Game Thread GAME# 7: BLAZERS @ ROCKETS - OCTOBER 30, 2018 - TUESDAY, 5:00 PM (PDT), NBCSNW

[BonesJones]

By the way, your player analysis videos are first rate. As good as anything I've seen some from some of the longtime analysis guys that work the draft. I specifically liked the ones on Layman and Simmons because you were very specific and to the point. You should do a short series at mid-season where you revisit some of the player observations you made and where the subject player is going. That would be a nice follow up piece.

Thanks! I was actually planning on doing this at the all-star break.

 

[SIeepwalker]

"We know they're gonna play...... I don't know what that basketball is"

 

[stampedehero]

Nice win... I wasn't too far off on my total estimate for starters points. Seeing the Rockets go into a downturn is especially satisfying.

 

[Jade Falcon]

"We know they're gonna play...... I don't know what that basketball is"

lmao, I laughed out loud when I saw that too! Nurk is so innocently savage!

 

[stampedehero]

"We know they're gonna play...... I don't know what that basketball is"

Nurk did great. Our big 3 excelled!

 

[Labinot41]

Great Game by the Blazers. Nurkic in BEAST MODE, he took Advantage of miss matches every Time, he could have easily score 30 or more Points

 

[Lukee]

Gotta say, I like Turner this season. He's not shooting too much, leading the 2nd unit, reasonable basketball. Just wish Curry is more about passing and less about trying to impress.

 

[Labinot41]

Sure wish we had Morey! Eh @Labinot41? That guy can draw free agents. To small market Houston to boot! Who wants to live there, horrible taxes, weather, and nightlife.

Oh come on man, if you can choose between the used car salesman or Daryl Morey as a GM, who do you Pick ? Easy one . Morey is one of the best GM's in the League and can build a Championship team, Neil is... well Neil gives Meyers, Turner, Crabbe and Harkless 224 Million Dollars

 

[kjironman1]

As would Memphis. Stark reminder about the dangers of small sample size!

That's kind of why i posted it. I looked at the standings and shook my head.

 

[kjironman1]

Sounds like a basketball version of the 10,000 hour rule.

There are those that don't follow it. But it would be said that they are already "World Class" when they get to the NBA. And that would make sense as they have all had at least 10K in the gym before they ever get to the NBA. But this extends actuall minutes to become a Journeyman Player. Most players do not become All Stars or Hall of Famers. Most players such as Jake are trying to become good role players that contribute to a team for 12-14 years.

 

[CupWizier]

Nice win... I wasn't too far off on my total estimate for starters points. Seeing the Rockets go into a downturn is especially satisfying.

Must be the Melo effect and as i recall many wanted him here. Dodged that bullet and a good reminder why fans don't make decisions.

 

[craigehlo]

The Melo effect is real. Defensive rating with him on the floor is abysmal, just like last year in OKC. I thought the loss of Ariza was overblown, and it probably is, but they look worse than the Kings when Harden isn't playing.

 

[CupWizier]

WTF is D'Antoni thinking having Paul play most of the 4th quarter in a blow out game? It would have been hilarious if Paul would have aggravated his tender hamstring that he has had issues with. Poor decision making.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

 

[Boob-No-More]

WTF is D'Antoni thinking having Paul play most of the 4th quarter in a blow out game? It would have been hilarious if Paul would have aggravated his tender hamstring that he has had issues with. Poor decision making.

I was thinking the same thing last night. Why the fuck is Chris Paul, old, fragile, injury prone, Chris Paul playing 37 minutes in a 20-point blowout in October? Makes no sense at all. None of our starters played more than 27 minutes. All of their starters played more than 30. It's a long season and they rely on older players to play a lot of minutes. I know HOU's bench sucks, but they weren't winning that game, even with playing their starters playing against our bench in the 4th quarter. This is EXACTLY the type of game where you pull your starters and let the bench mob play mop up duty. Otherwise that shit catches up with you and you end up eventually relying on your shitty bench when your starters start wearing down. Stoopid coaching decision last night by D'Antoni.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

If the machine that cleans the ice at hockey games is called the Zamboni, they should rename that machine the D'Antoni. It's designed to produce bricks at a rate of one every 7 seconds, or less.

BNM

 

[rotary111]

Neil Olshey should get an award and a huge Thank You from the fans for NOT getting Melo.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I was thinking the same thing last night. Why the fuck is Chris Paul, old, fragile, injury prone, Chris Paul playing 37 minutes in a 20-point blowout in October? Makes no sense at all. None of our starters played more than 27 minutes. All of their starters played more than 30. It's a long season and they rely on older players to play a lot of minutes. I know HOU's bench sucks, but they weren't winning that game, even with playing their starters playing against our bench in the 4th quarter. This is EXACTLY the type of game where you pull your starters and let the bench mob play mop up duty. Otherwise that shit catches up with you and you end up eventually relying on your shitty bench when your starters start wearing down. Stoopid coaching decision last night by D'Antoni.

BNM

Yeah that worked out well for our bench as well, gave them a little more experience against the other teams starters. The end of the game was not the normal "garbage time". This in a game where our bench did not shoot well.

Our starters all looked good. The lack of pressure from the Rockets certainly helped. Dame, CJ, and Nurk were in cruise control in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

 

[blue9]

Remember when so many people wanted to trade Harkless for Melo two summers ago?
An injured Harkless is better than a healthy Melo.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Neil Olshey should get an award and a huge Thank You from the fans for NOT getting Melo.

Or by not bending over and taking Ryan Anderson's contract so that Melo could go to HOU last year.

In the end, the whole Carmelo saga weakened two of our Western Conference rivals. It hurt OKC last year, plus they had to take on Dennis Schroder's horrible contract to get out of the final year and $27 million of Carmelo's contract. OKC currently has the highest payroll in the league, and with Schroder's contract, Westbrook's max. deal and PG13's extension, they have no relief in sight for three years.

In the end, HOU is much weaker, having lost all of Ariza, Mbah a Moute and Ryan Anderson. As horrible as Anderson is defensively, Melo is just as bad. Plus, Anderson does one thing well, shoot 3-pointers, that is valuable in HOU's system. HOU is much weaker at both ends this year than last.

BNM

 

[Labinot41]

How does Aminu miss such wide-open '3's by so much?

Because he's a streaky shooter

 

[kjironman1]

Or by not bending over and taking Ryan Anderson's contract so that Melo could go to HOU last year.

In the end, the whole Carmelo saga weakened two of our Western Conference rivals. It hurt OKC last year, plus they had to take on Dennis Schroder's horrible contract to get out of the final year and $27 million of Carmelo's contract. OKC currently has the highest payroll in the league, and with Schroder's contract, Westbrook's max. deal and PG13's extension, they have no relief in sight for three years.

In the end, HOU is much weaker, having lost all of Ariza, Mbah a Moute and Ryan Anderson. As horrible as Anderson is defensively, Melo is just as bad. Plus, Anderson does one thing well, shoot 3-pointers, that is valuable in HOU's system. HOU is much weaker at both ends this year than last.

BNM

Certainly seems like the case.

 

[hoopsjock]

Because he's a streaky shooter

Aminu is not a streaky shooter. His form is so bad that it makes each attempt a crap shoot whether or not it goes in. A streaky shooter when hot would feel like anything they shot was going in. That is never the case with Aminu.

 

[H.C.]

I think biggie has had more rebounds in the last two games than Meyers has had in his career, not sure, someone check.

he def has had more tough rebounds in the last two games than Nards has had in his entire basketball playing career.
Watching Swanigan go in and rip rebounds away from two or three players is pretty fun to see. Nards trys that and ends up saying 'my bad'.

 

[rotary111]

I have to give Biggie credit. I wondered if he was even an NBA player for a while there. Time to happily eat some crow.

 

[H.C.]

There are many things you can hate on Stotts about.
Seems pretty silly to hate on Stotts about Simon's not getting PT in garbage time. Or Simons not dressing for games.

 

[Scalma]

he def has had more tough rebounds in the last two games than Nards has had in his entire basketball playing career.
Watching Swanigan go in and rip rebounds away from two or three players is pretty fun to see. Nards trys that and ends up saying 'my bad'.

Leonard only grabs boards when no one else is around so he can do his little one arm flex. This is the same guy that also screams after dunking over a chipotle manager in an empty gym, but when there’s a crowd he gets his shit pushed in. Like when Whiteside literally ripped a board from his hands that ended up in a heat three.

I’m just glad Swanigan is showing something so we’re not subjected to the Leonard experience.

 

[illmatic99]

I have to give Biggie credit. I wondered if he was even an NBA player for a while there. Time to happily eat some crow.

Is he?

 

[blue9]

There are many things you can hate on Stotts about.
Seems pretty silly to hate on Stotts about Simon's not getting PT in garbage time. Or Simons not dressing for games.

I hate Stotts. But I'm with ya on this...except for the ORL game. I think Simons shoulda been given the nod to dress for that game. But I'm not gonna be mad about it.

 

[rotary111]

Is he?

Yes! Because I don't want to see the Biggie that we saw earlier again.

This Biggie looks like a semi-productive player on a team that could use him.