ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pistons 1/22/2006

I wouldn't say this loss was heartbreaking at all. I don't like losing, but this loss was actually very uplifting! We took the top team in the NBA to the last shot - that's pretty damn impressive. And we had the winning shot in our hands, too. This game demonstrates our true talent and potential (and we are still missing a LOT of good players).

 

Nice game, first time in a long time I had time to sit through a whole game. (and not be turned off by the horrible play).

Head was really really good, and im not talking about that three. His defense in the 4th quarter especially 2 plays down the court, back to back.

Chuck Hayes... you always have to have an underdog to root for... Loving his play

Alston, im just relieved to see him play any day, makes me feel much better watching him handle the ball rather than mr james.

Tmac, as great as he was throughout the game, at the end he was trying to do too much. And he didnt seem 100%, so those last 3-4 misses seemed like a pretty bad move. Then he finally took it in once. And im glad he passed those 2 shots to head, both great plays... No matter if head missed or not, TMac was gaurded too tightly to take either shots that late in the game.

Howard- solid player,

Mutumbo - If only he was a few decades younger, would be a beast, not that he isnt right now

Wesley - This guy has heart, and talent. He puts 110% on D and then goes out and handles the ball on Offense. Very nice game by him as well. Especially the defense on Rip

Didnt see much other than that..


o ya, and I liked the plays set up by JVG, esp the Tmac pass to hayes towards the end...

 

Is TMac the quintessential essential player thus the one and true MVP? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

What a cruddy season it tis.

 

This team has improved immensly from the last time T-mac was in there regularly. He obviously is the key, but we now have better PG play from Alston, better PF play from Howard, and Wesley has been able to settle back into his role as a SG.

Now, all we need is a bench (Stro/Deke/JB/Head), and a big-man (Yao) and this team should be awesome.

I hate injuries.

 

As disappointed as I am from the loss, this was a great game. McGrady's return truly demonstrates his value to this team. We came amazingly close to beating the best team in the league, all with our star center being injured.

 

Yeah, and just wait until he gets a supporting cast worth a damn.

 

this is the first time in a long time this season, that i can say i'm impressed with the rockets. yeah, our season is complete crap but all the guys played hard and put together a terrific effort against by the far the best team in the league.

 

A good game but it would be sweeter if we had won.

 

Let's hope McGrady's injuries are gone for good. They certainly didn't appear to slow him down tonight. Way to go MAC!

 

I didn't (have the chance to) watch the game. How did Tmac look? I am still worried that he is playing too many minutes. And they are playing a back-to-back game tomorrow.

The thing is: as long as Tmacs is in, Rockets have a chance to win. That probably means they will NEVER just let him play under 30 minutes as proposed before. I am worried.

 

He looked great, raining shots everywhere early in game. Lost steam a bit at the end, sure will get better in coming games.

 

Is there a possiblity that Head could be traded? I will be soo piss if this happens...he's just the type of player we need, a consistent 3 point thread and he's goin to get better and better.

 

I watched the bulls' game and the highlight of pistons' game, he didn't drive to the basket much. I think he has been avoiding driving to minimize the burden to his body. That's good (even though he should have driven more in terms of the play efficiency) . If most of his plays are limited to jump shots, then he should be fine.

The most important thing for Tmac and Rockets is to let him and other important players stay healthy so they can gel on the court. Let's not worry about the playoff at this time (I know, it sucks, but...).

 

Tmac is unstoppable.

The rockets hit the Pistons with a strong left hook, but we only staggered them. If we had Yao and others it would of been a KO.

 

Think of it this way. The Spurs have had two shots at the Pistons, and they got blown out twice. We had our two shots at the Pistons, both times hobbled by injuries, and still managed to keep it relatively close both times (well the first time it was an 8 point loss). I am very, very encouraged.

Don't worry too much about Head. He's just suffering a small shooting slump ... he'll get out of it soon, especially as we start to pile up wins. This team could probably return to elite ranks when Yao and a couple others return - although everyone's probably gonna be hating on us until we rack up an 8 game winning streak.

 

Great game! T-Mac is a freakin' beast, he took on every single forward/center and some serious physical punishment from Evans and they still couldn't stop him, although I thought putting Rasheed on him at the end was a good move by the Pistons, which probably slowed him down a bit.

What can you say in a game like this? You admire the effort and the heart these guys are showing, but you still can't help but play "what ifs". What if the Rockets didn't give the Pistons all those second and third chances in the 4th by their inability to rebound the ball? What is Head and Rafer were stroking it from the outside, given how many wide-open looks they got in this game?

Still, great game and I came away very impressed and truly proud of our boys, they played like warriors, led by an ultimate warrior.

 

Tim Duncan is not playing at 100%

 

Neither is T-Mac.

 

I hate to say the obvious, but the Spurs are way better then the Rockets, let's not kid ourselves.

 

I still put Kobe one step above McGrady as an individual player, but I take McGrady on my team before I choose Kobe. Kobe never would've given the ball up to a teammate, especially twice in the closing minutes of the game. He would've pump-faked to death, thrown up an off-balance shot, then slapped the defender's arm with his forearm and glare at the official for not calling a foul.

Then the next time down, he would've taken on the triple-team at the top of the arc they sent towards TMac, and tossed another bad shot up. And then afterwards, he'd say he got a good look, it just didn't go down. Never mind there were two teammates open with nobody around.

I'm a Kobe hater, I admit it.