ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Timberwolves 12/6/2006

I get your point. But my point is that Hayes was burning his man decently, but the real problem is what happens on the other end where Blount and KG can both take Novak or Padgett to school repeatedly? They did it to Hayes and Juwan, I'm sure they could abuse Novak or Padgett even more.

Your idea would work on one end for sure, but it would hurt on the other end I think.

Then again, who knows. Maybe Novak drains 3 consecutive 3's and the game totally changes. Me thinks a safer and more probable way to winning is if the "superstar" you're paying 16M can create any kind of good offense for him or his team. 5 of 21, no 3's, low FTA's, 6 assists to 4 TO's.

If I'm the coach, I try to get McGrady to do better than hope for a miracle from Novak. Don't you think?

 

I don't know whether our guys were fatiqued during the last quarter or they just got burned because of that stupid T-foul called on Yao. That was a very bad mistake by the refs and very inconsistently called.

 

LOL! This is why I love you DaDa! Every year there is one guy who captures your imagination, and you relentlessly demand more minutes/playing time for him.

I like Baklava, I really do, but he sucks right now, he just doesn't have anything resembeling an NBA 'form', and he is a work in progress -- a project -- and will be so for quite some time.

Believe it or not, Baklava is NOT the answer to all our problems...well, may be hunger, but that's it.

 

Theory: 1.TWolves defense should get some get some credit
2. Refs should get some credit
3. TMac and Yao are finely tuned instruments. If bumped, shaken around, or forced to travel to a distant location after a game, well, they are a tad off.
4. The Rockets need one more player who:
Is tough, durable, unflappable, mean, big, good mid-range game, great post up game, shot blocker, decent defense, consistent scorer, has an attitude, and, essentially, is not bothered by anything.

Such a person, whose name is _______________ would make the Rockets very hard to beat in games like this. IMO, this person should be a PF. Thoughts?

 

Well the boxscore says 7 assists and 5 turnovers, but one of Yao's turnovers should belong to TMac. It was a uncatchable bullet pass from TMac to Yao, the Minny announcers noticed it, TMac himself was disgussed about it. But when I checked the boxscore immediately, the turnover was added to Yao's column.

 

Maybe they lost because their two best players both had bad games on the same night and they were on the road the second night of a back-to-back travel day against a solid defensive team.

Nah, I'm sure it is something far more obvious.

 

Wow, I should have read the two posts just before mine, I could have saved my time.

 

Agreed, they are saying, hey, you are a foreigner and chinese, you gotta behave!!! F that

 

Denver lost to Atlanta at home and Lakers is behind at home too. That makes me feel a little better. That is why I still think we are a second tier team togther with the Lakers, Denver.

 

Well, I guess JVG is wise enough to see this. But the real problem is which shooter on our team do u think can guard the opposing allstar PF ?

 

I would not disagree with that, but he played pretty decently in the 6 paltry minutes he got in the first half.

But, JVG overplayed his starters YET again and they ran out of gas, on the 2nd night of back to backs.

Better coaches use their bench a bit more liberally when their team is tired.

DD

 

solid, I pleasantly notice you have started to refer to Yao Ming as Yao since last night's game. Good for you!

 

None of them, but they don't have 2 tall offensive players either, put Yao on KG if you have to and let Padgett guard the other one.

Or, mix in a bit of zone defense.

DD

 

What did you think of JVG replacing Hayes with Juwan midway through the fourth quarter? I thought that was a major blunder.

Turnovers have been the achilles heel of this team all season. If we could learn to really control our turnovers, we'd be one of the truly elite teams in the league -- on par with Dallas or San Antonio. I really believe that.

It's interesting that even though JVG stresses taking care of the ball (that seems to be his big thing in addition to pick and roll defense and defensive rebounding), his teams historically have been relatively poor turnovers teams.

Code:

Yr  Tm  TO_Rank
97  NYK 29/29
98  NYK 16/29
99  NYK 27/29
00  NYK 12/29
01  NYK 15/29

04  HOU 27/29
05  HOU 13/30
06  HOU 23/30
07 HOU 26/30*

Anyways, if we can get to our 04/05 level of turnovers, which was at least above average, we'd be a significantly better team.

 

What's really hurting this team is that they have absolutely no penetrators. Tracy mcgrady is often too scared to drive. Rafer Alston will drive at times but throw up a prayer. Luther Head and Vspan get blocked more often times than not.

Look at it this way. What % success rate do you assign to your players when they drive? For Rockets its a really really low %.

Top teams in the leagues have penetrators. When offense breaks down, things arent working, someone on their team will put their heads down and create something or a foul.

Spurs- As good as Duncan is, his last couple of rings have come mainly because Manu at end of games drives and finds looks. Parker is also good at getting in the lane and finishing.

Suns - Steve nash is best at it. Barbosa is also relentless.

Heat - Wade is one of the best in the business. Hell, he won a championship solely on this technique while Shaq was riding the pine. J. Williams can also cause some damage.

Mavericks - Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki cause a lot of problems in this department.

*sigh* We just cannot drive and finish plays. Its going to hurt us bigtime in playoffs.

 

Logically, if Chuck continued to do what he was doing in the first quarter (before his second foul.. but that's another irritating story) by making those baskets underneath where he and tmac (or whoever happened to be passing) kept connecting with him close to the basket the defenders would have to pull off Yao or continue to give up those easy buckets. Hence giving him some breathing room.

Chuck did decent on offense and that was working. Juwan went 0-5 and so his defender was backing into Yao and gumming up the works.

Someone in a post above me (maybe multiple someones) said it best.

When both your star players... shoot under their averages for a game for a whopping 25% from the field... its a lot harder to win the game.

Yao and Mac obviously had the opportunities, they just both kept missing it. Why that is.. I have no idea.. but its the short and simple fact. Heck, if either one of them shot even 30% instead of 25% we win.

I am also reminded why I don't read the boards after a loss. People who don't think logically before they post.

 

No. In 2005, our offense was pretty good even before MJ came. James provide extra scoring off the bench, which fit Rockets offense well.

I think Rocekts want to have James as a 3rd scorer when Yao or Tmac is resting. He wasn't going to simply replace Alston, but he is going to play Head's role a lot and leave Head at shooting guard. That's better than play him as starting PG. He'll get plenty minutes, just like Bonzi if he reported to training camp in shape. You don't know how to do the math so you don't see it, Fishfodder.

 

Exactly. This isnt about 1 loss or 1 win. Its about weakness being exposed. Our defense has been top notch but the lack of correction of our weaknesses is bothersome. I particularly look at how Rockets do when they face adversity. Which players handle it well and which don't? We have too many heartless players right now.

I cant speak for others but when I evaluate the Rockets I do while thinking..

Does this team have what it takes to win a championship?

I guess the two rings Rockets got in 94 and 95 spoiled me. Those teams had a bunch of tough minded players.