ClutchFans Game Thread: Raptors @ Rockets 1/25/2019

LMA is the franchise player.

The identity of the Spurs has always been high and low post.

 

amen brotha! i feel like this is the year!!! we can beat anyone...EG is playing like a boss again too!! Dantoni has unleashed the Manimal!!! look out NBA!

 

Yeah kawli is sacrificing his early shots so that Lowry and ibaka try their 2 man game.

Lucky for Houston ibaka and Lowry did poorly. Yeah harden has the green light, and rockets haven't placed all of their offense cards on the table yet, no Chris Paul.

 

Great offense from the role players despite having to gut it out on defense. EG 24, Faried 21, Rivers back with 13, and the amazing Tucker with 18. Harden will develop confidence in them, as long as they do their best. Honestly, I didn't think the guys would be able to help Harden out so much, to pull a win.

This is the first time I have felt that our Rockets can cause serious damage in the playoffs. CP3's calming effect and Capela's impending return gives me hope along with the undisputed MVP James Harden. Go Houston Rockets!

 

Tucker got a late steal on kawli too. At around the 6:30 mark of 4th quarter, Tucker got a steal on kawli and took it down court for a lay up.

Before that Tucker got a 50-50 steal with an assist to far-'weed'! at around the 8:30 mark.

 

Longer players are still bothering us as expected. We need Capela back after the all-star game. I can't wait to see Chris back in form. Rebounding, defense against bigger players and better shooting are all needed. Playmaking is no longer a problem with the addition of Rivers. It was great to see Eric going up to dunk with force.

 

Yep, it was a joke obviously

 

Toronto is too damm for kawli leonard

 

His reaction vs Knicks when PJ blundered the inbounds pass was wack ass f*** too. Dude completely gave up on the play while the ball was still alive. He could've been helping protect the rim, but instead, his back was turned as he complained to the bench.

He made a huge 3PT so I'll give him a pass. He does need to complain less though.

 

Eric Gordon should have called timeout but not sure if Gordon is injuried at this time!

If Gordon would have called timeout in that situation versus the inbounds to Tucker who might have been forced to advance the length of the floor.

As a ball handler or player with ball handling responsibility like Eric Gordon, the duty of ball protection falls on Gordon imo.

 

AT&T Sportsnet is rearing the game at 11:00am

 

1st possessions of raptors...
1. Strong side low key zone forces ibaka to drive from high post position...tucker forces turnover
2. Weak side BUCKET from ibaka
3. Strong side low key zone forces kawli to baseline... fadeaway missed shot--tucker
4. Weak side BUCKET from a far-'weed' and rivers blown defense assignment..Pascal scores
5. Green BUCKET makes spinning layup on rivers

Couple plays later around 8 min mark of 1st quarter Tucker forces Leonard into turnover. 2 forced turnovers in 3 minutes 1st quarter.
Kawli got shut down early by Tucker. You can't stop kawli Leonard, but try to contain him.

 

I didn't think the Rockets would win this game. I eat crow. What a win. But the only way to do is a TEAM effort starting with the role players making the shots they haven't been making recently. And then add in the desperation and effort plays from PJ Tucker, Faried, Ennis etc.

Gracious, Kenneth Faried! So huge.

The "ending" of the game puts a damper on it slightly for me. Getting pretty tired of this team just losing their mind at the end and potentially giving away a game. They gave away 3 with Dallas, Nets (twice with overtime included) and Orlando. And almost the Knicks and Raptors. Enough is enough on this.

 

This game was more on EG than Tucker though. I mean, if you can't know at this point in your career to not step on the damn line when you catch the ball, you'll never know. And then that 3-point shot was asinine. NEVER EVER assume the ref will call the foul. And what difference does it make if you get fouled on a 3? Just hold the ball, wait for the foul, and knock down 2 free throws which will effectively ice the game.

And BTW, that's another thing EG screwed up on. Not knowing the clock. Technically the Raptors didn't have to foul. I think the Rockets got the ball with about 26.9 left which means Toronto could've theoretically not fouled, secured the rebound, and then had a second or two to put up a shot after their final timeout.

Oh well, just like in New York, they dodged a bullet. I just hope this is momentary thing that'll be remedied with CP3's return, more practice sessions, and a nice mental and physical break in mid-February.

 

Overall the Rockets dominated about 80 to 90 percent of the game. If the Rockets would have lost, it would have been them giving the game away more so than the Raptors winning. Overall, very impressive win.

 

The other thing I liked about this game is Harden being FORCED to go to his FLOATER SHOT. He is going to see that defense OVER AND OVER again (Spurs, Utah, Bucks etc etc). Get used to it. And he HAS to hit that shot. That is the COUNTER. Just keep dropping in those floaters like lay ups over and over again.

 

Well, teams may not do that as much when Capela returns. That's an easy lob for a dunk.

 

Everybody played impressive defense.

 

They will. The Bucks did it. Spurs etc. They just crowd the lane and sometimes make it tough for the lob. Harden HAS to hit that floater. Has to.