He would not be given the opportunity to play like that. A lot of coach would have denied the ball from him, and make the other Trailblazers score points. It is simple like that. What did he do? Jumpers after jumpers. A few offensive rebounds. Plant Howard under the basket (no help defense), use double team to deny LMA the ball. Take him out first. Let's see if others can beat us. Anyone with the rightful mind will do it to see what will happen. If not working, adjust again. 7 games, you adjust in between games and halves. Serve what's not working to LMA again and again, you make him God. That's what our stupid coach did.
I actually think we'll win Game 3 and even perhaps steal Game 4. Playing at home can sometimes be more daunting than playing away, especially for young stars. I felt that Harden was tentative and making uncharacteristically stupid decisions, partly because he felt the pressure of being 'expected to win'. I know i know, i'm almost irrationally optimistic....
If we had experienced coach with good coaching staff I would have said yes, but look at the coaching staff and tell me in straight face that you still believe we will come out of this **** hole.
No I think you're right - I was worried when we were favored - the underdog mentality can be a strong motivator, as it has been for Portland. Now we are the underdogs. I think tomorrow is a likely win, unless LMA beasts yet again. The series, I'm not so optimistic about.
If there is one thing ive learned from watching the rockets in the last 20 years it is dont get your hopes up. Houston teams will always let you down and if there is a problem/weakness it will never stop and continue to be exploited by other teams and magnified in the playoffs. I cant share your optimism. I am expecting 3-0. It would be nice to be 2-1, but i just dont see us winning the next 2.
If Harden shows up, wouldn't surprise me at all to see us win the next 2. If he doesn't, we have no chance.
We've beaten Portland before in the first round <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aZtxQkay0ac" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Those two games, notwithstanding LMA's unworldy performance, we were still in it at the end. We could have won those games if we had not committed dumb but correctable mistakes. So breathe, have fun. It's just basketball. You've done it all your life. Play together, play smarter. And ignore your coach once in a while and have those on-court huddles to talk strategy.
I also still believe, I really think we are the better team. And do think we can win 4 of the next 6 games. However we have to play better and with more passion, and Harden has to be as clutch as he was in the regular season.
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Not to pick on you, but I never understand this argument. It's like saying we could easily be up 2-0 if we had won the first 2 games. That said, I actuallly have a good feeling about tonight. I think (hope) the Rockets will come out angry tonight and win. Then Portland could really feel the pressure in Game 4, knowing that if they lose, they're right back where they started again. Still think we'll lose the series, but I have a good feeling about tonight.
