ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Clippers 10/4/2019 (Preseason)

Gotta a chance to watch the Rockets/Clippers game on the DVR.

1) Rockets pacing continues to look good. Playing fast.
2) McLemore continues to make the most of his minutes.
3) Capela's energy looked good.
4) Liked A LOT of what I saw from Thabo. SF & PF minutes.
5) No Ryno.
6) I continue to like Blossomgame's athleticism and rebounding as a wing. Needed.
7) Hartenstein didn't look good and that is disappointing.
8) First look at Ponds and I liked his dribble drives.
9) Clemons still looks solid.

The most important takeaway from me so far this preseason for the Rockets is everyone looks locked in and the team is playing at a MUCH higher pace. And this is without Westbrook so far.

Also, I REALLY like the Rockets addition of Thabo Sefolosha! He looks really fluid out there. Communicating on defense. And on offense, if closed out on a shot, is putting the ball on the floor to do some basic creation. Feels like a *Moute* type addition.

We won't know the rotations until the Rockets play all of their guys, Westbrook is due back perhaps next game. And House will be back. But right now, it looks like Thabo is the backup PF. Anderson could be the backup C when Tyson Chandler doesn't play.

In the Rockets/Clippers game Thabo was the backup PF. And Gary Clark came in to see minutes at PF ahead of Ryan Anderson. So yeah, Anderson feels destined to be a part time backup stretch-5/center. I am fine with that.

 

I think the best case is offensive need play Clemens defensive need play rivers.

 

yeah, we signed him this summer... his name is russel Westbrook

 

I actually think he is doing it to draw more fouls, but you are right he has to hit it at a high clip but the defender does not know if he is going to do the one leg thing or take the full two steps which leaves them in no mans land.

Gonna be interesting.

 

Don't see that happening, most of Rivers value is his defense.

 

Don't blame me for not knowing Chauncey is suddenly a Clippers announcer

 

FIFY

Also, I noticed Zubac was a foul machine but surprisingly few got called by the refs.

 

I was sad that the Hawaiian crowd was 1000x better than the Houston crowd

 

So you thought he worked for nba tv?

Im disappoint

 

“I got to get in shape,” Harden said. “Last year, one of the reasons we had a slow start (was) just because as a unit we weren’t playing enough. We were taking preseason light. It wasn’t great. This year, from top to bottom, we’re taking preseason serious. We’re trying to continue to get better so when that first game starts, we’re more than prepared and just take it from there.”

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni has cited last season’s slow start often in the preseason, though he said the playing time in Hawaii was in part because of Harden’s determination to play.

“The biggest thing is timing and rhythm,” D’Antoni said. “I played him the entire third quarter just to get his resistance built up. Gave him a good run. He loves to play. He feels the moment. That’s the good thing about James. He just loves to play basketball. It’s hard to get him off the court.”

“I just wanted to go out there and play well,” Harden said. “Second preseason game is just an opportunity for us to get better as a unit. We work on certain things in drills. It felt good to actually go against another competitor. Every single day we want to get better, whether it’s a preseason game or a practice. We want to just continue to improve.

“Obviously, a couple superstars didn’t play, but we gave them an opportunity to see how fun and exciting the game can be.”

 

From the highlights and from preseason vids, I'm liking what I'm seeing from McLemore.
Knocking down some 3's and playing defense.

Someone posted an offseason vid of McLemore knocking down 31 out of 33 corner 3's
and all of that shooting practice is showing. We can surely use more firepower.

Clemons is a spark plug too.

 

Yeah harden can rest some games before the playoffs while wb can still lead the team. And the guards rivers gg mclemore clemons need to be ready and mda needs to prepare play and maximize them if the time comes harden wb or even ego need to rest

 

Looks like a gawd damn bull.

 

Hawaii loves Harden and the Rockets!

Beard promised them a show and he delivered.

 

So clippers sat out PG and Kawhi... who else didn’t play? Rockets sat out Westbrook and House was out so what.

 

Harden took alot of fouls and it's just pre-season game #1. The first real game. 20 foul shots. Harden is pre-season MVP assuming that it matters!

 

I missed the game. Did broadcast discuss why Anderson didn’t play? Figured it was so he could see how other guys play since he’s seen Anderson plenty.

 

I’m getting real upset rockets aren’t getting the respect they deserve. We aren’t a 6 seed team. People are looking at the new toys clippers and lakers have and they’re pushing us down to 6 in the west. The jazz, blazers lakers clippers spurs warriors ARENT BETTER THAN US

 

Don't listen to Reggie Miller he's a Rockets hater. Plus he's a feminine little b!tch too. His sister Cheryl Miller has bigger balls and stronger basketball game than his weak annoying a$$.