ROCKETS @ BLAZERS - GAME THREAD - 11/05/13, 7:00 PM, TUESDAY (2 Viewers)

[Nikolokolus]

I don't think it's going to mean much in the long term, but yes, if they play well against what look like a good Rockets team it would be another positive step.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'll call it. If we win this game, we'll win the next 4 championships.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'll call it. If we win this game, we'll win the next 4 championships.

Pre-season, regular season or post-season?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Incorrect.

I have league pass, so that is not an issue.

I can't watch the game because it is Houston playing, and will be blacked out here in Houston because it will be on local tv. Local tv here is comcast sports sw, which is having the same contract dispute that comcast sports nw is having with Directv.


So no Blazer game for me

Download a free VPN (relocates your IP address) and it will work. Takes literally only 2 minutes.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Download a free VPN (relocates your IP address) and it will work. Takes literally only 2 minutes.

How would that allow me to watch the game on Directv league pass?

 

[magnifier661]

How would that allow me to watch the game on Directv league pass?

It would be on your computer or iPad or iPhone type devices.

 

[StumptownHoliday]

Between Damian and Harden who do you think is going to have an easier time of it in this game? Harden is a proven all-star caliber shooting guard facing a somewhat middling defensive team. Lillard might be improved, but he's going to have to contend with Asik and Howard roving inside which is probably going to force him into living from the perimeter more than we would like.

You're right about forcing Dame to live at the perimeter. Fortunately for us, he's an amazing shooter and he's developed that floater to the point that he's not completely neutered if driving lanes are taken away from him. I think Harden will have an easier go of it, but only because of his propensity to get shots at the line. I hope Dame comes out attacking and gets Asik or Howard in foul trouble.

 

[BrianFromWA]

If LaMarcus can get Asik in foul trouble early, we will be set.

He's drawn 11 FTs in 3 games (less than 2 shooting fouls per game). Who's he been getting into foul trouble?

Edit: Strenuus said it already.

 

[FromWayDownTownBang]

Well Brian, I promise you if Asik is guarding LaMarcus one on one, he will pick up a couple quick ones.

 

[BrianFromWA]

It'd be great to see.

However, against those noted defensive studs Miles Plumlee and Channing Frye he got 5 FTs on 22 shots.
Against DEN he had 4 FTs on 26 shots.
Against SAS he had 2 FTs on 17 shots.

You think that against great defenders Asik and/or Howard, on their home floor, he's going to get more fouls called? I hope so, because that means that he'll be in the paint or attacking the hoop. But the way he's been playing?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well Brian, I promise you if Asik is guarding LaMarcus one on one, he will pick up a couple quick ones.

That's a meaningless statement. LMA's move is a turn-around jumper from the mid-post out to 12 or 15 feet, that is not a foul drawing move.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's a meaningless statement. LMA's move is a turn-around jumper from the mid-post out to 12 or 15 feet, that is not a foul drawing move.

Do you know what is a foul drawing move?

Changing his name to LeBron James and taking his talents to South Beach.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Do you know what is a foul drawing move?

Changing his name to LeBron James and taking his talents to South Beach.

Does James' handle come with the name change?

 

[Natebishop3]

Does James' handle come with the name change?

Only the star treatment.

 

[BBert]

I'll call it. If we win this game, we'll win the next 4 championships.

So you are that sure the Rockets win? Such pessimism isn't like you.

 

[Draco]

You think that against great defenders Asik and/or Howard, on their home floor, he's going to get more fouls called?

Crap did the game get moved to Houston?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Crap did the game get moved to Houston?

No.

You think that against great defenders Asik and/or Howard,he's going to get more fouls called?

 

[Draco]

Only the star treatment.

Yeah Lebron James is only good because of the refs....

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah Lebron James is only good because of the refs....

Yeah, because that's what I said.

 

[Draco]

No.

You think that against great defenders Asik and/or Howard,he's going to get more fouls called?

I wouldn’t count on it. Only thing I’m sure of is LA won’t get any called his way on Houstons court tomorrow. ;P

I’m not sure trying to get fouls on Howard or Asik is the best game plan. If it happens early sure then we could try to get one extra to get them out of the game but I wouldn’t start with that strategy from the get go. Seems kind of outside LaMarcus’ element. Our teams biggest strength is far and away all the shooters we have; so I’d think we should have a gameplan play to our strengths. Make Asik and Dwight guard shooters on the outside, and on the second of a back to back push the tempo early to make them run in transition.

 

[blue9]

Yeah Lebron James is only good because of the refs....

He's only as good as he is because of the refs. If he played by the same rules as all the no-names in the league he'd still be damn good, but his PPG would probably drop by ~6ish (random #). I just don't understand why the best players - the ones who don't need any help - are consistently given a different set of rules to play by that makes the game even easier for them. It's like if you're racing cars and you give a Porsche 911 a one lap head start against a Toyota Corolla.

 

[Draco]

Yeah, because that's what I said.

I don't think the refs make Lebron any better than he is. LeBrons last few years have been more impressive than anything I saw out of Jordan.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's only as good as he is because of the refs. If he played by the same rules as all the no-names in the league he'd still be damn good, but his PPG would probably drop by ~6ish (random #). I just don't understand why the best players - the ones who don't need any help - are consistently given a different set of rules to play by that makes the game even easier for them. It's like if you're racing cars and you give a Porsche 911 a one lap head start against a Toyota Corolla.

Oof. I don't know about all that ... it's not like Jordan wasn't getting the benefit of calls back in his day or the other superstars of years past. Put Lebron in any era and he's one of the all-time great players.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think the refs make Lebron any better than he is. LeBrons last few years have been more impressive than anything I saw out of Jordan.

The refs absolutely make him better than he is. Not just him, but many stars in the NBA are better than they actually are. How are you supposed to defend Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, LeBron, etc if you can't even touch them?

 

[Draco]

He's only as good as he is because of the refs. If he played by the same rules as all the no-names in the league he'd still be damn good, but his PPG would probably drop by ~6ish (random #). I just don't understand why the best players - the ones who don't need any help - are consistently given a different set of rules to play by that makes the game even easier for them. It's like if you're racing cars and you give a Porsche 911 a one lap head start against a Toyota Corolla.

LeBron only shot 7 FTA a game last year, the lowest since his rookie year. Five players including league leading James Harden shot more free throws than LeBron last season.

 

[blue9]

Oof. I don't know about all that ... it's not like Jordan wasn't getting the benefit of calls back in his day or the other superstars of years past. Put Lebron in any era and he's one of the all-time great players.

I agree. I think you're reading more into what I wrote, than what I actually wrote. All I'm saying is that the very best players are allowed to break the rules and be even better than they already are. If this wasn't allowed, they'd still be the very best players, but instead of being head & shoulders & knees better than the rest, they'd just be head & shoulders better.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I agree. I think you're reading more into what I wrote, than what I actually wrote. All I'm saying is that the very best players are allowed to break the rules and be even better than they already are. If this wasn't allowed, they'd still be the very best players, but instead of being head & shoulders & knees better than the rest, they'd just be head & shoulders better.

Fair enough. I agree with that.

 

[Natebishop3]

I agree. I think you're reading more into what I wrote, than what I actually wrote. All I'm saying is that the very best players are allowed to break the rules and be even better than they already are. If this wasn't allowed, they'd still be the very best players, but instead of being head & shoulders & knees better than the rest, they'd just be head & shoulders better.

It's not just that they're allowed to break the rules, but also that the league makes them virtually impossible to defend.

Michael Jordan played during handchecking, LeBron did not. MJ played during the "Bad Boys" era and the Riley Knicks. Who could even be remotely compared to those two teams in the league right now?

It's not just free throw attempts. It's the way that teams are allowed to defend.

 

[Draco]

LeBron James averaged 7.0 FTA a game last season. Brandon Roy averaged 6.8 FTA in his final all-star season here.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hey at least the NBA addressed that cheap-assed "rip move" that KD was notorious for.