ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Spurs 5/1/2017 (Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

amen

 

Very predictable so far.. opening at SA -4 1/2 ....with the Spurs being bet out to - 5 1/2 as of now.

 

I'd stay away from the point spread game one. I do believe totals will exceed 215. For a buck and a nickel I'd buy two points @ 213 for a sip of juice. I think the Rox cover at 5.5 btw.

 

The wait between the two series is dreadful.

I do like that they are getting rested. Although we've all seen them shiiiit the bed after rest in the regular season

 

That is one area he has improved his game. The 3-point shot. Although I'd much rather he stay out there than be posting up or attacking the basket.

 

My biggest worry:



Aldridge has a knack for torching the Rockets in the playoffs. I'm not convinced Anderson or Capela can guard him on those elbow midrange jumpers.

 

MDA vs Pop....all too familiar. Hope we pull out.

Anyone else brave enough to make an acct on the spurs forum? I'm scared that **** will steal my info

 

Kawhi Leonard

 

For some irrational reason, I feel good about this series. I think the Rockets can and will win it, but it may go seven. The key will be the good guy's 'three-point attack. If they are falling, Rockets win. KL is the best two way player in the league. Who is going to contain him? Aldredge worries me too. You know they are sweating the air raid. Harden can "go off," but so can several other Rockets. I can't see the Spurs running over the Rockets. They will try to mud wrestle us. Might work, might not. They won't be able to intimidate Nene inside. Would be sweet to steal at least one game in SA.

 

Play quicker

 

Basically the continuation of Duncan the Emotionless Android.

 

its only 2s they dont hurt us

 

We can't play from behind like we did against OKC. They'll blow us tf out.

 

pls basketball gods give us godly shooting against spurs!!

 

imagine russel westbrook play for antoniO...my god!

 

Harden has averaged 30 points 12 assists 9 boards on 47% shooting against the Spurs this season. I think he will get his no matter if Kawhi or Green are on him. The key here is obviously our role players like Lou , Gordon , Anderson and Ariza cant be having off nights at all this series. I think it will come down to Anderson if he can start hitting his threes we have a genuine bonafide chance of a win in game one or 2 to steal HCA.


Another key is that Nene and Capela should dominate the Spurs interior defense which has been pretty bad this season. The Harden pick and Rolls with those two should be a regular thing in this series due to the Spurs struggles guarding bigs. Their strength is their wing defense and three point defense which has great all season. Green and obviously Kawhi(by far the best defender in the league) are instrumental in that.

 

Maybe he'll end up torching us, but LMA isn't as good as he was back then and he doesn't get nearly as many touches and shot attempts on the Spurs as he did on the Blazers. Back then he was averaging over 20 shots a game both in the regular season and in the playoffs. With the Spurs he has yet to average over 15 shot attempts during the regular season, and he only averaged 12.5 shots in the 1st round of these playoffs. Maybe he'll turn back the clock and kill us, but Kawhi worries me a lot more than he does offensively. His efficiency is ridiculous now.

 

My biggest fear is how hard our team will have to work on defense and how that will affect their quick tempo offense. We all know that the Spurs will move the ball, set screens, and just keep poking and prodding at the defense until they get good looks at a basket. That requires a lot mentally and physically for a defense to stay with that, make the right switches, move and rotate off the ball when players make switches etc.

The good news is that the Rockets up tempo offense can force their guys to spend a lot of effort as well. The Rockets have played them close during the season. Hopefully the team is rested rather than rusty, and will be able to come out and take it to them. Very excited about this series.

 

Spoiler

Can't wait, too many days since last Rockets game, need my fix...