How do you figure that? Ham did not perform better than Casspi in any aspect, as far as I could see. In what way has he been better?
parsons played heavy minutes last nite while getting absolutely torched by denver's wings and prior to OT, bricking nonstop. would have liked to see hamilton at least sub in for him a few minutes. in addition, hamilton knows the denver players well and likely would have been a bigger factor against them defensively. parsons kept leaving fournier wide open in the corners and letting the quincy rook get the cup at will, almost like he didn't even read the scouting reports on them before the game.
Yeah, I think that's a big factor. Garcia needs some playing time in order to get in game shape and find his rhythm heading into the postseason. Keep in mind when the Rockets were going through that stretch recently where they won something like 15 out of 17 games, Cisco never left the bench even on nights where the team was up 25 points. And this was after he'd recovered from his injury, so that wasn't a factor. On the flip side, Hamilton has struggled since his red hot debut with the team, so he's having a hard time getting playing time. But I cannot believe come the postseason that he'll never leave the bench. Not unless Garcia and Casspi are lighting it up out there.
I think this was part of the plan. I think they planned on sort of resting Cisco for most of the season and then unleashing him in the playoffs. If he had been playing regularly the whole season he might not have been able to muster the same energy he's been playing with lately. I think Ham will get some burn in the playoffs but I think they acquired him for the future, not the present.
I dont think having a hot hand has anything to do with it. When he first came to Houston he focused on doing all the little things and playing hard, I guess to prove something to his new teammates and coaches. Now when he's put in games, the defense, and intangibles are lack luster, and on offense he's been breaking alot of plays to take bad shots (some of which are don don don..... LONG 2'S!!). Long 2's and lackluster defense & effort... = benched for Casspi & Garcia. Casspi and Garcia really haven't been great either, but you have gotten some motivated efforts at least from those two. Next year I would think that Morey will try and find a much better solution to the backup 2/3 spot, but if not I think they will push the coaching staff to give Covington a shot next year.
Who cares, he's not a veteran, you really want to rely on him in the playoffs? We had Wafer a few years ago, good in the reg season but dissappeared when we needed him. You need guys who know what to do, Garcia knows and Casspi deserves it more.
His window to establish himself as a contributor on this team for 2014 has closed. He'll be reassessed in the offseason. As I said when we got the guy, probably just another Kirk Snyder, James White, Terrance Williams level project/stock guy to add to the portfolio.
I really hope he gets back in the rotation. He's the only back up really that can shoot and drive to the basket. Hope he gets more comfortable
Kind of funny Cisco got his stuff together now, when the playoffs are just around the corner, I know he didn't, but it's kind of like he just chilled until he needed to play hard.
Hamilton/Garcia/Casspi is basically one entity and McHale should play whoever has been shooting well both in games and in practice.
He hasn't been playing well. Casspi has been outplaying him, but only by a tiny margin. I would have liked to see him get a few minutes last night though when Parsons was a negative both offensively and defensively. Who knows, playing against his old team might have revived that hustle and effort we saw when he first came on board.
Can't remember when he last made a shot. That will get you out of the lineup. He started great but has slumped.
