ClutchFans Game Thread: Bobcats @ Rockets 10/30/2013

I loved how Lin played tonight. He was aggressive and wasn't hesitant with this shot.

 

To be fair, the Bobcats were running full-speed back as soon as the shot went up. I thought that was smart on their part: no point battling Howard and Asik for a rebound, you're better off disrupting Houston's runouts. It gave us trouble.

I am surprised McHale was so critical of our stagnant offense, without acknowledging Charlotte's game plan.

We'll have to see how this goes, but I expect other teams to replicate it. Give us the boards but take away the runouts and slow our offense.

 

What about the countless times where he switched to a small ball line up only to get burned by rebounds and lose us the game? Or the inexplicable taking james out and then putting him back in in the mavs game 10 seconds later and having even james look at him like wtf. Or sitting guys like Asik or Lin or Parsons when they were playing well. Or the number of times where he would adjust to the opposing coach as opposed to forcing the opposing coach to adjust to him. That happened a lot last year due to his tinkering.

I love this guy

Yup

 

Small sample size

 

Like tonight when he adjusted by putting casspi in when mcroberts was killing us? Maybe he should have waited until mcrob hit a few more open threes. You cant just point out the bad without even considering the good his changes bring.

 

Our second championships, who were our TWO STARTING point guards through out the season?

Edit: Nevermind, it was the season after our second championship, where Kenny Smith lost his starting position to ed recasner and then win back before the playoffs. We made the WCF that year.

 

Was that a specific gameplan for us, or is it just the way the Bobcats are gonna play this season?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's just their new coaching philosophy.

 

I thought the way they played looked familiar, JVG ball!

 

That is a fair point. I was just about to post that flamingdts was right that McHale has made positive adjustments as the coach. Unfortunately you beat me to it because I was having a tough time finding which thread I posted this comment in. But my critique of McHale isn't new though? People were saying this about him long before I started posting that his adjustments leave a lot to be desired? Anyway its late where I am. Later.

 

McFail's plan worked great tonight....Lin provided the needed 2nd spark. Lin fan or not, we all know that the success of this team is going to fall heavily on how well Lin plays this season. It's a given that Harden and Howard will do their thing pretty much on a nightly basis. Bad night for Parsons....

 

Lin was huge. Not technically bench, but 6th man like Ginobili who is just as vital as the starters.

 

I've had it with the McFail thing, Child. Put me on your ignore list. You're going on mine.

 

So I watched the first quarter just now and it looks like our slow start on offense was just a matter of people not moving around off the ball and not hitting open shots when they were available. Didn't change much with Casspi and Lin. When people move, regardless of who is on the floor, offense happens. When they don't, it stagnates. Lets hope that Harden and Bev can get treatment and come back healthy. Also... Nice win.

 

The most effective lineup for the Rockets were small-ball lineups. The Rockets won more games because McHale switched to smallball line-ups. Delfino at the PF has been extremely effective for the Rockets.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8989580/is-rockets-gm-daryl-morey-plan-working-houston

You are ignoring all the times McHale has been successful, and pointing out the good, of course McHale would seem like he never learns from his mistakes.

 

Big congrats to Dwight Howard for tying his career high in rebounds. This dude is getting healthier and it shows. Total beast.

Also, a NBA win is a good win anyway you can get it. No extra points for beauty pagents here as the enemy is also getting paid to play.

Good start for the season.

 

I think many people underestimate Lin's role, including coach Macale. Still remeber George Karl's (a great coach Btw) comments on Lin last season: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_22437660/nuggets-journal-take-look-at-jeremy-lin-now. With Lin in the line-up, Rockets' offense is more dynamic and unpredictable. So I am not surprised that in tonight's game, the ball movement was lacking and so sticky. Don't understand the role of ball movers, like Lin.

 

6 points Beverley, 4 points Lin, 2 points Brooks, all in first half.

 

Btw, even though I agreed you, pls. Be respectful. No name calling, pls.

 

So are the Sixers and Suns.

 

First things first - We've got Win Number 1 !!!!!!!!! Go Rockets!!!

Okay next is my thoughts:
(1) I hope Harden and Bev hurts aren't serious and they'd be able to get back to normal as soon as possible.
(2) I think it's okay to continue to try out the TT - it's not a write-off as yet imho.
(3) It's cool to have players like Lin and Garcia to rely upon when the starters hit a poor patch.
(4) I think we need to give the starters some time to settle down (5 games?) - but we may get McHale's wish - since he might decide to start Lin in place of Bev the next game (likely to let Bev rest up) - i.e. back to his favorite rotating 2-PG model.
(5) I love the fact that we are owning the boards - if this goes on, it will bode well for us.
(6) Also liked that Howard is getting more and more comfortable playing for the Rockets.
(7) Parsons need to calm down and not to try and overdo things, he will be fine doing the stuff that he normally does - i.e. sneak in plays, exploit the gaps, being ready as an option when our main attacking options (Harden/Howard) are somehow shackled.
(8) I wouldn't change anyone on the squad at the moment (will review this later but for now no changes so can CF posters please stop with all the silly chants about replacing players? (wishful thinking, I know, but one can only hope for sensibility once in a while).
(9) I am really looking forward to the next game - aren't you?