Why exactly did McHale send Smoove in for DMo down the stretch? Was the Timberwolves OT game where Harden fouled out not sufficient proof that DMo should be next on your list?
I wish we had that team that turned it on at the right time and just run through the playoffs making shot suffocating on D going up 3-1 on teams but we will never have that team ...we have this.
McHale lost us this game. He played right into the Bulls plans. The Bulls defense (considered the best in the NBA, with a lockdown defender SG) was set up to defend ISO Harden. You don't counter that by ISOing Harden some more, you gotta try to score with another player, the obvious choice being DMO, our lost post scorer, but instead of going to him, we make him go stand on the 3pt line to make more room for Harden drives. Once that doesn't work, McHale takes out DMo and puts in JSmoove, the only guy whose IQ is lower than his 3pt%, and effectively just saying out loud "We're going with Harden every single time". Since that's what the Bulls were prepared for, we got our asses kicked. I'm not saying don't go to Harden, Harden is GOAT for all intents and purposes, but you gotta keep your options open and you can't win with an open hand.
Harden did not play well in this game, especially in the 4th, too many bad decisions on offense. Do give credit to Jimmy Butler as he played exceptionally well against James. But Harden should take a lot of the blames tonight.
Really wish we would have stayed without Harden longer, and even Howard. D-Mo/Smith combo was looking fluid out there.
I really can't believe the tenacity at which the Mchale haters spew their idiocy. I wouldn't matter if Adam silver himself came out before the game and told the world that he was fixing the game, folks on here would still find a way to b****. It's unreal. We had 62 points in the paint... 62! And only shot 5 free throws! At some point you realize that you can't go to the paint bc the refs will literally punish you. And on the other end they call 30 free throws. What "coaching" combats that??? When the refs singlehandedly take away by far your most effective offensive weapon what do you recommend?!?! Mchale isn't the best coach in the league but to point the blame on anyone but the ****ty officiating is downright stupid.
I think we're becoming numb to them at this point which is scary. It ain't fatigue. He has no confidence in his shot. His misses aren't even coming close. I'm about THIS close to jumping on the "Corey Brewer starting at the 3" bandwagon. Whatever he gives up defensively will be more than made up for at the offensive end.
Yeah no **** but Ariza is partially to blame as well. BTW, I swear it is almost the trendy thing to do on CF is to be a ref apologist.
Ariza is definitely a concern. His defense wasn't there like the game before and his offense has been missing for some time. Brewer should take his spot, at least until he regains his shooting touch.
Not picking on you but this narrative is getting old. The Rockets shot 47% tonight. The Rockets had 62 points in the paint. The Rockets had nearly as many assists as the Bulls (-2). The Rockets had 10 more fast break points than the Bulls. The Rockets did what they were supposed to do getting easy baskets. The Rockets lost because the Bulls score +24 at the line. You cannot tell me that the team that leads the league at drawing fouls only drew 2 free throws in 47 minutes with so many points in the paint. The Rockets ideally need another creator like Dragic.. But tonight the Rockets did what they were supposed to do, but it was one of those 4-5 games a year where a team gets screwed at the line... You just hope it evens out.
If anything I'm blaming the loss on Dwight. What happened to him? His defense and effort level just aren't there this season
