ClutchFans Game Thread: Spurs @ Rockets 10/16/2019 (Preseason)

Clint Capela peaked.

 

Mike:

Jet lag legs?

Well I hope so. If not, we're in trouble. We just didn't get into anybody. They scored at will. They didn't feel us. It's been that way for a couple days. I get it. We gotta put the alarm bell out there & get ready for the season. We're not there. You can see it. Our legs weren't there. We'll see Friday if we're a little better. It wasn't good tonight. Defense tonight didn't give us a chance.

It was bad yesterday, the day before. I'm hoping it's the trip. There's no excuse. ...

How do you like the look of Danuel House starting?

Yeah, Eric is a big punch off the bench. He'll get his shots. Danuel gives you good energy & athleticism. A lot of good things.

Gerald's injury have anything to do with that?

No.

Russ still working to find his spots?

He hasn't played all summer, plus I think he has a couple dislocated fingers. He'll work into it. He'll be fine. You can see when he goes, he goes. He'll be alright.

Where are you in terms of figuring how he fits in the half court stuff?

We're gonna run our stuff and he'll find a way. We'll get a little better. Right now, he's just maybe just doesn't feel good for him. You can tell. He's struggling to make the pass or the finish or whatever. That's normal when you come back. He plays so fast that the game just goes like this and if you haven't played for awhile, you can lose your rhythm. He is a MVP and triple-double guy so that's probably not my worry. You don't have to worry about him. He's gonna be fine.

What did you see from Chris Clemons?

That's what he does. I like him. He's got a real shot. I like Ben McLemore. He played well. Those two together played well.

Think a question about 9-man rotation?

We'll see. Still trying to sort some guys. Want to give everyone a chance. Thabo is gonna help us. He knows how to play. Gotta get Clint going. He didn't play very well tonight. He's gotta play better.

Going small/rebounding

I don't disagree with you, we can do a better job but second chance points the same (13). They had 7 OR, we had 10. They got a couple over us but overall not where we got beat. Got beat because we didn't get into them. They shot 57% and we didn't. They shoot 57% and we shoot 43%, they win. We gotta do a lot better job. 18 turnovers, way too many turnovers. They had 24 points off turnovers. We gotta clean things up, get our legs & play better. We just didn't play well.

 

128 points surrendered is our doom.

We will win 50 games, then lose 2nd round or CF mainly because of weak defense.

 

LOL

 

Right before contract was signed.

Hmmmmm

 

So, not MVP-caliber?

 

OMG OMG OMG, the season is doomed. What is going on? Who is going to fix this? Why is Westbrook missing so many shots? Is he out of shape? Harden and Westbrook better start clicking fast or we might as well tank this season for a lotto pick. Clint and all our centers are terrible. Where's our defense?

LOL, that's what this game thread sounds like. Chill out people. Quit panicking and bashing everyone in a preseason game on a team that has been flying around the world. Give it time. Mark my words. You will start to see that this team is pretty good. The Rockets always take awhile to get it right, and then we will start to see the magic.

 

Not concerned yet but Westbrook seems lost at times. When Harden is on the court, everyone clears out for him to go one-on-one. Want to see more offense and plays made for Westbrook for layups or him throwing it out to perimeter shooter while driving in. We know what Harden can do already so why give him 34 minutes of playing time in preseason?!!

 

defense is the problem on this team. book it. their opponent will put up more number than the rockets.. this is will be a repeat of 18-19 at the start of the season.

 

MDA needs to be fired. He's never going to win a championship. You homers can whine all you want about my comment, but history shows that it's the coaches that were willing to be tough on their players without making excuses that win championships, not the cheerleaders.

 

I’m not so sure about 50 wins right now. This team has some MAJOR flaws. I am not sure the offense is going to be as good as we were all hoping to make up for some of the porous defense.

Are we better than last year? We added a poor shooter to a lineup that already has a 5 who can’t shoot do anything but dunk, and pj tucker who is average at best shooting but in general no threat on offense.

 

That’s pretty much it. Westbrook looks rusty after offseason surgery, only recently cleared for 5 on 5, new team.

Maybe I mistook the lack of chemistry for disinterest. Hopefully they gel soon. I don’t expect Westbrook to completely reinvent himself, but so long as we take advantage of his positives (competitive nature, drive to the basket, rebounding).

Fingers crossed, rubbing that rabbit foot.

 

Let me give the Reader’s Digest version:

Reporter: Coach, what happened out there?

Dan Tony: We sucked ass. And not in the good way. We’re still dragging from the trip. Russ has been out of it. Clint played with his head up his culo.

Reporter: Thanks, Coach.

Dan Tony: We done? See you Friday.

 

Just watched the highlights. My biggest takeaway? Those white jerseys make my eyes bleed. Worse than the pajamas

 

Like most centers do around the young 20's. After that, they get too comfortable and lazy.

 

@pippendagimp

Fri, WB out to rest his fingers
Thu v Bucks: WB insists on playing season opener. Pulled in first 2 minutes of game
Frid: Looks like we'll have to shut him down for a week until swelling subsides
week later: not responding to treatment, needs MRI
1st opinion: Minor procedure to drain fluids
2nd opinion: Major Surgery

 

And this might actually help our offensive efficiency!

 

Lol im not worried about Westbrook at all.....guys its preseason, with a big piece you trying to integrate. Preseason is the best time to f around with stuff


Again harden alone gets you 45 wins.

Come on guys lol. Its gonna be bumps. I cant wait till the playoffs tho

 

This game was sloppy from the beginning.

Not going to take much away from this one.

I think the rockets will revert to what won them slot of games last year early and hope Russ and the rest of the new guys start to gel by December.

We have to get off to a hot start and imo that will come with just playing the Houston Harden way.

I wouldn’t be to worried.

It’s preseason and we looked pretty good in every game but this one.

We’ll be fine.

Harden is a machine he could easily avg 40ppg if he just wanted to make the playoffs and not win a championship.

Russ is a great player and it’s so clear how much better harden is then him.

Harden is one of the best players ever it’s just so easy for him to do everything on offense.

I think the D will lock in come reg season but I’m worried about the rebounding. House really needs to start and take a step he’s honestly the key to this whole thing.

Ryno has a place on this team but it’s not in certain situations but he’s been shooting pretty decent again which is a good sign but he gets abused on D and he’s actually trying and in the right spots he just gets scored on it’s crazy but I think the law of avg will prevail because some of the shots guys made over him tonight we’re not easy.

 

Westbrook looks awful, like really bad