strategic standpoint. Do you think it is problematic to have only one player that can play above the rim? Seems like we need that threat to loosen up the rest of the floor. Without Capela to take a lob here and there it seems like space disappears and our offense bogs down a touch. Not saying that was tonight's loss, but it does seem like our offense is laboring more than it was.

 

Morey destroyed his depth to secure CP3 so it was one or the other. Now credit to Morey, getting Luc and PJ helped to restore a bit of depth but injuries depleted it again. And you would be lying if you said would rather have depth than CP3 right now.

 

Yes. The Rockets CAN add depth just have to be very very careful who and how because of the hard cap.

 

fyi everyone, the official that rockets players + pringles was barking at all nite was pat fraher. the same pat fraher that cuttino once called the worst ref in the league in postgame interview.

 

when you are missing your best defenders, of course the defence is going to take a hit

 

yep

others need to step up
and MDA, Morey need to realize their 8-man rotation ain't gonna win us **** this year

 

How does a Rook get so much Ref respect over Vets?

Rocket River

 

Spurs over the cap?

 

Everyone in the league knows the calls on fouls and how FT was determined had been changed this year because of James Harden.

We have seen the same guy played much better and smarter in the winning streak as he was seldom trying to do stupid sh't like these.

So when things are getting tough and he just turned back to his old form and trying to find the easy ways out, that's weak and not a leader.

 

More positivity in a Sea of Neg......... Harden looks healthy

One of.. Capela, Luc, Paul.. will happen soon enough.

 

Those players change the entire dynamic of the team though so it's not really fair to judge them too harshly without them.

CP3 makes the team deeper just by running the 2nd unit.

They should not have lost this game tonight but the Lakers are a lot better than their record says they are. They play every team tough, that loss was understandable (outside of the Brewer crap...) they should have won this game tonight. I think they just expected to cruise to victory and in the end got bit by crappy team that smelled victory.

It's more important to put away these bad teams because they start playing like it's game 7 of the finals if you let them think they can steal a victory.

 

Right. They are trying to survive these injuries without adding a player because they want to stay flexible for a trade. Already it appears that nene and black may be ineffective as the backup five. They may need to trade for a backup there. They may try to make a bigger move for an impact player. They can’t do those things if they hamstring themselves for a backup now that won’t play anymore in two weeks

 

He’s getting blown by a lot lately.

 

Mike:

Officiating, would you like to explain?

No. Trying to get my blood pressure down a little bit. Merry Christmas.

We messed up the game. Not right, guys tired, need guys back, couple episodes last few games we didn't play well enough, not the right spirit & all that. Guys are dead, whether it's tiredness or into themselves too much, I don't know. It's not good enough. Yeah...

James go for 51 two straight. How do you feel about his performances?

It's tough. We're asking him to play 40+ minutes but trying to win a game. We have 3 key guys out & you see the problems. Just gotta get healthy, try to win a few, & battle through it. Adversity but that's life. We can get through this. Have a woe is me attitude & gotta change it.

Not having Clint offensively?

He's important but Chris & Mbah a Moute too. About 4th game Ariza has played over 40. It's too many minutes. Gotta figure something out. I'll figure it out, we just gotta get them back healthy.

Defensively is it matter of sustaining it?

For sure. You're up 13, take a couple plays off...they're NBA players, they're good. Lou Williams is good. You gotta do an extra better job. Maybe minutes are heavy on our legs. There are reasons for everything. They did what they're supposed to do. We didn't.

Briante?

He was ok. Played hard. Can't expect a whole lot. I thought he was solid, especially first half. If you play with the right spirit, ...spirit has to be right. At half I told myself we're in trouble. It's not right. That's what happens.

 

This loss really pissed me off, I don't think the Rockets have any business losing to these Clippers. That said, the next time a combination of Austin Rivers, poor officiating, Deandre Jordan FTs, and miracle threes buries us I'll eat my hat (and I'm wearing one of those Santa hats so it would taste godawful). The Rockets are 25-6. They should be 27-4. I suppose there are worse places to be.

Cheers, Clutchfans <3

 

Lack of depth is killing us plain & simple. Guys are running on fumes.

A lot of people saw this coming especially when we're going to get every team's best effort now.

 

The problem is cp is 32 and a long history of multiple injuries.