ClutchFans Game Thread: Blazers @ Rockets 1/15/2020

This. This whole thing smells like their minds aren't right, rather than they're injured, or just aren't good enough. They've beaten the Clippers, Nuggets, and other good teams with this talent. In fact, less talent since Gordon wasn't available for many of their best wins.

Some of it is undoubtedly fatigue, despite the long recent layoff. Some of it is because they most of the time can't catch a whistle to save their lives, and other teams have picked up on that, and adjusted their defense accordingly. Mainly though, this is looking like a team that just doesn't give a $hit. Except for Russ, and some of us thought he'd be the reason for a lack of chemistry. LOL.

Harden has to know that this kind of play will doom MDA.

 

Oh, and what the hell, House?! You played so well before you got sent down last year, and you haven't played like that since. And he's been really bad since the playoffs. I get that a lot of NBA players regress as soon as they get their bag, but 3.5 a year for 3 years is a pretty damn small bag by NBA standards.

There are plenty of players who would like to play with James Harden, and House is the largest salary they can conceivably move if they don't move on from Tucker or Capela. If he doesn't want to play here with all of his effort and focus, some other 3&d will.

 

Thanks for the clip. I hadn't seen it before.

The problem with Harden not wanting to be a leader---which I can completely see---is that it looks like he doesn't want anyone else to be one either. We saw what happened when Paul tried to guide the team and tell Harden what he needed to do.

 

I was right! A W for @Haymitch

Would rather have a W for the Rockets, but this is better than nothing.

 

MilkHair spitting milktroof.

 

Lol, I never thought of him as a big star. I wasn't on the Lin bandwagon.

 

Harden looks disengaged the last few games, really disappointed in his effort.

House has been a complete zero on both ends for weeks.

Tucker is a total zero on offense and last night was routinely getting beat by Melo.

Capela giving no ****s out there.

MDA has clearly lost the team at this point.

Hopefully this is the low point of the season and not the beginning of a tailspin.

 

guys are being selfish

 

This guy will never coach or GM ever again. True or not, how can anyone trust him after he talk smack about his former best player like that?

 

Portland isolated Harden on defense on every possession down the stretch, and he gave up layup/dribble penetration leading to open three's possession after possession. If he's not going to compete on either end, why is he on the court?

 

Well it's true. And he makes a very valid point. He complements Harden for being a very skilled player. He just doesn't have any positive qualities outside of his offensive skillset to bring to the team.

 

just came to post that. I took it as meaning we aren't staying in front of our man.

 

not me. i took it as guys aren't playing for what's on the front of the jersey and instead the focus is on the back

 

ok, but that sounds like MDA's rye sense of humor to me, and he was quoted last night as saying we need to do better job of staying in front of our players.

 

yeah he did. but I agree with what mda is saying though as far as playing for the team. intentional or not. lets see what happens.

 

Yeah, he brought up spirit too. I was just interested in the quote for the MDA humor of seeing the back of your man's jersey...especially on our bad transition defense.

 

iko just posted this

 

oh goodie. another 3.5 lead paragraphs of an Athletic story. Can't wait to hear people describe what it says.

 

Cute story, but nothing will change. They will continue to give poor effort. They will continue to lose to bad teams. They're not as good as they think they are.