Fixing these 4th quarter collapses.

This is a legitimate argument, but bottom line is that we let a 13 lead just slip away in the 4th. Sure, part of the shooting struggle also reflected during the 4th. But a good team needs to find a way to secure the win even when they are struggling. I mean, looking just at the stats sheet does make you feel better thinking “oh we just lost by 6 but we were struggling with our shots, just 2 more ft made and we would have won”. But looking at the game itself and how bad we were functioning, again, on offense and collapsing under pressure.. that’s a serious problem that can either be resolved with Ime using the right players for the task (DD offered unc, I think that we should just land a reasonable pg instead of dfs), or by bringing a legitimate offense-oriented assistant coach that would draw normal plays for us. I mean open your eyes, it’s Ime’s 3rd season with this team and our offense always looked like s***, with all the love and respect I have to him as a leader and defense mastermind, you cannot just ignore how poor our offense is.
Relying on how good or bad our shooting is in a given match, just means that we can make easy large deficits wins when shooting is smooth, and heart-breaking losses when games are tight.

 

Not having a PG is a real killer.

 

Markkanen makes like $46m per. Bari doesn't hit his 24m until next year, he's in the $12m this year. Tari also makes less than $6m. A lot more salary would have to go out.

Lauri is a good player, for his contract, he's a slight negative (overpay).


While Durant coming here is good, this team is not all in right now. West (Spurs, Blazers...) got better from last year, and this Rockets team is less healthy than last year. Have to wheather through but not be impatient.

I'm still in the camp of let's see what we can do with the current roster. And not make a give picks move for a Mikal or Bane-like deal.

 

Not with this Coaching Staff

All need to be replaced. The Assistants either don't have a voice in Strategy in X and O or Ime Udoka doesn't care to listen or learn. This is a huge problem.

Fred VanVleet can only be a band aid when there is a huge gash needing stitches and surgery.

 

Mark Daigneault replaced Billy Donovan for a reason.

Mark is great with strategy in X and O along with Shai foul baiting. Lethal combination.

 

1st game : Rockets didnt really collapse in first game vs blazers, they just had hard time stopping Deni Avdija

2nd game : They collapse with 15 points?

Key Factors in the Collapse

• Jabari Smith Jr.'s struggles: Smith Jr. had a "nightmare" fourth quarter, going 0-for-8 from the field, mostly from 3-point range, and finishing the game 0-for-10 from beyond the arc.
• Poor Shooting: The Rockets' general inability to make shots in the final period was the primary issue. Head coach Ime Udoka lamented the team's poor field goal and three-point percentages, stating "If you make shots, it's a different game".
• Injuries: Houston forward Tari Eason left the game in the third quarter with a sprained ankle and did not return, which may have impacted the team's rotations and defensive effort in the fourth.
• Trail Blazers' Resilience: Despite key injuries to Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday, Portland fought hard, with players like Avdija and Duop Reath stepping up to make crucial plays.

 

Utah has been trying to unload Markkanen’s for years. He is not a max player.

 

On this we agree. I would like to see Jeff play over Jabari for at least a few games in the 4th and see what happens. I said in the game thread that there were about 4 specific times Green should've been subbed in.

 

You always hear that to be a great player that u have to have to have a short memory... Despite whatever struggles, you have to keep shooting and believe that the next one is going to go in...

i always thought that was horse sh*t....

I think that a man has to know his limitations... and play to his strengths to mitigate his weaknesses...

If u are having an off night shooting... then u move closer or find other ways to contribute....

 

People acted like we were some offensive juggernaut with FVV. We sucked at offense last year even worse than this year. Durant is a tough fit with our team and Ime doesn’t seem to have the skillset to overcome it. FVV would only reduce the turnovers, but the offense would go back to being stagnant. If our 3 point shooters Jabari, Reed, Durant, Tari, DFS can’t hit their open 3’s nothing is going to help. We either have to find a coach that can optimize the roster or change the roster to fit the coach (Iso centric and great defense). Bringing in a Pg, especially the one’s available or FVV is not answer. Bringing in a shooting/combo guard that can consistently hit the 3 and play defense would help, but is still not a panacea. Either Ime miraculously overcomes his narcissism or Tito eats the stupid extension is our only hope during Durant’s tenure here.

 

LoL @ putting all the on ball pressure problems on Jabari .... We need a Louis Scola clone!~

The guards can't handle the pressure.

Amen is out of position as a 1 or 2 and Reed needs at least another offseason to develop his ball handling skills.

Durant has been the pseudo point guard all year .... and turns the ball over an awful lot.

Reed is the only true guard on the entire roster (Okogie is just a 3D forward masquerading as a 2 guard but he has no on ball skills.

And there's your problem - Amen & Durant are best as small forwards, but they are two of your three best players and you have to find a way to get them on the court 30+ minutes a game.

 

It's just the way the team is built.

Amen, Sengun, Durant, Jabari and Tari are your best players. You want them on the floor as much as possible.

The loss of FVV was a bigger deal than most realize and it'll be more obvious in the playoffs. And TBH, Fred isn't that good .... He's entirely replaceable but the loss of anyone with that skillset is a dagger.

 

this is the way I feel as well. Fred didn’t even shoot well last year and he’s terrible getting to the rim. But people forget he was the major reason we went from being one of the highest turnover teams in the league to a team that takes care of the ball. Now we are back to being 2nd worst in TO’s. So taking care of the ball, and facilitating the offense. Getting guys in their sets, getting guys open looks, getting the ball down low to Sengun instead of Sengun starting at the top of the key. And I’m not even mentioning the point of attack defense. We just don’t have that skillset on this team. Even with the improved shooting this year, the hole that is this role is adversely affecting the team in a significant way. It’s a roster issue.

 

Markannen plays just a tiny bit more than Tari does. I'm okay letting Tari go and seeing what kind of veteran guard we can add. Aside from being a glass jaw, him talking **** to other teams via media has worked out well exactly zero times.

 

Jabari finished 0 for 8 in the fourth quarter. At one point he hit the side of the backboard.

At what point do you accept you're having a bad shooting game and stop shooting?

 

With Fred this team is probably 31-5 instead of 22-14, they wouldn't be losing games in the 4th quarter, blowing leads or losing to crappy teams like the Kings, Clippers, Jazz or Blazers ...

This offense right now is headless.

I know it's hard to watch ... but Stone is pretty much handcuffed with Fred's no trade clause and being up against the apron. The offseason feels like it's an eternity away ....

But blaming this mess on Jabari? That's crazy talk .... that's just DD.

 

My opinion, you are wrong.

This team has all the pieces, great wings, solid big man, very good shooters and the rebounding is historic.

What they lack is the glue to hold it all together - a point guard. And it doesn't need to be more than a competent one - that's all Fred is, a competent point guard, upgradable? Absolutely .... but this team lacks the point guard skillset and that's all.