ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pacers 12/23/2021

Don’t dribble out the clock when you are losing. I don’t care how impossible it is to win, it’s a bad look...

 

Well, I admit I was wrong. I couldn’t imagine Theis being such a hindrance

 

1) Paolo
2) Jabari
3) Chet

 

Is John Lucas tight with every player in the league lol

 

We lost on the boards and in the paint tonight. Defense needs serious work, only real takeaway is Green had a great comeback game. Becoming very clear that Sengun is our PF and we need a taller, paint protecting, rebounding big as our next piece. Wood really adds nothing on D when we play against grown big men, we need muscle.

 

This was about defense. Green expected Wood to rotate and help in Turner instead Turner got a wide open layup.

 

I want to figure out why every team we play manages shoot lights out against us it seems like almost every game, our closeouts & rim protection is severely lacking & this is when I wonder if playing Theis some mins can help improve our interior D, but I honestly cant figure how TF every team scores at ease against us because I see the hustle & effort on D, but maybe it's a scheme issue

 

These last two games have shown a lot! Problem is, we can't REBOUND and we're constantly getting BULLIED in the paint!

Unfortunately, I think the problem is Tate and KJM. I like both players but they are too small for their positions.

We need more pop at that position

 

No fan of both but Green is the one that is going to stay longer than Wood so Wood has to be careful here.

The cutting of the Pacers were crisp today and Jeremy Lamb went full Rudy Gay level.

 

Very poor decisions and weak play. But not his fault tonight. Matthews provides this team nothing on both ends. Augustin makes poor passing decisions. Too much holding onto the ball and indecision especially against that zone. Not sure why Sengun didn’t play in the middle of the zone. And not sure why starters weren’t put in until 6 min mark. Strange 4th quarter.

 

…………

 

We have some good defenders, but no anchor. A good example is Jalen getting blocks that immediately lead to a bucket anyway, we need muscle in the paint. The closest we have is actually KJ and he's a help defender.

 

12 points in the 4th quarter is rough. On the other hand, great job by Green and the tank is still on!

 

Terribad officiating at the start of the 4th caused us to lose our rhythm, but Wood helped us to solidify the kidney stone that was the 4th quarter. Great counting stats, but he really didn’t do much to help.

Green looked great! 20 points in 25 minutes on 50/66/? splits is more than what I was expecting coming back. He should’ve had 2 more from Turner’s goaltend too.

It’s been a tough stretch of games but we’ve mostly been competitive in all of them and it does help us in next years lotto sweepstakes. On to the next..

 

I'm not usually a "sell high" type of poster but in this case I think the Rockets should take a long look at the offers that come in this season. Wood isn't the guy but we may be able to pry away a good player for a team that needs a 2nd fiddle big.

 

Theis probably plays better defense on Turner than anyone else does tonight, but gives you little anywhere else. Wood might as well not have even been there, made Turner look like prime Shaq.

 

You are not watching what the Pacers did except shooting, they played very good teamball, moved well off the ball, did some great back door cutting.

Turner blocked many shots, got a lot of steals.

I think it was a B+ game by the Rox, and an A- game or A game by the Pacers without Brogdon and Sabonis.

 

Individually rather poor defenders get beat by their man and we help way too much -> kickouts to open corner threes. It's the same **** every game.

The amount of WIDE OPEN 3s they get from kickouts is mental. We crowd the paint like we're playing ourselves with the double big lineup, except the opposing team can actually punish that.

 

They didn't drink carrot juice