ClutchFans Game Thread: Pelicans @ Rockets 1/29/2019

I just don't understand why the Rockets are so piss poor defensively. It really bums me out. Losing sucks, but it's worse when you're losing for reasons that can be easily controlled.

I understand losing due to injury.
I understand losing due to bad shooting nights.
I understand losing due to having a bad roster.
I understand losing due to playing playoff caliber teams.

But tonight the Rockets didn't lose because of any of those things. Not when they're playing against the Pelicans.

The Rockets lost because they're not a good defensive team. This isn't a personnel problem. This is a strategic problem. Someone isn't doing their job. It's not even like it's a tiring offense for anyone other than Harden. Every player should be able to bust their ass on the defensive end. Instead they just get punked on a nightly basis. It's really disheartening to see this team not care at all about defense.

I guess that's Mike D'antoni for ya, and Jeff Bzdelik hasn't done much at this point. Been back since Thanksgiving, and the best defense the Rockets played was the week before Thanksgiving. Being a good defensive team is about team effort. Not individual effort. These guys don't care about defense. It's obvious.

 

Harden should take a little bit of blame for not being an anchor defensively at times.

I would say Tuck or CP would be that guy to anchor the defense, but they would need to have enough energy to take over and they clearly don't have young legs under them.

Capela can also be that guy, and he does have enough energy, but he can't guard smaller wings and he can get demotivated quickly once he watches his guy driving in for layups with no help defense.

It's a huge problem. I frankly don't see how we can win big in the playoffs with problems like this.

 

The 30 point game stretch has now reached 24 games. Tonight his true shooting sucked ass. Barely over 50% and brought his season long TS% down to 61.8%

Over the last 23 games prior to tonight Harden had a TS% of 62.8%. The warriors as a team lead the league and are at 59.8%

This streak RAISED his efficiency, his net rating and our record.

Knee jerkers keep knee jerking

 

Doesn't make up for the loss.

Doesn't mean everything is OK with the team.

But damn if I'm not at least a little encouraged to see Chris and PJ trying to work things out. Pointing fingers and blaming people is for us to do online. The players are the ones who need to step up and perform, especially by hitting shots and bringing more consistent effort. I hope this loss lights a fire under the team. I have no idea if it will, but we'll see against the Nuggets.

 

This was a nightmare

 

The king up close

 

The real game tonight was:
House vs the front office

No so much House the person but the skill set and size would have keep the game form slipping away. We got beat because of team defense & rebounding (which is defense).

 

It amazes me that players that shot the ball their whole life believe that if they put some open corner shots down after the game its going to affect them positevly. Like man you have your ability already in your muscles, let it go and rest instead of making yourself believe you have a problem. Was reading something like that about Rivers too and how did it help him? He still bricks

 

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php...-alert-jah-okafor.295955/page-2#post-12203587

 

Even with injury, a lot of this is on Mike D'Antoni for being picky with the rotation despite the injuries.

Zero reason that Hartenstein and Clark aren't on the court providing their energy and rebounding. They might have clunker games sometimes but so are all the other guys playing heavy minutes. Meanwhile their energy and defense could help the team win games against bad teams. MDA is being selectively accountable here.

Also, inexplicably losing your starting SF who fit in perfectly due to a contract situation is a really underrated loss. I think for sure we beat the Nets and Pelicans just by having House.

 

Its the energy/attitude, no player addition would help this team even if we are to add rudy gobert

 

Rudy isn't as quick on his feet as Capela and will be having problems against GSW, not to say he will take some of CC's minutes.

 

We are too easy to kill with post presence. Our wing addition must be preferably stretch four so we can move PJ to three

 

That loss was BAD. And not an excuse, but you'd expect the Pels scrubs to come out and play hard given the AD news this week and all the trade talks of blowing that team up. It's kinda like when a coach gets fired for poor results and the new coach gets a win in their 1st game, but return to the mean shortly after.

 

Unfortunately, yes. The Rockets are at crossroads only somewhat better than the Wizards with Wall talent wise. Our trade assets are low even with picks. Harden needs a lot of help. He is running out of gas. He doesn't have the legs to make stepbacks on a regular basis. That's the reason why all the rest of the guys are missing their shots too. This is also the reason for not playing any defense.

This should not be an excuse, but that is how I see it.
I have an out of the box idea which will be controversial and risky, but I think Morey should offer 3 first rounders, two 2nd rounders and Gordon/ Hart to the Hornets for Kemba. He is a 12 M UFA, but he can take a lot of pressure off James. No one wants to play for Charlotte. That might give us a remote chance of acquiring him. Give them Knight and House and another 2nd rounder for Biyombo. He is not junk.

If DM can get a better deal than I'm all for it. 3 first rounders, 2 2nd rounders plus Gordon, Tucker and House/Hart for JImmy Butler, would be my first choice, but Philly is likely to reject it.

If that is doable within the CBA rules, I would take the risk. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401071426

 

Cint or no clint defense was terrible the entire year...so yeah i think its mostly attitude