Individually, the Rox have better players. Houston is supposed to be a MUCH better team than Phoenix. But stars with superior, one-dimensional & narrow ranges of talent, are easier to throw off kilter when key pieces of their team are missing. They’ll still win games, but they’ll also lose games that they are supposed to win. These last two games are where the “superstars” are supposed to pull the team through with wins. But how the opposing coaches played these “superstars” only expose how limited they really are. In addition, I wonder how a better coach would have helped the Rox tonight, whether through team motivation and/or playbook & lineup management. Parsons is a key piece to the starting lineup, and Lin is the key bridge between the starting lineup & the bench. He also serves as backup to Harden, and to Bev. Some may argue that Brooks has the ability to score like Lin. This is true to a certain extent. But, scoring isn’t the only thing that makes a player key to their team. Lin is not only a bigger and bulkier player to go against big PGs, but the way he gets his points, the way he makes plays for other teammates, and his improving defense, are things Brooks will likely never learn to do considering the stage he is at in his career. Lin still makes mistakes, but his curve is upwards. He’s shown he can learn to improve his weaknesses. I want to see this team fully healthy when playing against elite teams. That’s when we could get a better sense of their full potential in the playoffs.
Lin is better than Beverley and Brooks but the drop off is miniscule compared to Parsons' replacement. Garcia is 12th man material. Of course in actuality we should be able to cope with the loss of those two considering we have two other max players on the roster but when your first option struggles badly and the other is Dwight the mental midget. You're in big trouble.
He also makes the extra passes and most of all he slashes to the basket on and off the ball. He gives a target to the passers.He plays the game the right way.
I agree my 2nd favorite player and he would have made a big difference on the floor tonight. Too bad he wants to leave but I understand he is a top five center and any team is lucky to have him.
I learned from the past 2 games Parsons is the MVP. Give the man a max contract! If Harden and Dwight have one, then why can't he?
Parsons isn't the guy, but a just a piece. It's hard for this team to beat a good time if you lose two of these three (Parsons, Lin, Harden). The team was fine without Harden, Lin and Parsons (with only one of them being out). Now you have two and that's the major difference.
probably, but we should have won regardless. The problem stems from no off the ball movement and to much one on one. Parsons is the guy who does those things well.I've found out how valueable he really is in the last two games.
You're talking about core guys on the Rockets. Said this before a basketball team does not win with 2 superstars. You win with 2 superstars, 2 core or glue guys that take up the slack when the superstars are being covered or can run things at times as a different look, and some important pieces around like 3 point specialists, defensive guys, rebounders, etc. Lin and Parsons are core guys and they are out and the team will struggle. It doesn't help that Harden is physically impaired too, that guy on the court tonight was in bad shape and mentally was out of it.
LOL we have two freaking MAX players who are #1 at their position and jokers screaming Parson( who makes less that a million) and Lin (who makes 5 million) wasn't playing. I remember back in the day our Superstar players would will us to a victory against a scrub team like the Suns. When will some of you peeps hold our Superstars accountable for losses like this. Howard should have scored 30 on Frye and Harden should have scored 30 on Tucker period.
The problem with them currently is that individually they have the two best players, because of injuries, phoenix are running 10 of the next 12. So if those top 2 have an off night, we look kinda crap.
pretty sure it's because folks on the board put two and two together based one what you post in other threads, for example: but that's just a guess . . .
Gah. Hardens statline is ugly as hell. We need Parsons back bigtime, need Lin as well, backcourts been in a shooting funk. SIGH
You don't remember how we had teams where if Yao or Tracy were off, we'd get beaten by bads because of no depth?
well i dont think the coaches see it that way unfortunately they will look at how many pts they scored and say they played extremely well lol
