ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pistons 12/21/2013

I am convinced that Harden's injury is real and he wants to play through pain, even at the expense of losing a game (Indiana). He doesn't come across as a whiney T-Mac with every pain. No doubt he was injured during the Indiana game and still gave it a try. Bev and Smith were injured. Lin hopefully will be back soon. Back spasms are nothing to scoff at. Asik, well I don't know and you don't either. Reports were that his knee is swelling after workouts now that his thigh contusion is better. A swollen knee, seeking medical consults... Well I don't know and you don't either.

 

I like how you didn't say anything about Bev. haha

Harden's assist numbers are ok, but you consider the fact that when he plays, he has the ball in his hands most of the time and is actually our "playmaker/PG", then he should be averaging more than 5.6 assists a game. Last season, when he was averaging 5.8 and it was ok because we had Lin playing more minutes and giving you 6.1 assists a game. But with Bev's 2.3 assists a game, you are getting a significant drop off. Couple that with the fact that a number of Lin's assists are coming with the second unit and you should be able to understand why guys on the first unit aren't touching the ball as much as they could be and it hurts us offensively.

 

No, I don't know, which is why I used the word "suspect".

Harden may well be injured. His ankle may well have issues. If so then he needs to not try to play through it and take the time off to let it heal. That is on him and also on the medical staff. I'd rather he sit out a week or two and come back full strength than play at 50%, because his 50% hurts the entire team. But again, I find it suspect that he takes the game off the night after an embarrassing loss and a crappy performance by him. Is it wrong to hope he's actually injured and simply trying to let it heal? Because the alternative is... he's calling off work and not really sick.

Asik's "injury" is too convenient. I am really disgusted with his attitude so far. I have no respect for a guy who gets paid millions of dollars to play a child's game and pouts on the bench because he doesn't get everything his way. And hoe freaking long does a damned bruise have to keep a relatively healthy and strong 27 year old off the court? Really?!?

The rest of them, I believe their injuries to be likely real. But Asik, I don't buy it. And Harden, I wonder. It's hard not to.

 

I agree. Back injuries can be completely debilitating and they can take a long time to recover from. And usually the best way to recover is with rest. I almost broke a toe last year and that led to me compensating and ultimately, my back spazzed out on me one day when I bent over to throw something in my suitcase. I literally fell on the floor and could barely move. And while I'm no spring chicken, I work out 3-4 times a week and am pretty fit.

Anyways, for the next few weeks, everything was hard on my back as my sciatic nerve was killing me. Walking was rough. Riding in a car was almost impossible. Sitting in meetings for work was brutal. Even sleeping was a chore.

I don't pity Parsons or Lin at all. Acupunctures is probably a good start (though I never did it) but rest helps the best.

 

Don't understand why yall continue to down play TMac. Smh

 

Actually, Gil, he has the best Defensive Rating on the team this season...
Not "one the best" - THE best. As in "numero uno".
Kapish?

Don't belive it? Look at the spoiler...

Spoiler

 

Pop sits his stars just to rest them and to piss off the networks. Gotta respect that. And he is a great coach and let's the players know who makes the final call. I would love it if McHale took a few pages out of Pop's book…

 

Damn good bounce back game by them Red Nation Rockets Boyz.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>ABrooks on Howard: &quot;It felt like playing with Yao. He was creating shots for everybody. And when the big man is rolling, give him the ball.”</p>&mdash; Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/statuses/414612710848876544">December 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

The Lakers could very well have screwed themselves. My buddy, a die hard Lakers fan told me that the plan was to suck this season and then use all of their $ to sign some big free agents next season. The allure of playing with Kobe would be enough to rebuild a star studded team. In theory, plausible. But with Kobe looking oh so mortal now, if he actually never recovers from his injuries and comes back like Jordan on the Bullets/Wizards, there are't going to be a lot of superstars pining away to join him in LA. They might be stuck in mediocrity for a while.

 

Wait, I thought James Harden was the worst defensive player ever?

 

Ugh- I will be at that game. And I bet that there will be more Mav fans than usual b/c of the holidays and people in from Dallas.

It would be miserable if we lost.

 

im so mad right now...I had a $2000 bet for the Rockets tonight...only to cancel it b/c of James sitting out...lol...the life of gambling...Who knew that Dwight would have a monster game like this against a formidable front court, and that the Rockets shooters would find their range. After yesterday's stinker, this was an impressive win!

So rule of thumb for all degenerate like me...If the Rockets are playing back to back, and they blow out their opponent for the first game, look for them to lose the next, and visa versa. So far in 2013 it has held true.

Go Rockets

 

And he was playing ~5 more minutes per game in those years with no one close to as talented as Harden on his team.

Per36 he's down ~1 shot and free throw per game from those Orlando years you referenced.

 

Well, it also shows that Garcia's D is better than Parsons and for that fact, even better than Bev's. So I have a new plan.

Let's start Garcia so we have a defensive presence on the floor (it should be an upgrade from Bev's defense). Then we start Lin and bring Parsons off the bench. Parsons is such a great player he can provide us with the scoring punch we desire from our 6th man. And while we bring in Parsons we can bring in Bev to keep the intensity up while Garcia rests.

 

High ankle sprains linger for a while so I think Harden's injury is legitimate.

 

What was the play Beverley fractured his hand on? Anyone know? How did it happen?

 

Ok, fair enough. But even down a shot and a free throw shows he is getting less touches. And more telling is the fact that we just upgraded from Asik to Howard so you would think that Harden would/should be taking less shots. Guess what? He's taking almost the same number of FG attempts (.5 less) and a little over 1 less FT per game).

I'm not saying that I'm a basketball guru, but I would think that Harden would be deferring a little more than that to Howard if he were really getting the ball to Dwight as much as he should be. The stats show that Harden has barely relinquished the ball any more than last season.

 

I think his hand poked Garcia or another Rocket player.

 

He was trying to make an assist and it was such a new thing for him that his hand didn't know how to react. :grin: