The plan is to exploit the mismatch. If you can exploit the mismatch, the defense must change. As many would agree, this is a chess game. So far, Stott's makes McHale look like a mental midget
And part of that chess match is putting Harden on Batum. I think that's the best way to hide Harden if I'm Houston.
Possible, but that can bite him just the same. If that mismatch happens, I'm sure Batum will exploit it. A 5 year old can score against harden.
Please put Harden on Nico....I want to see Nic catch the ball in the post (not at the 3 line) and square up to realize its the beard and simply reach up over him to put the ball in the hole.
Unless/until Batum actually exploits a mismatch, I have difficulty believing that he will do so when the opportunity presents itself.
Id agree harden on batum would be a good move by houston. I agree batum has the tools to take advantage. If im houston I take the chance because harden obviously ca t guard wes, and putting him on aldridge to flop on defense didnt work in game 1, in fact it was one of the most laughable coaching decisions ive ever seen. Atleast mcmillan never said roy, you are our man, go guard shaq in the post.
I love our team's focus, almost as much as I love the Rockets' lack of focus. We are winning the mental game hands down.
Batum isn't the best at driving, unless he has an open lane. Putting Harden on him, then giving him any kind of screen, is the same as an open lane. And when someone comes over to help, he'll make the pass. Like taking candy from a baby. Complete with the loud whining and crying.
Pick and RoLo, baby! If Jones is on RoLo and Harden on Batum, Jones will switch onto Batum to try and single-cover him. Batum passes to a wide open RoLo (because LA is camping out at 18 feet with DHo on him) and RoLo either scores on the uncontested dunk, or passes to LA when DHo tries to rotate over to block.
Win or lose, Parsons loves to pop off after playing the Blazers: Chandler Parsons was feeling quite confident in his squad following Sunday’s 118-113 comeback win against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. Parsons gives the Houston Rockets (44-19) the nod as the L’s best team. Per CSN Houston: “We think we’re the best team in the league,” Chandler Parsons said. “We’re going to go and prove it every single night. It’s a big win for us, but at the end of the day, it’s just one win against a good team. On to the next one. We don’t think we’re done. We’re not getting arrogant or conceited or anything. But we think we can play with anybody and we’ve proved that this week. It’s fun because we know we can even get better.”
Potential wise. The two aren't close but it's not about potential. I think Nic is close and the Nic we saw in game one wasn't the same Nic that finished the year off. I kind of think the Rockets and more specifically Chandler is in hot water.
Typically teams/players who like to talk junk do so after a win, but not Houston. They talk shit even after a loss. What an entirely unlikable team. Their players and fans act like they are owed something, even before Game One. Fuck 'em where they breathe. I hate that team.
We know from the camera data that Batum actually runs more than any other player in the league and at a fast pace. So at the very least, this should either make Harden expend more effort on defense or give Batum some open looks from 3.
I think there have been some great posts in this thread. Informative, lots of them are pretty damn funny and made me literally LOL. However, I think everyone has missed a what could be a very important point. I think Parsons is "calling out" Batum so Batum will guard him instead of James Harden. Harden doesn't want Batum guarding him. He would rather have Matthews. This is all a ploy to make us put Matthews on Harden instead of Batum.
Do we know if the majority of that ruining is on offense or defense? I've never really seen him play a Rip Hamilton-, Reggie Miller-style of game.
Forget Batum who was better than Parsons down the stretch. I hope this lights a fire under Dorell Wright!
Agreed! Thought it was kinda dumb for parsons to come out and say that. It will have an opposite effect I he thinks it's going to get Batum out of his game.
