ClutchFans Game Thread: Grizzlies @ Rockets 12/22/2012

It's pretty unreal how many times I read the game threads and see people saying that a game is a definite loss. I'm pretty sure we've won a large percentage of those games.

 

Reverse jinx/psychology

 

smith plays 30 mins and guards Randolph nicely. Rockets pull out a win by 3 in OT

 

Last game with Grizz, the score was 46-45 at half. We were within 2 with 2 minutes to play in 4Q. And we did that although we gave up 20 turnovers (14 steals) and 18 Off Rebs, and Harden only scored 6 points in 2nd half. AND it was 5th game of season.

 

.... and, in the last game, toney douglas and greg smith did not play.

 

ROX crush Grizz... Main topic news

 

We have a chance..

We need a big to stand up and be counted though, i sense Harden is going to be shut down or at least severely limited by Allen and co.
Smith will be the man in this if we win

 

We almost beat them last time in their home floor... We'll beat them this time...

 

I am really nervous for Harden in this game. Tony Allen is a great defender. Harden is going to have his work cut out for him. We will really need the coaching staff to make in game adjustments if Allen is effective in locking James up.

 

According to Howard Chen, Tony Allen held OJ Mayo to 10 points tonight. Lin might have a hard time with Conley too. Our other guys are going to have to step up.

 

The thing is, I don't know if any individual defender can really stop Harden's game one on one. It's going to depend on Allen's big men and how well they do on help defense to stop Harden driving into the lane.

Harden is not at all like OJ Mayo. Mayo is a perimeter chucker who just happens to be hitting a high percentage this year. You can stop that one on one if you do a great job fighting through screens and getting a hand in the face.

Much more difficult to stop Harden's eurostep. You need help defense, and it needs to be spot on, and you need the refs not to be calling a tight game.

 

Harden is really dependent on getting to the FT line. There are times when attacks the basket where he isn't even trying to score just get fouled. If calls aren't falling his way it is a problem, results in TO's & him not having a great game. Coaches need to make adjustments. Play him off the ball some. Right now his FG are hardly never assisted. That should change.

 

Mark my word. Rockets will win.

 

I don't think he drives with the intent to get fouled... he drives, then takes what the defense gives him. If he doesn't get fouled he usually scores once he gets into the painted area.

It's teams with really strong shotblockers in the paint which can give him trouble--the guys who DON'T foul, but still stop his makes.

Or potentially nights when the refs are out to screw us over. Those don't happen much though.

 

aski can guard marc gasol, but who will guard zbo?

 

I think this would be a great game to go big with Greg Smith and Omer on the floor together some. I would put the blacksmith on Gasol and Omer on ZBo.

 

Close game, rockets win by 8

 

I don't know, omer did a great holding gasol to 3 of 12 shootings. why change the winning formula. smith may be strong enough not to get trucked by gasol, but gasol will tower over him and make lay ups. My opinion is, if rockets can take a lead in the fourth quarter. Have Omer guard gasol and smith guard z-bo. Smith has the height advantage then

 

No there are times where he is driving to get fouled. I have seen it, that was a big reason as to why he was turning over the ball a lot. It isn't a bad thing, it is easy points & puts the opposing team in foul trouble. Against weak defensive teams I recommend that. But against teams with smart defenders you won't be able to get away with it. Also against refs who aren't going to give you those calls it is a problem. Like I said it isn't harden, coaches just have to make the adjustment.

 

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