ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Nuggets 12/8/2023

I got off to Jalen hitting some midrange shots in the second half. If his 3 is off, why not take them if he’s making them? We ended up needing every point our guys could muster. What an exasperating game.

 

Listened to FVV's interview with Matt Thomas. He always looks so serious on the court but he's funny.
Told uncle Green he could stay with Denver for celebrating too long with the Nuggets during his ring presentation.(I like that they can joke like that)
About the tension of the final 7 minutes, "Let's just get on the plane, right?"

 

The 1st-3rd quarters we were moving the ball so beautifully. All these off days for practice are really paying off. Now we just need to hit those wide open 3’s more consistently.

 

Cade seems to be a lot more unathletic than advertised, either that or he is still recovering from his injury. Although Cade has high bball IQ, a large frame and long arms he looks like he has low lateral quickness so that hurts his scoring ability and defensive potential.

 

Yeah Van Vleet with 13 FTs (10-13)......looool.

 

That is true, but then, Harden was not the most athletic guy in his peak years either. Cade will have to fill out and get more muscular and do it with craftiness, strength, and shooting.

 

There's a lot of brotherhood between us and the Nuggets. Uncle, Alpe/Jokic/Bobi, the Holiday bros, Murray/Brooks Canadian connection, Jay Huff is a nugget lol, Deandre Jordan notable Houstonian, Ryan Bowen is an assistant coach in Denver, David Adelman/Rick's son is an assistant coach in Denver, and so on.

Kind of wonder if there's a scenario where Denver comes calling for Uncle at the trade deadline.

 

Actually Harden was extremely athletic, that's why he suddenly fell off from grace cuz he relied on his athleticism despite what he was saying about Giannis. It takes a lot of athleticism to always go ISO from 3 PT line every possession and either get a foul or a penetrstion. He was also 3rd pick in his draft class after Blake and Thabeet and you know unathletic guys don't go high in the draft. It's just that Hardens athleticism is more on his strength and quickness than raw jumping power.

Cade doesn't seem as durable as Harden either since he already got a season ending injury in his 2nd year.

 

Daaaaamn!

 

Harden's first step was very explosive in his younger years, but in the years we came closest to winning it all with him, I think his explosiveness had already declined significantly and he was relying more on strength + skill at that point.

 

He was still young in 2018, he was only 29 then so I doubt he lost anything he was still in his prime.

 

Who is this?

 

I mean, I'm just speaking from watching him play. My perception over the years is that he gained weight and got even stronger but lost some of his explosiveness year by year. That's just normal--even MJ wasn't quite the same by the time he was 29 and had to rely on his explosiveness a little less than before, that's why you saw him take more and more midrange jumpers over the course of his career.

Peak athleticism is in the mid-20s and begins to drop off after that.

 

So much the opposite of Harden era iso ball.
So much more fun to watch as well.

 

No joke there!!!!!

 

Why did Jabari get benched last night?

 

Nuggets fans hated Jeff as Nugget because he sucked for them. He was like Landale for them. They used to accuse him of blackmailing the coach for minutes

 

Ime should tell Dillon to take more efficient jump shots. That will ease pressure off from Bari and Jalen. We need another 3 and D guy and a reliable backup 5. Then we can fly into the play in tournament.

 

“Pass the ball at least eight times before you shoot!”