Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Rockets @ Lakers Game #82 Pre Game Thread

This is the last game of the season with lots on the line for both teams, especially if Utah wins. It should be a playoff game type atmosphere and I'm very excited to see how the Rockets respond tonight.

On a site housekeeping note, please refrain from profanity and personal attacks in your posts. If not, we'll start deleting posts. These are historic times in terms of Jeremy being a starting guard going into the playoffs. Please, lets all enjoy this ride and support him all the way.

128 comments:

  1. Jeremy, let's win this game regardless Utah or Lakers clinch the last playoff spot.

    Do your best as usual!

    I'm sure many of your fans are very proud of your achievement in this season thus far!

    ReplyDelete
  2. With the season winding down and pressure ratcheting up, it's all on James Harden.

    For several games now, Harden has been playing SCARED.

    He masks his fear by hogging the ball selfishly for bricks and turnovers, saving his energy by refusing to play defense, and refuses to play team basketball. The entire team is suffering because of Harden's ongoing decline.

    The best the Rockets can do is pray that the Lakers don't attack James Harden. If they target him, the Rockets cannot overcome his zero defense and ballhogging play.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your man McHell should do something about the worst player on the team!

      Delete
    2. Absolutely correct, Etane.

      I may be a McHale fan, but that does not mean I blindly adore everything he does.

      I think that McHale should be giving way more leeway to Lin and tightening up the clamps on Harden, just like you do.

      McHale can do that while still coaching the big men effectively and playing his bench lots of minutes.

      Delete
    3. Based on D'Antoni's comments, sounds like he will target Harden and Lin.

      Not only is it about Lakers getting to playoffs but I would think the NBA would want the hype of Harden vs. OKC too. I just don't want to see anyone injured today. Was there when MWP elbowed Harden and don't want to see that again today.

      Delete
    4. If the Lakers were smart, wouldn't they want to attack our front court?

      Also, Mchale's not changing anything up for the playoffs. Expect more of the same. Harden/Parsons all day, Lin on the bench when it matters most, and Harden iso's.

      Delete
    5. Cali great point. Yeah I'm sure the nba would love to play the harden vs his old team angle as well.

      Rox vs OKC, laker vs spurs are much more rating friendly than Utah vs OKC and Rox vs Spurs.

      Freaking nba.

      Delete
    6. How are he Lakers going to attack the Rox backcurt? With Steve Blake ad Meeks? Not going to work. Rox will need to make it difficult for the Lakers guards to get the ball into the big men because that is what the Lakers are going to try to do. Maybe D'Antoni will smarten up and is going to scrap his normal offense and pound the ball inside which will give them the best chance of winning.

      Keys for Rox - run the Lakers old guys into the ground. Make Howard run back on defense to tire him out. Need Smith and Asik to play well defensively, even if it is to slow them down. If Smith get in foul trouble then Pau will have an even greater mismatch advantage. DMo is tall but has no clue on defenive positioning. Pau has 4" on TRob and TJones. I'm looking for JLin to have a huge game but he needs to play under control. None of the Lakers guards can stay with him. Rox guards will need to carry the load offensively - 45/10/16 combined.

      Delete
  3. Am I the only one who is upset that the Rockets are in danger of going to 8th place and facing OKC instead of the aging Spurs? That performance at Phoenix was embarrassing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am in agreement with you. Can't believe Rockets did not play hard enough to avoid OKC. Rockets should want to play Spurs most, and then Denver, but avoid OKC at all cost.

      Delete
    2. It is what it is. Rockets are not an elite team. No matter how good they are individually. Mchale and Harden always find a way to sabotage a win. They will come in 8th place, because thats where they belong. This is a rebuilding year.

      Delete
  4. Jeremy has to stay safe. He'll def not get any calls tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jlin needs to attack Blake and avoid Metta's elbows and stay aggressive but injury free. Nothing more important then staying healthy for this game. I hope harden won't purposefully tank game just to play OKC for obvious selfish reasons. The bigs got to step up for sure and fight for rebounds and keep Howard and Paul off the boards.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't why people are so afraid of OKC vs SA vs Denver. They are all tough apponents. They are all scary. It's not like we are trying to find a way to play the Knicks over Miami.

    I anticipate a frustrating lopsided game in lakers favor from the officiating. Harden will try but will not get his calls rendering him a liability - I anticipate a loss. It will be just hard to beat the lakers and the refs on the road.


    But that's okay. I just want everyone to stay healthy. McHale should take harden out if he isn't performing well. Lin should not take unnecessary beating.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree. I am pretty pessimistic about the Rockets willingness to do what it takes to win games. Both Harden and McHell are shitting in their pants about playing in the playoffs. It's going to be a tragic comedy here on out.

      Delete
    2. Totally wrong about Harden. He will get his calls so the announcers and the NBA could sing praises for him, but should not get the calls when it actually matters

      Delete
    3. Rikki.. Nope. The trend the last three or four games is that harden is getting Less calls.. as a tesult his shooting prrcentage has been woeful. Instead of adjusting and getting his teammates involved, he continues to force his shots.

      Tonight, the discrepancy in fouls called will be heavily in favor of the lakers as the nba does everything in its power to ensure that the lakers make the playoffs.

      Harden will be exposed in the playoffs as will McHale unless they come to their senses and adjust.

      Delete
  7. I do expect Lin to have a very good individual game.

    eb5attorney and other resident basketball experts have astutely written than Lin should jack up 15+ shots a game. I completely agree with that analysis.

    Lin is most dangerous as a scorer. When he scores, his entire game opens up. Lin, not Harden, is the best offensive threat on the best offensive team in the NBA.

    Houston will score its 110. Jeremy Lin will get his 15+ points, as he's been doing since the All Star break. We'll see if Houston, specifically Harden, plays enough defense to win this game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And, McHell will continue to let Harden give up "40 points" and lose the game.

      Delete
    2. 40 points is about what Harden gave up at the Phoenix game I saw.

      Delete
    3. Yup. So, Rockets will lose no matter how great Lin plays as long as McHell/Harden continues to sabotage the Rockets from within.

      Delete
    4. Remember that Lakers game where Lin got benched in the 4th for an inferior PG? Yeah, could happen in this game too.

      Delete
  8. My prediction. Harden is going to have a horrible night trying foolishly to lead this team to a win, all by himself, completely left unchecked by McHale. Instead of trying to make a shot, he will continue to try his best to draw fouls that will never come. It will be missed shot and turnovers galore.

    Jeremy will be frozen out in the process with harden wanting the ball. He will attempt less than 10 shots.

    This will likely foreshadow things to come in the playoffs unless McHale grows some balls and keeps harden in check.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. how to send a letter to rox organization/Les to solicit the firing of our "beloved" McHell?

      Delete
    2. Your prediction isn't very BOLD. = P *snicker*

      Delete
    3. Do not expect any result for your complain . Because the organization did not care about about all the losing games which Harden kept on turn over for the last possession and Mchell let him repeated the same mistakes over and over again in so many games , there are lot of things going on behind the curtain and that is something nothing to do with basketball. When you go to the Rocket web site , When the Rockets lost , they posted the pic of Lin ,however ,when the Rockets had won the game , they post the pic of the the other 4 .Anyway , any voice is better than no voice . thanks Zball168.

      Delete
  9. The Lakers will most likely eat us inside then out and get all the calls from the refs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So basically, our bigs will all have foul troubles, and Delfino has to guard Gasol...lol

      Delete
    2. I bet Greg smith will foul out by the end of first quarter. NBA's favoritism will be on fill display tonight.

      Delete
  10. Wish I could watch this epic game... Sucks to be asian and have to study :O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You don't have to study if you're not Asian?

      Delete
    2. lol.

      the game is at night. study in the day, you dork.

      Delete
    3. Etane, where the hell have you been????

      Delete
    4. I've been here just multitasking while watching games, so my fingers couldn't reach the keyboard.

      Delete
    5. I see. Good to see you on here.

      Delete
    6. If you are a true asian, you dont need to study.... U know what i mean?

      Delete
  11. Hoping that Lin plays well and stays healthy/doesn't get injured.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Since fans are upset with McHale rotation, my prediction is that McHale will go "super creative" and install a lineup that is even smaller than the game against the Suns: A Brook (6-0), P Bev (6-1), JLin (6-3), Harden (6-5), & J Anderson (6-6). If that does work, McHale will go Harden against the whole Lakers' team 1 on 5. lol

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rox front court may not be able to contain Lakers' Dwight and Gasol. Gasol will probably abuse Smith in the post, and pick up many fouls along the way too.

    But Meeks can't stop Harden. Now, Lakers cannot throw Kobe on him if Harden starts beasting.
    Blake is really flatfooted, so Lin should no trouble blowing past him but will encounter twin towers as help defenders.

    If World Peace decides to take the game in his hands hehe as he sometimes likes to do, and bricks many 3s, I'll be happy.

    Will be a great game.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Already at the beginning of the season, I noticed how dramatic this final game of the schedule could be. And now it's more huge than I could have ever anticipated.

    Nationally televised game on ESPN -- I expect game-face Lin to show up tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I predict a laker win. Purple nation. For this game i dont care how lin does. Ha...ok i do care. Just hope he doesnt burn blake or meeks too badly. Lakers will play zone i hope. Pau and mwp needs to step up. Harden needs to step down.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Playoffs basically start tonight. This is the biggest game of the regular season for both Rockets and Lakers. Nationally televised on ESPN. Lin is no longer trying to "appease" McHale or Harden. He's going to do whatever it takes to help the Rockets win this game. If that requires Lin to dominate the ball, so be it.

    Let's go Lin and Rockets!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still can't believe McHale in the last game let Parsons lead the 2nd unit for the first 7 minutes of the 4th quarter.

      Delete
    2. I don't get your reasoning. Why is this the biggest game of the season for rockets? Is getting Spurs that much better than playing OKC? What makes u think lin will defy mcHale's edict and play HIS game?

      This is do or die for lakers. Not as important for the Rox.

      Delete
    3. I will rupture a valve if he pulls that nonsense again.

      Delete
    4. Don't remind me 0ccupati0!!! I'm getting pissed again.

      Delete
    5. I agree with @real-dsb because I think the Spurs are more vulnerable than OKC to an upset by the Rox. If the Rox do defeat the Lakers tonight and deny them a spot in the playoffs, the Rockets will have made a statement about their own playoff prowess. I also happen to believe that when McScrooge absolutely, positively must win a game, he goes with Lin because he actually knows how good Jeremy is. The problem, IMO, is that McScrooge would like to win games without Jeremy… if he can.
      The other issue is that to face the Spurs, rather than Denver, GSW must also win their game and the Rox have no control over that.

      Delete
    6. (but actually they won’t deny the Lakers a spot unless the Jazz win their game too.)

      Delete
  17. Hoping Jeremy plays great ( 30pts 12 assists) and gives us and national-tv audience a Linsanity 2.0 performance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then Jim Buss and Lakers management are impressed and persuaded to trade for JLin in off season and they let him play as PG position.

      Delete
    2. I finally realize now that the recurring fantasy of Lin getting traded to Lakers is simply Lakers fans trying to reconcile their like for Lin with with their Laker fandom.

      TKWong solves mt's conflict.

      Delete
    3. "I finally realize now that the recurring fantasy of Lin getting traded to Lakers is simply Lakers fans trying to reconcile their like for Lin with with their Laker fandom."

      LOL!

      Delete
    4. Didnt see that angle coming... But i love it! If lin ends up having a monster game, then he would fit right in with the lakes and the staples center in L.A. We know he loves to play at msg. We ll see about staples center.

      Delete
    5. Am Laker fan but a bigger fan of JLin. Want JLin to be respected, allowed to play the PG position fulltime, and not have to deal with crap and contradiction from Houston coaches and management. Basically want Jeremy set free.

      Will admit though that Jeremy has improved and shown how tough he is while with Rockets.

      Delete
    6. Since NBA refs are "protective" the Lakers, it might be a good idea to have Jeremy traded to LA. Just imagine Jeremy play without any biased officiating, he will easily get more FT, less bogus foul on opponents -- his stats will be much more impressive!

      Delete
  18. Occupatio you hit the nail on the head!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can see an exciting game coming tonight and yes!! On national TV. The only bad side is it will air at 1030pm in east coast.who would have thought that the seeding will be determined by some of tonight's match ups....i am seeing jeremy play one of his best games ever, not for anything but bec this moment is historic for him, tonight will complete his 1st full nba regular season as starting PG ( although we know it didnt happen for the most part )

    ReplyDelete
  20. No Nash tonight~

    LA Lakers @ LA Times ‏@latimeslakers
    Steve Nash close -- but not available for finale against Rockets
    http://lat.ms/11e5nvT
    1:02 PM - 17 Apr 13

    ReplyDelete
  21. Houston Rockets ‏@HoustonRockets 3h
    Jeremy Lin @JLin7 getting his shots up before tonight's game RT @JasonCFriedman: 81 down. One more to go.
    http://pic.twitter.com/F0inVQfqI3
    11:26 AM - 17 Apr 13

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jonathan Feigen ‏@Jonathan_Feigen
    Take as you wish. Harden said Rox not playing to avoid OKC. “We just want to get a good win, get our swagger back going into the playoffs.”
    12:28 PM - 17 Apr 13

    ReplyDelete
  23. To be honest a lot of Lin fans here are pretty biased. McHale is a good coach, that is why my team is in the playoffs. Harden is a GREAT player his age kinda like a young Manu on offense. Lin is a solid player and is accomplishing what he wanted to do all season and his career: to get better EVERYDAY. With that said the rockets are a solid team with some needed work. What I want is playoff experience,not to underestimate the spurs or okc.

    ReplyDelete
  24. To be honest a lot of Lin fans here are pretty biased. McHale is a good coach, that is why my team is in the playoffs. Harden is a GREAT player his age kinda like a young Manu on offense. Lin is a solid player and is accomplishing what he wanted to do all season and his career: to get better EVERYDAY. With that said the rockets are a solid team with some needed work. What I want is playoff experience,not to underestimate the spurs or okc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of us believe that the Rox are in the playoffs despite McScrooge. And if he were a better coach and didn’t misuse Lin, the Rockets would have an even better record.

      Delete
    2. The Rockets are in the playoffs because of the talent of the young players. With a better coach, they would be fighting for a higher seed and not trying to fend off the Lakers, who many thought would have missed the playoffs with their poor play and injuries, to avoid 8th seed. Looking back at the season, there were a few games that they could have won with better player substitutions and on-court decisions by the head coach. They could have comfortably gotten the 6th seed with a few more close wins.

      Delete
    3. There's only one McHell fan in this forum, and even he thinks McHell is "imperfect" with LOTS of room for improvement.

      So, we are not ALL biased again McHell. The evidence speaks for itself that McHell is a failure as a coach.

      Delete
    4. Dude, u come to a site dedicated to Lin and say we are biased? What did u expect ?

      Yes we are biased just like those idiots on clutch who believe that Lin will never be more than an average pg in the nba.

      McHale is a horrible coach and it really takes someone who has not watched this season to say he has developed this team. Yes on paper it looks good. But the team won despite McHale and that's that.

      Despite all he has done to marginalize Lin this season, I actually would have more respect for McHale if he stood up to his franchise player for playing against his philosophy. That is the most damning of McHale's ineptitude and he will be badly exposed in the playoffs.

      Delete
    5. Leo Lim: A lot of us are stronger Rox fans because we want Lin to make a difference. We take Rox losing seriously!.

      On McHale, he's proven to be mixed up in-game, and he doesn't hold all players accountable in the same manner.

      Harden is not a GREAT player - his defense is poor, and he devolves under stress (which all players face at times) into iso and hero ball. Just read CF, you'll see lots of pre2012ers saying the same.

      Opinion is one thing, love from your heart is one thing, but facts m'am. "Just the facts, m'am"... Joe Friday.

      Delete
    6. leo lim

      Hahahah!!! Seriously, you did post this comment??To be honest, if you think that fans here are biased abt our perception of jlin's bball talent, then you are mistaken bec that's not bias, that's a fact.If you think mchale is not biased against lin as a coach, then you honestly are one bias person.And to be honest again, if you feel that fans here are biased, why bother posting here?I'm sure u got more impt things to attend to in life....no offense meant, just being honest

      Delete
    7. As a coach Mchell only make decision by one or 2 possession , he does not have the vision of the flow of the whole game , the worse thing is he can not able to develop a consistent pattern for this young team to getting ready for the next season . He had no idea what is going on .

      Delete
  25. Replies
    1. Got the book. Good read this far from die hard Knicks fans who appreciated what Lin brought to NYC last year

      Delete
  26. Zach Lowe: The Mega NBA Season-Ending Things I Like and Don't Like
    16. James Harden’s Transition Defense

    ReplyDelete
  27. Calling all basketball experts, obviously I want our boy to win tonight, but I am confused about something. What happens if Lakers and Utah win tonight? Who gets 8th? Anyone know?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rox 8th
      Jazz out of playoffs.

      Delete
    2. Rockets get 8th if they lose this game. Lakers get 7th. Lakers get 8th if they lose with Utah losing as well. They are out of the playoffs if Utah wins and they lose against Rockets.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. How can lakers get 8, 7, or 6 if they beat rox? Dont Rox have the tie breaker? Win or lose, shouldnt rox be secured in 7th?

      Delete
    5. Because Lakers has better record on the west than the rockets.

      Delete
    6. Oh ok that makes sense. Thanks!!

      Delete
    7. Rox will have tie breaker against Lakers only if they win tonight and then it wont matter. If Rox lose, its 2-2 and Lakers have the better Division record.

      Delete
    8. Thanks!
      Nerve wracking night!

      Delete
    9. If the Rox win then their record will be better than the Lakers, no tiebreaker needed. Rox will finish 7th (or 6th if GSW loses). If Denver loses and Clippers win, then the 6th seed will play the Clippers who will finish 3rd. If denver wins or Clippers lose, then Denveer is 3rd.

      If Rox loses, then they finish 8th and Lakers 7th. The reason, same record, same head to head record, but Lakers have better conference record.

      If Rox win and Utah also win, then Lakers out and Utah is 8th. If Rox win and Utah loses then Lakers get 8th on tiebreaker.

      Delete
    10. crystal clear, Phil. Thanks!

      Delete
  28. I'm so excited about this game.I hope Lin can play good tonight and win this one.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Some of you are delusional. I mean I wish I will be proven wrong but Lin being able to freely play tonight the best way he knows how?? Come onnnn....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As Bob CF Chan says, one needs to be delusional to approach greatness.

      I call it 'suspend your disbelief' until you can get form around an idea.

      Others call it entrepreneurial, risk taking, or visionary.

      Just suspend your disbelief, Solidz, and you will see it unfold as it will.

      Delete
    2. You may have a point that jlin may not be allowed to play freely tonight his brand of bball, depending on how mchale will treat this game( whether a loss is a loss or a loss is a win).In this context, some fans may be deemed delusional If they expect mchale to let him be on the loose but i would say, they are just being optimistic.However, the fans who expect a great game from lin may see what they want if lin will be stubborn and ignore his coach and end the season with a big punctuation mark! I am one of those who expect lin relive linsanity for the nth time... tonight..... against LA

      Delete
    3. I reject your reality and substitute my own!

      Delete
    4. Reverse jinx or keeping expectations low? :P

      Delete
    5. Expecting the worst but hoping for the best

      Delete
  30. I hope every lin fan( i dont care abt rockets fans) who will watch the game can maintain their optisim for this game and jlin until the buzzer sounds.i truly believe that jeremy wants a win tonight regardless of how it will affect the seeding and match ups.let's hope that jeremy will end this season with a performance that we all can be proud of ( not that we are not proud of him for what he had accomplished by far) and silence those doubters and haters even for one night....

    ReplyDelete
  31. Zach Lowe ‏@ZachLowe_NBA
    Jeff Van Gundy on NBA Countdown just called HOU the "favorites" over San Antonio if they meet in 2-7 series.
    4:58 PM - 17 Apr 13

    JVG: "Houston has improved dramatically on defense and rebounding, yes they're the favorites in that Spurs series"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jvg wants that Houston job when McHale gets fired..

      Delete
  32. evan rosenfeld ‏@evansss
    Jeremy Lin interview for new project #nba #houston #rockets #linsanity #summerleague #lakers…
    http://instagram.com/p/YN5H
    12:09 PM - 17 Apr 13

    ReplyDelete
  33. Utah is losing..if they lose, then lakers will be in the playoffs regardless of tonight's game result vs rockets? Am i right? I want utah to win and make lakers fight for the last spot. I want to see how rockets will respond to the challenge, although there is not much at stake for them. I just want an exciting game...exciting enough to keep my eyes open

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doesn't look that way. Down by 20 with 8 min to go.

      It looks like they will play for the chance to avoid OKC in the first round.

      Delete
    2. Yes. Utah lose & Lakers lose: LAL 8th

      Delete
    3. no utah would be in lakers out

      Delete
    4. It looks like I spoke too soon. Utah battling to stay alive..

      Delete
    5. Is Memphis playing for anything? Or are they stuck at 5th?

      Delete
  34. I feel bad for utah fans...memphies has 20 pt lead over them..how much worse can u perform if u lose by blow out fighting for a spot in the playoffs?If this was houston, i will have 2 broken tv's( good i only got 2)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I want utah to win and lakers to lose and get someone to ask kobe if he knew jeremy lin... and someone tell him, jeremy is the young asian kid who kicked your team out of playoffs....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Solidz

      Am i delusional if i ask for this? LOL

      Delete
    2. Ummmm... Maybe just a little.

      Delete
    3. That sounded positive...the ummmm and the maybe and the little...i'll take your opinion

      Delete
  36. Utah is down by 11. Paul Milsap is very quiet during the biggest game of the year. Scratch him off the list of potential PF targets for the Rockets next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Utah is done like dinner. Lakers to get 8th seed min.

      Delete
  37. Jazz 67
    Grizzlies 81

    2:36 remaining.

    Jazz is done.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Really a listless game for jazz. Reminds me of the last Rox game.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Worst time to score the lowest points of the season..they don't deserve to make it.

    ReplyDelete