ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Celtics 1/2/2008

it's a mistake to foul out pollard and perkins. that matched yao against kg and he got destroyed down the stretch.

 

We weren't rolling, that's the problem. Once we had the lead, and KG was back in, in 3 possessions we had Rafer forcing a well-defended 20fter, Bonzi flopping to get 2 free throws and Brooks turning it over, resulting in a wide open dunk by Rondo.

 

Dakota for the first time I am starting to think that we just can't do it with Yao ! I have never bashed Yao or T-Mac but I'm starting to see how this team just slows way down with Yao in the game

 

LUTHER HEAD COULD SHOOT 75% FROM 3-POINT TERRITORY FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON AND STILL BE A NET LIABILITY TO THIS TEAM!

I don't think I have ever seen such a one-dimensional player like this clown.

At least players like Eddie House and Bruce Bowen don't make mistakes so that their one skill can be beneficial to the team.

Luther Head is the worst combo guard I can think of in this league.

 

Why didnt they run the pick n roll continuously? instead they went for iso in last couple minutes.. i blamed it on Rick Adelman

 

is anyone else de-friending luther head on facebook?

 

WTF was with the lineup in the last 6 minutes

no scola+no hayes= no rebounds and nobody to guard garnett

 

I dono what u guys complained about?

Yah, we did lose the game... So what?! That was what we expected, wasn't it? But at least, we did make them struggle in the final Q, they put back their "THREE"...And we should give some credicts for every Rockets player in the team. They made a great run and never surrendered!!!

GO ROX!!! ALWAYS BE WITH YOU!!!

 

He's a shooter. But can't defend well and can't handle the ball. This one is on coach.

 

Eh, moral victory.

I pin the blame on Adelman for not making this a...victory victory though, some of the matchups and descions (Yao on KG, Head on Ray Ray) really had me...confused. The last set plays were very WTF too.

Also Luther...what are you thinking?

 

Frankly if the losses to GS and Boston had been complete blowouts there wouldn't be this much anguish. At least the Rockets are playing better now and forcing the other team to work.

 

LOL, I thought the same thing. I was rolling my eyes as Bullard kept on saying in the fourth "We need to put Yao back in because they don't have anyone who can guard him." WTF have you been watching the last couple years, Bull? Yao is at his worst against players who "can't guard him" because (a) they actually can guard him, and (b) on the other end, Yao can't guard them!

 

the thing concern me is that we always have close game but we alway lose the game-- not good sign for a real good team

we just an average team...

 

i agree that RA should've either kept that lineup with scola and brooks, or kept them in when Yao came into the game. I also think that we could've got to the line more cause they were in the penalty for the last half of the 4th i think

 

And the value of that is.... ???

Minnesota has 6 players averaging in the dubs en route to a 4-26 record, good for far worst in the entire league!

I guess you would rather the Rockets be 13-19 with 5 players averaging dubs.

This is easily one of the most pointless posts in the history of this forum, no matter what you meant by it!

 

Which is what half of this board wants this team to become.

Look... I love Yao, and I will never question his work ethic or wilingness to win like many do T-mac's... but I will also admit that the times when you could just throw it into the big man, and let him carry you to victory, are long gone.

Even KG and Duncan don't dominate the ball/centricity of the offense like Yao has to (simply because it takes that long to get the guy in good enough position to get a shot). And if Yao is "off" like he was tonight, he doesn't do enough other things to warrant a spot out there on the court. (and is a downright liability on defense against guys like Garnett, Okur, or any big man who can hit an outside shot).

This league dictates that the teams with quicker and more athletic players will win every game. T-mac, if he wants to, has that in him... him and Yao as a tandem are very dangerous... but if we were depending on long-term success with just one of them, I'd take T-mac in today's NBA 10 times out of 10.

That being said, Yao is still an amazingly effective player when he STAYS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF WHAT HE CAN DO. Namely, keep him in the low post and have him get offensive rebounds. Yao in the high post (especially without T-mac) is a waste of time and basically a possesion.

 

Observations:

- I think everyone can go ahead and stop making accusations of the team lacking balls and heart. You don't go down by 20 points @ Boston and comeback, and even take the lead. How does a team with no balls do that?

- Major props to Bonzi Wells and Rafer Alston. This is the Bonzi that we hoped would play last year. Rafer's jumpshot is improving, and he is penetrating a lot more and converting inside. This is a new Rafer that everyone should get used to. This is no fluke. Wish we had this last year as well.

- To those that thought it was wrong to put Yao out there at the end... you're being ridiculous. Yao is our franchise player whether you like it or not, and in any clutch situation, he's going to be out there regardless. Two of their big guys fouled out, and EVERYONE on the BBS were screaming for him to get in the game, and now you're pulling a complete 180. Stop it. Can you imagine if he was on the bench in clutch situations? What kind of message does that send? Yao's problem is he needs to hit his shots. At his best, he's an efficient scorer, not a T-Mac-type volume scorer. 7-20 FG is NOT efficient.

- I counted about 4 offensive rebounds we allowed Boston to get under 2 minutes left in the game. TOTALLY COST US THE GAME, because they led to the KG jumpers. This is deja vu from the Game 7 Jazz game. Total deja vu.

- Luther Head = Adam Everett. They do one thing well, and absolutely nothing else. The Astros were smart to bat Everett 8th. Rockets need to learn how to hide a players' liabilities. STOP playing Luther at the point... PERIOD! Only use him as a shooter. Playing Luther at PG is like the Astros batting Everett leadoff! We were much better using Brooks there instead of Luther, or just going big with Scola for Head.

- Very disappointed to see Scola only attempt 4 shots with Tracy not playing.

- Is shooting threes all Battier will do for us offensively? He took 7 shots and all were threes. He made 2 of them. You failed at your role Shane.

- Another reason why we should miss T-Mac: Tracy and Rafer are the only guys on the team that consistent do a great job of the post entry pass to Yao.

 

i would think yao could at least punish kg on the offensive end...apparently RA thinks the same. that's why they went to yao in the end. but yao disappointed and once again proved doubters right he can be stopped in the low post.

 

We can do it with Yao, but we need penetrating players to take advantage of the double teams that Yao creates.

We just can't stand at the 3pt line and bomb away, that is too low a percentage of a shot.

When the team had Brooks and Alston in they were playing great......

I really don't like Luther all that much, I think Novak can provide the same things he does and probably is a better entry passer.

Also, I am very happy they have gone away from Bonzi on the low block, he is so much more effective as a cutter.

Brooks coming out was bad tonight, if he is in there instead of Luther, I think the rockets win....

Also, Scola needs to be in there finishing...he gives the team so many extra possesions with his offensive rebounding and taking charges.

DD

 

Just when I think I might have been wrong about Luther being a hopelessly 1-dimensional player, he comes up with a game like this.

I have to admit, though, I laughed when Bill exclaimed in exasperation, "Luther Head CAN NOT throw an entry pass!" You don't hear him directly criticize players like that too often.