13 replies to this topic

[Red94]

New post: Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks on 1/16/13

[tombrokeoff]

I really hope we dont lose 5 in a row and especially not to the Mavs. Im glad this game is on ESPN and I hope to see a W!

[Paradise]

Painful game to watch. Lin made me so happy in the 4th until he couldn't hit a damn freethrow. We should have taken this one, now were on a 5 game losing streak.

[thejohnnygold]

I didn't see the game, but from the box score Harden's 5-23 shooting combined with the Mav's edge in personal fouls called (10 fewer) stand out as the difference. I am guessing Harden didn't get very many calls at the rim tonight. On the bright side, Beverley seems to have done well.

[DaDakota]

Lin and Harden need to shoot better off of each other, and Harden is relied on with the ball FAR FAR too much, when he is off, use him as a decoy.

DD

[Paradise]

Harden was blowing a lot of really good looks late in the game. I guess tonight just wasn't his night.
I agree with you DaDakota. Obviously he wasn't feeling it tonight, we should have run less through him and just used him as a decoy for the real play.

[Red94]

New post: Dallas Mavericks 105, Houston Rockets 100: Welcome to the 9th seed. Again.

[tombrokeoff]

Paradise nailed it: painful. I was upset since it was Dallas. 5th game in a row. And only 3rd I've watched. Big disappointment. FTs, TOs, missed layups. Uhhh.

[goRockets]

Actually still 8th seed, Portland lost tonight also, gotta thank the CAVS and Kyrie I guess.

[goRockets]

Indiana is good defense team, but not very good offensively, kind of like Grizzlies and Bulls, whom Rockets have beaten this season. Rockets really lose games because they shoot themselves in the foot with TOs and missed FTs. If they can take care of the ball, especially that first quarter, and play solid defense, they should win. Hoping a winning streak starts Friday! Go Rockets!!!

[Rahat Huq]

It really upset me when Lin was scorching hot yet they kept going to Harden.

[EVE0914]

I agree DaDakota ," when he is off, use him as a decoy" this is good idea, but Coaches should be faster adjust lineup when Harden Close
TD is more like a SG ,let Patrick Beverley become backup for LIN
, and they need to learn better defense

[khyberjones]

I disagree with the statement that Lin has played poorly during the losing streak. He played very well in the Dallas, LA Clippers ( he had a double-double) and Boston (he outplayed Rondo) games. He did not play well in the loss to Philly and had a mixed performance against NO.

He shot over 40% in 3 of the 5 games (though the 2-13 against Philly brings the average down). He has averaged 6 assists, just under 3 steals, about 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 turnovers (which is about where Chris Paul's turnover rate is).

The problem during the losing streak is that teams have keyed on Harden and are forcing him to take more jump shots and he has been streaky (much like he was in last year's NBA playoffs). Harden is an average jump shooter. His game is built off the drive. He has not yet developed that Kobe Bryant ability to shoot over 40% from the outside with a hand in his face. The other problem is that the forwards and centers are handling the ball too much and are turning the ball over at a high rate. The choice for the Rockets is to trust the point guards more. Lin needs to run the offense more and has to have the ball in his hands more. When Lin has had the freedom to go 'Linsane' the entire team has benefited.

He can get Harden high percentage shots and preserve his longevity. Lin can get better shots for Parsons, Asik and Patterson. Carlos Delfino needs to go to the bench and be a spot up shoter. Douglas needs to be the designated shooting guard off the bench, not the point and the 3 guard rotation should be used to take advantage of Douglas' abilities on the wing.

The Rockets do not have great forwards and the only way to make them more effective is to enable the guards to get those players higher percentage shots. That can't happen if Carlos Delfino is taking too many shots and dribbling too much.

[Alituro]

Wow! Beverley, where have you been? We finally got a TRUE point guard worth talking about. He keeps his dribble nice and low and keeps his speed up, doesn't freeze the ball either. How many trips around the baseline did he make unscathed last night? 3 in 13 minutes? This is a nice ability to have from a PG, and one we haven't had until now, it really stirs up the D nicely when they make those little trips, ask Nash. It is a small sample, but a couple more small samples with 1/2 the stat line should have Lin worried about the starting PG position. I think Lin is better suited at SG than Douglas, and Douglas better at backup PG with better handles, if for no other reason. Lin coming off the bench for Harden will preserve James nicely too. PB feeding both Lin and Harden in smaller lineups will be interesting to see also.

When will McHale finally say, "enough is enough!" about our PF situation and start inserting D-mo or Jones for more than just garbage time? Is he showcasing Morris and Ppat for a trade? If so, it needs to happen soon, because they are painful to watch, to me.

Landing at #9 this year isn't quite as disastrous as the previous 3 years, IMO. I would still consider it over-achieving for our young squad. And, I don't think we should be looking at the draft to find the piece we are missing, nor could we expect to have much success this season in the playoffs anyway. To me, this team really can do no wrong this season as far as their record goes. It's about player development and that is happening in droves.

Oh, and they doubled on Harden all night and everywhere on the floor. That's alot for anyone to handle on the 2nd night of a B2B. McHale kept going to Harden though to draw the double and hopefully let him create a play finding the open man. Could have worked out better.