Rockets Play Like the Rockets, Win Game. Correlation?

by Xiane on Nov 12, 2010 9:35 PM CST in Random Commentary

I just got through watching this one and I've got a few thoughts.

I'm thankful we won this one. I think I might go mute if not. Terrifying thought, isn't it?
Welcome back, Kyle Lowry. While clearly not as fit as he will be, check this out: 5-10 shooting, 3-4FT, 6 RB, 7ST, 2STL, 2BLK, 4TO in 35 minutes. Yes, he took a bad shot right at the end. It was ill-advised. The rest of the time he attacked the basket like the Lowry of old - fierce, tough, physical, fearless. I still say he's the straw the stirs the drink for the Rockets.
Welcome back, defense. This was a good effort. James Posey (a player I've always considered slightly fraudulent) shot well and took advantage of Scola's D by camping at the 3pt line. But that's not really Scola's fault, that's on the coach to change the matchup. If I have one criticism of Adelman, it's that he'll wait until some suspect like Posey has hit 3pt shots in a row before he acts to neutralize the problem.
Luis Scola plays 30 minutes, scores 17 on 7-13 scoring, 9rb, 1blk, 1stl, 0PF.

Welcome to the Houston Rockets, Brad Miller. Miller played a whale of a game. How many of his points came off drives on Roy Hibbert? Answer, a lot. Miller goes 9-16, 2-3FT, 3-3 3PT, 8RB, 5AST, 1BLK and 1TO. So while Hibbert was able to operate to the tune of 18pts, Miller won this matchup. The height inside didn't kill us, because Miller was able to abuse Hibbert in return.
Welcome back, Shane. Shane frustrated Danny Granger to the point that Granger was acting petulant and cheap by the end of the game. Granger scores 17 on 7-18 shooting, going 1-6 from 3pt range. This is better than the usual 70pts with 18 3PTers he usually hangs on the Rockets.
The Rockets could have folded and lost this game, withering under Posey's 5 3pters and Indy's 41% 3PT percentage. They didn't.
It was apparently "Turn Back The Clock" night in Indiana tonight, as a basketball game from 1995 broke out, an arrangement that benefits Indy's healthy supply of chunky and stiff white guys, and Roy Hibbert, The Poor Man's Othella Harrington.
Courtney Lee played pretty well, but possibly he shouldn't be in for end of games. Of course, if you want D, do you want Kevin Martin?
Rockets miss FT. They don't nail a ton of 3pt shots. They win anyway. This is more like it. The Rockets didn't play fantastically, but they didn't throw a win away.
Onwards to New York.

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Keep up the good work, BMills!

by DribbleHooper on Nov 12, 2010 9:51 PM CST reply actions

I actually know Othella Harrington pretty well.

I was his neighbor for a number of years and he was a regular at my mom’s old restaurant.

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 12, 2010 9:56 PM CST reply actions

I have nothing against the guy - suggest another center and I'll change it.

Hibbert just annoyed me tonight.

"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."

Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake

by Xiane on Nov 12, 2010 10:11 PM CST up reply actions

Nah it's cool

He’s a nice guy though. He used to tell me stories of all the things that went on in the locker room. Most of them had something to do with Charles Barkely, unsurprisingly.

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 12, 2010 10:18 PM CST up reply actions

But I love him. I was probably 10 or something and my dad had won some raffle and gotten me courtside seats for my birthday. Anyway I had cotton candy and during a timeout he came over and asked me for some and chatted me up. Then Rudy T yelled at him to get back in the huddle…

by Patrick Harrel on Nov 12, 2010 10:36 PM CST up reply actions

Haha

Typical Chuck.

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 12, 2010 11:13 PM CST up reply actions

I'd probably date myself by saying that Barkley picked up my bar tab...

"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."

Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake

by Xiane on Nov 12, 2010 11:26 PM CST up reply actions

New York...

I watched a good number of Suns games last year (I’ve got a Suns fan in the fam) and I can tell you firsthand that Amare is not a good rebounder. This guy could be leading the league in rebounds but he really cares about getting up-court and getting good position on the offense. Scola should grab a decent number of boards. I remember the first thing about Jordan Hill that I read was that he was an incredibly good rebounder, and I’ve seen great flashes of that this season but I’d like to see a double-double from him. That is, if RA will play him and he can control his fouls.

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 12, 2010 10:23 PM CST reply actions

Just wondering...

Who leads the league in FT made and attempted? Is it our guy?

by suzaku on Nov 13, 2010 12:02 AM CST reply actions

attempted..

I’m going with Dwight Howard, the guy just got 17 FTAs tonight..only made 7 though, hes still ridiculously bad at making them, so i dont think hes the leader at making them. Either D-wade, Lebron or Kevin Martin would be good guesses for that I’d guess.

by KamuiDn on Nov 13, 2010 12:07 AM CST up reply actions

I thought it was Durant

by Rockets4LIFE on Nov 13, 2010 1:28 AM CST up reply actions

here you go

FTM
KD: 69
Westbrook/LeBron: 68
Kobe: 67
D-Wade: 65
Kevin Martin: 64
Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/free-throws/sort/freeThrowsMade

FTA
Dwight Howard: 102
LeBron, D-Wade, Kobe, KD, Westbrook
Kevin is 7th with 71 attempts behind
Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/free-throws/sort/freeThrowsAttempted

by sohum on Nov 14, 2010 12:43 AM CST up reply actions

I thought Dwight had gotten better

But 102 FTA and he isn’t even in the top 5 in made FT’s? Embarrasing

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 14, 2010 2:15 AM CST up reply actions

Kobe gets 2 the line because he is Kobe

He take way 2 many jumpers and does not drive to the basket so this is rubbish.

GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!

by batman713 on Nov 14, 2010 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

Random observation

We simply shot better tonight and created more steals tonight.

We probably wont play a center as slow as Roy Hibbert in a while, enjoy your athletic feat while you can Brad. Still wish JHill would play more.

CBudd broke out of his slump, here’s to him nailing 3s from n0w on

by NVP on Nov 13, 2010 12:09 AM CST reply actions

Lowry is the key I think...

Amazing how we miss him when he is not around, and we win when he plays well.

The straw that stirs the drink, Xiane, is called leadership. Lowry has a command presence. We know he pushes the tempo, plays physical, and involves the other guys, but he has an attitude and confidence that carries over to the other players and makes them better.

I like Brooks, and we are a better team when we have both of these guys healthy; that goes without saying. I think we are bit of a nightmare for other teams to plan for when we have both guys, and I really don’t care who starts. Kyle is my closer though.

Speaking of drinks, I think we celebrate the win. They have been hard to come by.

Congrats Rockets!

by albertchester1 on Nov 13, 2010 7:20 AM CST reply actions

No mention of Jordan Hill and the posters he created?

The BANHAMMER delivers the real justice
That's just turrible
The absence pf evidence is not the evidence of absence.

by joshsm07 on Nov 13, 2010 9:31 AM CST reply actions

Jordan Hill is just a monster

That spin move dunk was too reminiscent of Hakeem

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 13, 2010 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

poor Josh

The Rockets had three of the top ten plays from last night.

The BANHAMMER delivers the real justice
That's just turrible
The absence pf evidence is not the evidence of absence.

by joshsm07 on Nov 13, 2010 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

It was also the dunk of the night. For good reason too.

The BANHAMMER delivers the real justice
That's just turrible
The absence pf evidence is not the evidence of absence.

by joshsm07 on Nov 13, 2010 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Hey Bud!

Any word on Budinger yet? I was watching the Indiana feed and didn’t even know about it till today

by smassape on Nov 13, 2010 11:15 AM CST reply actions

Good showing by the Rockets.

Their attitude seems to have improved. They rose to the challenge and when it got dirty they fought back and won. They didn’t back down when the Pacer’s made a few mini runs and got excited.

Brad showed up tonight and showed us why we picked him up. The guy was solid.

Also I noticed during the 4th at one of the time outs everyone was listening to the coach. Even the bench guys were paying full attention. No one was staring off at the lights or messing around. To me that shows some sort of cohesion. And when I saw that I knew they would pull it out. Can’t wait for win #3 in New York.

by WorrellforThree on Nov 13, 2010 2:11 PM CST reply actions

I think...

I could look at pictures of Brad Miller’s facial expressions all day.

by respectable on Nov 13, 2010 2:46 PM CST reply actions

I think we should see about a microphone....

Miller talks to himself something fierce. It might be interesting to hear what he has to say.

I bet it would not be suitable for young ears though.

by albertchester on Nov 14, 2010 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

Curious

I haven’t seen any games this year yet but was wondering if ED has played in any games since the Rockets aquired him ? How’s it working out for the Rockets are they happy with their pick-up especially now since Yao’s supposedly out for a week?

by rocketsfn on Nov 13, 2010 10:16 PM CST reply actions

They decided not to sign Erick Dampier

They had to cut one player from the roster to sign him, and they decided it wasn’t worth it. That pretty much means that they value Jermaine Taylor over Erick Dampier

"...and Kareem Jackson will fall down..."

by .Bonzo on Nov 13, 2010 10:53 PM CST up reply actions