Harden was allowed to be terrible only because Lin was being crazy. Not sure why we kept Mo on him ...that should have been a instant re-assignment once Lin started hefting 3's at will. Its not bad if Lin goes off so long as Good Mo counters...he didn't connect. We had a lot of nice looks at 3's all game long that didn't connect. Happens. I'm sure Crawford is to blame somehow too I just can't put my finger on it.
Unconsciously, it seemed as if they were playing for game 6 including he. They were doing negative things during the game that we haven't seen throughout the series. More so defensively. I don't know why we would actually want to give them life or a thought and a prayer. But we did. Now we run to an interesting situation. Houston will be running, they will gunning, and they will work their ass off to get it back to Houston. Not good.
Absolutely right. If Houston wins Game 6, they're going to be so full of confidence they will be bursting at the seams.
Former DPOY Dwight Howard is guarding him. And he's going up against two centers when Asik and Howard are both playing.
I watched it again too. Last night, they were sending help defenders faster at LA, & they were sending Dwight, which is partly why RoLo had more success. But it stymied LA. Early in the series he was catching & going right into his moves. He wasn't waiting for the double (sometimes triple) to come so he could make a read. It's not all on him. He did find some open shooters that just couldn't knock down shots. Hou probably thinks they've found something & will no doubt go right back to that in Game 6. We need to make them pay. When Howard is running at him, go into his chest. He's going to block a few, and foul few too. Need to get back to those quick hitting plays that put Hou on their heels. We play into their hand when we hold it too long. On top of that LA has to make his midrange shots. We need those if we're going to sniff the 2nd round. A lot of pressure on #12 right now. Excited to see how he handles it.
He is why I think the team wins the series. I don't think we wil be discussing this. I think he is that bright and intelligent of a coach but... I might be wrong about him. His boss dropped 3 straight to the Nuggets in 94 and he was on his staff. So if that did indeed happen. I would still bring him under the option. I wouldn't extend him. He is worthy of annother year.
Teams lose games. Sometimes players have off games. Did people think Portland was going to go 16-0 in the playoffs?
In all 4 wins over Houston this season, Aldridge has had 29 or more points, and shot over 50% from the field. In all 5 losses to Houston this season, Aldridge has had 28 or fewer points, and shot under 50% from the field. As Aldridge goes, so goes the team.
Game 6 will be his entire legacy up to this point. He needs to have a big game or he'll be called out.
I wish we had a nice lob play for LA. Nic bring it down left side with Dame at center of the 3 line. Nic feeds LA in the elbow extended one dribble and step back to bring the double, kick out to Nic who swings to Dame. While the swing happens LA starts his spin move so that Dame can lob to the cutting LA at the rim for the throw-down while Lopez boxes out Howard who will have slid back to Rolo once LA kicked it back out to Nic. You can read and react all through that play: A) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If not and he has Jones, PUNISH HIM. (LA rolls to the center paint for score) B) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If not and he has ASIK, PUNISH HIM. (LA rolls to the baseline paint for score or dish to Rolo if help comes) C) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is open (rolo and LA box out their man and make a lane) drive on Parsons to the rim. (Nic layup/dunk or dish to Rolo if Howard breaks free) D) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is closed but defense is slack, shoot the 3. (Nic 3-point shot) E) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is closed and defense is good, swing to Dame. If Lane is open, Dame drives to rim (Layup/dunk or dish to Rolo if Howard breaks free) F) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is closed and defense is good, swing to Dame. If Lane is closed and defense is sagged, Dame shoots the 3. (Wide open 3 shot from good spot for Dame) G) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is closed and defense is good, swing to Dame. If Lane is closed and defense is good, Dame spots LA in motion for Lob for DUNK (requires Rolo to box out Howard) H) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is closed and defense is good, swing to Dame. If Lane is closed and defense is good and LA cant get free, swing to Wes in right corner. If open shoot 3. (Wes Tre) I) LA on the pass and 1 dribble can see if the double comes. If yes he kicks to Nic. IF lane is closed and defense is good, swing to Dame. If Lane is closed and defense is good and LA cant get free, swing to Wes in right corner. If Harden on Wes, Drive. Either Layup (if Rolo has lock on Howard), jab step for high % 10' or closer J, Kick through to Nic and reset to do it all over again. That's 9 options. Each player (minus Rolo on perma block-out Howard) only needs to know their portion and position for the read/react. If it got all the way to a Wes drive and he has to kick out to Nic to save it and we are at 12 seconds and re-do the whole rotation again, that's 18 possible scoring options on 1 play. If we don't get a GOOD LOOK out of that, it means that Houston just played hands down the single best straight up D of the season/playoff's/lives. Hell in most cases you'd have a guaranteed 3 seconds on Howard every possession and one of these options will be available. WORSE CASE, if it got down to 3 seconds in the clock you got Wes on Harden making a move and under pressure with a hand or 2 in his face he's better than anyone else out there to make it. Be rare though that a set like this ended up without a considered 'good look'.
Spot on. Forget the fact that we wouldn't have won the first 2 @ Hou w/o his efforts. Or game 4 for that matter. It's all going to come down to how he performs in these close out games. There is a scenario where he plays great & we still lose (and even his critics can't blame him). But I don't think that's going to happen. I think if he plays really well, we win.
The more I watch and learn about LA the more I come away with the idea that LA that he is an instinctive player. He plays and shows by feel. He has an on and off switch. With that said, what we didn't see last night will come out tomorrow night and Houston and whoever is guarding is prob in for a long one.
I don't think he has to be a GOAT, but the guy has to at least hit his averages. If he had put up the 23 and 11 that he usually gets, we win easily in game 5.
When I think "LaMonster", I'm thinking defense and rebounding with a vengeance, and not whether he's making a bunch of silky smooth turn-arounds. If he's possessed around the basket, the rest will take care of itself.
