lipoli390 wrote:Haden's obviously a great player. But watching him down the stretch here reminds me of why I've never been a fan.
The Rockets are so damn dogmatic about their "only 3s and layups" strategy that no one knows how to manufacture a good old fashioned pull up mid-range jumper or take a guy in the post. They don't run any corner/triangle type stuff through a big, so it's exclusively high pick and roll and nothing else. Eventually defenses learn, especially in a 7-game series.
I'm all for analytics and trying to maximize good shots, but the Rockets have taken it too far and I think it's starting to hurt them.
They ran Harden through a wall tonight. He runs every PNR.
That was such a great game. Not perfect basketball down the stretch by any means, but damn was it exciting.
Watching vintage Manu come to life in Kawhi's absence was so damn awesome. Danny Green, Patty, and Simmons came up huge as well.
Oh, and F$%K Harden. Least favorite player in the league and it's not even close. Got schooled by a 2nd year role player and a NBA dinosaur in OT.
Yeah, LOVE seeing Harden struggle. He turned the ball over 9 times, a couple in critical moments in crunch time.
And Manu's block was squeaky clean. 100% ball and zero contact with the body. If he didn't make that play Harden had a clean look. Such a brilliant play.
lipoli390 wrote:Haden's obviously a great player. But watching him down the stretch here reminds me of why I've never been a fan.
The Rockets are so damn dogmatic about their "only 3s and layups" strategy that no one knows how to manufacture a good old fashioned pull up mid-range jumper or take a guy in the post. They don't run any corner/triangle type stuff through a big, so it's exclusively high pick and roll and nothing else. Eventually defenses learn, especially in a 7-game series.
I'm all for analytics and trying to maximize good shots, but the Rockets have taken it too far and I think it's starting to hurt them.
They ran Harden through a wall tonight. He runs every PNR.
But Go Spurs. Love that team
That's just it....at some point you gotta try some different things or put Harden off the ball and run some motion sets, but none of that is in their playbook. It's all high ball screens and probing for a switch where a big has to guard Harden. At some point the defense sees that shit over 100 times they are going to actually get better at guarding it.
lipoli390 wrote:Haden's obviously a great player. But watching him down the stretch here reminds me of why I've never been a fan.
The Rockets are so damn dogmatic about their "only 3s and layups" strategy that no one knows how to manufacture a good old fashioned pull up mid-range jumper or take a guy in the post. They don't run any corner/triangle type stuff through a big, so it's exclusively high pick and roll and nothing else. Eventually defenses learn, especially in a 7-game series.
I'm all for analytics and trying to maximize good shots, but the Rockets have taken it too far and I think it's starting to hurt them.
They ran Harden through a wall tonight. He runs every PNR.
But Go Spurs. Love that team
That's just it....at some point you gotta try some different things or put Harden off the ball and run some motion sets, but none of that is in their playbook. It's all high ball screens and probing for a switch where a big has to guard Harden. At some point the defense sees that shit over 100 times they are going to actually get better at guarding it.
I started watching with like 4 minutes left in the game. It was mostly ugly basketball some of it was good defense by both ends (why does anyone employ Reggie miller to tell me about basketball?) and when guys got good looks they often missed them.
That was a hell of a win for the Spurs without their best player down the stretch and when he was in he wasn't himself. Manu was terrific. I think on that block he did hit Harden's head after the block but no way you would call that it was just an awesome play. The Refs didn't fall for any of Harden's junk. That one foul on Mills way out on the perimeter I wasn't sure was a foul but the replay Mills clearly rode him. I'm not saying the officiating was percent but I thought they got it about as right as you can in that game and there were plenty of physical plays.
What i will agree on with Reggie Miller on to some extent...what the hell were the Rockets doing running down the clock so much? Ok sure use the clock be efficient get a good shot but they just dribbled the ball and then didn't excecute. Both teams had issues there but the Spurs could say "hey we didn't have Leonard out there" what was the Rockets excuse? Whatever they were or weren't doing could t have been what D'Antoni was looking for them to do. Give the Spurs credit though they were all over Harden no matter who was on him. He seemed a bit unsure of himself at times. Simmons was terrific defending him and even drew that offensive foul on Harden.
lipoli390 wrote:Haden's obviously a great player. But watching him down the stretch here reminds me of why I've never been a fan.
The Rockets are so damn dogmatic about their "only 3s and layups" strategy that no one knows how to manufacture a good old fashioned pull up mid-range jumper or take a guy in the post. They don't run any corner/triangle type stuff through a big, so it's exclusively high pick and roll and nothing else. Eventually defenses learn, especially in a 7-game series.
I'm all for analytics and trying to maximize good shots, but the Rockets have taken it too far and I think it's starting to hurt them.
Agreed. I like the players on the Rockets but hate the way they play. I really don't want to see that type of basketball succeed. On the other hand if it does it could force some much needed rule changes to return the game to one that requires basket cuts and all types of screens, not just high pick'n roll.
lipoli390 wrote:Haden's obviously a great player. But watching him down the stretch here reminds me of why I've never been a fan.
The Rockets are so damn dogmatic about their "only 3s and layups" strategy that no one knows how to manufacture a good old fashioned pull up mid-range jumper or take a guy in the post. They don't run any corner/triangle type stuff through a big, so it's exclusively high pick and roll and nothing else. Eventually defenses learn, especially in a 7-game series.
I'm all for analytics and trying to maximize good shots, but the Rockets have taken it too far and I think it's starting to hurt them.
Agreed. I like the players on the Rockets but hate the way they play. I really don't want to see that type of basketball succeed. On the other hand if it does it could force some much needed rule changes to return the game to one that requires basket cuts and all types of screens, not just high pick'n roll.
I actually think Golden State has hit the right balance. They try to get a lot of 3-point shots up for sure, but they also do a ton of movement and cutting, with Draymond facilitating from the perimeter. And they aren't afraid to take a 16 foot open jumper, which is a high percentage shot for guys like Durant, Klay, and Curry.
The playoffs have been mostly dreadful with an air of inevitability hanging over everything. Hopefully, Leonard isn't hobbling the rest of the series/playoffs. He's too good and too important.
Houston melted down in this one. No other way to describe it. They stopped moving the basketball consistently. And Jonathon Simmons. Undrafted. Recalled from the D-League FOUR times before he stuck on the roster. And his defense was impeccable in OT.
He had 2 steals and a charge. Harden didn't score from the field. In fact, I believe Harden was 0 - 4 fg with 3 TOs in OT.
It's not about waiting for highly promised draft picks to finally... finally... get better... maybe. It's about developing players. It's about complementing star or really good players with hard workers who are willing to fight and claw and surpass any expectations others had for them.
San Antonio gets those guys. Golden State gets those guys. Other teams get those guys. It's not always luck when it happens repeatedly. Likewise, it's not always bad luck that the Wolves can't find those guys... or their lottery picks don't pan out.
I agree Abe, Houston had a golden opportunity to win this game and head back to Houston with an opportunity to close out the series. But they pissed it away. Not sure if the blame falls on Harden, or D'antoni, but running down the clock every possession really put them at a disadvantage.
60WinTim wrote:I agree Abe, Houston had a golden opportunity to win this game and head back to Houston with an opportunity to close out the series. But they pissed it away. Not sure if the blame falls on Harden, or D'antoni, but running down the clock every possession really put them at a disadvantage.
It has to be on Harden. There is no way Mike told Harden to stand 6 feet off of the three line, avoid picks/not attempt to drive only to jack up a 3 from where he stood for 15 seconds. That was late in the 4th, and his body language (and play) killed his teams chances. Then he did it about 5 more possessions (the standing around).
Did anyone else notice Harden point the finger at Capela after Simmons poked the ball lose the second time? Capela got pulled right after and went to the bench staring down Harden and swearing.
