Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Rockets vs Jazz Game #68 1st Half Game Thread

168 comments:

  1. After waiting for three days for Rockets basketball to resume after the bad beating by GSW, I am hoping that the Rockets come out hot and not cold. I hope they got the rest they need for Utah, Cleveland and San Antonio. I hope that coaching fix the problems they were facing last game. Let's go Rockets!

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    1. Let's all hope for the best for this team despite all the odds they faced and will face tonight.May we all stay positive until the last shot is made on this game.Let's hope rockets win (and warriors lose) and Jeremy will have a great game!

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  2. Lin with his first TD throw to Parson for an assist.

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  3. Lin with an almost TO, but got it back and lay it in for his first 2 points.

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  4. Harden to Lin and Lin took it in for another lay up. 4 points for Lin and 1 assist so far.

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  5. Lin missed his first 3 point attempt and made a superb defensive play by getting back and disrupting the TD pass.

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  6. Lin to Harden for a 3 pointer. 2 assist for Lin now.

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  7. Houston looks like they want this game more than the Jazz.

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  8. Who are the announcers? They dont sound like the regulars....they dont sound annoying but boring

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    1. Same crew, Worrell, Clyde and that other dude.

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    2. They have changed their tune about criticizing Lin.

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    3. Is that why they sound boring? I havent heard clyde

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  9. Rockets are attacking the paint.... Hopefully they keep this pattern rather than shooting 3's

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  10. Harden picked up his 2nd foul and now is sitting. Lin is in with Delfino, T-Rob, Asik and Parsons. Let's see what Lin can do with that line up since most of you wished that was the case.

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    1. I spoke too soon. Patrick Beverly is in the game for Lin with 2:59 left in the 1st quarter.

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    2. Jeremy so unselfish as usual. He really is a true leader -- getting T-Rob wide-open shots to improve his new teammate's confidence even if it hurts his own stats.

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    1. Harden has two fouls.

      Lin with that stupid reach in foul in first (he's too important to be overly aggressive to start game). He needs low fouls so he can go all out, both on offense and defense, during crunch time in fourth.

      Lin benched himself with that knuckehead foul in first.

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    2. I wouldn't call that stupid foul. He was a bit late in helping out on Jefferson. He was trying to do what they did last time they played the Jazz. He stopped doing it after he picked his first foul.

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    3. Why take the risk this early in the game?

      He's get called for charge that was really a block or some other foul and he's on bench for the rest of first half.

      Harden could probably play with two fouls and not get third for rest of first, but Lin doesn't necessarily have that veteran savvy yet.

      Even if Jazz scored on that possession, it is not like game was in balance.

      Mo Williams can go aggressively at Lin, and you never know what questionable call ends up being Lin's second foul in first half.

      He needs that cushion of low fouls so in fourth quarter he can go all out, both on offense and defense, without concern of fouling out.

      Delfino and Parsons look they are ready to step up with Lin and Harden in foul trouble.

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    4. Harden swiping at the ball with two fouls was also a knucklehead move.

      He and Lin are too important to be stuck on bench with foul trouble.

      Delfino has most definitively shown up tonight (veteran savvy and experience in big games in Olympics and Argentine national team).

      Good to see.

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  12. T-Rob so far doesn't look too good. He traveled on one shot attempt, missed a wide open shot and picked up a silly foul.

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    1. I noticed as well... two good looks by good passes from Jeremy...

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  13. Bev in early, argh.

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  14. Is harden trying to play defense that's why he has 2 PF's.didnt see how he got both

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    1. Millsap or Jefferson ran at him and he lost the ball and foul in the process. The other foul he committed because I think he got beat.

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  15. Thomas Robinson is really, really bad -- he blew TWO easy J-Lin assists and just committed another dumb foul. I can see why the Kings got rid of him. He may improve, but he's not even close to NBA-ready yet.

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  16. TRob is really hurting Rockets, at least for this year. He's just too raw and is making all kinds of dumb mistakes, traveling, reaching in, etc. He looks really lost -- hard to believe from a high round pick from a good basketball program.

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    1. Agreed. I'd like to see T-Jones playing instead.

      Robinson just looks lost. Jeremy is doing his best to get him involved, but T-Rob is simply not ready for NBA action.

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  17. Balanced scoring. Lin is running the show.
    We're going to win.
    Go Rockets!

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  18. I have noticed that Jeremy doesn't do as well when harden is out despite logic. Can somebody dig u some data to see how Jeremy fares without harden? Minus the Spurs game..

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  19. Good job, Bev. Asik really sucks at catching the ball; that ball was right there.

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  20. Beverly gets back life again.
    Lin's in control of the game, everybody gets better including his backup.

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  21. The Rockets GM is developing and acquiring a lot of Point Guards for a reason.

    Come to think of it, I think that the reason the Rockets GM, Morey, and McHale are so interested in developing Harden as a PG (on the top of his already developed SG skills) is that they may be planning to use Jeremy Lin as a part of a trade package to acquire Dwight Howard (or another superstar C or PF) for next Summer. They ideally want Chris Paul as well, but that's a pipe dream because of cap space. I think that is another reason why Morey has been so focused on acquiring MORE and MORE Point Guards *after* signing Lin: They have since acquired points guards Patrick Beverley from Russia and more recently, Aaron Brooks. Plus, I've read a report a months ago that Andrew Goudelock, a PG (he's a combo guard) from the Rockets D-league affiliate, is waiting to be promoted to be a Rocket at "ANY TIME". I think Lin would quietly WELCOME a trade, but the thing is he needs to buyout his contract, so that he can go to another team ON HIS OWN TERMS after the way the Rockets organization have mistreated him in so many levels and angles. For example, I don't think Lin would want to play for the Knicks or Lakers at this point (too many egos and too much drama for both teams) or the Kings.

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    1. I think you should just calm down with the trade scenario. Lin isn't going anywhere. He is still serviceable @ 5 million next season.

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    2. Wow z, reading that was depressing. i hope that is not true (with regard to Rox intent). Well, if it is the case, they will rue the day they let JLin get away twice!

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    3. There were rumors that mngt put out feelers for Lin/Asik...

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    4. @John Ly,

      Lin is much more than "serviceable". That's NOT the point. Lin is on the way to becoming an elite player in next season, imo. I think what you said ("serviceable") is what's insulting to Lin.

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    5. Would a trade be really that bad? Who wants to watch him rotting and standing in the corner all game.

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    6. @ztrta, I meant serviceable in the eyes of Houston management. Teams are constantly shopping their players around and it doesn't mean a trade will happen. Like Morey said earlier, he is always working trades behind the scene and some never comes into fruition.

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    7. Remember folks, Lin almost got burned by the Knicks last offseason because he and his family were apparently SO TRUSTING and SO NAIVE when it came to business of basketball. They are such nice and well-mannered people that they are getting a crash course in the ways of THUGS. You know what they say about being a victim the 2nd time..... I grew up very sheltered too, but I've learned a lot from reading and watching.

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    8. @ztrta, there is a difference last season with this season. First of all, Lin was a free agent with the Knicks last season and he is under contract with Houston. Secondly, we are talking about Dolan who is a dumb egotistical owner who screws everything he touches. Alexander is not the same as Dolan. Alexander likes Lin. Also, the Knicks were dumb to ask Lin to shop around for a team to offer him a contract. The Rockets would only trade Lin if they can get value in return. Dwight Howard is a free agent this summer so you don't need a trade to get him.

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    9. k. smith,

      Yes, it turned out that Morey has already shopped Lin and Asik before the February 21 trade deadline. Morey hasn't refuted the report, which would have highlighted the topic more anyway.

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    10. @ John Ly,

      Morey is even more egotistical than Dolan - I'm convinced. Plus Morey and McHale clearly don't like Lin: I think their characters are so opposite, they feel uncomfortable, haha.

      Anyway, up until the day before the trade deadline (Feb 21), Morey has said that the Rox are "standing pat". Patrick Patterson was so shocked because the Rox gave the impression that he'll stay.

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    11. The Rockets does have have cap space to sign Howard outright (after all, they have the lowest team salary), but if they want to be real loaded and competitive, they will have to make trades.

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    12. .... and will ,ost likely use Lin for a trade bait, CONSIDERING how they don't believe in him (even in public) and also how they've treated him. A team doesn't mistreat and condescend a starting player in public over and over again if they have plans to keep that player.

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    13. Enough of this "Lin made a mistake signing with Houston" silliness.

      Houston offered $25 million while all the other 29 teams offered $0.

      For Jeremy Lin, $25 million is better than $0.

      So quit yer bellyaching!

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    14. ".... but if they want to be real loaded and competitive, they will have to make trades."

      I meant to say in Morey and McHale's minds. Certainly not in my mind. I think the Boston twins are damn fools!

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  22. Without Harden, team prospers and everybody pitching in and making shots. Now I'm waiting for Parson to shine.

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  23. McHale is so dumb. He choose to put in Harden with two PFs than Lin. What a moron.

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    1. McHale's logic is that Harden can draw fouls and not get another foul before the half. The moron puts him in at the start of the 2nd quarter.

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    2. So far McHale's gamble has paid off. Harden managed to draw three fouls against the Jazz players.

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  24. Bev pissed the other guy off with his pesky D. Good job.

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  25. Lin just wasting away on the bench after a good start. Nothing new.

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    1. I don't know how many x i have said "WTF" when it comes to Mcidiot...

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    2. I guess the two recent articles on the importance of jeremy as a playmaker didnt reach the FO or they just totally ignored it.

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    3. Totally agree. So sick of these bs 8 to 9 min first half benching a of Lin for NO FUCKING reason! Lin got off to a good start today and what else is new. Trying to suck the life out of him but Lin to mentally strong and eventually McHale and the Rockets will get dumped in the garbage. And I'm so damn sick of Harden hero ball!!

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  26. Hahaha. T-Rob committed another TO and then Delfino got a steal and passed it to Beverly. Beverly had T-Rob and chose not to pass it to him and instead passed it to Delfino for a brick.

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  27. Looks like bev is earning his minutes tonight.. Away from Lin...

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    1. Bev is playing pretty well. Besides, Mac always substitutes Lin around 2~3 minutes left 1st Q anyway.

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    2. So Lin will check back in at the 6min mark?! Hilarious.

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  28. Guarantee u that harden will wear down and get hurt. Then McHale will get what he deserves...

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  29. So McHale's logic is to take Lin out and put Harden in because Harden was passing too much to Lin and not looking for his own shot. Looks like the coach was right because Harden has managed to single handedly build the lead to 15 points now.

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  30. Will Lin break 30 minutes played tonight?

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    1. Harden's rolling.

      Let Beverely dribble ball up and pass it to Harden if Jazz can't stop him.

      There will be games where Harden can't do it alone and NEEDS Lin.

      Plus, if Lin can get out of first half with only 1 foul, he can be very, very aggressive, both on offense and defense, in second half.

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    2. Probably not but that's a good thing. Hopefully the lead will continue grow so that the starters don't have to play much of the fourth.

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    3. Is Kyrie Irving in Cleveland lineup?

      If so, Lin will have his hands full on defense Friday, so low minutes tonight is fine with me.

      Harden is rolling, Jazz can't stop him, and it's opening up driving lanes for Lin.

      Other nights when Lin is rolling, he opens up court for James.

      Easy win with Rockets starters sitting out whole fourth quarter would be fine with me.

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  31. McHale's logic: wow we r up by 15. It must be because of Beverley.

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    1. But how come McHale break up that "hot" lineup and put in DMo and Asik?

      Yeah it's all Beverley. Did he even touch the ball? Lol.

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  32. With this huge lead by rockets, i think lin will not come back for awhile....i want the win for them but i want lin to play as well

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  33. Jazz to be foul happy tonight. Harden has been foul the most in this quarter. Lin is back in for Beverly at 6:25 mark.

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    1. Because of free throws. What happens if he doesn't get every call he wants during road games?

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  35. Well it looks like Lin is fired up about bev play.

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  36. The Jazz look turrible - Barkeley voice

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  37. Lin's number 7 = how many minutes he plays in each quarter. Makes sense. FU Mchale.

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  38. SG shoots; PG leads; Center rebounds; Delfino plays well; where're our forwards?

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  39. I thought that was a bad D by Lin, leaving his man too long to help on D. He just helped way too much and for too long.

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    1. Probably. But still. Would you rather have Jefferson one-on-one down low? Or Mo Williams with a mid-range 2? At least you avoid the foul with Jeremy overhelping.

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  40. The Jazz have basically checked out. You could see it in their game against the Knicks without Melo and Tyson.

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  41. Lin with an aggressive drive for the layup over Al Jefferson.

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    1. Al Jefferson does not have the foot speed. que lastima

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  43. Hmm. I don't understand McHale but maybe they play Beverly because the plan is to trade him like TD? Or that he can become a viable trade chip too?

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    1. No, the plan is to just play Beverly more. Lin's minutes will always be limited and in the playoffs, if they make it, there will be another game or 2 where you wonder why Lin played only 21 minutes where the Rockets lose badly and you wonder why Lin wasn't on the floor more.

      If the Rox win games, Mchale has decided Harden will take them there, nobody else. He will allow Parsons to help Harden, and perhaps Lin if Lin is on fire while Parsons is MIA, but that's it.

      Live or die with Harden, not Lin. That's why Beverly play or any other guard other than Lin gets minutes next to Harden.

      To some degree Mchale probably feels Lin gets in Harden's way...

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    2. I've wondered about this quite a bit and actually it was the whole reason why I started posting because it was incomprehensible and counter-intuitive. Nevertheless, I guess I could possibly see a reason to play Beverly like they played TD so that Beverly is tradeable, regardless of what happens to Lin. Ultimately, it seems everyone but Harden and Parsons are dispensable.

      I agree with your last 3 sections.

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  44. How was that a foul on Lin? Anyone?

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  45. Hahaha, Harden got the AND 1 after bumping Foye out and got the foul call.

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  46. Lin taking it right down the middle again. No shot blockers for Utah tonight?

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  47. Now it's psychological against the Jazz. HOU just has their number.

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    1. That's what we thought about gsw and u know what happened..

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  48. Never let up just piling on.
    It's life or death for the Playoff.

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  49. Lin has such a great court vision

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  50. Finish Him! - Mortal combat voice

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  51. Jeremy's playing great!

    The Jazz are just NO MATCH for the Rockets. Too slow and their youngsters are so undisciplined on defense (no floor leader like Lin to direct them).

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  52. Typically when Lin's assist > Harden's assist
    The team wins

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  53. JL is playing well this game. Harden, Delfino and Bev also.

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    1. Lins had quite a few good and effective games. It sad when fans make it seem like he only has a good game every once in awhile.

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  54. The jazz are really struggling,they don't know what they are doing.

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  55. Even if JL plays badly, I want Rockets to win today; but JL is playing well.

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  56. The 3 pointers are not working but the rockets make up by driving to the rim.
    Asik is earning his pay today.

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  57. jlin playing great but of course Mchale always takes him out while leaving harden on the floor bullshit

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  58. Refs coming after Lin to cover the spread.

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    1. Foul again! No call.

      NBA refs...can't stop them. They have to make this a game.

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    2. It is not whether you win or lose, it's whether you cover the spread.

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  59. Beverly is at the scorer's table with Delfino. Looks like they are regpalcing Lin and Harden.

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    1. I agree -- refs are trying to even the game by CHEATING Lin on both ends.

      Good call by McHale actually...Jeremy would probably get a 3rd foul if he even breathed on a Jazz player.

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  60. Didn't the guy have his hands on Lin's face?

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    1. It was clearly a foul on Millsap, but the refs are trying to get Utah back in this.

      Yet another blowout win isn't good for ratings.

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  61. Replies
    1. This sub actually makes sense. Refs are clearly screwing over Jeremy to get the Jazz back in it -- better to take him out before he gets his 3rd foul on a BS play. Same with Harden (who also got subbed out).

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  62. Haha, Rockets end of quarter shot is so much fail.

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    1. I think McHale was just trying to buy time so Harden doesn't pick up his third foul or Lin his second.

      Lin's first foul so early in game was a knucklehead move, but so was Harden swiping at ball in second with two fouls.

      When Harden picked up his second and Lin had one, then for a brief time I got concerned that Rockets just let Jazz back into this game.

      Luckily James just went off and hopefully slammed the door on any Jazz thoughts of upset.

      Let Harden bask in the glory this game. There will be games where James will NEED Jeremy to step up. Luckily, tonight doesn't appear to be one of those games.

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    2. First Phoenix loss Jeremy came up over-amped in third quarter and got into foul trouble trying to totally shut down Dragic.

      That fourth foul so early in second half took away Jeremy's aggressiveness on offense and defense and let Dragic go off in fourth (one more foul and he is on bench till end of game, because he is at risk of fouling out).

      James and Jeremy are critical to success of this team.

      They have to know how to stay on floor, especially so early in game (even if Lin stole ball and passed ball down court for easy layup, would that really made any difference in overall outcome of game?). Lin being on bench with two fouls, after James picked his second up, now that's a problem and could have easily let Jazz back in game, if James didn't go off without picking up his third foul.

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  63. If Harden keeps his eyes on the hoop and let Lin handle the ball, we're going to blow out the Jazz.
    What worries me is DMO and Chandler.

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  64. Another blowout? Shucks I wanted to watch Lin play tonight. Was all gears up...o well at least they will get the win

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  65. Another blowout? Shucks I wanted to watch Lin play tonight. Was all gears up...o well at least they will get the win

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  66. Harden is a hell of a shooter. It's such a waste to let him handle the ball. He's the finisher not the ball handler.
    JLin gets great court vision and drives the team up up and away.
    Take off, Rox.

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  67. Cleveland might end Miami's streak tonight. They are leading by 26 points and it is halfway in the 3rd period.

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  68. If this is a blow out, you won't see Lin in the 4th quarter.

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  69. Lin with a bullet pass to Asik and he got a slam and an AND 1.

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  70. Lin with another assist to Parsons for the drive.

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  71. Omer blew another assist from Lin. Asik threw it down and it clang off the rim.

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  72. Lin with another aggressive move to the basket. He has 12 points now.

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  73. Ever since the trade in all the losses of Rox, Harden's assists >= JLin.
    That tells you something. The Rox has lost 6 games and won 6.
    The statistics is representative of the game plan.

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  74. that was a beautiful play for JLin's 3

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  75. Jeremy just clownin' the Jazz now.

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  76. DMO, U made me wait so long for this 3.

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  77. Lin is being super aggressive. He drove against Mo William and drew another foul on Mo Williams. Mo has four fouls and arguing with the officials and picked up a technical.

    Mo Williams to official: Why you got to blow your whistle. Can't you see it's a blow out?

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  78. Another blowout? Shucks I wanted to watch Lin play tonight. Was all gears up...o well at least they will get the win

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  79. Why did asik pass the ball to jazz player? Lol

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  80. Lin is aggressive today and attacking the rim. I think it will be a blow out by the end of 3 qtr.

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    1. Part of the reason is because Jazz has no shot blockers. Houston coaching staff must have known this and told Lin to be aggressive going to the hole.

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  81. The way it goes. Lin might not play the 4th.

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  82. T-Rob called for another foul after coming in after the sub. Putting his paws on Millsap.

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  83. This is a game where Lin wants to explode but can't because he isn't the man...It's ok though. I'm sure the Jazz FO and coaching staff see it...

    He just needs to showcase his abilities to the rest of the league game by game and show consistency..

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  84. Poor PB! The NBA boxscore still doesnt show his picture :)

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  85. I just hope that Lin can come back to get at least 20 pts to make it 3 straight games with 20 pts and above

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  86. I'm calling it now...I'm almost 100% sure Lin won't resign here in Houston unless Harden is traded away for an elite big...

    Only way Lin resigns in Houston, in my opinion, is if he is constantly injured and gets stuck being a Ramon Sessions/Mo Williams type level starting PG where he isn't really that special despite some obvious talent...

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  87. Asik is going to get his double double today.

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  88. Haha! Yea! He needs to take a passport photo and send it to NBA lol

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    1. That is so 20th century :)

      How about cellphone picture and email? Dont Rox have a PR department, fotographers... :)

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  89. It's not a complete blown out yet. JLin will be back.

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  90. I'm almost sure that Lin will start the 4th

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