ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Timberwolves 1/7/2007

WHY OR HOW CAN THIS MEAN HIS BACK IS HURT??? Did he once stumble and limp? NO! ughh, chill out. be mad at rafer who went a not-so-stunning 0-12 to close the game..... I HATE HIM

 

Alston sucks again. It's about the only thing one can predict safely on the Rockets these days.

 

KG fouled T-Mac on that last basket of regulation but they just turned their heads....They also called a critical foul on JHO on KG that was not a foul down the stretch as well....So yeah the refs sucked tonight but you can't blame them we had plenty of chances to win this one....

 

What I don't undertstand is when you play Novak at Center....why not play a zone?

Protect him on the blocks?

Ah well.....whomever said we will get better when Yao gets back is right on the money.

But, we could go on a losing streak......Bulls are tough.

DD

 

Hey I just asked a question so no you FREAKIN CHILL OUT !!!!!!!! Its what Worrell asked so I asked the question of the forum...If it bothers you then don't respond..........

 

Please, monkey boy. It's so easy to criticize coaching after the fact. By this ridiculous logic, any time a team loses a game and some of the players play poorly, it's because the coach didn't put players that give you the best chance to win.

We needed scoring in the overtimes, and using Novak would (in theory) space the floor to allow McGrady room to penetrate and create. And he got two great looks in the overtime which he missed.

You guys over-rated Novak big time, and you don't want to admit it. He's obviously a huge liability on defense, and his only skill is hitting wide open jumpers. He can't create offensive for others or himself. You expect a guy like that to get extended minutes? Please. He's a specialist, and that's how precisely how he should be used.

As for Rafer, I agree that JVG should have stuck with Lucas III. He wanted to show that he has confidence in his veteran PG; that's not bad coaching. Sometimes things just don't work out. I just think it's predictable and boring how every single loss this season is being blamed on the coach by you guys. As if we're supposed to be an undefeated team this year, and the only reason we aren't is because Van Gundy is getting "outcoached."

 

I see all it takes is one loss to stir up some "JVG is an ass" comments. Just 6 hours ago he was the coach to lead us to the promised land. Please hold it down, the next option is Tim Floyd.

Rafer, as of now I am stripping you of your nickname "Skip to my Lou" and you shall now be called "Skip to my Poop". You will retain the name "Skip to my Poop" until you show me that you can play a positive game. That means on a bad shooting night, I want to see high assists, low TO's, and some of those intangibles and hustle plays.

Should you continue to play like this, you will be degraded from "Skip to my Poop" to "S**t to my Poop".

 

Rafer Alston was shuttin down Mike James? I think Mike James was just off. I doubt Rafer really had much to do with it. Since when is Rafer Alston considered a defensive stopper? Rafer is NOT quick. He usually gets burned left and right. Mike James had plenty of open looks and pull up jumpers that he simply missed.

It is not an excuse to put in Rafer Alston over John Lucas in overtime.

 

Rafer was DEFINITELY a bigger culprit in the loss, but Novak had back-2-back wide open 3s and he just missed them, then gave the T-Wolves a chance at the and 1.

He just plainly sucks, and you're trying to give him credit for "allowing us to come back" by his mere presence? Of course, the entire league know show great this guy is so they're just going to stick a guy on him all game long and not double Tracy or defend other more established offensive threats. Oh, and for your information, Novak doesn't allow us to "spread the floor" when his man ISN'T EVEN GUARDING HIM! That's how he got open.

LOL! You crack me up DaDa.

::sigh:: Pray tell how the Rox showed their "mental weakness" when they had to come back down by almost ten points late in the quarter? We lost the game in OT because 1) Novak sucked on both ends of the court; and 2) Rafer continued his sucking ways.

 

he played against pistons yesterday 14 boards 6 blocks played 39mins. so I dont think he's injured but either way bulls have guys who can shoot unfortunately we dont as seen today against wolves all our shooters are inconsistant and that is not going to get us deep in playoff.

 

Reading these comments, I really think people should calm down.

First of all, our 5 win game streak was Rockets exceeding expectations - the team playing better than it should've - playing without Yao, Bonzi, and to a lesser extent Snyder.

Second of all, the Wolves have been giving us a hard time this season - if you follow sports regularly you should know that sometimes, some teams just have your team's number. And I'm glad its the Wolves that have our number because they won't be in the playoffs, as opposed to the Spurs, Mavs, Jazz, Heat..who we've blown out and played pretty well against.

Also, while many of you are blaming JVG's bad decision for putting Novak out on the floor - think what would've happened if Novak did make those shots - his confidence would've increased tenfold and it would've jumpstarted his career in the NBA and he might've been able to start making a greater contribution to this team. Now, he didn't today, but no one is gonna blame him, most likely, JVG will take responsibility for it.

It's puzzling to see you guys demand JVG to play Vspan and Novak, fearful that they'll atrophy on the bench and that their skills will 'disappear' - yet expect them to be solid NBA players once they are on the floor and b**** and moan if they don't meet your unreasonably high expectations.

 

Haha I dunno why but that just gave me a nice chuckle.

 

No, he is much more than a specialist, but he has always been the guy moving around coming off screens and getting the ball. He needs to adjust to the way he is being used now. He will be a decent role player in the league...ala Bullard for years to come....even better than Bullard.

JVG has stubbornly stuck with Rafer for more than a month, it is clear to everyone that he is not very good, even other teams are leaving him alone and forcing HIM to be the shooter.

JVG has done squat to adjust to that, he has not sat Rafer, and forced the other teams to react, basically he has put the Rockets wins and loses in the hands of their worst player.

If Rafer makes shots, we win, if he misses..well.....we come close.

DD

 

its only one game man... lets not judge Tmac just yet!

 

You're 100% correct. I remember when the "Play Novak!!!" campaign came about. Everyone bashed JVG for his not playing. So he gets an opportunity, and he fizzles. Now everyone bashing JVG again.

 

Kobe was airballing in the 4th quarter in the playoffs his rookie year...and look what happened.

Be patient with young players...but at least play them some.

2 wide open shots.....are not the reason we lost.

Rafer's continued bad play...Tmac's missed Free throws, Tmac not playing defense and allowing his man to get the Wolves to overtime.

And, Luther shooting 1-8......

All had way more impact than Novak.

Not good.....not good at all.

DD

 

Did you want him to chuck up jumpers over double-teams instead? He made the first jumper in OT, then the T-Wolves clamped down on him and he started passing the ball...the onus is on his teammates to make those shots when they get them.

Can't blame this game on McGrady, he was the reason -- along with Juwon -- we even had a freakin' chance to win this game and he put us in OT...someone else had to step up.

It was just one of those nights where you had too many role players struggling at the same time and making too many mistakes down the stretch.

We gave them a good fight, but they had the crowd -- and the refs -- on their side, and we cracked.

 

Actually, I CAN blame them since BOTH those calls were of the game-deciding types: one a non-call and another that SHOULD have been a non-call. The refs just gave Minny the benefit of the doubt EVERY single time from the second half on. It was pretty bad officiating to say the least. I can't tell you how many times McGrady got hammered and no calls (some ended up being TOs and others as missed shots). And that last non-call where T-Mac tied up the game to go to OT SHOULD have been an 'and 1'.

 

Bullard was a specialist. Novak might become a better player in time, but you can't expect a second-round pick with no discernable skills at the NBA level other than shooting the ball to be even a good role player.

I see, so JVG should just use his crystal ball before games to determine if Rafer is going to hit his shots, and then play him accordingly. Rafer had shown several times this year that even when he's struggling early he could hit big shots late in games. It's not a bad idea to play him late, considering the other options we have.

Bottom line, we took a decent Minnesota team that was 10-5 at home to overtime, despite having poor games from Tracy and Alston, and being seriously shorthanded without Yao, Bonzi, or Snyder. It makes no sense to blame the coach for the loss. We aren't going to win every damn game. Sheesh.

 

people on here are going to bash JVG no matter what he does negative or positive. As long he's a Rocks coach it will happen. If we go to finals and not win the championship guess what will happen "FIRE JVG!!!!" of course there's no one else to blame. and by no means am I one of these fans though I might get mad at players or JVG occasionally but who doesn't unlike others I dont do that night in night out.