ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 11/20/2013

McFail's gotta go...

 

If we can't run a play to free up a 3pt shooter (when have we ever been able to in the past few years under McHale?), I would much prefer Parson over Harden taking the desperation 3pt shot. He is probably the only Rocket player that can raise up and shoot a decent 3pt % over defender. Casspi might also be a good choice.

 

What do Les Alexandar and Bob McNair have in common? That's right.

Did you hear the Wired comments McHale made? A JV coach can make more profound comments. Great individual coach and understanding of the game may be there, game time adjustments and out-coaching the opponent have not been shown to date.

Do i really have to go from watching poorly coached football to poorly coached basketball? On that note, which city has the best coaching combo for football/basketball? San Francisco?

 

do you have a link to them? i've never heard of Wired

 

I don't know... Parsons disappeared in the 2nd half offensively... But they could have ran a better play for whoever was shooting it... And probably should have had Howard throwing the ball in since he's taller and has a better view of the court.

 

They have NO ABILITY TO RUN ANY play is the problem. That's on the coach. Different players, same end-game problems.

So, I said just give it to Parson and let him shoot it contested. Harden, Lin, Bev all need to be freed up to take a good shot. They don't have the height or jumping ability to shoot over defender. And don't even mention the step back fade away 3ptr by Harden as a last shot to tie or win. His percentage of hitting those is close to ZERO.

 

I disagree about Les. That dude will fire head coaches. He canned Rudy T when the guy was in remission. He fired Van Gundy. He parted ways with Adelman because he was actually doing too good a job with the team. And if McFail screws up this season(i.e. first round loss or worse), he'll get run as well.

What Les won't do barring the team falling below .500 is fire McFail mid-season. For a variety of reasons. First, it's rare to hire a new coach on the fly and have immediate success. Usually the real success comes the following year(Rudy here, Scottie Brooks in OKC, and George Karl in Seattle for example). Second, it would cost money to pay off McFail and a new head coach, especially if it's a big name one like Karl or one of the Van Gundys. And third(and I'm just speculating here), but I can't help but wonder if Morey and Les fear the label of coach killer being permanently attached to Dwight if McFail gets fired too soon. He already ran Stan Van Gundy out of Orlando and Mike Brown didn't survive very long in L.A. once he got there.

 

well...the first question all LOF ask is not whether houston won or lost, it's...did Jeremy get his average?

 

This team has the potential to win it all.

You see these flashes where this team is just completely overmatching the other team.

The Heat went 9-8 to start out their first season together. The Rockets are 8-5.

Everybody needs to relax. Give them a chance LOL.

 

In the first half the rockets were shooting extremely well - 70%. That was ridiculously high, and I went to bed thinking that's gonna come down.

I hate it when I'm right.

 

On the bright side, Dwight Howard came to play.

Do what you do big fella!

 

Typical nationally broadcasted Rockets game. Harden tries to be a hero (42:34) and comes out a zero. Ultimately any loss is a team loss so it's silly to blame any individual player, or the coaching staff. So I won't say this loss is on Harden. However I do think he chokes too often in the 4th quarter in close games trying to be the savior, when what he should be doing is what's been working for the previous 3 quarters. More often than not he'll drive into a non-existent lane looking for a foul...his other go-to play is a step back 3..which this year he's shooting a terrible percentage. There's no doubt Harden is very talented and has done much to help the Rockets..but when he puts it on himself to out duel a true superstar like Dirk...he comes up lacking. 'Cuz as much as I was rooting for the Rockets..when Dirk threw it up you knew it was somehow going through the hoop, while half of Harden's shots...it was like....wtf? why are you taking that shot.

 

Bingo!

The effort defensively was far better and the awareness was better as well. The Rockets could have done a better job in select plays, but in general the Mavericks hit long mid range jumpers. We can live with that, that is what defensively you hope for. The Mavericks did very little inside.

Statistically it is very unlikely for another team to consistently shoot as well as the Mavericks did. Further the season is young and we will see things even out.

As strange as it sounds, the Mavericks game is the best the Rockets have played all season.

 

But the Heat also had the best player on the planet on their roster. We have two great players in Harden and Howard, but they have their deficiencies. Harden on defense(and occasionally on offense) and Dwight with his lack of post-up game and occasional free throw problems.

Yes, they can turn it around. But the mistakes that have cost them a lot of these early season losses are not being corrected. I'm happy that with Jones now in the lineup and the team playing less frequently, they're getting off to much better starts against opponents. But they're still having trouble finishing games. And come playoff time, that's what will matter.

 

You cannot be serious.

There is a reason Cuban went all out for Howard and Ellis was a consolation prize. Ellis has been in the league a number of years, he is not suddenly going to become a different player. Unless Howard is hurt there is no comparison.

Some people are really losing perspective.

 

I would not be surprised though if by the end of the season Dwight is considered the best player on the team though.

People forget that when this guy was at his best he was considered a tier 1 player.

 

This site is full of what-have-you-done-for-me-latelys.

 

Oh man, even as a Rox fan you gotta appreciate this video, quite funny

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Most dominant post player in the league, as well as the best two guard.

The roster is more talented than the Heats IMO. Bosh took a backseat to the other two, and Parsons has shown he can be a 1a option once every few games. Jeremy Lin is a 6th man of the year kind of player as well. The talent is there. The defense will be once Harden commits. And I think he will.

I am not worried one bit, this team could very easily be 10-3 right now if it were not for these ridiculous late game shots the other teams have been making. Luck goes both ways, and I think the Rockets will even out eventually. I am not worried.

 

Yeah, they're thinking that Bev is a defensive specialist whom can take down any PG in the league even Westbrook.