ClutchFans Game Thread: Timberwolves @ Rockets 11/23/2013

So sad but true.

 

Jones winds up with 20-10-3 in a close 6 point victory

 

We just need to play our game. Push the ball in transition, get to the rim .... Love and Pekovic are not shot blockers, we should have plenty of points in the paint against them.

 

What about on defense? I'm not really concerned about our offense.

 

Love, Pekovic and Martin are strong scorers. Love is a strong rebounder, he had 16 in his last game. Rubio can get them the ball and is a low turnover guy. Barea is a pain and can make clutch shots and plays. It can get ugly if the Rockets aren't careful. The T-wolves destroyed the Nets last night.

http://www.nba.com/games/20131122/BKNMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=slt

 

Even weak teams are destroying the Nets, but I do agree with you that T-wolves is a much different team than less year. Houston needs to concentrate on limiting Pekovic and Martin as much as possible. Love will probably have a "Melo" night, but Rockets will me up with a W if they can do this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo5hPhUqKow

 

Not optimistic.

 

Lin should start in games like these because Rubio isn't a scorer. What good is Beverley's defense in this game ?

 

If you look at the box scores, they weren't really lighting it up from the field. Love didn't hit a 3 pointer. So they may get hot tonight against our defense. I know it is a b2b for them but they have offensive weapons that can go off. I think it is a good strategy to contain Pek and Martin and just let Love get his. Love's rebounding is a concern.

 

We should not underestimate their ability to score on the paint,and to put Dwight into foul trouble. I feel Asik needs to have a big game. He can play some minutes with Dwight,and also come off the bench.
Lin needs to have a big game too.

 

What's up with all the treatment threads? Who calls something treatment anyway? Basketball is a tough game and treatment ain't a tough word.

 

Hmm. Our record is the same as the Clips and GSW. That makes me feel a little better.

 

Hard to be optimistic right now, but we'll see. Maybe we'll show up, maybe we won't. Nothing surprises me with this team anymore.

 

oh snap! Marc Gasol is out indefinitely due to a level 2 sprain to his MCL. Hat to see players go down but we better win Monday's game with him out!

 

We are playing so badly. We are only 8-5.

 

Remember how excited we were before the season, in the preseason, and before each game earlier in the season? Remember how we stayed up late for the preseason game in Taiwan and high-5ed each other afterwards?

Now we go into each game with fear, uncertainties, worries, doubts, complaints, and pessimism. *Sigh*

 

Yeah, it's pretty encouraging, really. Many years, 8-5 would be the best of our abilities. This year, we're a mess so far and still 8-5. Imagine when our 3's start falling.

Last year we went through the same thing for the first half of the season, when we could never close out games. Then we peaked, then faded right at the end of the season. Hope we can peak later this year.

 

Beverley starting isn't about his defense. It's about Beverley having a limited offensive game which increases touches for Howard, Harden, and Parsons.

 

Yeah, but other than the Clips, we haven't really played any other would-be contending teams. Until our team defense is shored up, most of the other contenders will either (1) have legit defense that can shut down our offense, which is too frequently the only thing we have to depend on (e.g., CHI, Indy, Grizz), or (2) match our offensive output and thus, exploit our defensive deficiencies (e.g., Clips, GSW, sharpshooting Lakers scrubs). I'd feel a lot better if we'd played a lot of heavy hitters so far.

[/Debbie Downer]