ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Hornets 1/9/2013

From si.com

As always, Lin owned up to his performance.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2013/01/09/32795/index.html#recap

 

At least we didn't lose to the Wizards (like the Thunder did this week).

Check out this DeAngelo Hall and James Harden gif, it makes me laugh every time:
http://www.sbnation.com/2013/1/9/38...mes-harden-and-the-gif-that-connects-the-dots

 

Agree 100%. Coaches were luckily getting away with Harden and Lin's penetration without P&R lately, and forgot about the fundamentals. No wonder the recent games are less fluid. Even Harden is struggling in penetration. This is why our guards have to wait until the 4th quarter to find some success in driving. One dimensional player movement (around perimeter) is not enough to stir the fluid. Without constant, multiple P&R, there will be fewer and fewer creative play makings.

 

The Hornets were doing a great job of shutting us down. I was really impressed by their coaching.

We had no easy drives, the ball handler was generally double teamed, and they kept our passing lanes contested. They played small ball, which seemed do a really good job at beating us.

The Hornets did an excellent job of minimizing changes of possession that lead to a fast break (bad pass, long rebound), and seemed to play a game designed to shut down our system incredibly well.

When we make it to the playoffs, these are the kind of games we're going to have to expect, and need to work out strategies for dealing with them.

 

There was no reason for McHale to play Lin a ridiculous 41 minutes on the second night of a back to back, especially with Jeremy playing a miserable game through 3 quarters.

TD would have done a better job in the 4th, especially making shots.

This was a winnable game and you can pin this loss on McHale.

 

PF rebounding

Patrick Patterson 10
Marcus Morris 1

Just 1 rebound from your starting PF.

Get Morris out of there!

 

Sometimes, you lay a turd. It was bound to happen.

Honestly, I'm just hoping for ~.500 ball during this long stretch of mostly road games. And then we have such an awesome March schedule where most of the games at home. That's when I feel we can make a big run towards the finish line.

 

Douglas gives up 5 inches to Vasquez. Lin gives up 3. Giving up 5 inches is a tough cover and Vasquez is pretty much the engine to the Hornets offense.

 

Omer Asik was killing them in the 3rd Qtr, both on offence & defence...then he sat in the 4th...

The atrocious calls by the officials took away our momentum and cost us points, in the vicinity of 15-20 points, in calls that would usually give us free throws & giving possessions to the other team.

How Gordon can blatantly push Harden out of bounds and get away with it, then Lin gets called for an offensive foul the next play is beyond me.

If you look at our record, take into account the few close games that we lost & the over times, we are one of the better teams in this league...we would be 2nd best in the East.


Anyway...next.

 

Sick nasty! Harden making the team better!

 

Not worried about losing to a weak team, the Rockets beat themselves with turnovers and a good help from the ref for the Hornets. I still enjoying the thrashing of the Lakers.

 

*highfive*

 

Funny that weak team beat Dallas, Spurs and Rockets within days

 

Refs allowed the game to be physical, which will happen in the post-season, so it's something we have to learn to play with.

But the trapping of perimeter players happens because we have a soft middle. There were numerous times when Asik was open in the paint because the guards were trapped but they couldn't get the ball to him.

The way to avoid getting trapped is

A. too pass early - but that takes the ball out of Lin & Harden
B. Have a post presence that is dominant enough that they can't play off them

 

Yeah. This will happen in the playoffs. I think the other reason that we got trapped is we are not doing very good off ball movement. Both Lin and harden especially Lin needs his teammates to do good off ball movement to get themselves open when there is a double team.

 

I think he is trying to figure out why there are so many TOs. I did not see much easy plays in the paint this game. Almost every layup attemptS are contested by two opposing players. Our 3 attempts are usually contested in the 4th quarter.

 

I'm not worried about what took place last night, mainly the 4th quarter. If it wasn't the second game on back-to-back we win this game, quite easily too.

 

I was looking for stats behind the mid range jumper. Here is a great article I found:

http://www.krossover.com/blog/2012/10/death-of-the-mid-range-jumper-statistically-speaking/

 

I am worried because how we lose in very physical games.

 

This is why I love this guy....so appreciative of his fans.

Bryan Salmond ‏@BSalmond4
Good to see Jeremy Lin signing autographs after a loss. I appreciate that he remembers the old days. #hornets win 88-79 pic.twitter.com/S2Oe5gBD