If everyone in that lineup just got out of Cam's way and let him operate, then maybe there'd be enough scoring but the problem is that Holiday thinks he deserves touches, Tate needs his shots, Jeff Green needs the ball and Amen provides negative spacing. On paper it looks like a bad lineup and in execution it was horrible--especially when our supposed best defensive backup guard was being absolutely torched by Mitch McConnell and nobody could hit a thing
He's obviously done a great job overall this season, but my only major gripe with him has been not staggering starters in with bench units. That stretch at the end of the third and starting the fourth was what cost us the game and he rode that group way too long. Needed to ride the hot hand with Green or have a stabilizing force in Sengun out there with that unit. Those guys are young and can play more minutes. It's tough with the injuries we have but to trot out that lineup there for so long was the nail in the coffin for this game.
Rockets need a shooter before the trade deadline expires. They just need one more shot maker. Tate/Jeff started good enough but have regressed to the mean. Package Holiday/Tate/Some 2nds for a Grimes type. Tate/Holiday minutes at this point are just a death knell. Teams know you can coerce both of them into becoming the main character and the Pacers did that effectively yesterday. Jeff Green isn't an amazing option but he knows his role. Tate/Holiday either don't know their roles or don't have one.
Tate and Holiday are 2nd and 3rd in Net Rating on the team among rotation players. They aren't great players, but for the most part the Rockets win the minutes that they are out there. As long as they don't get stuck on units comprised of mostly bench players or Tari is out there, they are fine. When a unit of 4 or more bench players gets toasted, that is on the coach for not staggering his starters more.
Can't put that on Ime...their bench outplayed us, our 3s weren't dropping at a high percentage in the 2nd Half
Who choose to play starters mostly with starters (i.e., not staggering starters as much) causing weak lineups with a lot of bench players? The Rockets more than most teams play their starting unit together. This hasn't been an issue most of the year. This is only the 4th loss in which the Rockets won the minutes with Sengun on the court. With Tari out, the bench doesn't have that defense to compensate for the lack of offense.
Individual net ratings are a terrible stat. Who guys are playing with and against is a huge factor. Holiday had a positive net rating last game and Amen had a -7. Amen and Jalen were the major reasons we were even in the game. When Tari and FVV get back Tate should either not be on the team or at the end of the bench. I can see Tate as an energy guy if everybody is being lethargic or you just need him to come in and hack away.
He did kinda stagger, but it was a weird combination of Brooks, Holiday, Tate, old Green and Amen. We have no reliable way to score with that lineup and the defense was a bit sus too because Holiday got cooked by McConnell
I think a lot of these fake Rockets fans will be shocked at some of the moves this team makes going forward. If you listen to Udoka carefully after each game, you can see what he is looking for. We don't have it clearly. Some of the, I am only a fan off a few players on here will be disappointed.
I genuinely hope this was the last time we see Tate in a Rockets uniform. I like the dude, but he simply does not make sense on this roster anymore. And Ime HAS to do better with his rotations moving forward. There is simply no reason to not have at least one of Alpi, Jabari, or Jalen on the court at all times. That 5 minute span completely cost us the game due to our lack of spacing, lack of ball movement, and lack of shooting.
