ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 12/2/2004

The portents don't look too good for the Rockets in this game.

Currently, only New Jersey scores fewer points and they are without Jason Kidd. The Rockets have averaged on 74 points in their last 2 games. In fact, they have yet to score 100 points in any game this year that did not include an overtime. They are the oldest team in the league at 29.16 years per player. This is a team that lacks drive and desire evidenced by Tuesday night's quitfest that will be playing a Maverick team that got steamrolled by San Antonio Tuesday night and will definitely be up for tonight's game that will be carried nationally on TNT. The giggling about the Rockets on Dallas sports radio today is almost too much to bear.

Other Rockets stats of interest:

The Rockets rank 29th in the league in scoring at 86.75 ppg vs. opponents' 89.18 ppg.

The Rockets are averaging 19.93 assists per game (apg) vs. opponents' 20.81 apg.

They are 13th in the league in turnovers with 15.43 to's per game vs. opponents 12.81 to's per game.

 

Rox 88
Mavs 114

 

I pray the Mavs fans chant "Fire Van Gundy!!!!"

 

Let the collapse begin!!!

The sooner the better!!!

119 vs 79 Mavs

Rox still can't score over 80pts.

JVG resign after the game, saying it is all his fault again and again.

 

Don't know, but if that's the lineup tonight. I'm sending my application in for the job of head coach of the Houston Rockets. I think there is going to be a vacancy.

 

**Today's Line up **

Sura
TMac
Boki
CSpoon
Yao

we have a tall backcourt and a small front court but Spoon seems to be our best rebounder.

MoT/JHoward/JJackson anchor our bench.

J

 

Can somebody please explain to me how Juwan Howard, the only established player, among our horrendous collection of PF's has been getting either hardly any minutes or has been getting DNP's?

Taylor has played poor and proved he is most effective coming off of the bench.

Padgett hustles but is too soft.

Weatherspoon cannot play big minutes anymore.

Which leaves Howard, a 17/7 guy getting hardly anything. It doesn't make sense. I'm not saying Howard is the answer by any means, but c'mon let's at least try to put the right guys on the floor.

 

you're not going to get the head coaching job if you start Juwan Howard.

Every coach that has started him got fired and his teams end up losing.
As Doc Rivers.

Remember what they said in DC? Michael Jordan was a hero not because he came back, because he traded Juwan.

 

Dude he sucks. have you watched any games this year?
DNP -CD

DNP=Does Not Produce -Cant Doanything

 

Ditto on that, put down the L. I actually don't mind losses, hopefully it puts us closer to canning JVG, and maybe we'll get into the lottery.

Pugs

 

Yeah we would have an unstoppable TMac if it wasn't for our coach forcing himi to play JVG basketball.

Pugs

 

Everytime I read rockHead's "Coming back is coming", I have feeling that we will win the game. Tonight we do not need come back because we will lead since the beginning of the game, and this is the turning point of the season.

 

He has played poorly, correct. However, all of our other PF's have as well. And perhaps, most importantly, if Howard is going to have any trade value as most people assume he does, you HAVE to give him minutes so we can showcase him. Opposing GM's need to see the guy contributing. An opposing GM that wants to trade for a PF isn't going to look at our rotation at the postion (one of the worst in the league) and think "Whoa, there's Juwan Howard, a guy who can't even sniff the floor for a team with garbage at the position---let's trade for him!"

It isn't like Taylor is putting up acceptable numbers and locking down his man defensively. He belongs coming off of the bench.

The jury is still out there on whether or not Padgett is even worthy of big minutes.

Spoon? Yeah right...

Which leaves Howard, a guy who has proved over the years he can get it done in this league. He's been one of the most consistent PF's in the league over the course of his career. Like I said before, let's get the right guys on the floor.

 

Have faith guys, this team will eventually get another W.

 

Howard has proven that he has great stats because he is selfish and not a team player. You can compare Howard to Shareef "dont like it" Rahim. He's the younger version of Juwan. He's not happy, always traded or rumored to be traded and his teams magically do better once he leaves.

I agree to trade Howard, but for what? If Howard was so valuable, the Magic would have given us anyone else.

I Agree, Mo Taylor and Spoon aren't much better. But I argue that Mo is still a productive player. He played so well last year with Yao and Cato..etc . Unfortunately we don't have ANYONE to compliment Yao. I say start Dikembe as the PF. Why not?

Everyone is to blame for our crap play.

 

What are people looking for in tonight's game? I'm not expecting a victory (although one would be nice), but I do want to see signs that this team is making some progress. I think progress would include the following:

[1] Leadership. A leader emerges (whether a vocal leader or a leader by example).

[2] Offense. We need to see an offense that flows better and has twice as many assists as it does turnovers.

[3] Rebounds. Not so focused on Yao's boards, as I am on the team's total rebounds. We should outrebound the Mavs.

[4] Defense. We need to hold Dallas to under 100 points.

 

i hate the MAVS.......

 

I'm not going to argue Howard hasn't been a selfish player in the past, I agree that he has. However, he has never been situation like this. Prior to this season, 31 minutes a game was his lowest season average of his career. As a reserve in the limited time he has gotten, I don't think he has played selfish. As an established starter, he could be whining and complaining about not getting enough minutes as I am sure many other players in his position would do. He has handled himself well throughout all this.

As far as trading him. If we get the chance to move him, of course we should do it. The reason I am saying we need to showcase him is, the general consensus seems to be Howard has some trade value and has been mentioned in many of the suggestions you see on here and other places. Not playing him doesn't do us much good if that is our goal.

Taylor is the same old Taylor, only less effective as a starter. I respect your opinion but I still maintain Taylor is most dangerous off of the bench. You pointed out how well he played with Yao and Cato....off of the bench.

And Dikembe is 38 years old and getting slower by the day. That's really all I have to say about starting him.

 

I am going to watch the game the same way the Rox are playing.

WITH MY EYES CLOSED

 

Lue on IR, Reece Gaines activated............

AB moves to back-up........

Change your projections...