ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pistons 12/21/2013

Casspi with with the most hate for a player who give you stats of:

13 points shooting 5-9 + 7 assists and 6 rebounds(only 1 TO)


I ever saw.


If he could avarage those stats for the vet minimum he gets, the haters are still going to hate.

 

No Harden, No ISO = better ball movement and a WIN...i like this

 

They do. I play a lot of fantasy basketball and every time a player has a high ankle sprain it is usually takes at least 2 weeks for them to return. Often times longer.

 

I think alot of it has to do with people frustrated seeing him doing more than what he is really capable of and causing some bone-headed TOs at times.

 

in the words of The Dream: "just keep it simple".. RUN THE DANG OFFENSE THROUGH DWIGHT!!

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/c62beP7swo4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Then he needs to sit for as long as it takes to heal. Stop with the "in this game, out the next" crapola. If he's injured then recover. If not then play.

 

If he averaged 13/7/6 he'd get zero hate. He isn't averaging 13/7/6.

Personally, I like Casspi. I think he's a valuable player but he does pull disappearing acts like the rest of our bench, and that costs us games. If we can get some consistency, even if it's only along the lines of 9/5/3 or something, I will be happy. I think he is capable of it. I don't know what's holding him back.

 

So you think we're better without Harden? OK.

 

I don't understand the thought process. Why should one of the most efficient players in the entire league be forfeiting shot attempts because we brought in Howard?

The complimentary, less efficient players on the team are the ones who should rightfully be conceding attempts.

Could Dwight be getting more attempts? Yeah I'd agree with that, but I don't see why this is pinned on Harden. He's had a somewhat rough start to the season, but even so his numbers aren't THAT far off from last year. I truly don't expect it to continue. This team as a whole has yet to play its best basketball, health being one of the major culprits.

And for all this talk about Harden and team assists.

Last season, with Harden essentially running the show, we were tied for number 5 in the league at 23.2 per game. This year we bring in a dominant post presence and we are down to 23rd at 20.1 per game. Post ups largely aren't assisted baskets, this to me is the biggest contributor to our hit in team assists per game. Not the only thing, but again in my opinion the biggest difference from last year.

 

I don't think anyone is foolish enough to say we are better without Harden or that Harden isn't a superstar player for us. But you're also foolish if you go with the notion that because Harden is our superstar that he shouldn't have to sacrifice his game or change it in any way, shape or fashion. Harden holds the ball for the majority of the time when he is in the game. When his shot is on and he is aggressive attacking the basket, then fantastic. We can win solely on his own ability. But it also means that most of the rest of the team sits around a lot of the time and doesn't get as involved. It also means that the other team knows Harden is going to try to score most of the time and it makes it easier for them to key in on him.

If we were to just give up a few shot attempts a game and try to get more players involved, it would not only help us get more people involve in the offense, it would also make Harden's life easier.

 

Couldn't see the game (don't have CSN).

Could anybody describe how Dwight looked tonight? I saw he ended up with 35 points but stats don't tell all.

 

he got those stats today, and got alot of hate during the game.
he didn't get zero hate today, with good stats like that, so why do you think that there will be any difference, if he will manged to avarage stats like this or even closer?

 

It seems whenever he isn't doubled in any game (Portland, mavs) also included, he can bully any centre in the league, his foot work is back to Orlando days and now he is dictating what shots he takes and how he gets their, he isn't forcing anything anymore and drawing offensive fouls which is nice.

The downside is whenever he is doubled he is still taking to long to make a decision

 

Went to the game tonight, sat behind the Rockets bench.
Thoughts:

- Howard put on a clinic. He destroyed Drummond on offense, although mainly because of Andre's lack of experience and basketball IQ. The results were better today but it was clear to me that Dwight's moves are very mechanical and predictable on offense. Even a marginally better defender like Monroe was able to do a much better job. Howard's freethrow form has been much more consistent and smooth. His presence on defense deters a lot of guards, more so than bigs. He is not a great defensive rebounder in crowds, whereas Asik has shown he excels in that scenario. He is also very engaging and talked to us throughout the game. He looked pretty happy throughout.

-Rockets bench is very weak (obviously without their 2/5 best players on the team in Asik and Lin). The team's turnovers are very preventable and unnecessary. You want your role players to be able to give you dependable minutes and not make dumb mistakes. We are also a terrible rebounding team with Dwight and Omer out.

-Pistons are a team of chuckers. Smith is terrible. His raw stat line was decent but his long range jumpers are killer. Great things happen when he is closer to the basket but it was like he only used it once every 3 jumpshots. Everyone in the stadium knew and groaned when he took jumpers. I am so glad that this guy is not on the Rockets.

-Greg Smith is about as tall/big as Dwight in person it seems.
-Donuts has checked out mentally.
-Garcia thinks he is KD on offense and Artest on defense.
-TJones has lost his mojo. His jumpers are waaaaaay off and this is affecting his confidence and ability to do the other things on the court. Subpar rebounder. Physically, he looks only slightly smaller than Howard.

 

Not only have I repeated this but others have to and fools like the guy you quoted just refuse to listen.

The ball movement improved because Detroit isn't even in the same universe as Indiana, especially in defense.

Indiana are 20 point better on average in points allowed.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rockets&amp;src=hash">#Rockets</a> will bring up <a href="https://twitter.com/SiP03">@SiP03</a> (Isaiah Canaan) from RGV. (PBev fractured right hand tonight). Canaan avg'g 21.7ppg/9.2apg in 12 gms</p>&mdash; AdamWexlerCSN (@awexler) <a href="https://twitter.com/awexler/statuses/414608303662977025">December 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

This will be interesting. With Lin back soon, curious if Canaan gets any time.

 

And that's why our ball movement was so good against Sacramento?

 

Duncan was 18 and 10 and 3 blocks last season and help lead his team within a bucket of the title. Explain why the Spurs would be considering kicking him to the curb.