ClutchFans Game Thread: Clippers @ Rockets 11/9/2013

revenge is best served without the sticky icky.
play democratic ball and we should win this one by 10.
i'll be upset if Redick scores 30 tonight.

 

We've spotted both the Lakers and Jazz 19-point first half leads thanks to the Twin Towers lineup. That's not some freak occurrence. We can't score or defend with those two playing together, even against sh-tty teams(which the Jazz most certainly are).

Imagine if we actually just broke even with our opponents after one quarter how easily we'd win most nights. See the Portland game as proof.

 

Indeed count_dough -ku

We need to trash that twin tower nonsense and go with our small ball line up. Plus having two guards that can attach the rim like stated below, I believe we would be blowing jokers out the gym.

- Despite lacking their long-range shooting touch, the Rockets still managed to rally thanks in large part to Harden, Lin and a heavy dose of small-ball. Both players’ ability to shred defenses on their way to the rim proved pivotal to Houston’s comeback as they repeatedly gouged Los Angeles’ porous interior D (just as today’s preview suggested! OK, no more pimping my own product – it’s unbecoming, I know). The Lakers seemed powerless to keep them out of the paint – a vulnerability that was further exposed when Houston spread the floor with its small-ball lineups. Even though the Rockets weren’t making their 3s, the mere threat posed by all those shooters beyond the arc provided plenty of delectable driving lanes for Lin and Harden to feast upon.

 

the sooner this team starts Lin/Bev/Harden/Parsons/Dwight the better

 

We better guard the crap out of JJ Reddick & Dudley if they start to get hot.

 

A few my comments. Posted on another thread. It took a lot of time so want to share with many CF fans.

1) I agree we should enjoy the game. Rockets is currently 4-2 and the sky is not falling.

2) I also agree that the situation in Rockets is somewhat mind-bugling, especially the way the coach staff and management handle Lin ever since he joined the Rockets. Like many other fans, I am not an insider so I don't have any insider information to explain what is going on. So many, like I, just speculate and draw our own conclusions.

3) From bits and pieces, I am sure that Lin was bothered by the way he has been treated. But so far he has been very professional. I am glad that he handles it well. His improvement is really promising.

4) I am a long-time Rockets fan. In the past, I came to the CF, just browsing. You may notice that I only recently increased my posts. The reason is that I was a little frustrated by the Rockets organization and the way Rockets started the game for the past 6 games.

5) I have a different opinion on the starting line-up. I actually like TT starting unlike most people on CF and THE media. The two losses we had were mainly due to the hot outside shooting of two LA teams but the paint protection has been good except for the 1st half of Utah game. I also saw a glimpse of brilliance of TT line-up during the last two preseason games and the two 2nd halves of Utah and Portland games. TT totally changed the complications of those two games. If you go back to watch the two 2nd halves of Utah and Portland games and compare with the 1st quarter of all 6 games (Rockets trailing big). You will notice the ingredients for TT to be working to our favor. On defense, the perimeter defense must be tight and don't let other teams' perimeter players to have 3 pointer shot. Let them drive or shoot contested middle-range jumpers instead of spot-up shooting. One of the bigs must move up and defend pnr. This is why I was so critical of JH's defense even before all those threads ridicule his defense. JH does not have to play good defense for the TT lineup to work. But his defense must be acceptable. You can't leave shooters open and shoot uncontested jumpers. I have lost the count how many times he lost his man. That's ridiculous for a PROFESSIONAL basketball player! On offense, one of the bigs must come out and set pnr, which can create much-needed space. Not to mention that we have three of the best pnr players in JH, DH and Lin. If both sit up in the paint, we are doomed. Also the other three must be offense-threat. This is why I argue for Lin as starter. The opponent is not afraid of PB's offense and to a little less degree CP's at all. They simply clog the lane or double-team JH and DH as we saw just from the limited time PB was starter. The coach can try PB and TT starting. But I don't see how it is going to work with that lineup.

6) I don't buy the "fit" argument of Lin not starting at all. If that's the argument, Heat won't have Lebron and Wade in the same team and they wont win btb. In the current NBA league, you must have dynamic perimeter attackers to set up the offense. The age of post-up big man is over. Look at even Spurs. Duncan, arguably the best post-up big in NBA, only posts up situationally. Most successful bigs play off perimeter attackers. This is why I am a big supporter of Lin's starting. Don't tell me Lin doesn't fit with JH. The evidences from last season, especially after ASB, support otherwise. Both JH and Lin played well together in majority of the games. With Lin's clear improvement this season, that argument is garbage. If Lin is going to be used as a 6th man, JH and Lin will have to play significant minutes together. JH and Lin will have to play off each other no matter what! This is where the speculation comes in. Lin is playing so well so why leaving him out the starting lineup. The only reasonable answer is the coach and management do not think highly of Lin and Lin is not in the long-time plan of Rockets. They want to assess if PB is.

7) We also need to accept the fact Lin and Asik is untradeable in short term, even for the next two seasons with their poison deals (LOL, initially poisonous to Chicago and Knicks and now to Rockets). Look around the league, which team will accept them? So don't fool ourselves. The best solution is to make the best out of it. So with the current lineup, is Rockets a Champaign-caliper team. Arguably, yes, only if we play team ball in offense and defense. Thus my argument. Our strength is TT and perimeter attacking. So why not taking advantage of the strength? Or did I say JH must play acceptable defense? Also only ISO situationally!

8) Lastly, stop all the name calling. It does not help either sides' argument. Just simply childish.

A long post. Wish everybody a good weekend! Go! Rockets!

 

If Harden lets JJ Reddick go off on him again then I hope McHale has the balls to bench him and just run with a Bev-Lin backcourt.

And enough of the TT lineup already.

 

How many points do we spot them tonight?

 

One other possible reason is James Harden has voiced his displeasure about having the ball go through Lin. This may be another reason why the coaching staff has put Lin as 6th man.

 

I hope for the pay back

 

Feeling this one will be a loss.

For some reason, if harden sits out! I could see this team becoming more team ball orientated. Maybe then we could pull this out.

But as the rotation and chemistry currently stands? A loss. Most likely 10+ points.

 

Way too long so you think the best thing to do is to double post?

 

Rockets lose by 20

 

Reddick lights up Harden for 30

 

If the Flippers do not have a fluke shooting night, I'd say we win.

 

Just copy Miami Heat's strat and trap Chris Paul by letting someone else create the play. Or let him go off since I have him on my fantasy team.

 

Bounce back win by Red Nation

 

I'd actually put Brewer on CP3 as a defensice specialist. Lin on Reddick and Harden on Dudley

 

Rockets lose by at least 30

 

Rockets win by 12