[Game 68] Rockets @ Warriors

[TMACFORMVP]

Best game I've ever been to.

Landry, Jackson and Mac were terrific.

[TMACFORMVP]

What a game.

McGrady controlled the game, hit some crowd quieting shots, and played a good all around game (26/8/8) on 11/23. Battier's efforts in the game shouldn't be underlooked as well, he did a nice job on Jackson and scored 17 points himself on 6-7 shooting.

Jackson and Landry off the bench were spectacular. Landry finished with authority and had some nice shots around the basket in that 4th quarter, also his most of his FT's which in this game was crucial. I can't say enough about what Bobby did today, hit some HUGE shots and I literally started screaming in Oracle Arena when he hit that double clutcher with the shot-clock winding down. I was being trash talked by this one dude in the second quarter, just smiled at him after the game. He shook his head and just left

I just looked at the stats for the game, and I never expected Scola to finish with 9 and 10 on 4/9. It really seemed he played much worse than that.

And I went down to the court after the game and said "hi" to Landry, Worrell and Bullard. It was from a distance though.

Great game.

[aznkillabeezZz]

-= original quote snipped =-



ill have to agree with dream34 Luther has nice hops he just doesn't use it anymore


I cant believe bobby's 3pointer didn't make top plays

well whats the point of having it if you don't use it. He obviously doesn't have it anymore because he'd be using it to make a case to get more playing time trust me.

[TMU]

-= original quote snipped =-



well whats the point of having it if you don't use it. He obviously doesn't have it anymore because he'd be using it to make a case to get more playing time trust me.

Luther has good hops and it's evident when you watch him take a jumpshot.
His biggest problem is that when he struggles for a couple of games, he loses a lot of confidence and takes a lot of time to get it back.

[aznkillabeezZz]

he always leans forward in his jumpshot which is predictable to guard by defenders. Yeah but he doesn't finish around the basket, barely dunks, or uses his jumping skills.

[moofs]

Carl Landry's usefulness was apparent tonight. Scola can't finish anything. He generally stops, pump fakes, dribbles, and tries a soft layup. Landry can go right at the rim and stuff it.

If by "finish" you mean "dunk it" then yes, Scola can't finish. If you mean "can't get the ball to go through the rim at roughly a 50%+ clip", the stats belie you. It's cool if you can dunk all the time to score, but it's absolutely not necessary unless you can and frequently miss layups or get blocked, which Scola doesn't.

[Iggyemu]

-= original quote snipped =-



well whats the point of having it if you don't use it. He obviously doesn't have it anymore because he'd be using it to make a case to get more playing time trust me.

There is nothing wrong with Head physically other than he is maybe too short to be running those of cuts which requires you to finish at the basket. The thing though is that Head is afraid to get his shot blocked. Look its that simple. He is always looking for the defender instead of going up and just making the shot. Its a mental thing with Head.

[Iggyemu]

-= original quote snipped =-



If by "finish" you mean "dunk it" then yes, Scola can't finish. If you mean "can't get the ball to go through the rim at roughly a 50%+ clip", the stats belie you. It's cool if you can dunk all the time to score, but it's absolutely not necessary unless you can and frequently miss layups or get blocked, which Scola doesn't.

Nah man Scola does too many moves around the basket...risking travels and turnovers when he could just as easily go straight up. Yes a lot of times they result in scores..but in a close game...against a good team..on the road...do you really want a guy risking a turnover like that when another guy in McGrady did all the work already and got you a good shot?

Look the guy is great for this team...would be greater if he made a 15 footer with more frequency but tonight...if Adelman didn't bench Scola in favor of Landry in the fourth we would have lost. Scola just looked like he was trying to do too much against a team that isn't gonna block your shot. Just go up. Landry came in and started dunking and finishing everything thrown to him

[moofs]

Nah man Scola does too many moves around the basket...risking travels and turnovers when he could just as easily go straight up. Yes a lot of times they result in scores..but in a close game...against a good team..on the road...do you really want a guy risking a turnover like that when another guy in McGrady did all the work already and got you a good shot?

Look the guy is great for this team...would be greater if he made a 15 footer with more frequency but tonight...if Adelman didn't bench Scola in favor of Landry in the fourth we would have lost. Scola just looked like he was trying to do too much against a team that isn't gonna block your shot. Just go up. Landry came in and started dunking and finishing everything thrown to him

The thing is, those fakes and pumps are why Scola can create his shot and Landry largely can't (Landry usually has to try to get over his defender or have someone pass to him after he gets free, Scola can fake his way around them). Sure he's going to have some off games, he's actually had several offs over the last 5-8 games, but there have conversely been games when Landry tried to get to the rim and dunk it and kept getting denied. Some days you're just off. Also, Scola can't go straight up. From the looks of it he can barely get up high enough to dunk with a running start, so he scores with footwork and rebounds with hustle, strength, and positioning.

Olajuwon wasn't uncommonly called for travels on the Dream Shake. McHale has always been praised for his footwork and fakes. No way should Scola change up his game because of a few bad shooting games, those moves have worked fine in plenty of others.

[DreamShook34]

-= original quote snipped =-



The thing is, those fakes and pumps are why Scola can create his shot and Landry largely can't (Landry usually has to try to get over his defender or have someone pass to him after he gets free, Scola can fake his way around them). Sure he's going to have some off games, he's actually had several offs over the last 5-8 games, but there have conversely been games when Landry tried to get to the rim and dunk it and kept getting denied. Some days you're just off. Also, Scola can't go straight up. From the looks of it he can barely get up high enough to dunk with a running start, so he scores with footwork and rebounds with hustle, strength, and positioning. Olajuwon wasn't uncommonly called for travels on the Dream Shake. McHale has always been praised for his footwork and fakes. No way should Scola change up his game because of a few bad shooting games, those moves have worked fine in plenty of others.

no one hates Scola's moves or discounting his footwork its knowing when to use those moves is the problem..Hakeem didn't do the dream shake 2 feet from the basket... when you have a point blank layup you don't need the pivots and fakes take it up strong..i think thats what Iggy was getting at

[CuttingEdge]

I heard Landry was back and was somewhat of a beast? I didn't check in for this one fellas and I'm too lazy to click back to read. Why don't one of you give me the 411 on this game. A summary. Who's up for it?

[tisbee]

This is Scola's first yr in NBA after yrs in Europe. I fully expect him to work on more NBA-type moves over summer and be much better next yr. And the Spurs still look like idiots for trading him!
Head is coming off leg injury so he may not have his full explosiveness back yet and his confidence in his base might be a little shaky. On the other hand,he's the only Rocket other than Jackson who seem's to understand Adelman's system of running and cutting and I expect him to be a key reserve for this yr and next.

This game is why I am really growing to like Adelman. Motumbo played alot of minutes against Hornets and Shaq is waiting in Phoenix. Since GS has no inside presence Adelman made a smart move to give Deke another day's rest and have some energy for Sun's game.
I believe Adelman has finally found how to combine McGrady and his beloved high-post offence. Instead of a big man being the trigger up top he's going to use McGrady. If Head and Scola had made the shots their motion brought them,Rox might have blown GS out of the game.
BTW,I suspect Bobby Jackson will be w/Rockets for the entire season next yr. I don't think Adelman is going to want to give up his PG security blanket.

[killacalijatt]

Damn good game both teams needed it. But damn you guys won insane game playoff intensity there