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Luis Scola, PF 10-18 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 20 PTS | -3Luis Scola is beginning to find out what life in the NBA is like with no Chuck Hayes by his side. On offense he remains crafty, but at times he’s stepping out for reluctant jumpers due to what appears to be natural wear and tear. |  |
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Jordan Hill, C 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 2 PTS | 0The smallest 6’10″ player in NBA history. |  |
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Kyle Lowry, PG 8-19 FG | 2-2 FT | 10 REB | 9 AST | 22 PTS | -7Solid performance from Lowry, who had an extremely difficult matchup against a well rested Chris Paul. Would’ve liked to see him attack the basket a bit more, though. |  |
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Terrence Williams, SF 1-2 FG | 0-1 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | +2The season is starting very slow for Terrence Williams, and I almost miss his reckless play. The tentativeness he showed tonight helped nobody. Hopefully we never see it again. |  |
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Chandler Parsons, F 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -2The closest to an A the Rockets had tonight, Parsons didn’t look intimidated in this contest at all. He had two very pretty put back dunks, jawed a little at Blake Griffin, and hit the glass with no fear. |  |
Five Things We Saw
- Defense was the story tonight, and a terrible tale of horror it was. Heading into tonight the Rockets were the worst defense in the entire league based on opposing FG%, and against the Clippers they did not disappoint. With just under six minutes left in the third quarter—after Chris Paul gift wrapped a couple aerial bones for his two St. Bernards—the score sat at 85-62. The Clippers shooting 68.6% from the floor. This was rock bottom.
- The Rockets were overmatched against what may end up being an elite Western Conference team. Granted it came on the second night of a back to back against a rested band of skywalkers, but Houston just didn’t appear in the same class both athletically and in the front court—that could be a running theme for the season.
- With no hope late in this one, McHale was forced to empty the bench. We got to see a little Thabeet (who did virtually nothing), some Jonny Flynn (looking a little nervous), and Jeff Adrien (a sad representative of this team’s “height”).
- Goran Dragic looks like a mini-Chandler Parsons. Someday, their pick and roll could end up being as deceitful as it is effective.
- Kyle Lowry’s range is just unexplainable. In my 24 years on Earth, I’ve never had more confidence in someone shooting a ball from so far as I do with Lowry. He’s fearless in all the good ways.
We ran into a glitch with the generator last night, hence the stats/box on this was pulled from the Lakers game. Michael’s analysis still pertains to the Clippers games. Sorry for the confusion. – Ed.