ClutchFans Game Thread: Sixers @ Rockets 1/15/2008

F*** Rafer ,head ,brooks,they like a fly and no-brain when clutch times.
these damned destroy my sunny morning

 

This is precisely the problem. The offense fell apart when they kept trying to force, force, force the ball to Yao. Philly clamped down on Yao and our team was unable to adjust to that even though they had countless opportunities to realize they had to do something differently. They should have REACTED to Philly swarming Yao and started to swing the ball to the weakside and penetrate into the paint.

The only way Philly could have come back was if the Rockets were stupid enough to keep trying to force the ball to Yao. That was Philly's last ditch effort. Our failure to react to this simple defensive adjustment and our relentless attempts to force the ball to Yao led to the turnovers and, in turn, things falling apart on both ends of the court. The players around Yao simply didn't have the basketball intelligence to make a simple adjustment. The mistakes then shattered our guards' already weak confidence leading them to continue making stupid plays.

All the Rockets had to do was stop trying to force the ball to Yao early in the 4th quarter. The offense would have opened up and we would have won this game easily.

I can't imagine Adelman wasn't trying to get them to stop forcing the ball to Yao. If he didn't try to pound that into their heads, then the loss is on him, too.

A huge part of Adelman's offense, and any offense really, is reacting to what the defense gives you. The Rockets couldn't have reacted any worse in the final quarter and, because of that, let an easy, easy win slip away.

 

This has been my argument all season long. The Rockets can't seem to surround Yao and TMac with a decent supporting cast no matter what they do. And even when they bring in some talent, they suddenly go south (James and Francis) or can't get many minutes because Adelman appears lost in space. It is overwhelmingly frustrating.

 

When Yao is fronted by one defender, the passer should have a little faith on him and pass the ball over the head of deafender. OR it will be a great waste of 24s time and Yao's struggle. Remember, Yao is the guy who owns the soft touch like a top wide receiver, just check those balls sent out by T-mac to Yao during fast break

 

then 39 to go, then 38 to go, ..., then next season and next next season.

 

WHAT BANDWAGON?

 

i guess your not on it if you dont know..

 

Exactly. EVERY TIME they would just try and pound the ball into Yao. The sixers new EXACTLY what we were gonna to every time. So, they stick a good defender on Yao and thats really all they needed.

The guards were forced to improvise when they couldn't get the ball into Yao. All Adelmans gameplan in the 4th was: Get the ball to Yao. So when they couldn't do that, they didn't know what the hell to do.

Now im not saying that the guards didnt play bad, but when they are stuck in a situation where they can't get into Yao and they apparently have no back up plan for when this happens, the results wont be good.

 

Rick Adelman, wow. So let me run off the list here:

Pull Landry after playing very well in a small stretch in the 2nd quarter when we were up by like 10. Pull him.

Head. Nothing else needs to be said.

Two games in a row. Two horrendous 4th quarters in a row. The same rotation. Why do you pull Brooks so early? I mean seriously.

Why is Head getting minutes over Bonzi so much? Isn't Bonzi's strength as a 2?

Why don't the Rockets run something else the last two minutes of the game? Yao is doubled and fronted yet people keep throwing him the ball instead of running offense.

This was an appalling loss not because of how the rockets played, but because the game ended the same way last game as well. How can you not make adjustments as the game unfolds the same way. I am seriously more bald now than I was two hours ago. Unreal.

 

Our last disgusting loss to the 76ers had us go on a huge losing set (I predicted most of the losses too). With SA coming up, it isn't looking good for us.

 

What a pity! , always disappointed after the last quarter~

 

agree with you on everything except Yao's play in the 4th - he's got 5 fouls and he couldn't be as aggressive as he wanted to be and when he couldn't get the ball the entire 4th quarter he understandably rushed his shots at clutch time. as you said the main issue is the lack of guard play, which makes yao look really bad. Imagine if Yao had a d-will or baron davis on his team!!! all they need is a guy who can make the 17-foor jumper or a quick first step to drive the lane when yao is fronted.

 

Loved the calls on Yao tonight too. Is there anyone in the league who gets whistled on as many questionable and outright wrong calls as Yao?

 

100% agree! This best post I have seen so far.

Who failed in last two season's playoffs do not deserve to stay in Rocket, no matter how many hot nights they have.

Moreover, we need to quick-reacted coach. In the playoff, it is often the battle between coaches in clutch time. Fire Adelman as well as his SON!

 

calm down, it's only a regular season loss, no need to panic...
Yes, Luther Head sucks, and so does Rafer Alston, but we already knew that, we practically have the most powerful center, a glass man, and the worst starting guards in the entire.. yes entire League

 

That doesn't make sense. Mcgrady has played great in the last 2 playoff series. So based off what you said Yao shouldn't be a rocket??? Yao played horrible in the Jazz series

 

HE does not how to react to the situation, so just pretend to be busy in
teaching his SON.

 

Mcgrady played great in the Jazz series???? He was the first one to surrender in the last game.

 

IMO, the Rockets were lucky to make it a seven game series. They were behind in every game at half time and sometimes by a huge margin. The Jazz just fell apart in three games in the second half ....