ClutchFans Game Thread: Hawks @ Rockets 12/31/2012

More like the last 30 games.

 

Losing is not an option!

 

Hope we win this. All of our starters need a bounce back game after the OKC blow out minus Marcus. Marcus played great against OKC so hopefully he keeps it up. Don't want to see any Cole Aldrich never ever, & less Douglas.

 

Unfortunately, this is looking like a tough game.

ATL just put 109 or so on the Pacers, who have the top defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) in the NBA. And they did it without Josh Smith.

ATL is good on defense (#7 defensive rating in the NBA), and their weakness is more on offense. But that didn't seem to be the case against Indiana.

Still not clear if Josh Smith will play.

Let's go Rockets! Time to snap that 2-game losing streak.

 

East is really weak as they have lots of average players.

only josh smith would omake our starting 4

 

These guys are playing way better then expected. Cant take them lightly at all.

 

[ ] Opponent team has losing record
[*] East Conference team
[*] Playing at Toyota Center
[*] Opponent team overachieving and not as good as their record
[*] Not a back to back for the Rockets
[ ] Back to back for opposing team
[*] No major injury DNPs for Rockets
[?] Major injury DNPs for opposing team

Seems to me we're favored in this one.

 

Joe Johnson has never really been their best player. Maybe his first year or 2.

 

Yeah, hopefully it's a rout. But ATL has played pretty well this year.

 

Jeff Teague is very similar to Lin

 

you think the players will be recovered from the back2back games?

 

"I don't know when playing 4 games in 5 nights became such a big deal.... We’re not laying brick in a 110 degree heat. We’re playing basketball."

Sincerely,

Kevin McHale

 

Fun facts about Atlanta:

They've won their last 4 since Lou Williams was moved into the starting lineup. He then proceeds to play HUGE minutes at guard.

It's a smart move and perhaps Atlanta's only move, since Atlanta's backcourt depth is not great to begin with, but here are some facts about Lou Williams that might be interesting as well:

1. Lou Williams is 6'1" on his tippie toes.

2. Lou Williams is not considered a strong defender, and is valued more for his offensive punch.

3. Larry Drew will nevertheless play him at shooting guard.

4. I want you to briefly consider a lineup consisting of Jeff Teague (6'2") at point guard, Lou Williams (6'1") at shooting guard, and Kyle Korver (6'7") at small forward. You've heard of small ball? That's like tiny ball. That might get it done against a team of Eastern Conference marks like the Pacers or Cavs, but I doubt they get away with that against Houston.


Conclusion: I expect big games from James Harden and Chandler Parsons, the former of which will be guarded by a guy sized like a point guard, and the latter of which will be guarded by a guy sized like a shooting guard.

 

They play the same position and the similarities end there.

Jeff Teague is a monstrously athletic player with quickness, hops, and a penetrating style of play that make him similar to a Westbrook or a Rose over a Jeremy Lin.

I've maintained that Teague has been Atlanta's best player for years, and with Joe Johnson gone, he is really starting to shine this season.

 

Actually, that's not true....statistically they are very similar. It's not just that they just play the same position.

 

A win to end 2012, Lin & Harden rule the game!

 

Age and stats are similar.
http://www.basketball-reference.com...sum=0&p1=linje01&y1=2013&p2=teaguje01&y2=2013


Teague definitely plays above the rim better, but they are similar in the sense that they are both quick, penetrating guards with shaky J's. Teague is doing better with his shot, but he he's was never known as a good shooter. Other than the freakish vertical of Teague, I don't think there's a big difference in athleticism between the two. I haven't seen enough of Jeff Teague this year to judge his court vision, but last year it was pretty average (not a lot to judge on though since he mainly just brought the ball up court). Overall, Jeff Teague is doing a little better (PER is the holy grail of stats IMO), but you can't argue that you don't see similarities. At the very least, Jlin is closer to Teague than Monta Ellis is to Dwade

 

I really hope we find a way to win, as I feel it will be a close game. Lin should play much better tonight though

 

Oh, the player who shoots 39% from three and penetrates using the threat of his three point shot and his athleticism is not only similar but "statistically similar" to the player who shoots 27% from three and needs high pick N roll action to do so?

Gosh I didn't know that.

You learn something new every day.

Also: Watch more basketball. Please.

 

Uh....ALSO: Learn how to read. Please.
I said statistically similar and you're bringing up atheticism and pnr? What did I miss? And let me reemphasize I said similar.

Besides their 3pt shooting %, they are very similar in almost every category.