[ClutchFans] Podcast: James Harden fights off illness to push Rockets to Game 6

listening, thank you Clutch!

 

Still up. Still excited. Please Rockets bring this same concentration and energy Thursday.

 

Maybe Harden can infect Reddick and Paul as well.

He must have taken a pounding with all those criticisms hurled against him. Just play without fear.

 

Flu game?

 

Can't wait to listen while at work. Thanks.

Also great interview on 790 this morning. Nice to see Clanton still repping C.F. hardcore.

 

Good podcast.

My thoughts:

1. We need to recognize the difference defensively and on the boards that Josh Smith gives us over Terrence Jones. You talked about Smith's moments of bone-headedness offensively and you were surprised that McHale went with Smith. You shouldn't have been. Because there is a world of difference in our defense and rebounding (especially going against Blake) that Smith brings to the table over Jones. Smith's moments of boneheaded play offensively have to be put into perspective when you weigh what he brings to the table defensively and on the boards vs. Jones' play offensively and defensively.

Jones' rebounding rate has fallen off the table in this series. The reason is he has been out there most of the time alongside Dwight going against DeAndre and Blake. Jones is simply out-sized and outclassed in that match-up. And rebounding is what fuels our offense going downhill. We simply have to win the rebounding war.

Those are the reasons why Smith has to start and play the vast majority of the minutes against Blake when DeAndre and Dwight are matched up out there.

During the regular season, we really got it rolling when we had DMo starting with Dwight and we could bring Smith and Jones out there in tandem with the second unit. When you put Jones on the second unit he is playing against bigs who are not as long nor as skilled as the starters typically. And he can then thrive somewhat in the right match-ups, especially if he's got a legit paint and rim protector playing alongside him.

We saw the Dwight/Jones experiment against Portland. He's simply not long enough nor skilled enough to help us by starting against Western Conference playoff contenders. I don't know why more people can't see this. McHale has to look for the right match-ups for this team to win and for Jones to have an opportunity to be a positive effect.

2. Your point about being concerned about DeAndre possibly not being in foul trouble for game 6 is a legit concern as is the concern about the Clippers shooters popping back. I have the same concerns.

What troubles me about those concerns is even last night during this blowout McHale still couldn't get the match-ups right. Match-ups, match-ups, match-ups. I'm going to keep pounding the table about them. Because in the playoffs getting the match-ups right plays a huge role in winning the series.

McHale STILL played Terrence way too many minutes on Blake. I don't know what the problem with him is. But we have to prepare for game 6 as if DeAndre and Blake are going to play their customary share of minutes and DeAndre is going to be his normal defensive self. We really can't afford for Jones to play any minutes against Blake unless the game is already decided or one of Dwight/Smith is in foul trouble.

 

Clutch, I loved at the end there how you straight dismissed MK's comments about the Clips basically just having to care of business and the series is over. The runs they went on in the 3rd quarters were indeed strange.
Lay down the ban-hammer

 

I'm not sure illness is am appropriate term for PMS.

 

This is his best performance during this year playoff run. Clearly he has an ability to do this in next game too, hope that he can learn something from last game, stop to think pass the ball when he can attack or shot.

 

Thanks clutch

 

More Capela

Rocket River

 

Thanks as always, Clutch. This podcast was great, except for the part where you reminded me that we took Joey Dorsey two picks ahead of Deandre Jordan. Right in the feels.

 

How about no risky or no look passes that result in turnovers. Harden and Smith racked so many turnovers last game that way. Fancy smancy bs that serves to fool no defender since the open man is already at the rim or wide open.

 

Great podcast as usual!

Feels like everything rides in the balance of these two items

1) Dwight Howard / DeAndre Jordan. Who gets in foul trouble first and rides the pine, thereby opening up the pain and wrecking the defense.

2) Role player shooting: Reddick/Barnes/Crawford/Rivers vs Ariza/Terry/Brewer. Which grouping hits their 3pt shots?

Blake, Paul, Harden etc. They will get theirs.

 

Our turnovers go up when we get stuck in half court offense. They try all that fancy shmancy sod because we have no spacing in half court. When we play D and rebound then we cam get out and run and not be trying to thread the needle with trick passes.

 

I detest the long over the top passes
Seems like soooooo many of them are picked off

Rocket River

 

Gotta keep attacking and get Jordan in foul trouble again if we want a chance in game 6.

 

Too general and not probable.


DeAndre is the defensive player of the year. Kinda difficult to bank on getting him in foul trouble.

The guy we need to make work is Blake. Gotta engage him in the popcorn machine, make him defend Harden and Howard in the pick and roll and then make him work against a solid defender with help coming from the closest perimeter defender. If we're gonna go down it needs to be with the Clips shooting long jumpers, not with Blake blasting it to the rim over and over and free-lancing on defense because he don't have to guard anybody.

 

uhm, no.. Kawhi is the DPOY. Also, on this Capella highlight it is precisely Jordan in the "popcorn machine". Great rebounder and rim protector, but not so good at PnR or basic post-up defense.

It's about execution: screen with DAJ's man to get him away from the rim; use more of the 4-5 PnR play that worked like magic against DAL... Get DH12 the ball in the post in way way where he can make a quick move.. Those are the things to do to solve the DAJ puzzle.

What doesn't work is driving at him or giving Dwight the ball far away or at uncomfortable angle for him to make a move.