ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 11/16/2012

Yea I kno, just playing along silly

 

You said it. I don't think Sampson ever believed in Lin - which is really ballsy on his part, given that the front office obviously has a lot of trust in him to pay him that much money.

So, do you think Lin playing under these conditions, where his coaches don't have enough faith in him to leave him in a close game, that he can ever reach his potential?

 

Great game. Our offense is clicking defense is not, gave away 111p in 4 qtrs.

Blazers players are damn long. Tough match up for us.

Harden still learning how to close games
Lin still learning to shoot
Asik still learning to catch the ball
Coaching staff still have a lot of work to do
Let's be patient...

Here we go vs Lakers Sunday

 

Let's take a step back and look at some of the positives.

Lin played a heck of a game, without needing to take a lot of shots. As a result, the Rockets offense flowed, and fast-break points came fairly easily. It looked a lot like the Knicks play when Carmelo and Amare was out, which was the overlooked part of Linsanity, and that is Lin made everybody around him better and got them great looks. And James Harden shot and looked better without needing to initiate the offense and be the primary ball handler.

And the simple adjustment? Let Jeremy Lin play PG and be the primary playmaker, with Harden the secondary playmaker. Worked well for both.

Asik showed us a few good moves and continued to shoot the FTs well. 16/16 night.

Harden looks like he can score efficiently without being the primary ball handler, so it's not an issue of Harden needs to do this to make him play well. In fact, the last 6 games before Portland showed Harden's efficiency takes a dive when he is the primary playmaker and iso option.

Marcus Morris continues to hit the big shots. His 3 looks really good, great form and arc. And he's a Philly guy, ain't no stepping away from the big shot.

Parsons was great also. He looks much improved shooting and finishing shots. Between Parsons, Lin and Harden, we're getting almost 16 rebounds per game, which is wonderful production for for your backcourt and 3.

The bad?

The Rockets look real bad when they stop moving the ball and go into iso or one-pass shoot offense. And that happens when Lin is off the floor. Toney Douglas isn't a better defender than Lin. Full Stop. He may put on more ball pressure, hustle, and look like a more flashy defender, but he is not a better defender. Look how Lin continued to funnel Lillard into contested space where Lillard has room to take a bad shot, but not a good one. Look how Lin played the help defense role and blocked two shots and disturbed the cutter into poor shots.

I don't want to say Sampson made a bad decision when he took Lin out first for defensive purposes late in game, and then for the whole OT. The synergy defensive stats this year don't back that up, Lin's defense vs Douglas's defense on Lillard this game doesn't back it up, and certainly Douglas's offense this game (vs last game) vs Lin's game tonight doesn't back it up. The problem isn't just the decision ... it is what it is. It is that there was no adjustment (perhaps stubbornness) when it obviously wasn't working. On BOTH ENDS. The Rockets offense certainly looked crap in OT, just hit-and-miss iso ball or one-pass and shoot. And on defense, Parsons was switching on Lillard PnR anyway, so Douglas wasn't defending Lillard.

Five minutes is a lot of time to be not playing someone setting up his teammates beautifully and playing very good defense throughout the game, to be replaced by someone who did neither throughout the game.

 

Agree completely, you nailed it.

 

Sampson hacked into that twitter acct and posted that.

 

welp i saw the best offense flow for the rox tonite untill 3qr, so that's what i'm gon take from this game, or may we were just hot.

 

No. Which is why either Lin needs to be dealt, or the coaching staff let go.

 

I don't know what to think. Disappointing ending, but very much not unexpected. They were hot and we were doing much iso. Another closing meltdown by the Rockets...
Taking Lin out killed the offense.

 

I'm super angry so I'm just going to state the truth. You're a r****d

 

I thought I told you to STFU ?

 

+1

 

Go back to New York and join the rest of your class-less brethren.

 

WTF is wrong with you? I understand you're upset but there's no place for talk like that on this forum.

 

I hope you're not serious. Lillard was quiet until the 4th, and when he went off, TD is the one who allowed him to get hot. And even if you think I'm wrong and Lin is really Lillard's b****, at least he is +5 on the court. He's doing something to offset his supposedly "terrible" defense.

 

I agree. What the heck did we get Lin for if we're going to use him like this? Either Lin needs to be traded or allowed to be "free" or the coaching staff needs to be fired.

 

this is not correct. Lillard scored 11 points in the 4th quarter but I think only 6 were on Lin. Both Douglas and Lin were in the game at the same time.

I do 100% know that Lillard scored all 5 of his points in the OT over Douglas since Lin didn't play.

 

Whoops, this was meant for the other guy. But you need to chill as well.

 

It killed the defense too.

 

Go back to New York and rejoin the rest of your class-less brethren. If all you have to offer is to tell someone to "STFU Up" you're not needed here.