Game 45: Rockets @ Cavs 1/25/2025

[ijspeelman]

It looks like Kenny is going to ride out his starters in the 4th

[ijspeelman]

I just shouted "no" at the TV when they called the foul on the Tate shot. Some really ticky tacky fouls down the stretch

[ijspeelman]

It looks like Kenny is going to ride out his starters in the 4th

I was wrong btw

[jbk1234]

It looks like Kenny is going to ride out his starters in the 4th

I was wrong btw

We're on a back to back. I think he started off with them in order to close the gap.

[ijspeelman]

I hate and love this team bc they always give me hope

[mcfly1204]

I hate and love this team bc they always give me hope

Ha, I was just thinking "I'm not sure I love this rollercoaster...".

[ijspeelman]

I hate and love this team bc they always give me hope

its the hope that kills you

[ijspeelman]

Shoutout Garland who was v good

[jbk1234]

Sam Merrill was -16. Ty Jerome was -10. Despite going 6 for 7 from 3, Niang managed to be -1. Probably because Ausur Thompson went for 23, 14, and 10 and he was Niang's responsibility.

This feels like the polar opposite of JBB rolling out bench units with a single shooter and 4 defenders. The concept of diminishing returns just doesn't seem to enter into the equation when it comes to balancing offense/defense in those bench units.

[JujitsuFlip]

3 game losing streak, that's not good.

Did not have that on the bingo card after the hot start to the season.

[toooskies]

Sam Merrill was -16. Ty Jerome was -10. Despite going 6 for 7 from 3, Niang managed to be -1. Probably because Ausur Thompson went for 23, 14, and 10 and he was Niang's responsibility.

This feels like the polar opposite of JBB rolling out bench units with a single shooter and 4 defenders. The concept of diminishing returns just doesn't seem to enter into the equation when it comes to balancing offense/defense in those bench units.

When Okoro, Wade, and LeVert are out there aren’t any plus-defense bench players.

[jbk1234]

Sam Merrill was -16. Ty Jerome was -10. Despite going 6 for 7 from 3, Niang managed to be -1. Probably because Ausur Thompson went for 23, 14, and 10 and he was Niang's responsibility.

This feels like the polar opposite of JBB rolling out bench units with a single shooter and 4 defenders. The concept of diminishing returns just doesn't seem to enter into the equation when it comes to balancing offense/defense in those bench units.

When Okoro, Wade, and LeVert are out there aren’t any plus-defense bench players.

With Strus starting it's admittedly tough, but I thought Tyson was playable. CPJ was actually positive in his short stint. TT was +3. Allen was +8 and yet we closed the game with him on the bench. I just hope the front office has seen enough and pulls the trigger. Niang's inability to rebound, or even effectively box out, just completely exacerbates his defensive deficiencies. At least K. Love could end the possession.

[JujitsuFlip]

45 free throws for the Rockets, the most we surrendered since April 2013.

[toooskies]

45 free throws for the Rockets, the most we surrendered since April 2013.

Not really a biased game by the refs, though.

We came out with physicality to match the last game and the refs called a more normal game than the previous Rockets matchup.

And then a lot of those FTs were purposeful on the Cavs' part, too. Holding Steven Adams in the 3rd to make him shoot FTs (which he made us pay for), hacking Amen Thompson and Sengun in the paint to prevent layups all game, and then end-of-game fouling to get the ball back.