Game 30 Recap: Kevin Martin, Rockets Top Thunder in 96-95 Affair
by Patrick Harrel on Feb 15, 2012 10:35 PM CST
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PrintOn a night where both teams played volleyball in the Rockets' paint down the stretch, Kevin Martin and his compatriots pulled out a tremendous home win against a strong Thunder team. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden combined for 76 points, but the rest of the team was content to watch the game from the locker room. The Rockets, on the other hand, enjoyed a reasonably balanced attack with all ten players getting on the score sheet, including a very impressive 14 points from Chandler Parsons.
From the opening tip until the end of the first quarter, the Rockets controlled the game, jumping out to a 16 point lead. Samuel Dalembert grabbed every rebound in sight during his "I'm the best center in the NBA" quarter, Kevin Martin couldn't miss, and even Chandler Parsons got in on the fun.
After the first, the game was nothing more than a grind for the Rockets. After an early second quarter run knotted things up, the Thunder controlled the tempo and toyed with the Rockets, settling for lazy shots but making them anyways. The Rockets were on top most of the way, but the game appeared to be the Thunder's for the taking if they wanted it.
Fortunately enough, things finally went the Rockets way.
For once, it was the other team's turn to miss their last nine shots while the Rockets clawed back from a fourth quarter deficit to take a late lead they would not surrender. Kevin Martin hit a pair of late free throws to put the Rockets up 96-95 and the Thunder shot and missed five times before the final whistle. Word is that you could hear the collective sigh of relief coming from Houston all the way out in the Woodlands.
After the jump, I share some scattered thoughts of mine.
1. Kevin Martin is Pissed Off, and I Like It
On the team's last road trip, Martin managed just 44 points on an astronomically low shooting percentage. After the loss on Wednesday night, Martin voiced his frustrations, telling Jonathan Feigen that he wanted a chance for more minutes even when he's not on his game:
If we're winning and I'm sitting, I'm happy. Tonight, we got beat, and I'm on a 10-day-contract leash. I'm not happy about that, just because we lost. If we're winning, I'll sit over there for 48 minutes.
Against the Thunder, he put anger to use and came out aggressively, scoring 32 points on a Martin-esque 18 shots. Say what you want about Martin, but tonight he scored the ball as well as any shooting guard in the league. After the game, he praised the the team for getting him the ball, saying "we ran the offense the way it should be run."
Perhaps Kevin Martin's timing is a bit off considering he had just scored in double digits for the second time in seven games, but at least Martin used his frustrations to fuel his surge rather than allowing them to get him down. Mopey Martin was no fun. Let's hope he can keep this fire going.
2. The Rockets Still Need to Learn How to Finish Games
Tonight, the Rockets did not exactly win this game because of amazing late game execution. Rather, the Rockets scores and stopped seemed to be more predicated on luck rather than brilliant play.
For the Rockets' penultimate score, Samuel Dalembert air-balled a jumper that fell into Kyle Lowry's lap for an easy lay-in. Next, after Kevin Durant missed a jumper, Kendrick Perkins stupidly bailed Kevin Martin out with a foul 20 feet from the basket to set up the winning free throws.
After these gifts from the basketball gods, the Rockets apparently forgot how to properly box-out. The Thunder got four very makeable shots on their last possession, but none fell in for the potential dagger.
As great of a win as this one was, the Rockets can't count on breaks like that every night. Obviously, Kyle Lowry put himself in a position to get that offensive rebound by waiting in the paint, but if Dalembert had put the ball on the rim, that rebound would likely have been collected by one of the enormous Thunder big men lurking. Kevin Martin made the heady play by putting the shot up after feeling contact from Kendrick Perkins, but an average center wouldn't try to guard the opposing shooting guard like that.
Finally, if you're counting on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to miss four shots on one possession in crunch time, you won't be winning many games.
3. Luis Scola Has Become a Fourth Quarter Liability
Everybody loves Luis Scola. He throws his body around for rebounds, dances with his defender, and never seems to lose his cool. He's the quintessential fan favorite.
However, with post defenders snuffing out his moves, and capable scorers working him over on the offensive end, Scola is struggling to put together four quarters of quality basketball. For that reason, McHale has elected to go with Patrick Patterson to close games out. Patterson didn't have his shot going 100% tonight, but his two-way skills and fresh legs make him a worthwhile late game sub for Scola.
This isn't to say Scola doesn't still have value, that would be a disservice to the Ice Cream Man, but the Rockets are starting to rely on him more to get them off to good starts rather than to close out tight games.
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Scola still has value?
I disagree. I think his value has dropped significantly this year. May not be worth no more than a contender’s 1st round pick and MAYBE a decent young player, honestly.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
I meant to the team
I didn’t necessarily mean trade value. He’s a potential amnesty candidate next off-season if we want a big FA.
Check out The Dream Shake.
by Patrick Harrel on Feb 15, 2012 10:41 PM CST up reply actions
My bad.
But still, I think Patterson has more value than Scola right now. His defense has been phenomenal this year and his offensive game is coming along. He’s a legitimate two-way player.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Feb 15, 2012 10:50 PM CST up reply actions
No worries
That definitely wasn’t clear. But you are probably right about Patterson. He’s probably the better all-around player right now, but I like Scola starting because he scores well to start off games, letting us get in a good rhythm.
Check out The Dream Shake.
by Patrick Harrel on Feb 15, 2012 10:53 PM CST up reply actions
I bet the Thunders wouldnt mind a bench post scorer
Harden is literally the bench for them
Don't know what they'd give us
Mohammed and change? They’re money’s tied up in players that are all valuable so it’d be tough to make the money work.
Check out The Dream Shake.
by Patrick Harrel on Feb 15, 2012 10:55 PM CST up reply actions
that is true
they are in a bind with all those player freeing up soon, it seems impossible for them to keep them all
Dalembert did more than enought in the fourth quarter on defense
he was superb at the end (except for the air ball he was bailed out on). Gotta hand it to Martin, really had a good all around game. Your 2nd point is spot on. If they can find the plays to execute and the lineup that works, no reason why they can’t make some noise this season. I have some doubt they do just that, but it’ll be interesting to see. Also, Hill gave the team some good minutes. He surprises me every game now.
by twinkilling0303 on Feb 15, 2012 10:41 PM CST reply actions
Appreciate the comment
I agree and I probably didn’t give Dalembert enough credit in the recap. He played some darn good defense in the 4th. He intimidated a ton of shots.
Check out The Dream Shake.
by Patrick Harrel on Feb 15, 2012 10:42 PM CST up reply actions
I really thought he was gonna get another goaltending at the end there
looked like he really wanted to give them 2 points, worked out though
by twinkilling0303 on Feb 15, 2012 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
I agree the ending was a fluke
And again, the ending is all I caught, but to play with the best team in the West through four quarters is a great start. That’s twice we’ve done that against them, though when we played in OKC we were killed. Hoping I can catch a replay or something so I don’t sound like an idiot here.
Was too far to huck a beer at a Stro’s player as per bone’s request. Jess (girlfriend) said I was too far, I said challenge accepted, a security guard said guess again.-BD34
That is the reason I don't go to Battle Red Blog. I would be too rational and guys would flag my posts as spam.-batman713
Couldn't buy a basket after the first quarter
Durant and Martin were really keeping both teams in it offensively. Fun ending to watch though
by twinkilling0303 on Feb 15, 2012 10:50 PM CST up reply actions
From a defensive stand point
Patterson is a much better option to close out games, and we’ve been begging for it to happen for a while now
It’s unfortunate that the Rockets has been playing particularly sloppy lately, execution of plays just arent as crisp as they used to.
Big props on whoever guarded Durant and Westbrook though, to force them to work for their points as much as they have without putting them on the foul line a bunch is great, especially when they are second in the league in FT attempts
refs let them play today
i watched at a bar without commentary and expected more than a few times for durant or westbrook to go to the line on some stout defense
On a side note
the Thunder need another scorer. Someone off the bench that can give them points. Durant, Westbrook and Harden are all they have…JR Smith would be nice for them
by twinkilling0303 on Feb 15, 2012 10:54 PM CST reply actions
I don't really get why anyone thinks they need another perimeter shooter.
Bill Simmons keeps saying this, too, and it just seems so weird to me. They have the 4th-best offense in the league. What is keeping them from being a really transcendent team isn’t that they can’t score (because they clearly can do so), it’s that they have a very middling defense (15th in the league, in fact). They have good on-ball defenders, but they’re 22nd in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage and they don’t generate turnovers — in other words, they can get their opponents to miss (6th in opponent effective field goal percentage), but once that happens they let the other guy get the ball back too often, and they rarely take away possessions from their opponent through steals. Being the best on-ball defenders in the world will only get you so far if you can’t actually get the ball back (either through the occasional steal or by securing it on the boards).
Their best defensive rebounder (in both per-possession and per-game numbers) is Kevin Durant. Perkins probably should be that guy, but for whatever reason he’s turning in a relatively poor rebounding season. They need some big men who can secure the ball on defense. The worries about the half-court offense and post scoring or whatever wouldn’t matter if they had good rebounders on the team.
JR Smith wouldn’t help them with that. Kenyon Martin may have helped, but that ship has sailed.
I don't think they can score enough
when one of their 3 guys can’t score, who is gonna give them a lift? They could probably use a big man off the bench that scores as well, but I do think they need a guard. Ivey, Cook and Jackson will give them nothing in the playoffs.
by twinkilling0303 on Feb 16, 2012 3:31 PM CST up reply actions
will the REAL kevin martin please stand up?
dude plays with our collective emotions. his inconsistency is killing me. I think he is capable of doing, to a slightly lesser extent, almost every night. it just seems like sometimes he looks scared, or confused in mchale’s system.
by HTown80 on Feb 15, 2012 11:19 PM CST via Android app reply actions
doing *this, to a slightly lesser extent
by HTown80 on Feb 15, 2012 11:20 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
No kidding.
Some nights, he plays like a guy who wants to be traded. But then there’s nights like tonight when the old K-Mart shows up and carries the team…
The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.
by Stupendous Man on Feb 16, 2012 12:10 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Shit, I feel the same way about McHale's system
Best Quote From A Current Rocket :
'B****, meet me outside. I will kick you’re a**'.
-The great Kyle Lowry
by Photomoney on Feb 16, 2012 1:27 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I agree.
McHale’s system almost reminds me of the ‘10-’11 Adelman Season system. You have to wonder what miracle he’s hoping for sometimes.
I love our front court. With Lowry/Dragic, Martin/Lee, Parsons/Bud we have very youthful and explosive guards who are generally consistent and able to carry the weight when someone is slumping.
We need to improve on our posts a little more. Having Dalambert this season really has made a big impact on our ability to stop 2nd chance opportunities. Scola is “ol’ faithful” as ever, but I do agree with Patrick Harrel that he is becoming a 4Q liability, and I’m not sure what the solution is except to really split his time with Patrick Patterson who brings more athleticism than Scola. Patterson seems somewhat reluctant to really break out and take some ownership/leadership on the court, but maybe if given more opportunities he can. I really think Patterson is something special and I hope HOU really focuses on developing him as a leader and a big option for offense.
Great game tonight.
I was 99% sure the Rockets would lose in heartbreaking fashion tonight. Games like this are what make it so fun to watch this team.
The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.
by Stupendous Man on Feb 16, 2012 12:12 AM CST via mobile reply actions
When Dalembert plays with energy as he did tonight and Martin looks to be aggressive we can beat anybody.
Thats what we have been missing. Scola and Kyle will always play hard but when Dalembert and Martin are playing their game it makes Parsons more vauable. Thats what we need from starters. Patrick had a great game for a poor shooting night for him. I really like the lowpost defensewith both Dalembert and Patterson.
a few thoughts...
1) the rockets lose these type of games all the time. They scrap and claw but choke it up at the end. The Thunder’s late game plan was atrocious (like 4 screen for durant plays?) and their shot was flat in the 4th (2nd night of a back to back). Normally we are the one’s with the dumb play calls and multiple missed shots.
2) I’m not sure if McHale teaches bad defensive habits or if the refs just call it tight against Houston but we get a lot of ticky tack fouls against us (happened constantly in the 3rd).
3) Jordan hill should get more 2nd team minutes
4) Lowry should be in the ASG
by Christopher Dion Harris on Feb 16, 2012 12:30 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions
I disagree with you a bit.
1) didnt see the 4th so I can’t comment on the Thunder’s final plays
2) Houston this year has been treated harshly by the refs and the Thunder are the NBA Golden child so its only natural that your going to get those touch fouls in a game like this.
3) depends on what Jordan Hill you get. His play over the years hasnt warranted anymore than 10 minutes per game.
4) No doubt, But I can’t argue with the selections of Nash and Parker, Both of those have been just as huge for their teams as Lowry is for us.
by Camouflage14 on Feb 16, 2012 4:59 AM CST up reply actions
3) I was one of the guys biggest detractors but the last few times he’s gotten some run he’s made the most of it. I’m on record as saying he terrifies me every time he makes a move on offense. Now his hook shot has been falling, his J has been ok, and he’s still tall and he still gets boards. The alternative is the small line up with Scola at the 5 and PPatt at the 4 and that lineup is horribly ineffective most nights.
by Christopher Dion Harris on Feb 16, 2012 5:36 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
(and as a side note) when scola’s shot isn’t falling he’s worse than Martin… At least Kmart attempts to play D without fouling and isn’t a total offensive black hole.
by Christopher Dion Harris on Feb 16, 2012 5:37 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
Jordan Hill...
doesn’t need more minutes. He has come through the past few games, but he’s a complete liability on both sides of the court. He seems lost on both sides of the court most of the time, losing track of the open man without helping, dumb fouls, and on offense I cringe when he touches the ball.
So your options are scola who can’t play d and is an average rebounder against other 4’s playing the 5 where he’s even worse in both those areas or play Hill that can at least alter a shot and snag a rebound.
Not a Hill fan, but the alternative is much worse.
by Christopher Dion Harris on Feb 16, 2012 10:22 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
I love how we lose to the fucking Warriors
and then beat the Thunder on the second night of a back-to-back. WTF, Stern.
Best Quote From A Current Rocket :
'B****, meet me outside. I will kick you’re a**'.
-The great Kyle Lowry
our records on 2nd night of B2B
isnt bad actually , 5-4 with a lot of close losses
We’re getting there Rockets! Plus there’s a big trade coming, I can feel it…………
by OzDreamShaker34 on Feb 16, 2012 6:45 AM CST via Android app reply actions
Great halfcourt Defense
By the Rockets. Especially on Westbrook. Westbrook destroyed us on any fastbreak/full head of steam plays but Lowry played him beautifully in the halfcourt. Dalembert should also get a lotta credit for shadowing and being there to help. Love how frustrated Westbrook was with Lowry/Dalembert combo.
Durant had such a quiet 33. Thought we played good d on them.
The Thunder had a good run when Harden split every pick and roll and got to the basket against the bench but was eventually slowed down.
It’s weird. I feel like Lee is playing great defense and still getting lit up the last two games.
Kevin Martin was awesome. Lowry didn’t have to do as much offensively but was always there making plays (the Dalembert airball), back to back FU 4th quarter 3s that I was sure were going in but somehow rimmed out. And Lowry’s d was awesome.
And lol Perkins is terrible.
A few comments on this game
1. Yay! We beat the best team in the NBA!
2. Kevin Martin played very well, but in the 4th before the very end of the game, he seemed to disappear. While it’s not like the Thunder didn’t make their best effort to stop him, he was paired up against Harden, who’s not one of the Thunder’s better offensive players. Martin has got to stop disappearing late in games if this team is to become stronger.
3. This team really needs to improve some of its fundamentals. In the last several games there have been way too many missed free throws and layups and way too many times players have simply lost the ball on the dribble. Rebounding has been good, though.
4. People love to shit on Martin’s defense, but he’s actually not nearly as bad this year as he has been in the past. While his offense has dropped, his defensive rating has gone from 111 to 107 (dropping in defensive rating is a good thing). Part of this has to do with the fact that every Rocket’s defensive rating has dropped (thanks, Dalembert!) but some of it can be attributed to his improved marking. The only shot Harden made while Martin was on the court was when Martin screwed up and lost him on the play.
5. Why is it that the Rockets knock off the Thunder and the only thing on the internet is Jeremy Lin?
The problems with Martin's defense are vastly exaggerated.
However, we should expect a significant drop in d-rating this year. Offense across the league has dropped off ridiculously, so most players should see their associated defensive ratings fall a bit, too.
It's like Dwight's ability to score in the post.
People are hung up on it
Interesting comparison.
I remember reading some comment/post/article about Dwight that basically went, “Yeah, his FG% is really high, but that’s just because he gets stuff on the offensive boards and dunks it home.” As if that were something bad. Yes, it would be really great if Dwight had significant post moves, but following the Moses Malone path to greatness (rebound the ball, dunk the ball) is just as good as being a “traditional” center.
With Martin, few (some, but they’re few) are really asking him to change his game. They just overstate how bad his defense is. It’s like that line “Oh, yeah, he’ll score thirty but his man will get thirty, too.” It vastly ignores the fact that, even with a bad defender on them, very few players suddenly become as efficient as Martin.
What really gets me about Martin is that fans will latch onto volume shooters and “scorers” but then rag on Martin’s offense. It’s like they just don’t get why scoring 18 points on 10 shots is better than scoring 30 on 30. And then his “rivals” (think Monta Ellis here) play shitty defense, too, but somehow with Martin it’s more of a problem.
He’s like the circa-2007 Adam Dunn of the NBA.
But I guess that leads me back to the Dwight thing. What Dwight does is incredibly valuable, but because it doesn’t fit what we expect a dominant, MVP-caliber center’s game to look like, we get people complaining about his post moves and denigrating the value of being a great rebounder or turning missed shots into layups and dunks. Kinda the same thing with Martin — he plays poor defense so we devalue his efficiency. It’s a classic case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. Yes, both of these players have holes in their games, but each is also a very good NBA player (in Dwight’s case, a perennial MVP candidate).
And there are no more judges in the Dunk contest
Ginger vote FOR CHASE
wait seriously?
Let see if he can throw down something creative
Just saw this.
Awesome!
Sonicsgate: A movie about how the Sonics were stolen from Seattle.
Don't trade Courtney Lee!
by .Bonzo on Feb 16, 2012 10:02 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I was at the game last night.
It is so much of a different feel when you are there live. You could feel the superstar presence of KD and Westbrook. The Rockets don’t have anything like that but they play well as a team. K-Mart is so very good at getting himself open. Lowry is not at the level of Paul or even Rondo (shit storm on the rise) because he cannot take control of a game like they can. He does what he does out of grit and hustle, not so much talent. That’s not to say he isn’t one of the better pg’s in the league. Just that he isn’t elite and we really overrate the guy. Parsons is just a good basketball player, especially when he is aggresive on offense like he was tonight. Scola is still good, but he gets more touches than he deserves. Dalembert is just a great defensive player, but he should stay away from shooting jumpers. Patterson is a guy that I believe is a championship piece to a contender. He is really good at defense and his offense is better than he gets used for. He is a better version of Udonis Haslem. Overall this team is a good “basketball” team. For the most part everyone knows their roles and they play them well. The crowd at the game was awesome. If only the Rockets could get that kind of support more times than not.
I hate david stern!
completely unrelated topic
Playing around with the trade machine this morning and we could get players like bogut, al Jefferson, and Paul pierce for thabeet, flynn, and t will (3 of our expirings). Considering we turned Landry and TMac’s contract into KMart, a first, and Hill I think we may be able to make a big up sale trade. Reasons:
Boston trading pierce: this one would be similar in motivation to NY the year we traded them TMac. They’d clear enough cap space to have a shot at Howard and another max level guy.
Utah could go full youth movement, send us Milsap, and start Kanter. They may not be a major free agency player, but they always make shrewd moves.
In Milwaukee, why pay so much for a borderline playoff team who’s best player is already talking about leaving? If the blow it up, clearing cap would be the first order of business.
We could also send Flynn and Thabeet to Golden State for Biedrins. We’d upgrade our back up center, they’d upgrade their cap space.
I’ll throw something up about mutually beneficial (non salary dump) trades later
by Christopher Dion Harris on Feb 16, 2012 11:22 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions
Al Jefferson is the only on I see as probable
Utah has a loaded front line, and Favors and Kanters may not be ready but they need to get them PT, but they would want something more valuable than just expiring
Bogut is extremely underrated and is the only reason Bucks can compete with everyone, He’s also a collection of freak injuries
Pierce has to retire a Celtic, just cannot imagine otherwise
You could throw in a more valuable piece with a cheaper contract (or 2)(parsons, bud, lee, or hill) to add a chip if necessary.
by Christopher Dion Harris on Feb 16, 2012 1:07 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
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