ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 2/9/2019

Genuinely embarrassing quote right there. Very fitting.

 

You can’t believe this team blew a 26 point lead? Really? They’ve done stuff like that all season. It’s expected at this point.

 

"We knew this team was going to let us back in"- Paul George

 

I expected that from someone like WB and not PG13.

Seems he has developed even more confidence than before.

 

Interesting to see what the players are going to say to each other after this loss. If the team learns from it, then there may be a silver lining long term. At least, that's the hope. PG13's quote about our inability to keep big leads should be made in a big poster and placed in the locker room.

Historically, the Rockets play better with a chip on their shoulder.

Tomorrow's game can't come soon enough.

 

Up 26.. What a waste


This team is putrid on offense at times led by Harden. Just jacking contested 3 after 3. That sequence in the 3rd where OKC hit 4 threes in a row off terrible terrible 3s by Houston sealed the deal.

 

This was a mental game tonight. They mentally think they are so good that no team will come back.

 

I lost a bit of respect for Nate Duncan's contrary views about the Rockets's moves at the trade deadline, when I read this tweet from him defending that ridiculous offensive foul against Paul:

I mean if his anti Rockets bias is so bad that he thinks that call was anything besides a disgraceful dive by Adams, then I really can't take too seriously any negative comments he has to say about the front office.

 

And once again....the REBOUNDING. Same as it ever was. Predictable.

 

Average teams don't put 70 in the first half one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. They also don't lead that team by 26 at any point. The Rockets are insanely frustrating to watch as they squander their potential and game leads with equal abandon, but they aren't average.

As for how average Shump is, let's give him a week or two to fit in before we make a call on that. I'd still like House back, but I think it's early to say that the dog in Shump has grown to make him a dog of a player.

 

Bay Area Nate has a lot to say about forearm shoves but NOT MUCH to saw about MOVING SCREENS helping an offense.

Wonder why?

 

Who do the rockets have not named Harden, that's REMOTELY as good as Westbrook? The guy is averaging a triple double for 3RD YEAR IN A ROW!

 

Not gonna lie.....it took all I could not to leave a twitter comment.

 

After almost losing my mind, I can finally sit down and discuss this.

This pattern of blowing big leads is not something new. Anyone who's been following the Rockets the past few seasons should never feel safe with a big lead. Last year was an exception, they were on a roll and never looked back... they had so much confidence and poise that they couldn't lose even if they tried.

Some of it is on Harden. He is the best player in the world, in my VERY humble opinion, but even the best have their flaws. As the leader of this team, he should set the tone defensively, which is something he fails to do more often than not (especially after we get a good lead). His late game shenanigans and unwillingness to move off the ball when CP3 has it are also factors. Hell, if he got these things right he would probably be close to MJ level. Obviously he's not the main reason we lost. If we had Capela, for example, I bet this is a W and we are one step closer to the 3rd seed. Also, PJ Tucker with 0 points is unacceptable. Shumpert looked a little bit lost, which is obviously understandable since this is his first game with us. Faried missed some bunnies and played horrible defense. I know he is a bad defender, but this was one of his worst games on that end.

This loss hurts more than the others since we are probably guaranteed facing the Warriors in the second round... no way we get the 3rd seed anymore. It's tempting to give up on the season, but I know myself and I'll be there until it ends. There's still some hope, we need to stay healthy and let this team gel (also, the additions of Markieff Morris and Danuel House should help to some extent).

Please, don't give up on this team yet. They need our support.

Cheers!

 

These ratings are misleading it says 2 games for 1 market so both games had a 1 rating. Nice way to twist stats to make people think concussion game gets more ratings hahaha

 

And the Dallas game, and the Orlando game, and the Brooklyn game and the Pelicans game ......etc etc etc.

Hemorrhaging losses and seed position.

 

Not having the talent TO START THE SEASON has taken its toll. This "adding pieces" along the way just means losses pile up early and effect seeding. And that seeding matters.

Starting the season 11-14 with the Melo/MCW/Ennis/Knight crew......ugh.

If only they had Shumpert/Rivers/House/Faried type players to start the year.

I always felt Harden to get the MVP needed to get the Rockets to the 3rd seed. Otherwise people will use Giannis and the #1 seed and maybe best overall record as the key point. And it will be valid.

 

This is what happens when you just jack up contested threes 4 ft behind the line as your go to offense in close game situations.

Jacking up alot of threes statistically works with a large sample size but when it comes to one to two possession games at the end of regulation, the least contested high percentage two pt shot is more valuable.

The Rockets especially James Harden needs to learn how to run a proper offense in closing game situations. It's pretty pathetic what they do at the end of games consistently.

 

Don't know why you quoted my post, but alright. Peace!

 

Didn’t bother Rockets in 95