ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 3/28/2017

T for 3 · Mar 29, 2017

Mathloom said: ↑

Harden doesn't have mental shortcomings imo. If anything, Harden's entire career is based on mental superiority. He is not a gifted shooter, or particularly fast/quick, nor does he jump high. Harden is one of the best players in the world because he is just smarter than most players in the NBA. On average he makes incredible decisions with the ball, he outsmarts his defender, he reads plays very well. If he is not an ACE mentally then I'm not sure what's making him the best player in the world.

I don't think he lost this game single handedly, but this loss is on him to think about, analyze, and rebound from. 5 of 20 is not ok. 5 of 10 is fine. He found the hole in the Warriors defense, but he did not attack it enough. He did not get this team out of its early funk. He did not close it out. You have to understand what I'm asking of Harden here is something you can only ask of 4-5 players. An elite set of standards, only applicable in this type of game. All season the things people have been complaining about and saying MDA should have a word with Harden. For me, this is the game, this is the one. And the word MDA needs to have with Harden is: "Ok, so after watching that, it's clear I need to get you in better position to attack, and the team has to tighten its execution before the playoffs."

Let's see how it goes.
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I hear you. I am not in disagreement here. I am not really talking about his ability to trick defenders. Obviously, he's excellent at that. I was more talking about his ability to make better decisions passing and shooting, and adjusting when he's not getting calls like you referenced in your post. maybe ""mental shortcomings" was a bit too harsh.

Deckard · Mar 29, 2017

We play them again Friday. James should sit against Portland and, if his wrist is better, play against Golden State Friday and have his revenge. In my humble opinion.

hakeem94 · Mar 29, 2017

Mathloom said: ↑

Just watched the game.

The Rockets have been awesome this year. They have flat out destroyed expectations and played above their talent with intelligence, heart and persistence. I've said it over and over again, this season has been nothing but positive. And James Harden is the MVP. That is without question, he has been the best player on the planet this season, don't you forget it. He has a better record than Lebron James and Russell Westbrook and has put up better individual numbers as well. Kawhi has won more and been excellent individually, but he is not as important to his team as Harden.

This loss was unacceptable. A terrible performance, filled with mistakes, and a terrible omen of these guys' preparedness for the playoffs. If both teams were healthy and we lost a close one to them, I can tolerate that. But they are missing Durant. Nevermind that Curry was in foul trouble, Green had to sit for a long stretch, Mcadoo (who is giving them backup minutes) had to leave. We were not playing the #1 seed Warriors, we were playing a lesser team who we could be facing in the playoffs. Everything we have built with this team is based on us doing more than the sum of the parts, and I will concede that a team of our talent-level cannot afford to play without a starter. We started the season like we were a whisker away from spiraling into 8th seed and that was missing. Any day of the week, any Rocket fan will take a series where Anderson and Durant sit.

Our physical effort was excellent. Don't have much to say about that.

Our confidence was atrocious. Gordon, Dekker, Williams were either scared or couldn't take the heat. I can understand Dekker as a rookie being that way. Don't be fooled by Gordon/Williams jacking up shots. That's not poise. You could see the hesitation in every shot, the mental preparation of failing. We cannot afford for those 3 guys to play with hesitation especially when Anderson is out.

Our defense was a joke. Playing Ariza at the 4, we should be quicker and more mobile on defense. We were NOT. We got beaten by quickness and by strength. Against Kerr's Warriors, you are never guarding the person you want to guard. This line up should have been better at dealing with that. We should have been able to hound their perimeter players into relying on Pachulia and Green more. Aside from the 2nd quarter, they got whatever shot they wanted. That's not enough. We need that defense for 2-3 quarters to beat a great TEAM.

On offense, we figured one thing out. We knew they took the 3 away and we attacked them inside and that worked. However, the players and the ball must move QUICKER and MORE FREQUENTLY. The 3 was available when the defense collapsed, but we were so slow to move the ball and they are defensively elite with or without Durant so they will recover. It's no secret our lack of frontcourt passing is a painful weakness, but we can do a better job. We have done a better job in the past at moving it. Yes we only hit 5 3pters at 16% and that probably won't happen again. You know what else won't happen again? A 39-16 edge in FT attempts. To have only 20 assists with Harden giving it up so often is not going to cut it against the Warriors defense.

Turnovers hurt us in the first and 4th quarters. They came in concentrated bunches, we did well to protect the ball most of the game. I have no issue with 14 TO's except we weren't even passing it that much. Our TO's came from forcing drives and that's fine. Those drives could have been easier if the ball and players moved around sharply.

Finally, James Harden. This was a poor performance from him. Maybe it's his wrist, but if you're going to talk **** about people who rest, then you don't get to use the excuse when it affects you. And he doesn't use the excuse, so I won't either. His ability to draw fouls is excellent, but he should have a follow-through plan always - have the pass or shot clear in your mind, even when seeking a foul. He should never complain during a transition on a turnover. He must play better defense than this against elite teams. He must learn that Green is watching from the corner of his eye to steal the ball from him on every drive. This was a below average game from him on an important night. He brought enough effort, he figured out how to attack them relentlessly inside. The next step is bringing out the drive-n-stepback J to make the defender respect all the aspects of his game and generating more give-and-go's to be able to attack from motion rather than when stationary.

The Warriors are like the Spurs now. They play the way they play regardless of the talent on the floor. Against teams who are that good, we have to reach for a higher gear. This game made me feel like we have used up the higher gear. I have no doubt we will demolish our first round opponent and don't fear anyone in round 2. I can see the positives of being kicked in the balls on your homecourt by a weakened Warriors team vs celebrating a victory at home over a tired/injured Warriors team.

This has dampened my optimism. As far as I'm concerned, they owe me something for this loss. Coaches, players and analytics staff need to figure out why we didn't win this game.
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AWESOME!
insert kid oooeeeing gif

Liberon · Mar 30, 2017

CapelaOnlyFan said: ↑

This game showed why you have to utilize the midrange. The top defensive teams will NOT let you beat them by just jacking up threes. They know we won't stop and pop so it's easier to run to the paint and wait for them to come to you. If we had a team full of JJ redicks it might work but everybody on this team is too streaky to consistently make contested threes. Use the midrange and stop switching on every damn screen defensively and we can beat these b****es
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I like this post.... I didn't know Reddick was the top 3 pt shooter under pressure. You learn something new everyday.

Liberon · Mar 30, 2017

amaru said: ↑

Harden isn't right. He isn't going to sit unless they force him too.

I don't see that happening either.
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I got the same type of wrist injury but on my right wrist. Just when you think the wrist has healed there's shooting pain that makes its way back.

Rocket River · Mar 30, 2017

count_dough-ku said: ↑

I feel a lot better about the Rockets' loss to the Warriors now. No Anderson and a hobbled Harden and we come back from 20+ down in the first half to make it a game. The Spurs meanwhile at full strength and rested while Golden State are on a B2B wind up blowing a 20+ point lead and losing by a worse margin than the Rockets did.
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Just to have this in this thread

Rocket River

Dankstronaut · Mar 30, 2017

el gnomo said: ↑

So would you have preferred the Rockets to have gotten less than 39 free throws (made 35... compared to 12-16 for GSW)? What do you think the outcome of the game would have been if that happened?
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Uhh...if it meant a better officiated game? Hell yes.

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ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 3/28/2017

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