Mchale should send Harden, Parsons & Jones back to Houston immediately

F that...home court in a 4/5 matchup is a big factor in who wins. Getting home court should always be a priority. Just ask the Spurs.

 

I wouldn't go that far. The game in Minnesota is a tossup assuming Dwight and Bev are still out. At home against the Pelicans would favor the Rockets since Davis and Gordon have been shut down for the year. If they have all their starters, I'd favor the Spurs on Monday night. And again, I'd narrowly favor the Rockets over New Orleans on Wednesday because of the Pelicans missing key players.

2-2 should be the worst the Rockets do, but I hope they can get the 4th seed wrapped up by this weekend. The last thing you want is to go into that Pelicans game on Wednesday still needing a win.

 

Gonna piddle around and finish the year on a 5 game losing streak if we try to get cute.

 

They are not in Houston?

 

I think we should beat Minnesota, then send them home...

Beat NOLA at home, then have a rest, and all go for a party in New Orleans after watching the end of bench guys get blown out.

 

For me, I rather keep playing everybody until we clinch HCA. I do endorse McHale playing the starters less minutes but until we get home court, we should keep playing. I don't want to put our faith in anyone else but ourselves; no matter the odds.

 

you know Harden and the guys have their own idea of resting? they rest on the defensive side of the game.

we should avoid injuries. so no driving into the lane for Harden--that should be the game plan

I thought Morey said having everyone healthy is more important than HCA.

 

We can probably achieve both things

 

Win the next two...get it over with rest them the last two

 

The Spurs got fined for $250,000 by Stern for shipping three starters and Ginobili to the next city and missing the MIA game.

The Pacers just openly said they'd rest all the starters.

Has the NBA policy or position changed regarding resting several core players at the same time?

 

Rest, rest? We haven't clinched, chances are Dwight and Beverley are more seriously injured than they are claiming to be so no.

 

That happened because it was a featured nationally televised game and a rematch of the PY finals.

It was a dick move by San Antonio and they deserved the fine. This is completely different.

 

Here is what I am hoping for; sit Harden and Parsons for much of the remaining games, playing them maybe 15-20 a game. Start a lineup of:

PG: Lin
SG: Daniels
SF: J-Ham (Garcia is too old to waste stamina before playoffs and Casspi is trash)
PF: D-Mo
C: Asik

For the remaining games keep this starting lineup and run PnR down the throats of the opposing team over and over. We need to get Lin and bench going by playoffs time and the easiest way is to have everyone from the bench on the same page

 

Even though i want home court just as much as anybody, its just one game in one series. Unless one of the other top seeds gets upset it doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me weather we get it or not. Even though I'm pretty sure we will be able to win at least 2 more games and lock in HC in the first round.

 

How about:
1. Secure home court
2. Rest starters

 

Win the next two games first.

 

While I give the OP props for the effort at mind games, IMHO it is better to have one bird in hand than two in the bush...or in this case, win 2 games now than gamble on winning 2 games later.

The worst scenario here is you try to be smart and then we end up losing HCA lol. Anyway resting the starters isn't that big a deal going into the first round, the exhaustion takes its toll later on. What's more important is hopefully Dwight and Bev are ready to ball when the playoffs start.

 

I guess the numbers aren't that clear for you.

 

I disagree with just benching them. I think you should play them limited minutes, to to keep them in rythm. I doubt the beard even wants rest and Parsons just started getting his flow back. TJ needs all the playing time he can get and if Dwight and Beverley are ready they need to start getting their legs back.