Sorry but I need to question this. Do you have some relevant information? Why is no one else querying this comment. One qualm I have with JB is he sticks to his rotations like script - he needs to read what's happening in the game. It was a stupid decision to take Capela out so early tonight (I know the theory is get him some rest then bring him in for Dwight) and as soon as he did LMA went to town a little and the Spurs suddenly went on a 7-0 run. A couple of other times throughout this game he's pulled a player who was playing well just to stick to the script.
You can't play Capela 48 minutes. He closed out the game which is the most important thing. I don't see how he stuck to script though. At one point JET was in the game playing well then he brought I think it was Bevs for him and two plays later he was calling a timeout to get JET back out there. Not only that but he left the bench in there for a while when they were playing well. PJ Carlisimo even said that JB was probably debating whether to come back with the starters. He let them play. Only thing I would like to see is Thornton get some PT.
What I feel like I seen last night was a product of better chemistry from the leaders of this team. Harden and Howard are not natural born leaders. Harden is not a great leader right now because leadership has to be consistent. I think the team got off to a really tough start because they were not focused on basketball in the offseason. Harden was dealing with Adidas and Khloe, Lawson with legal matters, etc. James had his best season last year coming off playing with Team USA and being coached very well in the offseason. The Warriors and Spurs are filled with basketball hearted players. People who eat, drink, and sleep basketball. You do not hear much about any of these guys on TMZ or the tabloids because they are extremely focused. Our team is file with a lots of individual talent. I think they have learned the detriment of playing without leadership, focus, and chemistry and hopefully they will continue to overcome and better this basketball team
I think the Spurs grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and that's probably why JBB brought in Capela and maybe kept DMO on the bench. Other than that DMO should have seen some second half minutes IMO and why on gods green earth they don't have DMO post up every time down until the oppossing team stops him is beyond me.
Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA 26m26 minutes ago They played with the kind of controlled frenzy they need -- jumping the passing lanes a bit, but not overdoing it, and proper help behind.
Usually I'm up for Dmo getting more minutes but last night Capela rebounding and defense was the difference. TJones was killing Diaw and the only minutes I would have given Dmo were to go up against David West which he would have killed in the post.
After JB's first 3-4 games, I actually liked his rotations better than McH. Especially giving Capella more minutes and the starting role. However, I'm confounded by his use of Brewer and Thornton, and lack of use of DMo, McDaniels and Harrell. Brewer has been wildly inconsistent this year. I cringe when he has the ball because he seems to be a TO machine. He's had spurts of the old Brew, but he doesn't seem to be playing loose like he was last year. I think Brewer fit better with Josh in the second unit, because of Smith's defense and passing ability, but that's just my opinion. Thornton has shown he can be the instant offense we need off the bench and also proved he can start. He's got some playmaker in him and hustles on defense. What I can't understand is why we don't use him more. Last night he could have helped when Harden was struggling. I'd actually like to see Harden and Thornton in the back-court together for limited stretches. I'm hoping Thornton is not a locker room problem and that's why he's not getting time. DMo is having a rough return (somewhat expected), but he's showing glimpses of that other dimension he brings to our big rotation. He played solid defense on LMA last night, but again saw few minutes on the court. If he's going to work himself into shape he's going to have to get some kind of consistent minutes. He should be getting 15-20 mins a night. KJ was given a contract that I thought would justify some court time, especially as a defensive stopper. However, he's only played garbage minutes. He's a better defender than Brewer, why not give him some minutes when we need total defensive pressure? MH is a rook, so I understand he doesn't deserve anything, but the kid is pure energy and when he's in the game that can be contagious. I think JB should consider spotting him a few minutes when we get into our doldrums to help get us going again couldn't hurt.
it proves this team can play much better defense and win against top teams - at home, on national tv. that's pretty much it. if they can be consistent... remains to be seen. and i still have my doubts.
JB is a mchale disciple he would rather watch young talent rot away on the bench b4 playing them...Hell mchales whole staff is still in place..could JB have phone covo's with mchale about the team still????... I watched some of the cavs vs gsw game and gsw played their entire team even ian clark & mcadoo got minutes in the 4th and they were only up 5 pts...JB says he plays the players who produce well Thornton was producing & is benched sewer is a complete negative but still gets minutes smh JB is lucky to have such a talented roster... Good W tho Lets Go Rockets!!!!!
Referring to hacka DH and Cap. They were successful at giving it back to pop by making some fts. It was successful tonight but wont be every night. Whats worse is JB seems to not do any adjustments about it like against lac. I am more comfortable with cap being hacked over DH, so i would immediately sub out Howard only for Dmo. That would be when i would start going to him and we can play a little faster. A big key that got the win was JBs plan to run after halftime.
Howard and Capella combined to shoot 40% on free throws during those hacks. That is below their averages. The hack strategy cannot be expected to work better for the other team than it did last night. It was only stopped by the two minute warning (and accidentally once, not even by that). To say the Rockets got lucky in any way relating to the hack strategy makes no sense. The Rockets won in spite of the success of the Spurs hack strategy.
Rockets prove... They're just average. You see glimpses of this or that but not consistently or often enough. Glimpses of good/great defense but not enough or consistently. Glimpses of Ty Lawson here lately but need more. Turned corners? No. They're 16-16.
And I was right, they played TERRIBLE defense tonight. This team is just not right. And where the **** is DMo? He is the only big that can get his own shot and had GREAT success against AD last year. So pathetic that Dmo gets 8 minutes a game - he needs to be starting alongside Howard and bumping Capella to the 4th big role. DD
