ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 4/7/2018

Lol so harden is tilman moreys mdas cp3s boy now?

My point is this was a meaningless game the whole team starting from the coaches didnt even try to win it. We had 70% def reb%

And guess whats hardens potential assists per game during the season and his potentential assists during this game

He passed and shared the ball well enough the 3pt shooters just didnt make their shots

But if you want to put this meaning loss solely on harden tben go right ahead

 

Now the media and the brick fanboys are claiming Harden got shut down and is a chocker

 

The most important thing that keeps being brought up here is the whole Harden vs Pressure, and D'Antoni vs Adjustments points.

Harden can't handle pressure situations, he never has, and he's too far into his career to change that aspect of his personality and game now. That is who he is.

D'Antoni has continued to show that he doesn't make in-game adjustments very well. That is who he is as well.

The Answer: Was bringing in CP3.

They brought him in to:
- share the ball handling duties,
- to ease up on Harden's usage and the teams reliance on him
- alleviate some of the pressure off of Harden by taking control in close, crunch time moments of games
- give the team mental toughness and leadership

So like everyone keeps asking... WHY the hell do the Rockets keep running the same, predictable, Harden ISO's in crucial moments of games? Especially when the other teams are showing that they've figured it out and are negating the effectiveness of it. Or when Harden is clearly showing signs of getting frustrated, or when he's committed numerous TO's and/or bad decisions, and once he's clearly lost his focus?

Why isn't D'Antoni, or any of the assistants, or any of the other players, or CP3 recognizing this and speaking up?

That's the biggest problem imo. Not only does is seem like they're not doing anything about it... but it almost seems like they don't even see the problem themselves. Otherwise why would D'Antoni keep letting them run into the same old routine, over and over again?

When Harden starts to crack and starts faltering, why doesn't D'Antoni immediately switch it up and make CP3 the ball handler, and let Harden play off the ball? That's the MAIN REASON we got CP3!

Doesn't make any sense.

 

Wait having been following this game chat. But are people really b****ing lmao how many times do I have to say this. Whatever the rockets are doing has them as the best team in th3 nba. Who knows if we getting the ship. But how can anyone complain about meaningless games. Wow y'all wack. U can't judge a team on meaningless games. Simple n pure

 

Reading YouTube comments was worse. So many Brick bandwagons from BSPN

 

53 pages in a meaningless game on a Saturday

 

I can't speak for anyone else's "b****ing", I can only comment on my own statements... which I don't really consider "b****ing"... maybe more like criticizing, because I certainly DO recognize that what they've been doing... has them in 1st place.
But no way does that mean that they aren't subject to criticism, especially accurate and fair criticism.

And "meaningless games"? You should probably go and read or listen to what D'Antoni has said himself about the "importance" of these late season games. They are only meaningless in one aspect... and that's in terms of the Rockets playoff position.
But they have huge implications in so many other aspects.
- other teams playoff spots, and their overall position on the playoff bracket (which is of great importance to the Rockets... matchups)
- the Rockets sharpness, togetherness, and overall playoff readiness
- experience (the Rockets have not been together for years and years, like the Warriors. They need to go through more battles and adversity together)

Suffice to say that D'Antoni considers all of these games very important to the Rockets chances of playoff success.

Anyhow, my gripe only has to do with the Rockets (D'Antoni) sticking to the Harden ISO ball waaaay too long, when it's NOT working and when it's backfiring on them. Use CP3 for what they brought him here for, to switch it up, mix it up, and get Harden off the ball. Not only is CP3 a more focused and steady floor general, but he's a far safer ball handler and he's mentally tougher.

Make the other teams have to adjust to that. Don't just let them swarm Harden and bully him to the point where he loses his poise. (which he does far too often) If there is anything that will doom the Rockets playoff hopes... it's gonna be Harden's focus and poise... under pressure.

Unless they use CP3 as their counter measure... which is supposed to be why they got him. That's all I'm saying.

 

not showing his hand before playoffs

 

I agree this was BS, however the overall officiating was crap. Late in the 2nd half (end of 3rd?) PG got a call after using his off-arm to extremely obviously push away his previous defender, and instead of Houston getting the ball, PG got a 3pt play. This game had a lot of plays that had huge swings in momentum, and I think it was a pretty sad calibration from the stripes.

 

Great post.

Definitely not a bigger picture game, but dam did it hurt to know we only needed 19 4thQ pts to win, lol...

 

D' antoni can say whatever he wants...its coach speak. That's just is excuse to play his guys all season. N the real scheme of thing we only need to be healthy. All rust will be knocked off during the 8th seed. If u can't do that during the 1st round ur not very good. Believe people

 

generaly i agree but not all teams and players are the same, some need more to heat up

 

Yeah, I think so too. As I mentioned, this Rockets team doesn't even have a full season under it's belt together. They NEED as much time and as many games as possible in order to completely GEL, and thus maximize their potential. Chemistry is a very fragile thing, and the best teams usually need a few years together, at minimum, to achieve their maximum potential.

I'm not saying that all of these end of season games are "definitely" gonna make or break them in terms of the playoffs, nor do I think that's how "D'Antoni thinks either. But there is a certain degree of importance in terms of the bigger picture... which is more "experience together", which could factor into either playoff failure, or playoff success.

"Are we talkin bout practice?"

Most definitely... the greatest players and the most successful players knew the importance of practice... and experience.

 

yes we do. The Thunder beat us and we didn't have a full squad playing. We are much better playing good competition in all the rounds, it will keep us alert and have to be ready. If you want to be Champion, you must go through any team anytime and not worry about who they are

 

Eric Gordon didn't play and last time we played the Thunder he was good in the road win

 

Maybe because those harden ISO’s at end of games this season when the games were relevant were clutch buckets and wins? Harden has been money all season. Come on brewer goat you are slipping. you can create all the different ids but you like, can’t stop you’re idiotically illogical harden hate and turning it into a harden v cp flame war. Get a life!


In the army we have a name for crap stirrers Weasle like creatures like you that I won’t mention here.

 

Even though that is a true fact, and you get no argument from me on that...

What is also true, is that matchups DO play a very big part when it comes to the NBA playoffs. Just like injuries can effect the outcomes, matchups can also effect the outcomes.

Case and point, (just to use 1 example) :
The 1993 - 1995 Rockets, Suns, and Sonics

The Rockets could matchup with the Phoenix Suns, but they had a lot of problems matching up with the Sonics, and the Sonics had matchup problems with the Suns.

It was like rock, paper, scissors. The Rockets beat the Suns, the Suns beat the Sonics, but the Sonics beat the Rockets.

There were certain other factors a play too, but the overall thing in those series was the matchup problems.

So don't underestimate the importance of matchups. Certain teams match up better against others, and certain teams match up worse against others.

 

Think you've got me mistaken for someone else.

For one thing, I'm not a Harden hater. If anything, I'm a fan of his. But all players can be criticized and held accountable for their faults. If you've got a problem with criticism of players, maybe forums are the wrong place for you.

Secondly, I specifically said, "when the Harden ISO's are CLEARLY NOT WORKING", or when Harden is CLEARLY faltering with his leadership...
then why doesn't the team/D'Antoni stop the ISO's, stop running the offense through him, and let CP3 take charge.

Anyhow, those are just valid observations and questions. If you don't like them, ignore them dude. Read something else.

 

Rockets worse rebounding team..

 

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