ClutchFans Game Thread: Mavericks @ Rockets 11/1/2013

Win or lose, the xfactor is going to be Ellis....he's going to either win it for Houston or Dallas. Hoping he chucks a lot of airballs.

 

Bev out, tough

 

I will be SO upset if Cuban gets to issue any unwarranted I-told-you-so's after tonight. If we lose, I'm sure the injury narrative will be background noise to his BS. I need Dwight to put up huge numbers. I'm petty.

 

Since Beverley is out and both Harden and Lin are hurt, it will be hard to force Ellis into chuck mode.

 

Should be fine unless it takes Howard and Harden all game to warm up like last time.

 

I would be pissed if Ellis shoots another BS game winning shot against us...

 

Aaron Brooks show!!!!

 

Harden was hurt last game. He will likely be playing through two injuries today. Some unfair criticism, I think.

 

Hmmm I would be ok with 3-1 though but it would be hard to lose at home.

 

We sure not need him in Steph Curry mode.

 

Yeah. I don't know... the pessimist in me thinks Harden is not even close to 100% and is just sucking it up because he feels like he has to. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't deny that some of my optimism has begun to drain.

 

BWAAHAHAHAHA!!! You just had to post that video, didn't you? Now I can't stop laughing hysterically! Time for Howard to step up and "teach" Cuban about the first law of sewage: "If you don't start no s**t, there won't be no s**t!".

 

Wrong thread, but does anyone know what channel CSN would be on uverse if they are indeed showing it?

 

The reason McRoberts had a field day was Dwight playing the paint and not his man. Like I said, that`s his instinct. You don`t think Dwight has the physical ability to guard McRoberts? You don`t think he would have easily stopped him, if he was 2 steps closer to him?

What good is it to have him protecting outside shots? Well for one, we have a major rebounding advantage by having both on the floor (both on the defensive and the offensive side). Howard is also a great help defender. And on offense we create a miss match. And on defense, we still have an elite defensive big in the paint.

Like I said, if we want to make the twin towers work, we need to expand Dwights instincts. He is quick enough to guard Dirk (who isn`t that quick anymore), he just needs to stay on him. Casspi is a mediocre defender at best - and we don`t really have good defensive PFs. Parsons or Garcia might be with the right matchups, though both aren`t really PFs. TJones might be our best defensive PF, but he seems out of control often.

So, either try to have your best defenders on the court and expand Dwights game (he only needs to add the mental aspect, his physical ability is fine) or go with a subpar defender to counter a spread four (if Dirk is on, he will have a field trip against Casspi...). I say, it is the beginning of the season, let`s see what Dwight can learn.

 

That's why you put chandler on dirk and howard on marion who plays around the basket and has a horrible three point shot,It's hilarious all these people who can't see this, we can play the twin towers against them easily!

 

Which might could be a negative for the team. I'd rather see a healthy Harden against the Clippers as that's probably the toughest match out of the next three. If this team is as good as some think, even minus Harden and Bev, they should be able to come on top against Dallas and Utah.

 

big loss, his defense on ellis would have been huge

 

Hard to say. We are a better team on paper but that does not play games for us. Clippers have better chemistry due to minor changes.

There is hope that Dallas and Utah are not consistent with their new players.

 

OK, it seems like you and I disagree. We'll just have to see who's right after the game (if McHale decides to go with Twin Tower). There is a reason why Mchale stopped Twin Tower during critical phase of the last night's game. I don't care that Dirk is old, he's still crafty and offensive powerhouse. And so is Marion. If Dwight guards them outside, watch out for foul trouble. Dallas is strong team and they are not to be treated lightly...

 

Injuries are best to incur at the beginning rather than later obviously. Lin isn't a bad second option, with Brooks right behind him. Wonder what happens with Canaan? He seems to be a definite D-leaguer, needs development, but does McHale hold on to him for a bit before sending him to Rio Grande?