ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 3/11/2015

I watched the first three quarters and fell asleep

but looking at the final score, and remembering what I saw in those three quarters, Harden had an off night, he missed a lot of shots and some easy layups

if he was himself, we would have won this game...but I hate Portland more than the Mavs, their fans a fukin sore losers

 

We would have lost by more points if Dwight played imo.

It was closer than I thought it would be.

 

C'mon, that's a little over the top. He would've helped us on the boards and with our interior D. Also, last time I checked, we've beaten Portland once this season and Dwight played in that game.

 

And I believe Aldridge didn't.

 

Just don't know what was wrong with Harden last night.

Dude was playing with no energy. He usually crashes the boards to get 5-6 rebounds but last night he seemed like he was totally out of it.

One game does not decide MVP but it's on National TV. His FG%, 3P % TS% are all dropping right after all star break and you sure bet those things will be accounted for when it comes to MVP voting.

Not too long ago he was almost 46% from the field and 39% from 3 Point land.

 

That B is tiring him out.

 

Harden was creating wide open shots for his teammates and they were bricking them especially Bev. Harden did that while being absolutely harassed and game planned for. What else do you want him to do?

 

Jay he was having a good game until he stopped being aggressive. Once the Blazers put Batum on him , he started shying away from the ball. Now you know lol we can't afford to have Beverley trying to create shots for himself and his teammates.

 

First of all, Harden can't play great every night. No one does. Secondly, maybe he was conserving energy for tonight's game at Utah. Some players sit out games for that purpose. Harden doesn't have that luxury, so he has to pick his spots where he goes all out.

We'll have a better idea tonight if he comes out much more aggressive against the Jazz.

 

Playing 37 minutes a game, pretty the only true threat on offense, and taking a beating almost every time you attack the rim wear anybody down eventually.

He was being aggressive in the 1st half. I guess his back stiffened up on him.

 

In case we haven't figured it out by now, Harden has a knack for having "off nights" in big games against better teams with better players playing better defense against him. I don't blame him. Nobody said the game was easy every night. But, it happens in these types of games and in the playoffs. That's why it is a team sport. He can dish off and assist teammates on nights like this but if they can't pull their weight and make shots...then we usually lose. Harden is a MVP type player and can pour it on any given night. But, he's also stoppable if he's facing a physical defender who can make him uncomfortable and want to defer. We can't win the big games with him deferring against better teams. We need his offense...not "off nights".

 

He looked like he was going to have a great night until they put Batum on him.

 

I wouldn't sweat it. He's had some off nights since the All-Star Break. I have noticed he's looking to pass more as his assist numbers are way up lately. But I think that's a good thing. If the Rockets are gonna do anything in the postseason, other guys have to be prepared to step up and make plays. We can't rely solely on Harden.

They lost by 5 at Portland where the Blazers win most of their games and usually by a larger margin than that. Remember, they destroyed the Spurs there a couple weeks ago.

 

Astute observation. Batum (ex Rocket) is a tough defender that gave Parsons fits in the series last year. Disappointing loss, but I am surprised the score was so close in that the Blazers shot a much higher percentage and dominated the boards at both ends. Rockets lost a great opportunity to gain on Memphis. The West is so tight if any of the top seven teams go on a losing streak they could literally drop out of the playoffs.

 

Happens every time we got some days off. Just speculating, but perhaps party hardy?

 

At this point in the season, we need to get our full lineup back. Playing without Howard is starting to catch up with us. DMo and TJones can only sustain their good play for so long. Harden needs help. Howard will draw attn around the paint and help get fouls on the offensive end. It's great when we are in the bonus halfway through the quarter.

I hope the guys can stay afloat for another 2 weeks...

 

The issue last night was that no one played with energy or confidence outside of Brewer. There was no killer instinct when Aldridge got in foul trouble in the third. This was a total team effort in losing, not on any individual player. Howard would have helped on the boards greatly, not giving the Blazers extra possession after possession. There were other issues:

Jones had displayed confidence in his jump shot in recent games, and then showed no confidence last night. The fight and willingness to battle he showed on rebounds in previous games (especially on the offensive end) just wasn't there last night.

DMo was not confident in his ability to post up, defend in the post, or rebound. When Aldridge went out, he should have been demanding the ball in the post yet only called for it once on Leonard that I saw. We have seen him have a lot more fight this year.

Harden did not look like someone who had confidence in his own shot or his ability to drive inside. They rotated people on him constantly, but that fire he brings to games was gone after about the first 8 minutes.

Josh Smith had the one emphatic dunk but otherwise was largely listless.

Beverley at least kept shooting but they just didn't fall for him. That's not going to happen every night and if Portland wants to keep giving him that many wide open looks from 3, so be it. I'll take my chances that Beverley can hit those in 4 games out of 7.

Terry tried but is overmatched against Lilliard's speed. In a series against Portland, not sure there is much the Rockets can do to help.

I don't know why after having a couple days of practice and rest, the Rockets couldn't sustain energy and have something that wanted to prove. That's two games now in the past week against Memphis and Portland with tie breakers on the line, where the Rockets did not play with any kind of killer instinct until it was too late.

The Rockets have a chance to make this trip a success by getting wins against Utah and the Clippers which they have the talent to do if they come out and play a little more inspired basketball.

 

The failed coaching is the problem. This team doesn't know how to do a fast break situation when it 3 on 2 or whatever. Parsons last year knew how to finish in that instance every time. Never did this team fail in transition so much the previous 2 seasons.

 

Harden is literally the last of my worries with the Rockets

 

Maybe the long season starting from FIBA is catching up to Harden.

We need to start giving him time off but we can't afford to.