ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 5/2/2014 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 6)

this says alot about harden. maybe he was too busy snapping at fran blineberry again. having said that, im really glad howard was the one to come out to talk to the press.

 

If Howard was on the inbounder...100% guarantee that Lillard doesnt make that shot...howard would react to the pass...Initially Howard was on the inbounder...

 

Dumb coach. You always use the inbound man to shore up the defense where everyone else is at. Put him closer to where 4 portland players are and tell him to focus on them,

 

Chris Herring ‏@HerringWSJ 39m
McHale sounds silly throwing his players under the bus when, as a coach, he decided to put Harden on the floor for defense w .9 secs left.


Haralabos Voulgaris ‏@haralabob 1h
Teams need a guy with an earpiece or communication device on the bench, talking to someone in a booth who actually knows basketball strategy


Haralabos Voulgaris ‏@haralabob 1h
They can spend all the money and time they want on analytics, but the guys on the bench are more often than not clueless or too dialed in.

 

Harden was initially on Aldridge. That might not have been the worst idea in the world. It would've goaded the Blazers into forcing it into Aldridge probably with his back to the basket and Harden could've wrapped him up and used the foul they had to give. And if Aldridge rushed a turnaround jumper to avoid the foul, even better.

Instead McHale called the timeout and switched Howard onto Aldridge and....well, we know the rest.

 

The problem with that becomes Aldridge

 

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=254164
Stop talking about trading everyone. Please.

 

As someone who grew up hearing stories and watching highlights of heart breaking moments... I now can say I know what that feels like!

I've followed every rockets team as long as I've been old enough to understand what I'm watching. Don't remember much from the 90's. Seen us lose to the Lakers in 04, Dallas in 05, Utah in 07 and 08, Lakers in 09, and the OKC last year. But this is by far the most heart breaking loss I've ever witnessed! Literally got sick to my stomach after that shot! I love this Rockets team so much, this really hurts!

Can't wait till next year! Hopefully we get a better outcome... ClutchCity!

 

Dude STFU man

 

But Aldridge is not quick at getting his shot off. If the ball comes to him, Harden can wrap him up and use the foul they had to give. It would've been risky, but if played right, it could've made it almost impossible for Portland to get a shot off.

 

I think you are right.

Damn man, we were so close. So many little things. Everything went wrong for us and right for them when they needed it.

I hate seeing guys like sactown post here on a rockets board who have so much hate for the rockets and their fans. U know guys like him, what, clippy and other trolls are feeding off of this.

 

Can't be the first time ever, but have to imagine it's pretty rare to out score your opponent in a series that you lose.

+2 but lose 4-2

Still stunned by that shot. Exciting series none the less. Already can't wait for next season.

 

I'm not arguing about it. You win.

I don't care. This team was never going anywhere with Mchale as a coach so I saw this season as a learning experience.

I believe in Harden as a franchise player and that he's going to understand this. Not even Durant is lighting it up every game, HE'S still learning how to win playoff games. Durant..

So again, I'm not going to argue about it. Mchale was the biggest factor in this series.

Aldridge had a playoff performance rivaling Jordan...Think about that. That guy is a great player. The 2nd best PF in the NBA behind Blake...but he's not THAT good.

 

They needed Dwight in the post to defend the alley oop lob to Aldridge. TJones guarding the inbounder makes 0 sense. Harden telling Parsons and Beverley to switch makes 0 sense. Why is a 24 year old player calling the shots instead of the coach ???

 

The guy is aging and he will be 30 next season, either way with the current coaching staff we are never going to advance to the second round even if we have another superstar, Honestly I would be mind blown if we don't replace Mchale this off-season

 

Lillard is 23 and in his first playoffs, Harden has had many more appearances.

McHale was late to adjust this year and last year - he will never learn. Coaching is the reason we lost this series.

 

tony allen


nuff said

 

There's a very large chasm between losing in the first round and not going to the finals. It's called the Semifinals and Western Conference Finals. And the Rockets failed to make it to either of them in a season where nearly everyone expected at least a 2nd round appearance.

If Les and Morey honestly think that McHale just needs one more year, they're idiots. McHale has been here 3 seasons. You know what he is as a head coach. If you bring him back next season, you're going to either lose in the first round again or eek your way to the 2nd round and get smoked.

 

Yeah and Harden had his playoff moment already owning the Spurs at a younger age.

People have enormous expectations of these players. Not everyone is Lebron or Kobe or Jordan...hell not even Kobe had good series all the time. It happens...

I agree though Mchale is a big part of it. They adjusted late and paid for the bad habits they developed all year.

 

Tough loss but the Rockets just weren't all that impressive this series. Probably the more overall talented team, but from a coaching perspective Stotts just wrapped Mchale in rusty barb wire, threw him on a slab, and beat his skull in with a tire iron. He had the gameplans, made the adjustments, and had his team disciplined and poised in every game.

The guys played with a lot of heart and made big plays but a quality coach could make the game so much easier for them.