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[HoopsReportCard]

I'm watching the Blazers vs Wizards right now on a Tuesday evening. And wow. I'm wondering how we ever beat them this year. Besides one half of basketball, they not only "virtually swept" us but they pretty much blew us out.
Not because they are 10 times better than us, But because they are disciplined and do so many things well.
1. They have an amazing floor leader- Lillard
2. And a solid Batman in McCollum
3. Their role players play their role. They cut and screen and move and rebound and play defense and are ACTIVE Just play hard. Seemingly every second.
4. They have an amazing coach. I've read and observed and whole heartedly agree with others that he is a teacher and spends one on one team helping each individual player reach their potential.

Next ---- do you ever wonder if the Rockets watch other games on their days off??? Do we ever watch other teams and pick up anything positive that they can add to our team?!
For example, when watching the Warriors or the Spurs (good/bad example), I notice so much ball and player movement on offense.
In contrast the Rockets give the ball to our very talented scorer Harden and stand still till we launch a step back three.
Is it easier to key in on one player to stop him or is it harder to guard against constant ball movement and cutting and screens? Can we play smarter not harder?
Even Steph Curry willingly gives up the ball knowing that he will get it right back in a better position and/or in position that makes the defense more vulnerable.

One play kills me. The Warriors have scored dozens of 3 pointers on this play. They do it over and over and it still works. Draymond Green takes a mini break and drives hard to the basket. But he isn't going to score, at the last second he whips a pass to the corner where a shooter is waiting to launch a corner 3 pointer. That shooter is ALWAYS there.
Or he takes the ball in the post and backs in his defender and similarly sends that pass to the corner (either corner) and gets a wide open 3. Can someone stop this simple yet effective play?

Still watching this game. Gosh! McCollum and Lillard have such good chemistry. I'm jealous.
The reason why Portland was always 20 points up on us (in the 2 games prior to the ALLSTAR Break) is because they aggressively attack the offense glass and passionately play defense and always seem to get open shots against us (because of our lackadaisical defense).
Aminu, Leonard, Henderson, Crabbe, Harkless. One could argue that all 5 of them are having the best season of each of their individual careers. And truthfully McCollum is too and maybe even Lillard.
How many Rockets are having their best season ever?

The point of this ramble is not to beat down the Rockets. But what can we do to develop our talent?
How can our coaching staff maximize our players potential?
What needs to be done to get the kind of defensive effort that only shows in 4th quarters when in the midst of a 20 point comeback, on a more consistent basis?

Dallas is losing games down the stretch, the Jazz are struggling on their road trip. The Blazers have some tough games coming up too.

Our March schedule is brutal. BUT ......

Can you imagine us getting the 6th seed and the Clippers getting the 3rd and we shock the world again by beating them in a hard fought 7 game series?! I can!!

Let's do this Rockets.