ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Hornets 1/25/2013

Help me understand this picture????

 

They were hugging super large bags of popcorns? I am not sure of the significance though since I am not a fan of popcorns....

 

Yes- Lin and Harden are logging in too many minutes. They both slip a notch when they are playing tired- Lin mores than Harden. The coaches need to improve their substitution patterns and utilize the bench more. This will allow the starting guards to consistently play at a higher energy level.

 

Curry posted a picture of himself hugging a bag of popcorn for some reason, so Jeremy decided to imitate him

 

... sharing the experience of picking up a huge bag of popcorn from New Orleans...?

 

The location is the same but the time taken were different.

 

Curry even took it to the plane 5 days ago... not sure about Lin...

 

Thanks Blaiyan!

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Sorryyyy, I put the wrong vid...wahhhh

 

Chandler bang!!

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Team highlights

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Did anyone else catch Defino's reaction after he made a 3 pointer at 0:43? :grin: Also, Lin got up from the bench and pushed him in excitement. It's great to see them having fun.

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To be fair, Lin played very good defense however the improvement in Team Defense had a very large impact on Vasquez as well.

The team made noticeable strides in their PnR defense. The man guarding the Roller aggressively hedged on the opposite side of the pick, putting a hand in Vasquez's face when Jeremy went Under the pick, OR they would move up to cut off the driving lane when Jeremy went over the pick.

This meant that Vasquez almost always was contested for the split second that Jeremy needed to get over and under a pick, as well as denied easy driving lanes.

Similarly, the man guarding the Roller would close and help trap the Vasquez if Vasquez hesitated at the top of a pick. This lead to Vasquez being forced to pass the ball out without the opportunity to take a shot, or to take a heavily contested shot.

The end result was Vasquez attempting only SIX very BAD shots (1/6) and other Hornets players being placed in the position of attempting to facilitate the offense.

It was clearly the best PnR and defensive rotations we've seen from the Rockets all season.

 

Damn you Rockets, you could have locked a 5th seed if you won most of your games, now you're just an 8th seed/ hopefully.

 

Totally agree Toro. I noticed that too...the D on the whole tried harder to help one another. Wonder if it was a coaching strategy change or that players only meeting. I still remember Lin shouting out for help (looking frustrated) a game or two ago.

 

Only 8 TOs:grin: And they won the game?

 

yeehaaaa - keep this way rockets
Jlin led offensive is NOT going to hurt Harden offensive production. Harden is a great finisher.

 

I suspect that the speed he has on the first step is part of why his steal#'s are so high. they just don't expect him to get to them that quick.

 

It's the old "deceptively quick" rearing it's ugly head. That and I remember commentators talking about how Lin wasn't quick, he was just crafty getting to the basket.

I think people just have stereotypes in general when it comes to athletes. It reminds me of the early days of MMA. People would see a guy who's massively cut and think they were going to run all over their opponent.

Then you see some long and lanky guy like Diego Sanchez, or a heavy guy like Roy Nelson and you realize that athleticism doesn't have a "look", whether it's speed, strength or balance.

Lin is a quick, average to above average sized Point Guard, with solid core strength and very quick hands.

What does a "steals guy" look like anyway? :grin:

 

Not necessarily, see what coach McHale said after the game:
"We just get boggy sometimes and we just can’t do that. It’s the same thing: We come off a 32-point quarter where the ball is really zipping and moving, then we get a little bogged down. We just have to make sure that our bodies move and our spacing is right – if we do that we’ll usually come up with a pretty good shot if we don’t turn it over."

He didn't call out names but he certainly did point out the stagnant offense and TOs. Harden has been trying to carry the team since the season starts, ISO is part of his strength and part of his game. He's not going turn off the ISO mode just like that, he needs time to adjust and find the balance. Like Lin finding his balance between scoring and playmaking, like 2Pat finding his balance between rebounding and spreading the floor. It's easier said than done but they are too young to not give them a chance to grow.