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

Friday's and Monday's games will sort of dictate where this team really stands at this junction of the season.....Hopefully, Beverley is back to full health to pore some salt on CP3 on Monday.:grin:

 

This was probably one of the uglier games I've seen from Parsons. I'm surprised, but not really too, that McHale didn't bench him for playing selfish & missing all those layups that he should've kicked out. Instead, played him 39 mins.

Also, sounds like Beverley will be playing Friday. Glad to hear this. Hope he'll be healthy enough to join the starting line up. Still liking Lin-of-the-bench experiment, do want to see him be more aggressive & take control of that 2nd unit tho.

Lastly, Howard was a beast tonight!!

 

Good start to the season.

Charlotte came out ready to play, and I agree with what was said on the telecast. That's their game plan, to take away the transition game. It was good to see that the Rockets never faltered. Harden and Howard both stepped up big time in the 4th, and that is exactly what we need from our 2 superstars.

Other notables:

Lin came in and really controlled the Rockets offense in the 2nd and 3rd. He knocked in an early 3 and continued to penetrate, leading to a couple of layups and a dish to Howard.

Garcia. This guy is money from the 3. He's the perfect fit to go along with our slashers and big men.

TT cracked when the opposition started to shoot the 3s, but Asik's defensive presence while Dwight was sitting was assuring.

All in all, the Bobcats put up a big fight but I never thought we'd lose this one, even when we were down early. I see a lot of similarities to the Heat from last year. We can go on a run and the opposing team can't come back because of our D. It's a simple formula which I hope lasts throughout the season.

To echo the sentiments on everyone's tweets via Mr. Wexler, our 3 concerns from the game:

1) Injuries - we need Harden and PBev at close to 100%
2) Turnovers
3) Free throws.

2&3 can be ironed out through practice and experience. With #1, let's hope these guys are young enough to be able to make some quick recoveries.

 

I agree with you. I just listened to McHale's postgame interview and he complained about the ball being too "sticky." Lin likes to attack the basket and create easy buckets for his teammates. He is a pass first shoot second player. Harden is talented enough to do that too if he wants, but his natural tendancy is to shoot first and pass second. Beverly will pass the ball to Harden, then do his spot up shooting, tenacious D and amazing rebound thing. Howard will try some post moves if he gets the ball from Harden. Parsons is the jack of all trades. It seems like having Lin goes a long way towards making the ball "unsticky." Also, the way our current starting lineup is set up, it places a lot of pressure on Harden to produce on the offensive end. I think he can do it, but that's a lot of responsibility to place on one player, and its a long season . . .

 

It seems like TT will be bad at FT.

 

nah the experiment is nothing new, it's the same **** happened last season during those losing streaks: taking ball out of PG's hand and let others handle. TO after TOs and static offense in the first Q just like last year. remember him complaining TOs and ball getting sticky over and over last year? after that same **** happened in the 2nd Q just like last year: putting ball back to PG's hand stop his "put the ball into best player's hand" BSs, then the offense started to flow and we are winning again. just wait and see, he will fall into this same **** hole over and over again and complain ball is "sticky" yet again. i mean ffs as HOF dont u know why there is position divide, front court/back court in bball bcoz players are trained and grown up different way so their skill set are different? SMH

 

just rewatched the intro and I guess there is no more ninja pregame ritual

 

Yes...but they can give us much more processions.

 

McHale spent all of last season complaining about the ball getting "sticky" even though Lin started 82 games and played over 32 minutes.

 

mchale, you have a superstar SG that looks for his own shots first (as he should) but is a "willing passer" playing PG, and you put a defensive specialist next to him, along with a big that lacks any type of offense, all in the starting lineup - what did you expect to see??

don't expect the only playmaker in this starting five to move the ball around and looks for the best shot - the ball should be coming to HIM so he can attack and do what he does best, which is to score.

it's not that complicated.

 

Of course, I love the TT but he was saying, "2&3 can be ironed out through practice and experience." And I think it's probably best to not have high hopes on this.

 

What an ugly game. That was as bad as it gets because the Bobcats clogged the lane and we played really stupid. no ball movement and slow tempo which is exactly what they wanted. It took some Harden magic to save our butts.


Harden is clearly injured and the guy is nowhere near fluid but he still showed what a monster he is in the 4th with big play after huge play.Howard and Asik combined for 40 rebounds and suffocating interior D, but McRoberts showed that they can be stretched by hitting a few 3's.

Loved Lin's game. Hustle and attacked the basket which is his strength. Garcia was great as well.

 

One reason IMHO.. was because Chandler's D was on point tonight.. and usually every night. You bench Chandler, and you lose a great defender on a usually great player. Parsons is too good of a defensive player to bench if he's not offensively playing well. Glad McHale stuck with him tonight!

Can't wait until GAME 2... 97 more games to win! :grin:

We will be 98-0.

 

hahaha.. seriously???!!!! you can't be serious.

lebron, jordan, and kobe. um.. totally different teammates, totally different system, and c'mon, you're comparing a second year starter in harden to lebron, jordan, and kobe??

 

oh and by the way, all of these guys have at least a second or third scoring option/creator right next to them in wade/bosh, pippen, and pau/shaq next to them. and yes, both shaq and pau are much, much better post players then howard.

in our starting five tonight, you're basically asking harden to carry the bulk of the scoring AND make plays for other player at the same time.

 

Posters saying Harden is a "willing passer" makes me question what their watching. I'm not trying to hate. From what I see, his decision making needs to improve, gotta just trust his teammates, pass the ball around, he will get the ball back. I honestly think Harden will be better getting the ball near the end of the shot clock, rather than letting him have the ball in the beginning of the shot clock where he just holds it and dribbles. Mchale says the ball gets "sticky" a lot...yeah wonder who.

anyways great win! great defense and rebounding will keep you in the game.

 

Parsons is trying to get that big contract and played a bit selfish today but I hope he'll calm down and know that the game will come to him if he just makes the right cuts and run outs. I expect he will figure it out but I do love his aggressiveness in wanting to step up. I don't want to see too many turnovers from anyone other than Harden, Dwight, and Lin though as they have shown the ability to create shots for others whereas Parsons is more of a receiver of those playmakers, a finisher, a shooter. Same for Bev.

I don't think you'll see the Lin that you seem to b expecting. He is not that guy that scores a bunch off of isos ala Harden. He is clearly more of a facilitator who just so happens to score a lot as he can penetrate at an elite level. Yes, elite. Now, once he starts making plays once he penetrates.. That's something Lin has to work on more. Penetrating in itself is not enough if you don't find the cutter, the big, the shooter or finish well yourself. Anyways, point being, Lin is not sixth man material at all as he is not a pure scorer.

 

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I watched Parsons game closely today and his defense was not on point. I think this is another case of seeing what we want to see. His defense needs to improve. I know he wants that big salary and be part of the big boys but he's gotta take it easy.