Why don't the Rockets execute in the last few minutes of the game?

Hindsight would be more like saying IF we did this, THEN that - with no way to prove it. We proved that it was, at worst, an ok thing to do.

The truth is that we were fine and just had to settle down and play our game and follow our game plan. I bet the old Celtics coaches didn't breakdown in to panic mode when the other team came out hot or we were cold. Not to mention we were getting jobbed in the first half with calls.

 

Harden dribbles 14 seconds off the clock and hands it off to Lin with 10 seconds left.

Lin stands there dumbfounded going:

'**** is this the ball I see'

Looks up.

1second left.

fml...

 

Howard would not help on offense down the stretch. He is not an offensive player, he got no low post game and he can't shoot FTs.

 

Yep. I think we need to run set plays and execute ala Spurs (but does our coach believe in this method and is he capable?) Remember McHale is an inexperienced coach and Celtics probably just ran plays for Larry Bird. Plus I think McHale regards Harden as a young MJ... SMFH

 

His FT shooting isn't much worse than Asik's, but he's got better hands and is a better finisher around the rim. It would be an upgrade to what we currently have offensively, and it would give us a shotblocking presence that we lack on defense.

 

Well actually, the whole drive & kick style is Morey's idea. This offense is predicated on 3's or layups.

As far as late game plays, this is McHale's biggest problem. Absolutely no organization or continuity in our offense in the 4th quarter. How do you not run a single play in the last seconds of a playoff game? I think McHale's done a very good job pushin this team. But he's DEFINITELY not a X's & O's type coach

 

I wouldn't call Harden, Garcia, Delfino, Parsons and Asik inexperienced. We're too predictable.

It's just the limitations of our talent combined with the limitations of our offensive sets. Yeah, surprising the opponent by actually running a play, like the Princeton one that Coach Nick pointed out in Game 2, will help us immensely.

 

Your statement is correct about Morey, but what about Duncan, Garnett, Aldridge, Gasol bros, Randolph, Bosh, Ibaka, Dirk, and anyone else I forgot? How much would this team benefit on the court from a mid-range shooting big man like one of these guys?

 

Francisco pulled his hands back instead of even trying to catch the pass. Who did he think the pass was going to?

 

It was a snap pass from 10 feet away that was off target by feet, not inches. I don't care who Garcia thought it was going to or if he pulled his hands back (that is common when a pass is so far off-target though), the onus falls on our best player making a poor pass.

 

Why does it have to be seen as panic mode? Is there no gray area?

He should have told them the truth. Things aren't fine. This was their game to come out locked in and ready. They aren't going up against Rudy Gay or Blake Girffin. Durant is the baddest player on earth next to Lebron. He can, and will, take over if he needs to. You cant put yourself in that position, when all the momentum had swung your way. You have to turn up the effort, intensity, focus. That's not a call for panic, but just a reality check.

 

Parsons is in his second season, that's not a lot of experience, Harden and Asik are inexperienced in their roles.

 

like the run and shoot Oilers. not good and clock-control.

 

It's call experience

 

Inexperience. This excuse is getting old. Seriously, it's not much about experience. If in the last 5 min we just played the same style full court offense, we would've won more games. Our offensive efficiency is the worst during crunch time while our offense all season long is one of the best in the league. The team needs to realize we're doing something wrong and stop doing the same thing every close game while expecting different results.

 

Harden has to take that next step and be a better closer for us.