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A realistic view of what this loss means for the series

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Will, May 5, 2015.

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  1. Will

    Will Clutch Crew
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    Please, restrain your urge to declare the series over, call for trades, or renounce the team. I'm seeing way too many of those comments. That's just emotion talking.

    Let's set all that aside and consider the real downstream effects of this loss and how it happened.

    1) The Clips will now almost certainly sit Chris Paul for Game 2. They already have their split in hand. They can lose the game and come back to L.A. with home court advantage and a substantially healed PG. It's even conceivable -- and this is really humiliating -- that they could rest him in Game 3. They now know they can beat us without him, even at our place. At their place, a win is that much more likely -- and even if they were to lose Game 3, they'll know that they can punish us in Game 4 and take Game 5 or Game 7, since they've now won their last 3 road games, including 2 at the Spurs.

    The key to the whole series is CP3's hamstring. If he gets time to heal it, look out.

    2) Mentally, we just gave them a confidence boost for the remainder of the series. They have taken our measure and found us wanting. Those 3s they buried at the end? That's a team that has lost whatever anxiety it came in with. For the rest of the series, they will never believe they're out of a game. That's just about the worst possible gift to hand your opponent in the opener.

    3) Nobody on our team stepped up. The Clips took away Harden, and we were unable to find anyone else on our squad who could punish them. They'll come back with the same game plan next time. And it's not just that we failed to step up as players. The greater failing is that none of our guys stepped forward as a leader. We were exposed as a team without a guy who gets in the face of his teammates, focuses them, and rallies them. Howard is not that guy. Harden is not that guy. Smith, Brewer, Prigioni ... Nobody on our team is that guy. A team without that guy does not make it through four NBA playoff series. And that moral surrender in the last 2 minutes exposed a lack of heart that no self-respecting contender would permit.

    One loss does not end a series. But this was not just a loss. It exposed deep flaws in our team, it gave the Clippers a lasting psychological advantage, and, worst of all, it gave them a chance to rest their best player for a full 6 days and bring him back, significantly healed, with home-court advantage in hand.
     
    #1 Will, May 5, 2015
    9 people like this.
  2. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Agreed. Advantage LA now. We have to take 1 game in LA or both
     
    #2 daywalker02, May 5, 2015
  3. bingsha10

    bingsha10 Member

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    The rockets were exposed as the sloppy undisciplined team they have been all year. They aren't going to out-talent the Clippers.
     
    #3 bingsha10, May 5, 2015
  4. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
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    great thread, who started it??

    oh , one of the originals!!! :)
     
    #4 tinman, May 5, 2015
  5. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Contributing Member

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    They didn't take Harden away. He left his effort at the door when he didn't win MVP. Ruined his focus. Filled him with quit, not fire.
     
    #5 ROXTXIA, May 5, 2015
    1 person likes this.
  6. J Sizzle

    J Sizzle Member

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    Rockets are finished if they don't win 2 of the next 3, and I would say Game 2 is more of a must-win, because they'll be demoralized going to LA down 0-2.

    Certainly doable, but hard not to be depressed after such a missed opportunity.
     
    #6 J Sizzle, May 5, 2015
  7. Kwame

    Kwame Contributing Member

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    Rockets were sloppy in the first round too, but Dallas was dealing with multiple injuries and locker room turmoil and a bad defense, which all proved to be too much to overcome. You can't keep playing without discipline and expect to win at this level, especially in the postseason. They might have just lost the series by losing tonight. Absolutely pathetic.
     
    #7 Kwame, May 5, 2015
  8. dachuda86

    dachuda86 Member

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    Champions don't take failure lightly. So we will see if they deserve to pass the second round.
     
    #8 dachuda86, May 5, 2015
  9. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
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    They are completely battle tested, that series with the Spurs was a war. People battling for rebounds and loose balls.
    The Rockets faced a Dallas team with no defense.

    We need to make better adjustments for game 2. It's coaching. our system doesn't work if we aren't hitting 3 pointers.

    Their system is not reliant on 3 point shooting.
     
    #9 tinman, May 5, 2015
  10. Sweet Lou 4 2

    Sweet Lou 4 2 Contributing Member
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    We didn't fight for this in the end. The Clippers had a better game plan and exposed our weak offensive sets.

    We better execute a lot crisper going forward or this will be a short series.
     
    #10 Sweet Lou 4 2, May 5, 2015
  11. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
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    They don't even have another player listed as Point Guard on the Clippers except for Paul. It's a bunch of shooting guards.

    This was horrible.
     
    #11 tinman, May 5, 2015
  12. Shaq2Yao

    Shaq2Yao Member

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    The series is not over. But we just gift wrapped home court advantage to the Clippers and gave them more time to let CP3 rest and heal.

    The series still pretty much depends on whether Harden show up. If he shows up, he is still the best player in the series.

    I couldn't believe my eyes when he keeps doing the behind-the-back bounce passes. WTF???
     
    #12 Shaq2Yao, May 5, 2015
  13. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Thought we had top notch asssistant coaches? Well they have more household names on their bench.
     
    #13 daywalker02, May 5, 2015
  14. BigMaloe

    BigMaloe Contributing Member

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    We played an incredibly sloppy game. But what shouldn't be understated is how we have responded as a team all season long. As upset and embarrassed we are as fans I'm sure the team is taking it worse.

    I have no doubts we respond greatly to this. Sometimes getting punched in the mouth at the beginning of a fight is a good reminder that you need to focus on the fight.

    I anticipated a spurs/clippers type series were we split the first 4 games on both home courts. I believe it comes down to the final 2-3 games.
     
    #14 BigMaloe, May 5, 2015
  15. Dhoward12

    Dhoward12 Member

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    Let's be honest if the score is close in the 4th, do you expect this team to outplayThe clippers down the stretch.

    This team can't make a simple pass
     
    #15 Dhoward12, May 5, 2015
  16. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Houston only fan
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    the r****ded pickup style play just got exposed in the worst way possible. Austin freaking Rivers just went off on us. Let that sink in.

    You're absolutely right btw, the clippers will have a mountain of confidence for the rest of the series.
     
    #16 LosPollosHermanos, May 5, 2015
  17. el_locoteee

    el_locoteee Member

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    Clippers lost home court twice against the Spurs.
     
    #17 el_locoteee, May 5, 2015
  18. J Sizzle

    J Sizzle Member

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    You know...if this was a few months ago, I actually think the answer would be yes. The Rockets used to have a decent to solid offense, but a terrific defense, and because of that, they were very good in close games.

    For some reason, the Rockets stopped caring defensively. They're still okay at it, and not the nightmare that was last year, but the Rockets were a great team this year because of their defense. It kept them in close to every game, even if the offense was struggling.

    I wish they'd remember that's what got them here.
     
    #18 J Sizzle, May 5, 2015
  19. 08kx250f

    08kx250f Member

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    At this point in time the series is far from over.
     
    #19 08kx250f, May 5, 2015
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  20. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
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    Chris Paul, if you saw the last series, has been draining mid ranges and is more offensive minded.

    Then you see Sam Cassell as their assistant, not a coincidence.

    You know our system, 3 pointers and Harden driving to the hoop.

    If you take away 1, Harden's driving, the other has to work.

    Their inside game was strong with Blake.

    More balance , less 3s, more inside out. that's what we need.
     
    #20 tinman, May 5, 2015
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