ClutchFans Game Thread: Pacers @ Rockets 12/26/2023

Kinda wondering this too. I feel like there’s something behind the scenes happening, he’s been so bad but also it feels like the team has sort of been directed to look away. They give him some token shots to start a game, that’s it.

I think the answer might be making him the 6th man, Fred/Sengun have established a working offense predicated on that 2 man game and Brooks/Smith are great outlets to that. Jalen as a 5th option is never going to get going.

Holiday as the 5th option/spot up shooter actually plays to his strengths. Maybe you give him a look at starting? Have Jalen be a bench scorer, maybe he finds some rhythm and confidence there. Just can’t see how he’s supposed to do it as an afterthought and being constantly benched.

 

I feel bad for Jalen too, he's clearly lost his confidence or not able to just play up to the basic standards expected from an NBA player. Almost every time he comes in and does something now to the detriment of the team; either takes a bad shot, dribbles himself into a tough situation, misses an open teammate, etc.

That being said, even with him playing like that, we should've been able to win this game but our offense is just horrendous. We have forwards and guards who cannot do much around the basket, penetrate without being a real threat and not a set play where if they kick it out for a 3pt shot it’s coming as expected and within rhythm.

We also throw up too many 1-and-done street ball 3pt shots where nobody else touches the ball, there’s nobody (in a good position) to rebound etc. We really need to do better. At the other end for this game we showed a lack of size, but also help defense, guys out of position and particularly rotating and or helping off of good 3pt shooters.

Did not think this was a very good game at all, save Sengun and some of our team play at times. Tari brought the hustle but he has to finish some of those lay-ups. Brooks had his moments, Aaron too. Some of our turnovers were atrocious.

Lastly, Ime keeps having these groups on the floor together, like Aaron, Amen & Tate that just do not work. Sometimes even with a FVV or Green in there. Defensively our lack of size hurt and on offense a floor general, good passers and enough outside threats hurt.

Sorry, but there’s no way Stone can be happy with our shortcomings. So I get some rewards Aaron for example, but Amen is not ready and if you want him out there, he needs a FVV and some shooting around him.

There’s no shame in losing last night, but it was more so us not being sharp enough and offensively as a group not the smartest + 3pt defense is why we lost.

 

Hire his twins. Kpj and Christopher to be his male escorts.

 

We lost this game, because they hit their open 3’s and we missed ours, especially FVV. It’s really as simple as that. Green is playing horribly, but there’s nothing going on behind the scenes. Ime tells it exactly like it is. He knows the team needs Jaylen to be better in order to get where we want to be, so he is going to give him a long leash. Holiday gets hunted on defense. He played well last night, but he did not the last couple of games. The fact is we have no starting caliber shooting guard on this team to replace Green. Either Green has to get better, they trade for one, or Cam earns it by being effective off the bench. If Dillon misses any significant time, I think Cam gets a few minutes, but Tate will start (ugh).

 

I appreciate the information @Ankara1923 . Eating food is always more enjoyable when you know some history behind it.

 

That wry smile when Ime responded with "no we have not thought about that." He knew that question was coming and couldn't help but smile when it did.

 

Love Momster.

 

Anything on the Brooks' injury?

 

I do not think dry penetration therapy is the way to go.

 

lol

 

Part of the issue I think is scheme. We switch off way to easily and dont provide effective weak side help. Take the Haliburton 3 in the fourth. Why was Bari guarding one of the best pgs? Then they had senguins guy set a pick and Bari is stuck not only guarding a pg but trying to guard him off a pick. Senguin meantime is anticipating a cut by the picker and he is sagged so senguin ended up guarding no body and literally there were 2 guys open all by 1 pick. It can't be that easy

 

No moral victories for us.



Not a foul, no goaltending....

 

FYI from the Two Minute report:

Q4 00:54.8 Myles Turner on Alperen Sengun [Correct Non Call]

"Turner (IND) briefly places a hand on Sengun's (HOU) left shoulder before cleanly blocking the dunk attempt. The contact before the blocked shot is marginal."

"Turner (IND) cleanly blocks the dunk attempt when Sengun (HOU) still possesses the ball, and therefore is allowed to make contact with the ball while it is in the imaginary cylinder above the rim."​

Translation: lower body contact doesn't matter. It's almost always deemed "marginal" in video reviews. For the Rockets to become an elite defensive club, they must find ways to make a play on the ball above the imaginary cylinder. And you have to have that veteran know-how of getting that offhand push. Turner's brilliant at gaining small advantages in this way.

The push is the play that lets Turner meet Sengun at the rim. No push, and he can't close the gap. Sengun is not strong enough yet to absorb this kind of contact and not have it affect his jump.

The NBA did notice two other incorrect calls that directly affected the game's outcome:

• A travel by Nembhard after a double-team on Haliburton. This was the key basket that extended the Pacer's lead to 5.
• An earlier foul by Haliburton that would have resulted in a 3-point play by Van Vleet

There were zero incorrect calls against the Rockets (who are closely watched by refs).