ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 3/29/2013

If McHale rolled out the Starters when they had a 9 point lead and lost fans would have said that he shouldnt have played them with a back-2-back with the clippers on the horizon.

 

I'm just scratching my head. I don't think we can pull it off tomorrow.

 

well i rather get a losing streak going now then,heading into the playoffs, just end the season strong and get a playoff seed and go into the playoffs with confidence.

 

Throw what game away? The starters played their way into a 17 point deficit on memphis's home floor. It was not their game to throw away. The energy of the bench is the only thing that made it into a game at all.

 

Our entire starting unit played trash team defense.

 

WHY!! Harden and Lin are not attacking, Parsons is not playing with energy, after the first quarter he was invisible. Asik can't finish around the rim. D-MO isn't playing defense. The whole first unit is playing like garbage!

Don't blame the coach

 

How can you honestly say that this year has been anything but a success? Have the Rockets not provided you with some incredibly exciting basketball? Did you really expect that we'd be playoff bound before this season started?

 

Some of you guys view your basketball like a soap opera or tabloid gossip show. It's just basketball. Do you guys really enjoy spamming pathosdriven knee-jerk responses throughout the whole year?

 

Never said McHale was a bad coach. Just said I've never seen it before. I can understand why he did it, but I just don't agree with it. Keep your eyes steady kid.

 

Seriously? You've never seen a coach bench his starters? That's pretty common, especially on young teams.

 

It was a good move by McHale to bench the starters. They need to be held accountable for their defense. We were down by 17 when they went out and the bench brought us back. There was no chance we were gonna beat Memphis with the way the starters were playing defense. The players need to be held accountable. No excuses. Even when the Mem starters came back in the game was never a blowout like it was in the 3rd quarter. All this young, inexperienced BS that's been spewed as excuses for the poor defense in the starting unit needs to be quieted. The bench are even less experienced, played less minutes with each other, and can play adequate D. There are just too many holes on D in the starting lineup.

 

Memphis is just a team better built for the playoffs than Houston is at this point. Memphis’ ability to play in the paint, and obviously their defense, is just much better. They consistently challenged Houston’s attempts at the rim. And, from tonight’s game, it looks like they can even pick up their tempo too. Their 4&5 not only can play down low and with their backs against the basket, but did really well setting up plays for their guards and teammates. Outside of scoring and interior defense that prevented both Harden and Lin from getting to the rim, these two guys had 15rbds and 7assts by the end of the 3rd quarter, compared to Asik & DMo with 6rbds and 1asst. In addition, Gasol & ZBo can both get their own shots once the ball is in their hands, they don’t need to have baskets set up for them by their guards.

Tony Allen did a great job defending Harden one on one. On the flip side, sigh… One thing Harden needs to change is his attitude when the team is losing badly. Although Parsons is team captain, Harden is the leader simply because he’s by far the best player on the team. Several games back, after losing he refused to talk to reporters. Tonight, it seemed like he didn’t even want to play at one point. That’s just a poor showing of leadership abilities.

Yes, it is only one game, but the same weaknesses keep showing up over and over again. Hopefully Houston can build on the 4 next year. I don’t think Houston needs to change the up-tempo-spread the floor philosophy, but the team just needs to augment it with better defense and improve that PF spot.

 

I don't. Our bench did pretty well against their bench. If you think they were going to play good enough d to win then you're crazy because they sure as hell aren't going to outscore them. Neither of the units are very good on d, but when you play more of a Memphis pace, you're not going to get run off the court. Starters should have come in, at least harden lin and parsons.

 

Naw. If they go back in and the lead goes back up to 15 or something then take em out after a few minutes. But you have to give yourself a chance to win games. At least get them in the habit of rotating back in and trying to come back and shake off their bad play. They're going to have to do that in the playoffs

 

Hmm when popovich does it, doesn't he do it for the entire game...? today was a half-committal move.

have a feeling mchale was also trying to make a point today. which i understand.

 

He/she/it just started watching the rockets. He/she/it is a glory chaser and had no knowledge of the player/management structure before this year started. Just a bandwagoner. Ignore.

 

Since when do announcers know anything. First quarter they were talking about how well DMo has been playing lately. Lol.
I know mchale can't coach X's and O's. but this was the right move. Starters needed this wake up call or the rest. Pick either one.

 

So what's your excuse for after they lose to the Clippers?

 

Would of been cool to see at least brooks get some playing time

 

I think the starters did that for themselves.If they arent playing well,sit em.Point blank.What will they learn by coming back in after back-to-back horrible starts?Oh ok.