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

It's funny how conversation goes straight to Offense. Harden's offense is a given for me. Probably could have been more aggressive, but accountability falls squarely on his D. He had some truly AWFUL defensive lapses in this game; some coming when Rocket were down single digits.

Harden doesn't have to be Meta World Peace on D, but he just has to be average. He loses his man way to much for a player of his caliber. I still remember the last game against the heat, when he was Holding Lebron James, He practically shut him down in the 4th. I don't know where that type of effort went.

 

What else would he say in public? Bet it's not the same as what he says in the locker room.

Most recent chron blog article about Lin had McHale saying slow starts weren't just Lin's fault. I guess he really thought that.

Still a mistake, but at least he is consistent.

 

Our front court bench is what made the difference. Gasol and Randolph did most of their damage before the 4th against the starters. The bench closed the gap against their bench, the starters came in and controlled the rest of the game. The only way you have an argument is if the rockets won. They didn't. Not a good argument.

 

poor leadership. you dont see lin/parsons doing this. Basically youre leaving your teammates out to dry to answer all these question. I remember when the Mets were having horredous seasons David Wright got upset a lot of the latin player ie jose reyes were dodging the media and leaving him to answer all the questions all the time.

 

LOL :grin:

 

Last time Harden Dipped out early we won the next game.

 

Guess it depends how you define "best fighters."

 

Reporters going to be thrilled with this. Articles will practically write themselves.

 

Ha, I expect EFFORT. I think McHale does too. That's why those arses were glued to the bench in the 4th. Can't turn it on and off when you want. Don't want to give consistent effort, you belong on the bench. When guys 3-4 inches shorter than show are outworking you on the glass and getting 4 shots at the basket, you should be on the bench.

 

I think that's debatable, but I hear you. Trades happen and you gotta cheer for the guys who are on the squad now.

 

The Griz starters came in against the Rox bench and didn't expand the lead at all.

What: you're saying your imaginary fourth quarter is better than the real fourth quarter? I'm not convinced.

 

Alexander was the first to gamble on fighting opponents best fighters with his best fighters. The dude won many battles up until he died of the cold......:grin: By definition, your starters should be your "best fighters". Perhaps not tonight.....:grin:

 

You yourself said the odds aren't great. Shifting from very unlikely to extremely unlikely isn't "throwing the game."

 

I don't cheer for selfish players who don't pass to the open man and don't play defense. It kills team chemistry. I cheer for them to be traded or for the coach who allows it to be fired.

 

Alexander also killed his best friend. So?

What if your starter is injured? Still the best option? What if your starter is playing badly?

According to many people's thinking here, you could have a computer rather than a coach manage the starters' minutes simply to play them as much as possible with allowances for rest.

 

No one gives a **** about your Met or Knicks anecdotes. If you want to talk about the Mets or Knicks to to another board.

 

IF the intention was to rest the starters for tomorrow's game vs the Clippers, then why didn't he rest the 2nd unit too and play the 3rd string'ers? It's not like the starters are going to play all 48 minutes tomorrow.

Count me in the camp that does not like this move by McHale. I personally hate quitters and quitting on a game. I don't care if it's a blow out, I'm still going to play hard till the end.

What really gets me is that with 9:22 left, the lead was only 9 points. That's very much doable -- 1 pt / min. No way, is that even close to waiving the white flag.

 

I understand that but he's not going to become a good defender overnight you have to take the good with the bad. 26pts/game didn't play entire 4th quarter.

 

Man, I wish Harden would up his intensity on D if his shot isn't falling. If he's not hitting his shot, he can't let his man score either.

 

And he's supposedly gay....so what?. My point is your starters, in theory, are you best players. If you want the best chance to win you play them...that's it. Tough loss...on to the next game.