ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 10/31/2021

Green:

Was mentioned by others during the game thread, he goes straight, line drive into the teeth of defense. I commend the effort and he got some calls, but it later became a 50/50 whether refs called it or not.

1. Lakers have trees and they can crowd near the basket since we lack 3pt shooting to space.

Side note: Armoni might be the answer, but word on the street is he's not up to speed on defense per coaches's satisfaction. Lost on individual and team defense even during team practice, which is why he's not in the game.

2. New rules slightly favor defense more.

3. Jalen's 'bag' was also bought up where, if the first defender jumps at him, it is always going to be a collision or can he do some other moves where the result is not predicated on ref's decision. Euro step, hop step, spin moves, thing's like that.
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KPJ, and his handle. He got swiped lot and non calls.

Whole team, lot of fast breaks and careless passing resulted in team TO's. Lakers announcers was joking and started to look up all time TO's in a game. Losing is whatever but this team is making it embarrassingly tough to watch and root for.

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Wood didn't play well, he knows it.
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Bright spots were KJM and Sengun.

 

You like that 18% 3 percentage from JST? How much is his defense making a difference? So you have your favorites on the team that are performing now, but do you have foresight and patience to wait on the players who actually need to develop without taking a sht on them when they have bad games? The "rookie" you are in love with was an MVP of another league - how much of that helps his development even when his coach thinks he's better suited for a bench role?

 

• The Rockets opened the quarter with 4 consecutive misses
• At the 9:36 mark, after a Carmelo Anthony largely uncontested 3-point make, (well, I mean Jalen Green was there in body) the Lakers were up 84-56.
• From that point, Kenyon Martin made 6 FGs (mostly assisted, strong finishes at the rim).
• The rest of the Rockets converted 6 more FGs in that quarter
• 23 of our 25 TOs were in quarters 1-3.
• Boredom set in for the Lakers, they were only 4-18 the rest of the way

 

https://theathletic.com/2926475/202...them-were-just-beating-ourselves-every-night/

 

LOL. I expected him to say, "Well, I'm just having fun out there hitting 3s!"

 

LOL

Sounds like the turnovers were not always KPJ's fault as everyone thought.

This offense is CRAPTACULAR.

 

I think we can safely blame "the system" more than any individual player at this stage. Silas is trying to get a bunch of rookies, bench players and rescue projects to improvise and make up the offense as they go along as if they were Harden. Nobody's going to learn anything until he starts actually giving them a real framework/structure to work in, he can try the "let them do whatever they want" when he's on a team with an All Star.

 

Which is why I think Silas is failing, he should be matching the young guys with players that help them grow.

KPj needs a spot up shooter - Gordon
Green needs someone that can push the pace and get him the ball on the break - Wall

We are doing a disservice by not helping our young guys get there faster, by teaching them the NBA game.

Right now they are both SG's trying to learn how to be successful in the NBA - and they look like Tweedle D and Tweedle dumb out there.


DD

 

Agree 100% I personally think Wall should be starting with Green, and KP leading the second unit with Gordon (who is a decent second ball handler as well as a shooter, so if KP struggles, then Gordon can run a few possessions.) This team is way too young and inexperienced for "make it up as you go along" offense. We need structure, and we need to run plays that actually highlight the strengths our youngsters do have. The only one of our youth movement who I have any faith in right now is Sengun and it's mainly because he's the only one who knows how to get his even in the shitty system.

 

When you have 55 rebounds to Lakers to 43, it should either be a close game, or a Rockets blowout. Neither happened, so there is some dysfunctional going on. I think Green, or Tate needs to be replaced, you can't have both in the starting lineup when both play the same positions. I would put KMJ over Green and Tate because he can play a lot of positions.

 

We rag on KPJ for turn overs but Wood/Green/Gordon/Sengun/Tate all had 3+ TO’s as well

Half his TO’s come from fumbling the ball in the post which I think will improve with chemistry and knowing when to expect a pass

I think by all star break KPJ & Green will start to really find themselves and start having some respectable games together

 

Green had nearly as many turnovers as FGA. We turned the ball over on a 3 on 1 transition. Our offense is a total mess right now. I'm totally fine with tanking this year, but it would be nice to see some bright spots.

 

Other than establishing a real system and offensive identity, Silas can make his job easier by balancing his dang rotations:

Starting 5:

Porter
EGo
KJ
Garuba
Wood

2nd Unit

Green
Brooks
Tate
Theis
Sengun

*Sengun SHOULD start but Silas is extremely reluctant to make this move.

 

Been saying this from day one.

Silas is an absolute tool.

 

Very few rooks are superstars out the gate.

But yes, that was a stupid assertion to make.

Give this kid a season or three.

 

TBH I agree and feel like KPJ is more of a 6th-man type, not a starter in the NBA unless something drastic happens.

 

Top 4 scorer on Rockets, most assists too.

Also top 2 on team in steals.

Who on your proposed new starting 5 will replace that output?

 

I meant more so going forward, I don't feel like he's really a starting calibre player on a solid playoff team let alone contending one. Obvs we're a bottom 3 team in the league, so we're kinda forced to throw him out there and hope he develops into something more.

 

Agreed.

But neither is Green.

Should we have both coming off the bench?

 

I think Sengun and Wood should start together and Wood's interior defense is questionable at best.