A major adjustment will be us finally playing well because we really haven't and we still up 2-0. We rarely play bad 3 games in a row so OKC is in trouble. One other minor adjustment, don't let Harden get switched on Statbrook, otherwise foul trouble.
we won the last 3 quarters and just had a bad 1st quarter. I think we played good after that 1st quarter and it was also a game of mini runs. We kept getting within like 5 and then push it back up to DD and back and forth until we finally broke through.
Pretty much what worked for thunder was that Westbrook pnr Adams would set a very solid screen and it would open up Gibson and others. Watch for McBuckets to get up to 20 mins of playing time. Possibly Kanter and Adams and Gibson play at same time together much like in the gsw series last year. They come out with a very Utah Jazz like slow pace game and work their bigs. Honestly to counter that, Rockets just need to keep shooting and doing what their doing. Anderson will catch fire this game. All we need is someone to step up after harden. Whether it's Lou, Gordon, Beverley or Anderson or Ariza. Harden gets help in offense from one of those guys dropping 20+ or possibly 2 of them and we are in great shape
As I recall, it was game 3 of the Spurs series last year when Adams and Kanter morphed from being doormats to dominant players. I know Ibaka had a big hand in that, and there were other factors, but I was incredibly impressed with Adams.
The thing about Dekker being "healthy" is almost totally dependent on his shooting . He suffered a wrist/hand injury not a lower body or core related ailment . Essentially, his movement is gonna be fine, his strength is gonna be fine , his conditioning SHOULD be fine . If his shot is good to go and he can use his hands on defense ; then he's good to go.
Hard to believe they would go that small. We're better at it than them. Plus, Roberson isn't really a bad matchup for us and Harden would be uncontested at the rim. I think they'll play Gibson a lot more instead of trying Kanter or Sabonis.
Only time Dekker should play is if it's a blowout and the scrubs check in. If Dekker played yday and ate away minutes from Lou and Ego, that would have been a L Thankfully Sam Dekker has not been fit for the playoffs so far. Addition by subtraction.
You better believe WB will start game 3 in full distribution mode. Bzdelik should have the Rockets focus on defending passing lanes (like they did in the past sometimes against Steve Nash on the Suns) just to stop what the Thunder is trying to establish. If WB puts up 10 shots in Q1, Rockets will be in good shape.
It's the most important game of the season, all the hard work needs to be reflected in a win on the road. Crucial we not let them get into the series. Must win imo, OKC is all but done.
Stop jacking up 3's and move the ball fast. Why dribble down the court slow and let the defense set up?
