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

Why cant anyone take it to the hoop and get to the FT line in the fourth? That is how games are won and lost. Didnt we already go through the games when Luther Head choked in the fourth with stupid turnovers and boneheaded play? Why is he in an crunchtime again? He doesnt play Defense, doesnt even box out his man causing offensive rebounds, etc. I hope Adleman finally lost faith in him in the fourth and never puts him there again. BY the way, it seemed as if everyone thought it was a cupcake win and were trying to pad their stats, then when sixers caught up, tried to force it to Yao like scared losers. Good job.

 

Alston, Head, and Battier basically tried to throw the ball through their defenders to Yao - expected turnovers. Even when Yao was fronted, there were still 4 Rockets on the court, swing the ball around and got some offense from the others. This team just dont know WTF they are doing.

This team needs either Chuck or Bonzi on the court in 4th quarter. Chuck and Bonzi are rebounders. At least, Chuck and Bonzi protect the basket and get you defensive rebounds. Alston, Head, Battier, and Scola are just weak at defensive rebounds. How many 2nd chance points did the Sixers get in 4th quarter?

Andre Miller also had a field day. Miller just found his way to the basket Miller was either wide open or shoot over his midget defender.

It's so funny that there were a few baskets that the Sixers just drive from their backcourt for layups - UNOBSTRUCTED.

This team except several players are totally garbage. I am not even trying to b**** about their skills, it's about being a competitor and staying focus to finish the game. They collapsed from time to time with big leads last season and they are doing it again and again this season. It seems this team can hardly keep their lead in 4th quarter. It's the characters of some players that you cant change.

If Morey wont pull the trigger for a trade or two to fix the backcourt b4 the trade deadline, I will be totally disappointed. I know the Rockets wont trade Francis - he's a fan favourite and has a small contract and an opt out next season. But Head, Alston, James, Snyder and Battier must be somehow traded for some better backcourt players.

 

When Mcgrady is out, this team lack size in their backcourt, no doubt. But the funny thing is that when the Rockets picked their role players, they love one attribute - undersized. WTF.

Not too much correlation, I guess. This team had a history of choking with whoever were on the court in last season too.

I think the coach's 1st option was get Yao the ball. If you couldnt, swing the ball around for your 2nd option or 3rd option. Alston, Head and Battier were just plain dumb and stupid and tried to throw the ball through their defenders to Yao.

With Mcgrady, the Rockets can pull more wins off. But there must be some trades to fix the PG and SG. The choking is not about skills, it about the characters of your players.

 

Biggest mistake Rick made was not putting in AB and Hayes down the stretch. Head and Rafer were dumb and dumber brothers
Abused on defense and making dumb decisions was inexcusable!Anyway, good thing McGrady coming back next game. Less Rafer, Head more AB and Tmac is something to look forward to .

 

Nobody could of gave him the entry pass, If Head didn't turn it over, Rafer would, if he didn't Shane would. I dont care if Francis is just in the game to do the entry pass, at least he can that better all of them. And also Dalembert would wrestle with Yao , fronting him and the refs were blind again

 

All I can say is that the 'player coach' thing is nice, but can't we give JVG $100 to come in and yell at these guys for a few hours. This loss was just plain gutless.

 

You need aaron brooks in the game because he gives you another player who can do something other than force a post entry pass into Yao. Aaron would have been to the basket for a score,a drive and dish or a foul and 2 free throws. + he is a smarter tougher player than rafer alston or luther head

 

Scola brings more energy and hustle.
He got schooled by some guy named David West the other day, he is not a defensive specialist.
What rebounds do you speak of. O Yea the 13 rebs in the KNICKS game, 1 freakin game.
He does not make up for anything.
He should be 3rd string, behind Landry and Scola. We cant score thats why we lose and you want to have his ass out there? WATCH MORE GAMES

 

Hayes would have helped us in the 4th quarter with some toughness and defense help wise.You can't depend on him always but in crunch time last night we could have used his toughness and his defense in winning the game. Scola and landry are better players but they are still new to this league and I really believe that the team missed hayes's energy and hustle in closing this game and the new orleans game out.

 

The reason Hayes doesn't get a lot of playing time in the 4th is because that's when teams double team Yao hard and we need to make them pay. Hayes simply can't do that often enough.

 

Yeah but we had a 10 point lead and other openings would have emerged,I would rather for hayes to be open and maybe a second pass we get a better shot because you never know he may make that layup under the basket,I think you should sub defense/offense and make the game our tempo. You can't over emphasize offense nor defense.



We are having big leads and still blowing it,I think alot of this mess boils down to toughness and we had none of that in the game.

 

This sounds right because that's what RA did against New York too but if they were up by 10+ they could've put some better defenders in like Brooks and Hayes in over scorers. If they double team Brooks can still score and it looks like Battier shot pretty well too so there were plenty of options. Head with his poor shooting should've been out of the game, maybe with Brooks and Rafer in there. One at the SG, one at the PG. With Head in a shooting slump i also think maybe Brooks, or Francis when he's back, should start. Rafer can be like Maxwell who also could play like a PG and when Yao's double-teamed and he passes back out Rafer can hit the three. He showed this many times. Battier, Brooks and Head can do it too but Head's in a little slump and is forcing threes (2/11) and Brooks got 0/2 last night so Rafer is the most reliable shooter out there. Brooks can use his quickness to get some more penetration and kick out to others. Eventually i hope Francis will get his time to prove himself because when McGrady's back, it's Head on the bench and there's no room for what i just said.

 

to think that I turned the game away in 4th quarter to watch Law and Order SVU, because I figured we "had" it....I should've known better than to do that with this team.........55 points in the 1st half was bad, but 37 points in a quarter is terrible no matter who you're playing.........especially the sixers.

 

[Jon Feigen] This is a meltdown that's not unfamiliar

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid823425601/bclid853723710/bctid1378424385

Jon Feigen's comments are right on:
"This is on the Rockets."
"This is a meltdown that's not unfamiliar."
"When the pressure is on...This is how the Rockets execute."

btw Anna-Megan is hot.

 

Scola did band on the ground hard just to save an offensive rebound and tip in a very important basket. Just felt bad for him, he played so hard yet no teammate appreciate him.

About YAO, he played non stop and yet we expect him to save the world after his gas running out. Ok, he did stop occasionally, but 40 over minutes is it too long for him?

Please correct me if i am wrong, I feel that Yao is no more playing the basket ball but slowly becoming the wrestler. The opponent fouled YAO so hard but the ref see nothing. Are they playing basket ball or wrestling? Sometime I really confused.

 

i didn't know that Yao didn't stay for the press conference aftewards.

 

Last quarter turnover was teams biggest problem. Luther Head especially committed a lot of bad pass down the stretch. I lost count after one turnover after another.

 

It's reported that Alston and Head were dancing and singing together "Oops! I did it again" in the locker room after the loss against the Sixers.

 

that collapse is on the coach as much as it is on the players...when we were up 9 and then all of a sudden tied, RA should have acalled timeout..he waited till it was tied before he did anything about it...it was too late!!!
Van Gundy would have stopped the bleeding

 

i'm not a bandwagon fan but if we continue to lose games like this, i'm not renewing my season tickets...i have better things to do then drive in the cold rain to downtown and have these guys lay over in the 4th quarter....