12-28 Rockets @ Spurs game thread

[madbucky]

Not bad to hang with the Spurs in San Antonio and still have a shot to win in the 4th quarter. We did beat the spread in San Antonio, no easy feat. It was pretty much game over when Harden got his 5th foul.

The only problem is that the starters spent a lot of energy tonight, so tomorrow's game may not be pretty.

[Ginger Bean]

we have trouble with smaller, ultra quick PGs. Parker, Barea, Nate Robinson etc.

Duncan is the GOAT pf. Well, we see where we have to grow. sigh

Parker isnt small at all.

Lin is a bad defender in 1on1, and will always be, he hasnt the tools.

He isnt a sharpshooter either.

It's ok to have him now, but in the long term... he cant be the starter of this project.

LMAO, do you have a fixation on Lin and whack yourself to his picture or something??? You've followed him everywhere saying every possible negative thing, go see a head doctor, man, it's getting pathetic!

First it was his turn overs, you yapped like he couldn't ever improve on that, then it was his shots, everyday on every possible forum, now after he did 21/8 (on 9/16 shooting) in a game against the SPURS you single him out??? After Asik went 2/4 and let Duncan scored 30 on him???

Are you KIDDING ME? Don't you have some sort of a star you LIKE and try to follow? Do you have a favorite team or something? Do you have a life besides looking at Lin posters???

Lin is 24, he'll get better, I think everyone on this board who actually CARES about Rockets success won't find that much fault with Lin's effort today. He has flaws, but I'll take 21/8 on that kinda shooting percentage any day for any player besides LBJ, okay? Get REAL!

He's a Knicks fan.

[BaYBaller]

The difference in the game I feel was the defensive adjustments from SA. Popvich is a master of giving your offense different looks throughout the game. You could feel the coaching disparity in that game, although it probably also has a lot to do with our team's inexperience.

I think at this point in the season our offensive identity is rolling pretty good. It's our defensive identity we need to find now. If we do I'm pretty sure we can make the playoffs.

[madbucky]

I think at this point in the season our offensive identity is rolling pretty good. It's our defensive identity we need to find now. If we do I'm pretty sure we can make the playoffs.

Concur. To repeat myself, Rockets are 8th in pts scored per possession, 19th in pts allowed per possession.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats

Team defense is where the Rockets need to improve. With today's NBA rules, it's impossible to guard a good player with 1 on 1 defense (except for a handful of defenders in the league). It's all about team defense.

[kam_soluusar]

I'm not worried at all. Spurs are what they are, a class act. I would argue Pop is the best coach ever behind Phil Jackson only. Spurs are Playoff bound pretty much every year. They have kept a dominant core together for what seems like eternity, need I say more. No shame in losing to a great team.

I think all of the regulars here will agree when I say that we are all very happy with how the team is progressing at the moment. More than a few of us have had to eat their words on a number of assumptions we made about the team heading in to this season. It appears Morey's finally managed to pull of 90% of his plan. The only thing we need now is either A) a superstar player, or B) one of our current players to become a superstar.

As much as I love Landry, if I had to choose between him and Chuckwagon coming back, I wwould take Chuck. He would fit this team perfectly. There's our Savvy veteran, (even if he doesn't have much playoff experience.)

We have played 3 games in 4 nights, anyone thinking we would come out of this 4-0 is delusional. I think we can pull off a 3-1 though.

Keep this motor we have running.

[moofs]

I'm not worried at all. Spurs are what they are, a class act. I would argue Pop is the best coach ever behind Phil Jackson only.

I'd put Pop above Jackson, handily. He and Buford may be passed by Auerbach, and I can't think of anyone else that comes close to being on their level. Duncan does make things easier, but they've basically been an outstanding team for all but a handful of years since 1996. Ask KG, a very competent coach and GM are required for that.

I think all of the regulars here will agree when I say that we are all very happy with how the team is progressing at the moment. More than a few of us have had to eat their words on a number of assumptions we made about the team heading in to this season. It appears Morey's finally managed to pull of 90% of his plan. The only thing we need now is either A) a superstar player, or B) one of our current players to become a superstar.

Mostly agreed. The team is looking like it might be able to finish above 500, which I guessed (iirc, I pegged it as 41-44, with outlier injury-barring max/mins of 39 and 48). Does anyone think they'll pass my max range of 48 wins yet?

As much as I love Landry, if I had to choose between him and Chuckwagon coming back, I wwould take Chuck. He would fit this team perfectly. There's our Savvy veteran, (even if he doesn't have much playoff experience.)

Ok, this is weird given that I've probably been the board's biggest Hayes supporter since his rookie year, and vice versa with Carl and you, but I think Landry might be a better fit for this team. He provides the shooting we need, he can take it to the rim, and he can rebound sufficiently that Asik will make up the gap.
It'd be a dream if we could get them both back, ha!
Keep this motor we have running.[/quote]

[msg4k90]

just somethings I watched:

marcus morris poor shooting
danny green 3 pt %.
poor free throw shooting
tim duncan...no one was able to stop him from the post. he also made most of his jumpers.
I'd rather have omer asik in the game than cole aldrich.

this loss ain't a big deal, spurs are a really good team. you can't win em all.

they got tim duncan, man.

now for tonight, i hope rockets win against okc.

omer asik and jeremy lin got their revenge, now it's harden's turn.

[Dmes]

As much as I like Asik.... he's getting schooled by one the the great...

Asik is like Arvydas Sabonis in his last days...

lmao, asik continues to go for the fake and he doesn't close out because I think he knows Duncan will take it past him. SMH @ old man Duncan still being twice as athletic as Omer....

Let this be a lesson for Asik, I think Mchale should have scolded him for this, it could have made a difference. Hopefully playing against the best center in tim Duncan, will improve asik's game

[Zubby]

I'll repeat myself, Asik destroyed Duncan in their last match. Asik got their bigs in foul trouble and had something like 10 freethrows by the half. Asik pretty much carried this team that game til Lin went off in the 2nd half.

21/10 1stl 2blks

Duncan was 10/13 1-9 shooting




Come on you just knew Duncan was gonna come out and have a big game.

[phoenixx]

i think asik would have been the difference maker if he played more minutes tonight. but the fouls got in the way.

[spolgar]

I thought that when our offense concaved itself in the fourth quarter, there was a moment of counter intuitiveness. On one hand, with the clock winding down, racing to score would have made sense, but we wouldn't be able to contain the Spurs offense as we would be even more vulnerable in transition.

When Harden went out on the fifth foul, there should've been an active effort to slow down the game. I'm not saying it is the coaches' fault for the lack of game management either. Many great coaches have sacrificed posssessions, sometimes a few wins, so that youngins can play through their mistakes. There is a somewhat hands off approach to Mchale in the closing moments of the game that I appreciate. Some teams could've burned a timeout or two when the spurs run mounted, but it's neither here nor there now. I would've preferred some competency at the half court offense, as Lin looked completely gassed, but that'll take time to develop.

Moofs: I've said it was possible to hit 50 wins, and they are on pace to take 45 right now. I think their winning percentage has been increasing as well. We lost a lot more in the beginning of the season too. However, most of our wins have been against (L)eastern Conference teams. If we overlook that tidbit and just concentrate really hard that the Rockets have been playing much better, then I can remain optimistic

[Mr. E]

Hope we get the butts & struts tonight for Harden!