It was pretty obvious what hurt us during this game. - The bench looked awful. Really awful. McHale definitely left them in there a little too long. - Dmo's shooting was atrocious. It was painful to watch him bricking the open looks. McHale probably should have pulled him a bit earlier, but at least he pulled him. Other than that, small stuff... Smith is still a foul machine. TRob needs work on his passing and jump shooting. Still, any win over the Jazz is a good win. As for a comfortable lead, really in these kinds of games (play off implications) McHale shouldn't take his foot off the gas until the lead is 30+, especially when the starters are playing well. Our bench just isn't strong enough right now and our defense isn't consistent enough to rule out a comeback by an opponent with just 20 points on the plus side. Luckily, our back court came to play. On a side note, Lin's 3rd consecutive 20+ point game... not too shabby. If he's going to peak, this is a good time for it. :grin:
Mchale almost lost us this important game. Thanks Lin and Harden for saving us from the coach's miserable failure.
Golden State making it close playing the best team in the playoffs. Us making it close playing the worst team in the playoffs. Fml.
Do LOHs still exist anymore? Lin has been playing like a top 10 PG, and top 40 overall player for the last month
Team defense was good for the first three quarters and with the Jazz stinking it up, Houston got a giant lead. With most of the Houston starters on the bench at the beginning of the 4th, I thought the Jazz did a good job taking advantage and getting back into the game. Luckily after a timeout, both Lin and Harden kept things together for the team and they put it away. These two guys are showing consistently now that they can work together as a solid backcourt foundation for Houston. They just need the guys around them, and the bench, to give them some consistent support. Beverley did a good job off the bench tonight. Parsons and Delfino are still just really off at the 3 line. DMo played some good defense, but is still just off.
McHale never learns. He sort of took Lin's easy lay-up offense in the 3rd for granted. Then, saw the offense struggling without him.
I think it's more the bench than McHale, though he is also at fault. If the bench played better, it wouldn't have been so close... But when the bench play so bad coach should bench them earlier.
Nice win. Still in 3rd pre season mode need about 3 more games till this version of pre season mode to be complete because of the changes to the team after the trades. Still need to developed the bench and the D is still a work in progress.
haha yeah he's not a good shot blocker. But still you have to beat your man and make it :grin: Playoffs are going to be fun. Rockets will make it tough for whoever they play.
To be fair on the coach I must say he called the timeouts bett this game than some we've seen over the season. A win is a win I'll take. Thank the refs, we won effectively on Ft differential and Lin obviously had a very good first half. Hardens FTs are money!
