ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Bulls 12/25/2012

I'm sure the comparison has been made but the Houston Rockets look like the NBA's version of the Seattle Seahawks. Young, underrated and blowing teams away.

 

Still only one of the few commentators still ignorant enough to use "deceptive" to describe Lin.

He might not be ultra quick like Paul or even Douglas, but his speed is unquestionably elite if you are objective and break down the film and look at the raw combine numbers. He can accelerate and has an extra gear to turn the corner that few possesses.

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t8IdpWxchG8

Lin highlights

 

I think it's Jennings and Ellis.

 

The script for Rocket's games is becoming clear: blowout the opposing team by the end of the 3rd quarter, and then put the bench and rookies in. Nice way to give them playing time Hope this can become a tradition.

The game was fabulous. Pretty much the same performance as the last one against the Grizzlies. Run, drive to the basket, get some fouls, shoot threes.. all in a very high paced offense. Also, we really are defending better. Our defense was the best I've seen so far for 3 quarters.

The bads:

- the beginning of the 4th. Up to then, we were flawless. Suddenly, no one was able to stop Nate Robinson and they cut the difference to 15 in less than 3 minutes. For me, the main issue was not letting Nate score, but was not slowing down the pace. Come on, we were 30 point up, and we only had to slow down, take our 24s, and that would be it. The fast pace was the main reason that allowed them to cut the difference so fast, instead of doing that in a spam of 7+ minutes. It's nice to run, but some wisdom and experience will teach us also to slow down when needed, hopefully.

- Bench play: tonight, our bench was not stellar. Since our starters were, we didn't need the bench this time, but the fact is that the energy level was not kept through the rotations.

The goods:

- Offense. Obviously, putting 120 point on the best NBA's defense requires a deadly offense. To do that twice in a row with 2 different teams, just shows us that the Rockets' offense is no fluke. The Grizzlies defense used to be #1 before we've put them to second place, in their first 100+ point allowed in 23 games. Now, Chicago's defense was the new #1, and we score the most points they've allowed in Thibodeau's era. Our transition game, drive to the basket and shoot 3's, are becoming an unguardable threat.

- Performance distribution: 4 of our starters had very efficient production on several areas. Lin with points and assists (20/11), Harden with points, assists and rebounds (26/6/5), Parsons with points and rebounds (23/5) and Asik with points and rebounds (20/18). Morris had a very competent night also. Aside that, our FG%, and overall game were very efficient. The ball was moving well, everyone making shots, drives, assists, steals. That's team ball.

- Interior defense. Tonight, mostly because Asik, we owned the paint. We outrebounded them, and their bigs had a very tough night, as indicates Noah and Boozer's PER, that were some of the lowest from their side. Also, the transition defense should be included here. Even with a mobile center in Noah, the Bulls weren't able to score on layups. I have a hard time trying to remember any dunks or layups from their side, either on transition or in halfcourt.

- Taking control of their comeback attempt. Through the play of our starters in the 4th, we were able to stop their run and increase the difference again. To cut momentum is a hard thing to do, especially as visitors. To do that and shut them up was a very nice sign of control and mental toughness.

The players:

Lin: Strong performance, assisting well, driving as usual in the last games, and this time, hitting the mid-range jumper and even posting against Nate Robinson (that one was cool). He seems faster each time, and now it seems that his pre-surgery form is coming back. On defense, very nice job, well coordinated with Asik, shutting down penetrations and contesting jumpers. He just had to figure out how to stop Nate Robinson at a certain point, but overall, Lin owned Nate on offense, and put his trash talk to shame.

Harden: Solid game, and is amazing his ability to draw fouls in a "soft manner". He doesn't get hit to hard, but he is able to get to the line by being deceptive with his steps and with the way he teases the defender putting the ball almost at his reach, make him try to slap it and getting to hit the arms instead.

Parsons: 4-5 from the 3-point line, nice drives, dunks, excellent defense. He shot well tonight, which was essential to our game, and allowed Lin and Harden to drive more with the spacing he provided.

Morris: His defense was amazing o Noah. He shut Noah down, boxed him out, and made him work very hard for his points and rebounds. On offense, competent, despite not a good shooting night from the 3-point line. Earning his position as a starter and proving that he can hold his own against forwards/centers bigger than him.

Asik: Man of the game. He was a monster, securing the paint on defense and being very efficient on offense. The first time I've seen him blocking so many shots, and also, besides making Boozer a non-factor, helped our guards to shut the driving lanes of the opposing guards, and I really have a hard time to remember a layup or dunk from Chicago. On offense, nice dunks (that one over Noah was a beauty) and tips. He seems to be finding his offensive style, with more energy to dunk, and also keeping a soft touch on reverse layups. He was really a dominant figure on both paints, and Chicago must be regretting letting him go.

Bench: tonight, our bench was a little bit quiet. The show was all on our starters. TDouglas were not as energized as usual, and the intensity of our game dropped a point with him on court. Delfino is proving to be a good perimeter defender, and holding the candle to Parsons, but tonight, Parsons was just too good to be sitting, so Delfino didn't have much playing time. The same with Smith, since Asik was a Bull killer tonight.

If we didn't let they attempt a come back at the beggining of the 4th, probably our rookies would have seen 6-8 minutes, but that's ok. DMo was the best rookie, with some nice layups, and Machado the worst, despite some good assists. Few playing time for them, but, if we keep the tradition of blowing up the opposing team by the end of the 3rd, they would certainly have more opportunities in the next games

Overall, the team is putting an impressive performance over and over. I really didn't think we would have won the last two games, against the two best defenses in the league, by such margins. Our style is taking form, and our gameplan is working out. A fast paced game, with high efficiency and several players driving to the basket or shooting threes. Our defense has improved enormously, and it seems that we can really outrun almost everyone.

I'm very concerned about young/athletic teams as the Thunder or Miami, since I sense they are a bad matchup for us. But who knows? Let's think about the Wolves tomorrow, since we have a very tough schedule in the next 5 days, and it will be a nice test of our stamina and mental toughness.

 

really? why?

 

PS: Harden's blosck with the beard was priceless!

 

Highlights

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Lin had an ice pack to both elbow and knee at the end. What's up with that? Was he hurt?

 

Probably (hopefully) preventive. Same as Harden in some game recently.

 

<br>
Lin did some great work tonight.

And damn, Chandler's finishing ability on drives/in transition is spectacular.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...est-young-backcourts-in-the-nba-today/page/12

Not a bad article. They rank the Rockets backcourt second right behind Curry and Klay Thomas. Harden and Lin are outscoring them by 1.2 points (37.3 points to 36.1 points) after tonight's game.

I think the Rockets have the best young backcourt in the NBA. They will continue to only get better as they grow together. I prefer them over the Lakers, Celtics, Thunder and maybe the Clippers (if Lin continues to improve) backcourt any day.

 

Most players get iced up after the game. We just saw it early tonight because, he wasn't going back in. At the end of Grizz's game you could see Harden had both knees iced.

Sign that the fat lady has sung.

 

Parsons with swollen knee from collision with Bellini. Not good. If he's out, Morris + starting means we need a back up 4 pretty badly.

 

I thought Rockets lost the lead because TD can't run the point.

 

interesting contrast between great shooters (Curry/Thompson) vs. slashers (Lin/Harden) backcourts.

 

Good post and read young man. Keep posting..

 

Ohh nooo

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...r-later-a-much-better-way-to-spend-christmas/

 

TD was not on the court when we lost the lead.

 

Watching the Clippers/Nuggets game - I wonder how the Rockets would play against the Clips. They love to run - their offense looks like absolute chaos but somehow most of them end up in highlight-worthy dunks. Even after made buckets, 4 of their guys sprint full speed down the court to defend.