Greg Smith 10 minutes, 0 points 1 rebound = +10...+/- stats are some of the worst to measure performance.
didn't we hear that about Harden's 38 points against the Kings? we pissed and moaned that we lost against a 10 win Kings team and the LOH fans say we should be happy we won the game against a 10 win Knicks team by two points which were gift wrapped. I want this team to improve and play together and when you're short players and you want certain players to play an important role, you have to live with the mistakes that they make and let them play through them. not to win now, but to win down the road. the more we just let Harden ISO, the more this team doesn't know how to win games, close games, etc. the talent is there so the Rockets will win their share of games but what is it that we're trying to do? it's as if McHale is coaching to keep his job by winning as much as possible during the regular season.
I was just coming in to say this. While I understand the gripe to an extent, it's not about pointing at what one player, in this case AB, did and questioning why he stuck with him. Look at what the group did collectively. There is a reason many people look at 5 man group +/- numbers. It just so happened that 5 man group was getting it done in the 4th tonight and he stuck with it. I know for some thats not good enough of a justification, but maybe just maybe it's that simple. I won't claim to know for sure and those who claim a McHale bias shouldn't either.
They really need to practice hard on passing the ball to Howard correctly. Dwight was obviously frustrated that he's not getting the ball when he sealed his guy off.
It should be the next two in line, not the coach's decision. That's basically giving the finger to the fans who voted.
I know LOFs are annoying, but it's really hard to justify why Lin sat the entire 4th quarter for Brooks tonight. Absolutely made no sense. The good news is we still won, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a terrible decision.
One stat does not tell the entire story although AB came through in the last minutes while bricking his way through 3 quarters.
I think Lin said he was relieved that he didn't end up playing in ASG last year. I don't see an upside to him playing in ASG right now, so early in his development. Even though it's a popularity contest, I still remember when people were upset when Yao started. Imagine if Lin started.
There was a certain play in the third quarter where Lin was guarding Udrih; Parson was guarding Carmelo, and when Carmelo (who was getting real hot) took it to Parsons in the post, Lin overcommitted on the double team to help Parsons, leaving Udrih wide open. This was the BIG SIN that Lin committed. He was immediately benched. LIn would never see the court for the remainder of the game. I would remind everyone that in the OKC series last year, Bev on numerous occasions overcommitted, in like manner, on double teams against Durant, leaving Reggie Jackson wide open for jumpers and threes. Same situation; only Jackson scored 24 points that way against Bev, while Udrih just once got Lin to overcommit...and Lin was benched.
Doesn't feel like the Rockets won. More like the Knicks loss. It's like when a field goal kicker misses a 25 yard field goal in perfect weather. The stupid Knicks foul at the end was a gift as well as JR Smith's idiocy.
casspi shot 2-3 from the filed, 1-2 from 3p. scoring 5 points in only 6 minutes of play time, with +- of + 5. why did he played only 6 minutes, while shooting well?
Did you watch the game? We played better during the second half with Brooks. Jeremy, who had a nice first half, was ineffective during his minutes in the third. McHale put in Brooks and we simply played better. AB was effective getting Howard the ball in the post with some very nice bounce passes. The flow was better. It was one of those games where the boxscore doesn't tell the whole story. Next game, maybe Jeremy comes out in the third after a nice first half, and takes up where he left off. Not tonight.
Garcia: 3 points and 4 fouls +19 I think that is how he justifies playing .. 3 pointer came in the last 3 or 4 minutes
Jason Friedman usually list all the interviews in his post-game review @ http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/game-day-rockets-vs-knicks Or you can just go to this page directly for all interviews, http://www.nba.com/rockets/node/59877/?ls=channav
except that the group included garcia, smith, and brooks along with harden and parsons. McHale went with Howard and left Jones on the bench after 5 offensive rebounds in the 4th by NY and a 5th on the last possession. Maybe the "good play" was a result of poor play by the Knick's bench players?