ClutchFans Game Thread: Heat @ Rockets 10/17/2015 (PRESEASON)

Interesting game, that's for sure. Some thoughts:
- I've said it every game, but man, Ariza has been great and particularly this game was monstrous. Even the shots he missed looked very good and were mostly in and out. He's ready!
- Harden looked solid, still some defensive mistakes but that's fine.
- TJ was solid again, so was Ty and Thorton.
- Joshua needs to just stand there, nobody can move him.
- Beverley is still Beverley, the good and the vey bad.
- KJ, Dekker & Harrell are not ready.
- I liked that Iranian kid, he's smart and knows how to play.

The best sequence was the last play of the 2nd quarter with Beverley's hustle leading to Harden's drive and wrap around pass to TJ + the 1st play of the 3rd quarter with the hustle by both Joshua & TJ.

 

Also, some thoughts on the commentary crew: can they please STOP LYING?? They can be homers, sure, but to say that TJ has been great the whole pre-season, just took the crown. They need to be realistic and stop saying it's been all good, all gravy and all our players are terrific.

 

Lawson sure gets to the basket with ease.

Getting layups in halfcourt sets is beastly.

 

of the rooks, Montrezl brings the most definable skills thus far. easier for McHale to call his number being more comfortable with this consistency.

KJ, OTOH, needs to use this second year and develop what he brings to get consistent minutes. while I like Smith, particularly as a practice partner for Clint, he and Dekker can most immediately be helped in the valley.

 

I feel like the target demographic of the commentators are children. I honestly feel like listening to them makes you dumber in the long run.


KJ is one of the most talented athletes I've ever seen, he seems to have at least some smarts. He just needs to cool it down a bit and only use his athleticism when it gives him an advantage. At times it looks like he's some sort of hummingbird, he's just so quick.

 

Pretty good pre-season game.

-Ariza was outstanding...best player on the court for this game
- Harden's shooting seemed off but nothing to worry about
-TJ had a good game
-KJ has not earned a rotation spot...and maybe never will. His shooting just has not improved significantly.
- rookies are rookies....and won't get much burn except for possibly Harrell
-Thornton looks like a good rotation player; instant offense

Let the season begin already.

 

10 more days....

 

I would ask;

Are we less turnover prone?
Do we have an additional playmaker?
Are we a better FT shooting team?
Can we rebound without Dwight Howard in the game?
Can we guard elite PG's?
Can we put the foot down with big leads?

I'm not sure we have answers yet. No matter how good we look or feel, these are the real questions for me, as they close the gap to the championship.

 

Could not agree more, especially needing another playmaker, another defensive rebounding 5 to back up Dwight & Clinty and having the swag/ruthlessness to destroy teams when leading.

Those players and that mindset not currently on team.

 

They killed me earlier when they said Patrick Beverley has had a great preseason. Yeah, 6.8 ppg on 32% shooting from the field and bad defense is now considered "great". He's been up and down, just like the whole team. I'm not worried about the season, but there's no reason to throw out words like "great".

I don't have those same questions. Mine are more about being exploited defensively. Our starters have been strong. Even with one in the lineup, we seem to extend or hold leads. I like what I'm seeing, we just drop our leads with non-Rockets in the lineup.

That Josh Smith block on Wade was legit. He seems like he can play the game, but the refs aren't helping him out at all. There were at least 3 bad calls on him last night.

 

Joshua Smith will not get those calls in regular season either. He needs more time in D League first.

 

Is this guy trying to be a troll or is he just a complete idiot?

 

I think it's clear based off the first preseason games that Lawson is more than adequate as a second playmaker.

We are still ass at free throws.

And not sure what the point of asking the other questions are at this point since no one can reasonably expect these questions to be answered six games into the preseason.

 

I personally think Harrell is set to see big minutes in important games.

I can't think of a better player on the Rockets' roster to combat the small ball lineup by GS and Draymond.

You can just tell his game is going to frustrate Draymond to no end and disrupt that team.

 

I think he is just an idiot but he might be a troll.

His super negative schtick has grown old though. I'm surprised he hasn't been banned but hey, we've still got swwwyggyy or whatever running around trolling.

 

I know this is not in the stay sheets and ty still got 5 assist but lawson is really good about making that extra pass to a guy who makes another pass to the scorer. He just makes the offense flow much smoother.

 

I was laughing at some of the turnovers last night where players weren't looking for passes from Ty. They're so used to Harden being the only playmaker on the team that they're still adjusting to having an actual PG(and a good one at that) out there.

 

The power forward position will make or break us. The only physical, tough defender we have besides Dwight is a rookie Harrell. Even with a healthy DMo we're gonna be in trouble

 

It's ridiculous that some posters said we don't need Josh Smith.

 

It doesn't' matter what they said. The fact is he didn't want to re-sign here.