ClutchFans Game Thread: Celtics @ Rockets 3/3/2018

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Need OKC game thread. ASAP.

 

I am a little scared...

 

****KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! THIS IS CRUCIAL!!!!

 

Don't be scurred.

 

I like Joe, even though he isn’t shooting well he’s very smart with the ball.

I’m not mad about this either, Green will take his minutes which isn’t a bad thing.

 

It is? Green was doing just fine as the backup 2 before JJ signed here.

 

Yup he usually makes the right pass or pla. His shots aren’t falling but they will, he just needs to keep shooting.

 

Well at least you made an actual point. Rockets playing the Warriors well for one game has nothing to do with it.

You also fail to understand that playing with force on defense could prevent switches way easier than you think. GS did not allow switches almost at all in games 1 and 2 of the finals. 2016 was an abberation due to how relentless Cleveland was.

Capela can absolutely drop in the pick and roll. He has great mobility for his size. Anderson is beside the point, he will probably see the bench and isn't playable against athletic teams. He obviously didn't even play last night.


Switching in the pick and roll is stupid and lazy for this specific roster. Rockets don't have the switchability of a Toronto or GS. They don't have the athletes for it.


Capela and Nene are solid in the paint defensively however. Funneling to them while dropping in the pick and roll while helping the helper from the corner is the only logical way to play on a nightly basis.


Do you honestly believe the optimal strategy is to switch Chris Paul onto Morris when Marcus Smart of all people is running the high pick and roll. Leaving Chris Paul has the only resistance in the paint? DO you realize the Clippers last year had HALF the defensive talent of this Rockets team and had a better defense with Chris Paul in the lineup? Like, by far?

You clearly don't understand how the top 5 NBA defenses actually guard on a nightly basis. They surely don't switch Patty Mills onto the Monroe's and Morris of the world. Then double team a guy not worthy of such attention in normal scenarios and leaving shooters open.


But clearly I'm the one who doesn't watch the league enough. You people are in a ridiculous bubble on this forum in a lot of ways. Half of you never even knew how good Chris Paul was until this season,.

 

Just as I figured, you don't watch the games. We played the Warriors well three times this season. We won 2 out of three.

 

I find these comments strange.

Since this roster was purpose built with the sole intention of being able to switch on the perimeter against Golden State.

Tucker/Ariza/Mbah a Moute are all smart players who have a knack for defense. They aren't stopping KD one on one. What they are going to do though is pressure Curry backwards instead of letting him go towards the 3 point line/ring when they're forced to switch in the p'n'r.

This is a huge area in being successful against the Warriors. Because then you force Curry's one handed overhead passes to the other side of the court which takes the Warriors out of their set. Or you force Draymond/Klay/KD to reset instead of going to the spot they were about to go to, to go help Curry from a trap. Only for a few seconds, but those small plays are how you slay a giant.

Morey brought in these athletes specifically to switch, and specifically against Golden State.

I haven't followed the whole discussion surrounding switching in this thread, but I said during the game the switches we kept doing were stupid and we didn't need to do them (constantly putting Capela on the ball handler, allowing Boston to have favourable position for rebounds among other things).

However switching is absolutely instrumental in beating Golden State.

 

You are now arguing that the Rockets either give up an open jump shot or they give up a drive by the ball handler - because if Capela "drops back" Those are your choices. Do you understand that is the whole purpose of a pick?

So you want Capela to drop back and wait for Paul to "funnel" the ball handler? So you are saying they should stay in the paint while the screener is on top? What if that screener is a guy who can hit a jump shot? Are you saying they should give up a jump shot? And again, what happens to Chris Paul who just got screened? He's stuck in the screen or he is stuck now behind the ball handler as he drives towards Capela. Oh, and guess what, the screen is now free to drop down on the other side of the paint. You've just complete fractured our defense. In fact this is EXACTLY WHAT THE ROCKETS DO TO OTHER TEAMS - where do you think all those Capela dunks come from?????

First of all, Chris Paul is at top of the key after he has been screen, not in the paint. By switching you have stopped the roll to the paint. Secondly, you are stopping a wide open jump shot. Let's take an example of Curry getting around a pick. If Paul goes over then Curry - who may still get an open look, definitely can drive. If Paul chases Curry no one is guarding the screen - and Capela will be forced to choose between a driving Curry and the screener.

In these situations, Golden State will kill you. KILL YOU. This is how you lose to GS because that's their game plan. So please, don't tell me I am ridiculous.

Instead, THINK FIRST. Stop just acting like you are some kind of expert when you clearly don't get Basketball 101. Have you ever ever played organized basketball? Because you sure don't sound like you have. Maybe try coaching a pee-wee league or something before you post here.

Oh and those top defenses? Guess what - they switch again so you don't have a small point guard on a post player - Imagine that!

 

Remember when this flopper was on the ground holding his knee?

 

Usually when a player gets injured Keith Jones is the first person to help them regardless if they are a Rockets player or not. When Marcus Smart was laying on the court “injured” even Keith Jones kept his ass glued to his seat. He knew what’s up.