ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 1/25/2014

I know intensity goes up in the playoffs, but it seems like playoffs are highly matchup dependent - if we were to face Memphis or the Clips or OKC we will not look great no matter how much we up our intensity. If we face Portland, San Antonio or possibly GS we stand a much better chance of looking like a team that's ready for playoff intensity.

 

Yeah, the coaching philosophy is evident. Lin brings the ball up the court, passes to Harden or Bev and then goes to stand in a corner while they execute the "offense". You can have a poster saying, "well he shouldn't be so timid and should do what he wants when he has the ball in his hands." The problem is--if he even tries to play like himself, he'll be benched for not doing what the coaching staff wants--ie letting Bev or Harden or Parsons play-make.

 

Lin has to step his game up period

 

The problem is neither Lin nor Bev are starting caliber PG's. Of the two, Bev has abetter contract and will help the Rockets long term

Lin is just a below average PG who looks really bad at the moment. Shots not falling, lacking in confidence. I'm sure Morey will not hesitate to move the Lin contract for a better PG and move Bev back to the bench

 

I love the Rockets, but last night reminded me of some of those "gutless" performances by Yao and TMac against the Jazz in Utah. Like they were running in mud, no energy, no fire…..a kind of just beat us and let the game end attitude. I hate that. If I was the coach last night, I would have pulled all the starters early and never put them back in. You don't want to play, O.K. don't play.

 

I hate people comparing Lin , Dragic and Lowry these days.
Lin is a part time, underused point guard under mcFail system, while Dragic and Lowry have ball in their hands and playmake in every single trip. Playtime and no. of shot attempts are not on par either. Even comparing PatB to Dragic and Lowry is not fair and meaningless, as PatB is asked mainly to defend, not playmaker and score.

 

By the the middle of a third I was just praying they would reach 70 pts. It looked dire at that point.

 

sigh...


an 0-10 divisional team just swept us in a home and home series.

 

Memphis is much better with Gasol back - this was not a bad team we played. They are very good.

We just got outmuscled by a physically dominating team. Their defense was suffocating, and they completely shut down our attack. Honestly, we need more games like this - it's the only way this team is going to learn how to execute.

We can't always rely on being a uptempo team. Or if we are, we have to figure out how to do it against top-notched defenses. Memphis played this game like it was the playoffs, we played it like it was the regular season. That was the difference.

 

I've been too depressed to post about how aggravating this loss was, particularly on top of the loss at home to Memphis. It's aggravating! There, I said it. Now I have to look for a bridge to jump off of. Excuse me.

 

I agree, you can't limit yourself too much and say ok we will not take mid range shots, what if everything else isn't working? you have to do something different and switch things up if you want to beat tough teams, especially in the playoffs.

 

McHail: Plan A is play harder! play harder!

 

DECKARD, NO!!!!!

 

I tend to agree with all of this.

ETA: I don't think the whole James-Johnson-to-Memphis thing is going to stop stinging anytime soon. What a bummer.

 

Perfect game to have Asik because Memphis man handled us down low. We beat them twice playing the Grizz slow and grind it out type of game.

 

And if game plan is to have lots of 3 point shots, who is the 3 point shooting coach for the team?

Cos I think his/her job would be in jeopardy if I was the boss.

 

I can't imagine a single young point guard that would want to play for mchale.

that said, Lin still needs to go. However first things first, new coach please.

 

well not exactly, Clutch article shows the starting 4 as a whole + Bev has a higher net rating than the starting 4 + Lin.

It does not break down individual stats with either PG. So if Lin/Bev are in the game with TJones but NOT Parsons/harden/Howard as well then the stats are not included with the ones Clutch used.

 

The whole bench was mishandled. The substitutions boggles the mind.

I don't understand why Parsons played 23 minutes before the half. I get he was hot the day before. But even D' Antoni didn't ride Lin this hard in NY.

And I don't understand why we had three point guards on the floor at the same time. Against Memphis! Thats like giving the Memphis team all our rebounds for free.

And yes, I know we have injuries. But come on, you are telling me that he couldn't have gone with other options? Maybe stagger the minutes of his starters?

 

Same observation here. Last year unselfish beautiful uptempo ball sharing with great chemistry. This year slow down selfish iso hero ball. Yes, Asik is no Howard but Howard now slows down the game because he wants to play post instead of pnr. Last year we had Lin to speed up the game as the starting pg which gave him confidence to play his strength. This year whatever we do is a regression. We blew out Memphis last year with Gasol & ZBo on the team. We ran them to exhaustion. This year we slow down & play half court iso hero ball with little chemistry, and that is what the Grizzles want. We are no match to them playing this slow down ball. Our 3pt shooters are very inconsistent compared to last year. That doesn't help either. We need more assists from our starting pg Bev to help set up the 3pt shots, but his assist number compared to other top starting pgs in the west is just a joke.