ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 3/11/2014

seems like 2 things kill us with OKC - 1)we get scared of their length and shot blocking so we start to rely on outside shooting too much 2) Durant

 

I'm not that upset about this loss but disappointed with Howard. He just didn't have it. Howard has been very disappointing against OKC overall and I thought he would help us against them but he really hasn't the first three games.

 

i think Bev did ok - that last foul was a complete flop/foul on westbrook -- but the biggest issue was the non-factor our front court on offense was.

Dwight needed to get some of those shots to fall - he had guys like Thabeet, Adams and Collison guarding him. There were a lot of easy shots he missed because it seemed he was just rushing for no reason.

The PF spot also didnt provided too much -- this totally allowed Ibaka (again) to roam free on defense and create havoc on weakside blocks and help defense without any consequence.

Fix one of these two problems and the Rockets could have been in a real dog fight and may have won the game.

In addition the 3 point shot seems to have completely abandoned the team in the first half in the last 2 games going like what 2-25 in the last two first halfs? That always spells trouble for the Rockets.

 

We played well down the stretch besides that Bev foul on WB.
It's just KD was knocking down everything. Can't remember a shot in that last Q he didn't make.

 

Is it sad I want to finish the 4th seed? I want as far away from OKC and lac as possible.

 

No doubt man. It doesn't help when the outside shooting is not there.

 

No one said we didn't need him. He said it was his worse game.

 

Right, people here are too caught up with the standings right now, there are still 20 or so games to be played.

The bigger concern is though, the Clippers and Thunders and turn overs.

 

As I have said earlier before the game, containing Durant is the key. But, nobody can guard Durant on our team. Rockets needs somebody who can contain Durant for at least 15 mins.

 

Honestly sometimes Lin entirely too passive/hesitant to look for his own offense. I think many will agree that he passes up shots or just picks up his dribble when he can take it all the way to the hoop. He has to know that when hes in the game they need him to be aggressive at all times. Passive Lin is non-existent on the floor.

 

Back in the day we needed a hard nosed PF to help us get by Seattle. C-Barkley was the man to do it.

Now we need a hard nosed to help us beat the likes of the Clippers/Thunder. D-Howard is not that guy.

He sucks against both teams.

 

OKC played lockdown defense against us. We couldn't execute our offense at all.
We tried to go with Dwight cus he was going against powerforwards. But Dwight couldn't get it going and he didn't get the rebounds he usually gets.

Asik had a few good looks but they didn't go in. Either he got blocked or got fouled which the refs didn't call btw, they didn't go in...

Bev tried to do a little too much. It was nice seeing him play somewhat of a good defense against Westbrook in the first quarter or so but after that he tried to D him too much. He needed to give him a little space so that he can keep up with him, he stayed too close and got fouls. I think the words going that he is a tough defender got a little to him. He's trying to play too tough of a defense which resulted in fouls.

Our rotations was really off. OKC made the extra passes which resulted in open shots for them. And even though they got a hand in their face, their shots went in.

Harden kept us in the game but it wasn't enough... Overall the team didn't really got a rhythm in this game. Their defense was just to good with a shotblocker like Ibaka.

Tough game as expected, but lets move on to the next game.

 

Lin played fine. A few stupid ass turnovers, but I'll take this Lin over garbage Lin that we saw weeks ago.

 

The best seeding would be #1 OKC, #2/3 SA or HOU, #4 LAC. In that case we won't face OKC/LAC until the WCF.

 

You either pray for OKC and LAC to finish 2 and 3 and Rox/Spurs 1 and 4, or pray for the Rox/Spurs finish 2 and 3 and Clips/OKC 1 and 4. I don't care to beat the best, I just care to be able to have the best match up possible to have a chance to advance.

 

- I don't know why folks are arguing about Lin and Beverley. They both did OK, some nice things and some mistakes. They were not what determined the outcome of the game.

- The interesting take-away to me is the effect of Houston going small vs. playing with a traditional lineup.

Right now, neither Jones nor Motiejunas shoot well enough to make OKC defenders follow them to the perimeter, and the team had difficulty giving Harden and the rest of the guys space to work with in the paint when the PFs played. It's almost like game 1 in last year's playoffs-- HOU got blown out starting an Asik-Smith frontline.

This is how HOU struggled offensively and dug themselves a deep hole. If was a night and day difference when the team went small, suddenly Harden could drive into the paint off pick and rolls because there are 3 shooters spacing the court. At the end, Houston couldn't dig all the way out of their deep hole but it is encouraging to at least find one solution for OKC's defense.

Like it was last year, if HOU meets OKC in the playoffs, it would not be surprising to see HOU going small ball full time. We'll need guys like Garcia, Hamilton and maybe Casspi for that series.

 

Man I remember when we used to grill Yao for not imposing his will on other teams.

 

I agree.

We need role players that are most consistent. If we are a 3-point shooting team, Morey needs to get a couple of guys who are dead-eyed 3-point shooters. A team with Harden, Howard, Parsons, Asik, and even Lin is not too far off from being a favorite to win them all, but the needed reliable role players are just not here yet.

 

His leash isn't too long. That everybody can see. 1-2 mistakes, you're out. Not too surprising anymore... Right? That's why I'm putting my hopes on Bev to be sufficient enough for the Rockets. Tonight, Bev's not up to it...

 

I think it's going to take a playoff loss on Howard's post ups before he starts setting solid screens like Asik did for Harden and Lin tonight. Both ran the exact same play driving straight to the basket off a Asik screen. At that point, it's about who has a quick first step. Howard's post ups would be better if we had shooters or if we shot better. This inside out play off of his post ups doesn't work if we are slumping.

Maybe Howard's back isn't fully healed, maybe he never learned how to set good screens, or he thinks he's too good to set screens for little guys. Let's hope he adapts to game conditions and run the better plays for the team.