Jazz don't miss. Rockets lose in SLC.
by Xiane on Feb 28, 2010 8:00 PM CST
in Game Recaps
12 comments
I've delayed putting up a recap as last night's result seems pretty obvious. But I'm in a sour mood after the Olympic hockey game, so why not talk about the Rockets at Jazz?
As pointed out by OAL, Utah on the second night of a back-to-back is statistically the worst place for a road team in the NBA (ahead of Denver). Add in the fact that Utah was pissed off after losing to Sacramento the night before, a game in which Tyreke Evans apparently bruised Deron (don't call him DeRon) Williams' ego, or self-esteem, or something. (In a side note, is there anything more pathetic than using a 48 minute "injury" to justify a poor performance? Why not just say "that wasn't such a good effort.") And let's not hear anything about the Jazz being on a back-to-back - it's what, an hour and twenty minute flight from Sacramento? The Jazzmen were snuggled in their beds before midnight.
Anyway, Williams evidently recovered quickly, as he poured in 20 points in the first quarter of last night's game. The rest of Utah did likewise, shooting at a 59% clip on 25 3pters, and a 68% pace for the night. Anyone who thinks Battier and Ariza (as well as Lowry) aren't crucial should think otherwise now. The Rockets lost by 23 despite scoring 110.
What was good last night?
- Kevin Martin - Speed Racer scored almost effortlessly, despite looking pretty tired at points. He poured in 32 points on 9-13 shooting, and 12-13 FT. This is what he does. I expect to see a 40pt outburst before the end of March.
- Garrett Temple - a 6'6" PG with a huge wingspan is nice to have coming off the bench. Temple has shown me he belongs in the NBA, and on the Rockets. The waiver of Brian Cook suggests Rocket's management is sold on him. With the next contract offer being for the remainder of the season, I expect to see him signed for the year, with an option for next season. The knock on Temple in his college career was that he is a good defender, but far too passive on offense. This passivity was not on display last night, as Temple took the ball to the basket with authority and either scored, or drew fouls. His size, and reach created several steals on defense, one of the few defensive bright spots of the night.
- Jermaine Taylor is showing signs of improvement, and unlike his garbage time appearances, looks to pass often on offense. He's already NBA caliber off the drive, and inside, but his shot needs some work.
- Chase Budinger played 40 minutes in the absence of Battier and Ariza. He didn't embarrass himself.
- At one time the Rockets were playing 4 rookies (including Andersen) and they were doing ok. This is a positive sign for the future.
- Jordan Hill played several minutes, and wasn't horrible. He's big and fluid, if somewhat befuddled-looking. I think a lot of quality time with Jack Sikma is in his future, and it will benefit him greatly. Remember, Carl Landry's slick post game was built in Houston, not at Purdue.
- Defense - Utah scored on a lot of layups, and open shots. A guy charging the shooter after the ball leaves his hand isn't all that useful. Brooks, Martin, Budinger will score a lot of points for you, but against a smart gifted PG and a disciplined offense like Utah, it can be ugly.
- Another M-F'in back-to-back with two tough matchups. Holy crap. How many is this? It's been said before, but this is honestly the most absurd schedule I've ever witnessed unfolding - other than the time the Astros went on the road for like 1 1/2 months.
- Utah beat us again. The Rockets should have taken them down last time in Houston, and they let them off the hook.
- Despite Adelman going to the bench early, it took an intentional Williams foul to get the Utah bench into the game in the 4th. Apparently Utah's vile dipsomaniac of a coach was cool with keeping his starters in with a 24 point lead.
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This and that
Sloan may have left the starters in as his version of making them run laps for the Sac game.
Agree heartily on Temple. Would really like to see him and Lowry running the court.
Tho it has been pointed out he took alot of shots just as his second 10-day is almost up :)
The defense has been collapsing for a while. W/Ariza and Battier the team gave up 125 to Indiana at home after 2 days off. 10 games this season giving up over 110pts,4 of them over 120. 6 of the 110+ point games have come since Jan 1.
Wonder if Lowry’s agent is going that’s another hundred thou each game Brooks gets lit up by an opposing point.
The Rockets could actually field a complete rookie second unit-Temple,Taylor,Bud,Hill,Armstrong-and still have a rookie sitting on the bench! Too bad they’re not going for the NCAA championship.
You're right of course.
Maybe that was what Sloan was doing – but I’m usually prepared to believe the worst of Utah, and particularly Sloan.
Temple shots were generally good, and they seem to have him playing aggressively – he was a 4 year player at LSU – a pretty good program, and few legit PG are bigger. I think he’ll be around the rest of the year. We need a 3rd PG, and he could probably guard some SF, allowing a really small fast lineup with Brooks, Lowry, Temple, Battier, Scola. OR something.
Agree on the D. It’s been miserable, particularly since Lowry went out. He’s gaining value I think, but I also think he’s worth more to us than maybe anyone else.
Significant gravitas shortfall expected in 2010.
Whoops,Armstrong no rookie
Still,replace him w/Andersen and that’s still a complete rookie 5.
We also
have a pretty good all-injured team at the moment:
Lowry
Ariza
Battier
X
Yao
Significant gravitas shortfall expected in 2010.
2nd game Martin drop 30+ pts
I guess that’ll keep a few Morey-hatter-because-of-Landry-trade quite now…
i love Landry too, but it’s a good trade for both team, and both players. Martin got a team can support his team (or the other way around); Landry got to be a starter (he deserved it, even it kills me to see him not in red…)
Let’s hope for a better March…
Oh, Yao’s coming back, btw. not to play, of course. just return to Houston from China. maybe we can have him stand at the side of the court just to keeping pressure on the other team….. is that legal in NBA? i wondered……
don't bully me, i am from the D(etroit)!!!
I watched till the end of the game
and remembered thinking at least our scrubs are better than theirs and have more upside.
The tough schedule and short-handed line-up is really wearing down our rotation players. RA should really ease up on the minutes or else we may see another player get injured. He should play Hill more, at least he has the body to battle PFs and Cs. JJ should be the reliever at the 3 to spell Shane and Ariza when they come back.
This shows the wisdom of being 3-deep per position. We retained Cook before when we really needed a third PG, so when Lowry went down, we lost ground when our 3rd PG still had to get acclimatized to the system. We should keep Temple; he’s really an SG, but he does well vs. big PGs like Deron last night.
I think Temple is a "true" combo.
He finished the all time minutes played leader at LSU, plus top 10 in assists, steals and blocks.
Significant gravitas shortfall expected in 2010.
At least RA is not making the absence of our 3 defenders
last night as the excuse why we lost badly. He’s giving the message that he expects everyone to defend, including our top scorers. No one gets a reprieve on defense.
ugly loss
even with all the hate for the jazz, everyone seems to like d-will…good guy and a sick pg.
for those keeping score, landry had 10 of the kings 21 4th Q points for the win tonight. =)
I have a ?
Does anyone know when Lowry will be back? I miss him
My Temple line was tongue in cheek
The big knock on Temple coming out of college was he just didn’t score because he wouldn’t shoot. Did everything else well,just couldn’t score.
“It’s extremely rare to see a player average 34 minutes per game and score just 6 points in that span, shooting under 40% from the field, 30% from beyond the arc, and barely getting to the free throw line in the process. Most teams at any level of basketball just cannot afford to have a player on the court that simply is not a threat to score…”
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Garrett-Temple-1388/
Which is why I was impressed by his willingness to take 3s-and make a few. Looks like somebody told him there is a long NBA career waiting for players who are good defenders and 3pt shooters ;)
After his first couple of games I jumped on the Temple bandwagon. I think he’ll be an excellent utility player able to play PG,SG,SF as needed and as he’ll come cheap I think he makes the roster next yr.
Assuming Lowry gets re-signed the Rockets are pretty set in their backcourt.
Brooks,Martin,Ariza. Lowry,Budinger,Battier. Temple utiliy depth. Taylor learning in D-League and injury replacement.
It’s the frontcourt where there are issues.
Yao is Yao and Hayes and Andersen are decent back-ups.
But at PF,hmmm. I have this growing dread Jeffries will be the teams starting PF next season,w/Hill and the draft pick fighting for the back-up spot.
Forget Morey’s statement they’re re-signing Scola. They were going to re-sign Ron until they didn’t.(Remember Les and his we have never had a problem w/money in re-signing our players?)Beyond the issues of how much Luis wants and for how long and whether either are more than the Rockets want,there’s questions of whether Luis wants to re-sign(considering how little 4Q run Adelman gives him),knowing he’s down to the fourth-or fifth-option next yr and do Morey and Adelman even want him back? Morey’s actions have made it quite clear he wants an athletic big,
the ron ron thing
he just wanted to play for the lakers
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