Let me get this straight: the Rockets were up 98-93 with 2 minutes left

[No coincidences]

And lost 99-98.

On their home court.

To the Lakers, who play no D and have no closer on their team.

I didn't see any games tonight -- just looking at the box score and wondering how this is even possible. I see Howard was missing free throws left and right down the stretch like the loser he is. Harden bricked two shots that would've sealed it.

Who is coaching this team? An empty chair? If you can't protect that kind of lead on your home court at winning time -- and can't even score against the Lakers of all teams in the last two minutes of the game -- how is anyone supposed to take you seriously as a contender?

[bjb7223]

Hack-A-Howard

[No coincidences]

Hack-A-Howard

Why was Howard even on the court at that point, though? Does McHale think he's just going to start sinking free throws in the clutch suddenly out of nowhere?

[Git Lo]

Houston made a lot of mental mistakes + hack a howard. It was more Houston losing it then Lakers winning it. It's still early in the season but they do need to get it together mentally/defensively.

[oldscho0led]

Jodie Meeks and Steve Blake, that's why

[Barnes & Whine]

Houston is not in any kind of winning form yet. These Lakers are overachieving right now. Too early in the season to bet betting really.

[BetterBizness]

[DOM-Ganador]

Howard is the epitome of " Dog in fight vs. fight in dog"

Will never understand how this guy ends up on top 10 lists , etc.
Having McKale and Hakeem around to show you footwork and post moves
and not dedicating yourself to getting better.WTF????


He seems to be much more interested in bench pressing 400 Lbs.


Just glad he is not on my team. I predict zero championships for the Rockets during Howards tenure.

[Big Bear]

Houston made a lot of mental mistakes + hack a howard. It was more Houston losing it then Lakers winning it. It's still early in the season but they do need to get it together mentally/defensively.

the game was " FIXED"

the NBA where "FIXED" happens.

[Big Bear]

Howard is the epitome of " Dog in fight vs. fight in dog"

Will never understand how this guy ends up on top 10 lists , etc.
Having McKale and Hakeem around to show you footwork and post moves
and not dedicating yourself to getting better.WTF????



He seems to be much more interested in bench pressing 400 Lbs.


Just glad he is not on my team. I predict zero championships for the Rockets during Howards tenure.

i don't think anyone is predicting any championships for the Rockets.

[italianbandit]

Why was Howard even on the court at that point, though? Does McHale think he's just going to start sinking free throws in the clutch suddenly out of nowhere?

I was watching the game and wondered that as well.

[riffraff24]

Why was Howard even on the court at that point, though? Does McHale think he's just going to start sinking free throws in the clutch suddenly out of nowhere?

Same reason he was always left in the game as a Laker last year. When you start sitting him you start fukkin with his mentality. Event though he is shit for brains to begin with.

[TwoWays]

Lots of rocket players brain farts. Same problem Houston had last year as well down stretch of game, iso harden ball. This hero ball is ridiculously inefficient, yet he keeps doing it. Kenton rarely plays iso ball

[face]

up tempo team tried to slow it down and play half court. result- no more buckets
have seen this one hundred times

[miss_sbets]

Howard needs Lebron James on his team to be a contender. Any ideas as to how that may happen?

[TwoWays]

Howard needs Lebron James on his team to be a contender. Any ideas as to how that may happen?

the first and most crucial step is not to allow heat to win third championship.

[chilidog]

Dude, 98-93. That's 2 baskets. In 2 minutes. It's anybody's game.

[No coincidences]

Lots of rocket players brain farts. Same problem Houston had last year as well down stretch of game, iso harden ball. This hero ball is ridiculously inefficient, yet he keeps doing it. Kenton rarely plays iso ball

McHale is brainless as a coach. Pretty obvious.

[No coincidences]

Dude, 98-93. That's 2 baskets. In 2 minutes. It's anybody's game.

I guess it's more the fact that they didn't score a single point against arguably the worst defensive team in the league than blowing a 5-point lead on their home court.

[NBA Maniac]

they did a mistake in the last minute, they passed the ball to the Howard, so Gasol was abble to make a fault on him...Understand ??

Houston coach and players are brainless lol

[Menses]

There are 3 reasons why Houston lost this game. Parsons is a mental midget, James Harden refuses to play defense, and Howard is incompetent from the line...They will win their fair share of games on offense, the Rockets will not win a Ring in this decade...

[No coincidences]

McHale is such a fvcking idiot.

[BigDofBA]

They were up 10 with like 3:38 tonight right?

Then Howard misses two and Lillard hits a three.

[sunshine11]

Laugh all you want. You will get wrinkles.

[No coincidences]

To be honest, if the Rockets lose tonight, McHale should be fired on the spot.

It's not like his "coaching" makes a difference anyway.

[No coincidences]

They were up 10 with like 3:38 tonight right?

Then Howard misses two and Lillard hits a three.

There's just so much fail on this team's bench.

[t-wizzle]

Literally has nothing to do with McHale. Blazers employed the hack-a-howard and it got them back in the game. He missed 4 straight and during that same time Lillard hit a 3 and someone else scored and it was a 2 possession game after being a double digit game.

[No coincidences]

Roster full of losers with a loser coach. It was the perfect storm tonight, capitalized by two horrific Harden shots on their last two possessions.

[Pauulzcappin]

Dwight Howard is one big black vagina. So is Harden.

[No coincidences]

Literally has nothing to do with McHale. Blazers employed the hack-a-howard and it got them back in the game. He missed 4 straight and during that same time Lillard hit a 3 and someone else scored and it was a 2 possession game after being a double digit game.

So you're telling me that McHale was helpless and there was no counter strategy or plays being drawn up in these timeouts? LOL.

[Pauulzcappin]

Portland was +550 live before Lilliard hit a 3 late in the quarter.

Should have hedged my rockets ml ticket. oh well.

[No coincidences]

Portland was +550 live before Lilliard hit a 3 late in the quarter.

Should have hedged my rockets ml ticket. oh well.

Remember this for the future. This team ain't winning any close games at crunch time in the playoffs. No closers and a zero for a coach.

[goduke]

Sharks and Red Sox won. Houston wasn't going to win after that period. Sports are shady as penetrate

[t-wizzle]

So you're telling me that McHale was helpless and there was no counter strategy or plays being drawn up in these timeouts? LOL.

What would your suggestion have been? Portland was running iso's to Aldridge every possession. You either double team or hope to stop him. You double team and he's kicking it out to Batum, Lillard, Matthews for a three.

I'm not a McHale guy but the Hack-a-Howard is a serious flaw in the game right now and you can directly attribute this Portland win to that.

[Luckycharms2012]

The "Hack a Dwight" strategy broke down Houston's lead very quickly. That was pretty much the turning point of the late stages of the game.