ClutchFans Game Thread: Celtics @ Rockets 3/18/2008

We lost, but you may still want the game:

http://bt.hosting-file.com/torrents-details.php?id=46

 

We won 22 games with defense and hustle. The Celtics did to us what we have been doing to everybody else. They beat us up on the glass, got offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points, role players stepped up, they hustled for every ball, dove on the floor, closed out every shooter, bumped every cutter, every screener, every ball handler, and just beat us into submission. You get tired of having to go to battle every possession for 48 minutes. It mentally and physically drains you to have to grind it out like that. You know that nothing is goning to be easy as soon as you start going back up the floor with the ball. That is how they had been winning and got a taste of their own medicine last night, lol. Hopefully they bounce back tonight. Anything must seem easy after facing a team who brings it like that on defense.

 

Boston played incredible defense last night. Even though we got blown out to end the streak, at least it was because the other team was unstoppable. What a run.

 

When teams blitz or over committ to Tmac we have to burn them with a 2nd penetrating player.

We needed Rafer, or Bjax or AB to step up and take advantage of the holes created by the Celts over committing to Tmac....

The signs have been coming in the last few games, too much defering to Tmac again......

This team learned a valuable lesson, trust what got you there, and don't deviate from it.....

DD

 

again, we didn't make the 3s last night. rafer did make a conscious effort to drive but b/c we didn't make the 3s, the paint was PACKED. rafer drew several times, there were 4 guys in the paint at all times collapsing. rafer threw up some wild shots.

again, the celtics are athletic enough to do this (and that's why they are the best defensive team). kobe shoots 32% in 2 games v. the celtics this yr.

that's the best defense on tmac all year. on 2 consecutive plays in the 3rd where tmac was around the high post (more near the ft line), as he got off a screen to get the ball, THREE guys converged on him on the perimeter. that's crazy. but they could do that b/c scola/hayes were ineffective finishing inside, and our 3s were non-existant.

if we had made 3s, they would not collapse as much on tmac. but i'm sure adelman will figure out a way to combat this defense.

trust me, every team will try to copy the celtics now.

 

WHAT penetration? No Carl Landry is what happened.

Celtics' plan was to double TMac to get the ball out of his hands. It worked. They also pounded the ball inside where their height was an advantage. It worked. Finally, they extended their defense out to the 3-point line to deny Rafer, Shane, BJ & Luther open 3s. That worked as well.

Too many guys wearing green clogging the paint.

We were fortunate that it was merely tied at the half. I was very concerned at how much effort it was taking on the part of the Rockets to score. The Celts were scoring at will from the inside while TMac was giving you nothing points wise. And with Mutumbo at the 5, you were getting zip on offense from the center . Boston used their size & strength to their advantage inside the paint which BTW is exactly what I expect to see the other teams do to the Rox come playoff time. From the beginning of the season, I have been concerned about the lack of size on the Rockets' frontline and what that would mean come playoff time or if say, Yao went out with an injury. Last night's game should shut up those folks once and for all who have been chirping about how we are better off without Yao.

They did to TMac last night what we did to Kobe on Sunday. I didn't see many opportunities for him to drive since he was immediately doubled when he touched the ball.

Kinda helps explain them having the league's best record, eh?

 

KG is a pimp.

 

I agree, and I think it will always be a challenge for us to play against the Celtics. With Tom Thibodeau as their assistant coach, they know how to defend or limit the performance of our key players (McGrady, Yao, Battier, etc.) better that any other team in the NBA. This reminds me of how Don Nelson and his team handled the Mavericks in the last year’s playoffs.

 

good comparison

 

Leon Powe (the rich man's Chuck Hayes) killed us last night.

Actually, I'm a fan of Powe since he went to my alma mater (as did JKidd), so I'm happy for him, but at the same time, VERY disappointed that the Rockets seemed to just lay down with 6 minutes left. I got that familiar sinking feeling - the one I felt during Game 7 against Mavs a few years ago and Game 7 against the Jazz last year. I know it all too well.

 

^ I dont tihnk the ROX gave up during Game 7 last year.. they fought hard but just cant get a rebound when it mattered

 

they just killed us in the 3rd quarter...

 

Naw,We lost the game before the 3rd quarter after rafer tunrned the ball over with the lazy left handed cross court pass which was un-forced and a game changing turnover because we were up 5 with the ball with the chance to increase our lead to seven points with only a minute remaining in the 1st half.



After that Turnover they came down and scored and then they made the lucky three pointer to tie the game at the half. They went in the lockeroom at half time with all the momentum and we came out playing with the same vibe.

 

Turnovers and defense cost us

 

i am not trying to blame tmac or anything. just curious whether he can be not "tired" for 4 series of playoff games. that would easily be 6 games in each round, so totally 24 games, much much better teams compared with our opponents in the 22 game winning streak and much much harder defense, he would be double teamed every minute every night. so will he just give up the ball whenever he is double teamed? or he will get tired after 1 or 2 games?

tmac should think this through: what it would take to win a champion. i am really "tired" watching this guy wasting his life with all kinds of whining. maybe as a rox fan i am wasting my life to watch him play.

 

I thought our defense was decent. The Celtics shot 38/88 = 43.2%. We shot 29/70 = 41.4%. Considering that the Celtics had the "best defense TMac's seen in his 11-year career," both teams' shooting percentages were relatively close.

If by defense you mean rebounding, you have something there.

What is striking to me is that the Celtic had 18 more attempts at the basket than the Rockets due to superior offensive [+5] and defensive [+6] rebounding. When KG wanted a rebound, he got it over whoever was supposed to box him out (usually Scola).

One more thing. We shot 5/19 = 26.3% from the three. You can credit the Celtics for contesting well, but we live and die by the three. If BJax and Rafer didn't go off in the Lakers game from three, we lose that game.

The blueprint to defeating the Rockets is this: contest threes well and get rebounds. I don't even think you really have to double TMac - he looks really tired right now, he isn't really looking for his own offense, his mid-range game is iffy (long fadeaway 2s), and don't get me started on those heat check 3s.

 

What's the deal w/ the online chat?

There were only 70 people online last night when there should be over 300.

Maybe they were tired of being kicked out by over zealous wannabe admins.

From my observations...

 

Doc Rivers on the Rocket's win streak

“Any team that can string this together can string games together in the playoffs,” Rivers said. “So they are absolutely a factor.”

 

I'll make a few comments about the boston game and move on. Their just better than the Rox. Even with or without Yao, they have better players. Not only do they have better players, they play just as well as a team if not better than the rox.

Look, anytime u can get down by 22 to the spurs and come back and win in sa, you're really good. During this hot streak the rox have been on, they have been able to mask the shortcomings of this team. No legit 3rd scorer/creator, lack of size.

Think about this, Posey and Battier are the same type guys. Both are good defenders, good hustle guys and intangibles type dudes. The difference is one guy starts and the other comes off the bench to play 20mins a night. The difference in talent alone is huge even with yao between these two teams.

The Rox are a small team without yao. I've beat the tar out of this horse all year. No disrespect to scola and the other players, but on the fronline and the backcourt they are very small. When Tracy or Shane go out, the next guy is a head,harris,jackson or someone else 6'3 or smaller. I like harris as a swing guy, but they play him at the 4. That brings me to Hayes,scola,Landry. Last night they really missed a finisher like landry. Scola for all his heart and hustle, kg and the other big guy intimidated him and hayes at the rim. Pump faking, head faking,rushed layups and blown layups was the recipe. Once deke went out, the celts just pounded it to kg who could turn and fire over every rox defender they put on him. KG does it to a lot of players, but basically because of the height advantage, it was a uncontested shot.

All in all, the rox lost to a better team. That happens when a talent team plays as a team. If they were in the west, they would have more losses, but they have a great record against the west. The celts are a boderline great team, while the rox are a good team. They can play with anyone and will have chances, but sometimes a team can just line up and beat you.

 

The Rockets have a great 22 Game run, they are in the history books, and now the pressure is off! They must remember that they are, well, 22-23 for the last 23 games so nothing to feel bad about.

Rockets Lost to Best Team in the League, and they should not be ashamed about it. If it were the Rockets that had a 22 point lead like the spurs had the other night they would not have lost, but that really goes to say that you have to respect C as the BEST DEFENSIVE TEAM in the NBA right now, they are like 22 - 5 or something like that against the West. This is scary!

Tom T really showed how Good JVG's defense was, as he has instilled the same into the celtics. Their D last night was unreal, and I dont know if they can play D like that night in night out. If they can, then TMAC is very accurate in saying that the league would have to be in trouble; Just mail them the Throphy once the season come to an end. I know TMAC was a little passive but usually when he gets double like that there was always someone open, talk less of triple teams. It just seemed like checkers they way the defense rotated on TMAC, the 3 point spot up shooters and still clogged the lane, cutting off TMACs play making ability, Rafer and Battiers 3 point shooting and the overall teams penetration and easy baskets. Every time tmac pass out of the double or triple team, the defense rotated so quick that the 3 point was denied as well as the penetration. For a moment it looked like it was 6 on 5. But Credit to the Celtics for an awesome game plan and unquestionable defensive effort.

Tonight we really missed Yao, but with him, I still think this team is much better than the rockets because of their defense and well KG, who has to be the most intense player in the NBA right now. This guy took Scola to school in the second half. Some much post moves, 15ft J, pump fakes and Jams! Welcome to the NBA Scola, but no hard feelings , he does it to the best in the league!!!!

Rockets need to get a more mobile big man; I dont know if Dale Davis is the answer, but our lack of size down low may be issue if we face a team with a great low post player in the play-offs.

But Once again, Kudos to the Rockets for a Historic Run.

Lets start again tonight!
Go Rockets