ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 4/25/2014 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 3)

I have this fantasy that Harden shows up to Game 3, clean shaven, beard gone, and then New Harden absolutely beasts on both sides of the floor, the transformation in his play symbolically mirroring his physical transformation. And we'll talk about that day forever as the day James Harden stopped being The Beard and started being the beating heart of the Houston Rockets.

Obviously the beard's staying, but does anyone else feel like "Fear the Beard" is more of a punchline than anything else these days?

 

I love it.

 

Thank You!... Was hoping it didn't get buried in this long thread ....

 

WIN!!

 

A loss =series over

 

James Harden= fear the BEER

 

Push has come to shove it's time to see what this team is made of. See if we fold under the pressure or rise to the challenge. The way these last two games have played out should have light a fire under these guys make them hungry to show the people who doubt our stars and our team. If we can get the ball moving around, get Harden involved with some pick and rolls to get easy baskets to get him out of his funk we can run away with a game three and try to ride the momentum. The past few games we have played as though we are doing our best to beat a superior team that has our number; we need to take that power back and show Aldridge he cant do what he is doing to us for the rest of the series. Team defense will be the key if we can make him uncomfortable in the post and get a few steals our offense will come easier with our team in transition.

 

we've certainly dug ourselves a hole!

 

Just win, baby

 

inspiration time:

 

I hope the spirit oh Larry bird has left LMA's body

 

Game 3 we will win this for sure!

 

Larry Bird might be Aldridge's biological father, who knows. They do have similar facial planes.

 

Rockets relax without the pressure of playing at home get to them. Proceed to rip out the hearts of Portlandia with a single digit win.

Or

Portland proceeds to crush us from the get go, with LMA dropping 50.

 

The Rockets must play with a real chip for 48 minutes...let it all on the line. Dont hold anything back. If it takes a tech to fire you up do it...Get going emotionally and check into the series. Some players play better when mad. Dwight showed us what he can last night. But that means Harden and Parsons can as well. I do expect the Rockets to put up a nice fight, but if there is no answer for LMA, we have to expect that the series is over in 4.

Still gonna watch and root for my boys - GO ROCKETS...

 

Wow, this looks pretty convincing. Your work?

 

Hate to be a downer guys but...
people keep talking about Harden not showing up and Parsons disappearing etc- no one has given Portland's D credit for those things. Unfortunately, I think they've stepped their D up and we haven't stepped our O up - they are not letting Harden get his - hope some shots just start falling for these guys one way or another.

 

Come Monday, Portland's nickname of Rip City will be redefined due to the Rockets ripping their hearts out.

Lets go Rockets.

 

Goes without saying, tomorrow night is a must win. I still feel like, at our best, we are the better team.

It seems like our immaturity causes us to not play at our best until we absolutely have to. Which will ultimately be the reason we probably will not get out off the 1st round. However, I do think we will win tomorrow and make a series out of it.

 

win this and we have a shot!