Things that scare me going into Game 6
by grungedave on Apr 28, 2009 11:40 PM CDT
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PrintNot going to mince words. Tonight was f--king ugly. And the Rockets have only themselves to blame for the piss-poor effort in Portland tonight. Let me count the ways:
- The Rockets still haven't figured out a way to counter the Blazers fronting Yao. You'd think after 5 games a coach might have an idea or two. I guess not.
- Carl Landry and Kyle Lowry apparently were not aware that there was a basketball game being played tonight. Carl Landry walked around like he was on Ritalin™ the whole game. Lowry gave me flashbacks of one Rafer Alston. (This is not a good thing.)
- Brandon Roy had his worst game of the series. The Rockets did not take advantage. At all. Which is unfortunate, because Roy was sick tonight. He won't be sick on Thursday. This scares me.
- 15 goddamn turnovers. Most of them of the 'unforced' variety. Lowry's 3/4 court attempted alley-oop to no one in particular was especially nice. This was also 20 seconds after he dribbled off the back of Outlaw's foot. When Outlaw wasn't even looking.
- 20% shooting from deep.
- Blazers miss 7 free throws. Again, the Rockets do not take advantage of the situation.
- Luis Scola started off on fire. Unstoppable. It was like NBA Jam out there. Rick Adelman decided he wasn't going to allow that to continue.
- The myriad of loose ball fouls that were wholly unnecessary. Get back on defense and quit slapping at the ball when Portland gathers a defensive rebound. (Yes, I am again looking at you Mr. Landry and Mr. Lowry.)
- Take the ball to the damn basket. Quit dribbling side to side. Matter of fact, pass the damn ball to a teammate. It's still a team game. Ball movement works wonders. I promise. Running out the shot clock and then making a last-second heave really isn't in your best interests in the long term. It's true.
- Somehow Carl Landry had the highest +/- of the game. This statistic is now rendered meaningless to me.
Simply put, the Blazers may have just played their worst game of the series. And yet they won by DOUBLE DIGITS! I realize I predicted the Rockets would win the series in 6 and that after Game 1 both teams would probably hold serve on their respective home courts. None of this has changed, but I'm far less confident going into Thursday than I was 2.5 hours ago.
I hate to say it, but the Rockets need to treat Thursday like a Game 7. There is very little room for error now. Everyone needs to get angry and follow Scola's lead.
If Yao can't get open, get the ball to Scola and Wafer and get the hell out of their way. That includes you, Coach Sleepy.
Ummmm, GO ROCKETS!!! (!?!?)
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"the Blazers may have just played their worst game of the series"
Other than the anomaly dear-in-the-headlights game 1, I would actually agree.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
...
I’ve watched every Blazers game this year. They most definately did NOT play fine. Maybe for a brief stretch in the 2nd, but that was it. Not discounting the Rockets game 1 effort – they most definately came out ready to play, but we didn’t play well either. I said at the time that the Rockets playing well coupled with us playing poorly equals 30 point lead. Neither one of those things by itself would have led to that big a victory, it took both of them combined
I guess we will agree to disagree on game 1.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Agreed
Everything we had been doing right for the last month of the season flew out the window in game 1. It was eerily reminiscent of opening night in LA.
Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game
I recced this. only so i could unrec it because it couldn't be more wrong.
Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".
...no seriously--stop.
I’ve always felt the +/- stat was meaningless… but then, I guess it must work at least some of the time, for something…
…danged if I know what, though.
+/- is terrific over a large sample size
but to use it to evaluate with a sample size of one game is not effective. There is far too much statistical noise in one game, or even ten games.
draft dejuan blair
Yao Ming: "Over time, [Oden] can even go beyond the Magic’s Howard."
Pelton: "Always love Hinrich’s D. Nobody on the Blazers (or most teams) gets into people like he does."
by Cablinasian on Apr 29, 2009 12:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Okay, I’ll buy that.
I guess statistical noise is better than none at all…
by DribbleHooper on Apr 29, 2009 12:19 AM CDT up reply actions
+/- more effective in looking at bench players imo
A bench player is supposed to come into the game and have an immediate impact on their team winning the game. +/- somewhat encapsulates that, however I do agree with you 100% that looking at one game’s +/- is a craptastic way of analyzing a player’s performance in a game.
As for starters, +/- basically is a reflection of your team’s record. You can have one great player with a bunch of scrubs and his +/- will be horrible. Too much “noise” is well put.
What are you impressions of Roy?
"He's just a very, very good basketball player. Very smart. Very heady. He can do a little bit of everything on the court. As coaches, when we scout Portland we kind of put him in the same category as Kobe (Bryant), LeBron (James), Dwyane Wade. We treat him the same. He's that good."
- Byron Scott
Couple of things...
First off, a decently called game for once. While there were a few missed travel calls against the Rockets, there was some definite times when Yao was getting crushed down low that weren’t called either.
Second, Aaron Brooks was HORRIBLE. Sometimes, you just have to learn to stop shooting…especially if you aren’t the first option. 6-20 is unacceptable if I am the Rockets.
Third, Adelman needs to pull his head OUT OF HIS ASS and find a way to get the ball to Yao. He is best offensive weapon you got…USE HIM. Fronting him is destroying not only his confidence, but is putting a ton of pressure on Scola/Artest/Battier.
I can’t wait for game 6. All the pressure is on you guys. Should be absolutely excellent!
"Is RLEC a real person" -My beloved wife
by Ireallyliketheblazers on Apr 29, 2009 12:29 AM CDT reply actions
...
The thing about this Yao thing is… it surprised me that Scola was super hot from the field tonight but then it just stopped. He was 10-13, he was killing the blazers and then no possessions. Very odd series… very
-brandonmitchell.org
by brandonmitchell on Apr 29, 2009 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions
well travels on both sides
on first look the LMA dish to prz for the dunk was beautiful. after i saw the replay it was apparent that LMA took 3 steps and then dragged his pivot foot b4 passing it.
before that scola somehow got a 3 point play after taking 3-4 steps. apparently if the move looks good enough, steps dont matter in the NBA. cuz after all its the NBA… where shit happens.
those two were hilarious
draft dejuan blair
Yao Ming: "Over time, [Oden] can even go beyond the Magic’s Howard."
Pelton: "Always love Hinrich’s D. Nobody on the Blazers (or most teams) gets into people like he does."
"The Rockets still haven't figured out a way to counter the Blazers fronting Yao. You'd think after 5 games a coach might have an idea or two. I guess not."
From that press conference after game 4 it appears he’s unconcerned with that as long as they win, and that Yao should be finding ways to get open himself. Or at least that’s how I interpreted what he said. Sometimes Adelman makes me wonder how it is that he finished second in COY voting…
hopefully this doesn't spark another racism argument :)
Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".
...no seriously--stop.
No killer instinct
I hate it when the Rockets have a team on the ropes and come out and play like garbage. Why can’t we ever put a team away? Scola was ripping on the Blazers last night, but where was the rest of the team? We actually tied the game at the beginning of the four quarter but then fell flat on our face. I am concerned about game six, and agree with the above comment about treating it as if it is a game seven. We need to get pissed off and eliminate these guys already. GO ROCKETS!!
Are you and Drexler best buddies?? Smooking buddies?? Maybe yall are president and vice of Brooks fan club.. Yes, Landry is walking around like the shooter is in the arena but Lowry was hustling. Something D-less Brooks knows anything about. Lowry picked up two or three fouls being agressive and is a much better point than Brooks. Wafer needs more pt and Lowry needs to start. Trivia question!! Who is the only starting point guard that averages less than 4 assist? I’ll give you a hint, BROOKS!!!
Thanks for the respect
While individually the blazers may not have played well, that was teh FIRST game this series, where I saw Blazer basketball in action. I don’t know if Roy being sicked forced that on the team or what. I’ve been somewhat dismayed at his high scoring and the lack of involvement from the other Blazers at times. Rudy’s injection may have helped that as well. That guy has been there and has no fear.
Also, Aldridge has finally stepped back into attacking the basket. This was a large element of the blazers winning streak pre post season. It’s another thing I haven’t seen, due to Aldridge thinking too much and pressure or great defense.
If the blazers play blazer basketball, houston is in serious trouble. If they don’t and Portland goes for more isolation plays, I think houston will win game 6. I agree with you that you don’t want the blazers in game 7. Portland handles those situations better than most teams in the league.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
Consider this the last chance game....must win...
Yao is getting himself open, don’t hesitate, leads to wrong plays. Play the Rockets Offense we know and love when you are HOT!!
Don’t play as Dominating Individual Players….Play as a Dominating TEAM!!!!!
GO ROCKETS!!!
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