ClutchFans Game Thread: Pistons @ Rockets 1/17/2012

http://www.hoopdata.com/player.aspx?name=Samuel Dalembert

Actually, Dalembert has shot close to 45% on the 10-15 foot shot over the last 6 seasons. He doesn't shoot a lot of them (maybe 1 or 2 a game on average), but that's a very good percentage from that range. Dalembert is also a decent free throw shooter, so I think this is a fairly comfortable shot for him.

For comparison, the league average from 10-15 feet last year was only 39%, and this season it has been only 38%.

 

As long as he keeps rebounding the way he has I don't have a problem with giving him minutes until something better comes up. He might be our best rebounder so if he keeps playing maybe we can get something of value for him down the road at the least. Considering he had the flu I think he had ok 8 minutes out there, at least he didn't make flagrant mistakes.

I do believe however that the Rockets have him on a short leash, there's only so much you can take in two years of him not getting it.

 

I think the issue is just that, with Dally's long arms and the fact that he doesn't really jump on his shots, his shooting motion just looks weird and uncoordinated. Bad memories of Trevor Ariza, I suppose.

 

To be fair the worse defense was in the 4th quarter when dalembert and patterson were on together. so many soft points given away, no defender even near to the rim.

 

i think Parsons is averaging almost 7 boards a game, as a starter....great number from the 3 spot.

 

I still can't believe how kmart has such a bad handle/dribble but can put up scores relatively consistently.

And I don't even know whether that statement is supposed to be positive or negative.

 

Bad game by Lowry. Had 5 TOs

 

Woo hoooo we won!

 

He did ok, he has been channeling his inner Aaron Brooks lately, taking a lot of 3s, resting on defense and turning it over a bit.

DD

 

The Big fundmental

 

We need someone to take pressure of playmaking duties off of him... He is having to do too much... He is an Allstar but lebron he is not

 

No body else can get their own shot off effectively so Kyle has to create their shots almost all the time. Too much to ask from someone all the time.

And the Rockets looked really tired. I guess that's what happens when you have to play all these games in such a short time.

 

True.

DD

 

I thought Lowry was very energetic on defense in this game. He got several deflections, and he played tough 1-on-1 defense against his opponent (then again, he was playing against a very inexperienced player). I don't think resting on defense is an issue for him, generally. I think he plays hard on both ends.

That said, maybe there is something to leebigez's critique that he hurts the defensive floor balance in transition by going after offensive rebounds. I was paying particularly close attention to that in this game, and that wasn't so much evident to me (though its not like Detroit looks for transition offense). Its something I'll continue to monitor.

 

Not sure if you can point a finger at Lowry for going after OREB and possibly hurting the transition D. Seems more of a matter of team tactics. If the coaches wants Lowry to get back in transition but he persists on stuffing his OREB stats, it's his fault, but if the decision is to have him crash the boards, the coaches most likely have schemed for others to get back in transition and it's up to all 5 guys to execute the scheme.

McHale said in an interview that they generally want 3 guys going after OREB, and 2 getting back in transition and that if this doesn't work, they'll change it to have 3 guys back and 2 crashing the boards. Seems like Lowry's rebounding is by design and, if we lose out on some transition D, either guys screwed up or it's the risk that the coaches decided to take. BTW, the Rockets have the 2nd highest OREB% in the league (30%), so it's paying some dividends.

 

Good point. Maybe the Rockets should adjust the strategy depending on who they are playing. If its a very strong transition team that doesn't play great field goal defense, for instance, then it may be better for Lowry to lay back. The Wizards are a good example.

 

Yeah, but AB does it when fresh and rested.

 

Twill can create his own shot whenever he wants but prefers to be a facilitator.

 

As long as it goes in, give Dally the green light!

 

In his very first game of the season, Dalembert put up a few awkward looking 20-footers that went in. They were almost three pointers. Each time he pulled up, I was 100% sure the shot would miss..but it goes in somehow after he releases the shot. It gives you the same kind of apprehension that a Chuck Hayes free throw would give you.