This is the only thing that really matters. It amazes me how so called Rockets fans continue to talk about how we lost the game on the last play or last quarter of games when the refs continue to take actual points off of the game score, where these last second or overtime plays and shots would not even be a factor, mistakes or not. So called fans really expect the Rockets to be completely better than professional NBA players and teams plus 3 refs on the court and 1 in the replay center. Stupid fans. The Rockets won this game simply based off of points put in the basket, that were not counted. I'm not even mentioning or counting all the rest of the bad calls against us and that the Kings go in favor of them as well. Those are subjective. But the hate against the Rockets has no turned to actually taking points off the board or not counting buckets that go through the hoop, and everyone acts like it's the Rocket's fault that they let a last second shot happen and that they should have had a bigger lead. duh, they did you idiots! The points were not counted so that a 3 could win it. smfh
Just watched on dvr The toughest thing for me is that I wanted this win for Westbrook and McLemore Westbrook was 7/9 attacking the paint and had that beautiful pass to McLemore for the 3 Really tough loss. The five points the refs took away from beard was tough but were it not for an extremely long (and lucky) 3 point shot we were on track to win. Not sure why Capela did not rush out on Nemanja shooting the 3..... not to say he could have been fast enough to affect the shot but still move your ass in that direction- he became a spectator. I hope it's as simple as we need Rivers,TC, E.G. and GG back but something is missing.
Agreed, leadership is lacking. Closing out games is all about leadership and Harden really hasn't been great at that
ppl wondering why we look like the team on 2nd night of b2b. Dumtoni is playing our guys too many minutes even though 1/4 of the season in. we're already short 4 guys (EG, Green, Rivers, Chandler) and Dantoni still refuses to play guys that will give us extra rest like Clemons and Hartenstein. Harden is leading the league in 38mpg and Tucker is 9th at 36mpg. Tucker is basically playing superstar minutes as a 34yo role player. Russ is #21 on the list. For comparison, Giannis is #61 at 31mpg and his co-star Middleton is playing 27mpg and Giannis is 24yo!
8 man rotation, that tells the story right there, even with injuries and sickness. MDA needs to go and we need a coach to instil discipline. We still think offense will carry us against teams like Kings and Spurs who are solid.
I still don’t get why Tucker would give up an open look at 3 when Rockets are up 2? When the best defensive player is making simple mistakes like that, you know this team’s cooked.
That Brodie though. Where was the endless stream of long 2's? Who would've thought the most athletic point guard in NBA history would have better success driving to the rim as his first option!!
lol. Every time we lose are people going to blame the refs? that's weak. Houston played well enough to win, but we actually lost this game because James and Russ turned the ball over 14 times (19 total). It's that simple. Our turnovers are just way too high and it gives teams chances to stay in the game instead of us pulling away. that's why this game stayed pretty close throughout, and then we lost on a last minute buzzer beater. But there is a silver lining. We've played some of our best basketball over the last 3 games. We are playing more balanced, getting role players involved early (7 guys with double digit points), and putting the ball more in Russ' hands. Shout out to PJ for his 19 rebounds. The guy is 6'5" and he's pulling down 19 rebounds (getting flashbacks of Barkley). Anyway, tough loss but there was a lot to like about the way we played. It's going to come together, but it's still a work in progress. Remember, Russ has only played 20 games with Houston ...20 games, that's it. Patience folks. And a buzzer beater early in the season is not going to matter much a couple months from now.
If we lead by 10 or 15 in the last 3 minutes, I dun think they could erase 15 points. We have to get on the same page.
hold on a second, even if we won this game there would still be posters here (including myself) pointing out that the same fuking ref stealing back to back 3's is not right. do you agree with the calls made (offensive foul & no continuation)?
I agree that we are not being officiated fairly. And i agree that there have been a lot of blown calls that have hurt our team. But there are a lot of other factors that are contributing to our losses and i would prefer to focus on getting those right. If we play a great game and have it stolen from us by the refs, i'm gonna be as hopping mad about it as anyone. But honestly, we haven't played that well this year and a lot of our losses are self-inflicted. Because i think we are going to make the playoffs and because it's gonna take some time and patience to make the Russ thing work and it's early in the season, i'm less concerned with wins and losses at this point, and more concerned with seeing improvement from game to game. So while the ref bias sucks, i'll be a lot more upset if it happens towards the end of the season, once we are playing better basketball and it's keeping us from playoff success.
Eh, as a fan, I accept that our shooting, defense, and overall coaching are variables that will occasionally cause us to lose. That’s basketball for you. Refs however, should not not be on the list of variables that decide games. Yet they are, consistently, due to their inability (or unwillingness) to call games correctly.
my first posts last nite were all about pringles *** ups in the final 22sec of play. we have an unbalanced roster as well. and a bevy of system problems on both sides of the ball but the league office actively targeting harden game after game is simply put, criminal
I see your points, and agree that ref bias isn't the main thing keeping this team from winning. However, we all agree it's there, it's bad, and I don't think it will change for the playoffs---in fact, it will get worse---without fans and the Rockets themselves shining a spotlight on the officiating. Force the league to constantly make excuses for the incompetence and malfeasance, and motivate them to change the situation. At least make the finger on the scale be less blatant about it. Or publicizing the problem, and lack of any caring or resolution from the league, will alienate those members of the public who don't want to watch a WWE-style scripted show. I'm cool either way at this point. On your meshing together point, this is the kind of complete game from Westbrook we've wanted to see for awhile. I hope he keeps doing whatever preparation he did to have this kind of game.
Your point about the fans and Rockets shining a spotlight on the officiating is backfiring in my opinion. That's why I wanted us to let this go in the beginning. Absolutely nothing was gained. Our protests are falling in deaf ears. We have become even more if a running joke around the league. Our complaining is having zero impact on how James or our team is officiated. I know it's frustrating, but the writing is on the wall. The more light we shine on the officiating, the worst it will get for our team.