ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Timberwolves 4/21/2018 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 3)

Meanwhile the Pelicans sitting back sipping on some champagne and the Warriors most likely will sweep the Spurs tomorrow.

 

I will trade Harden myself. We better pray Lebron or Kawhi comes in the summer Harden can't cut it in the playoffs. I used to defend him but there's no excuse this year. He's not tired, he ain't injured, he's had plenty of help. Time to step up and be MVP.

 

And Rockets are struggling in first round.

 

Let's put the pitchfork down until the games are finished.

 

I was hoping we would've swept them but I had a gut feeling we would lose this one. Now, I didn't think we would get blown the bleep out. What kind of defense were we playing in the second half. They have to get out on these teams shooters. Yes the Wolves are not a good three point shooting team. But the likes of Golden State and several other teams are. Plus, here was another example of a team taking full advantage of this switching everything defense. No way in hell Capela, Anderson or Nene can guard Butler, Wiggins and especially Teague.

The biggest concern however , is this lackluster spoiled mentality that this team has. They really think they can play that way because of how quickly they can score. They think they do not have to give it 100% on defense. Thus, all the easy layups they allow and the wide open three's. Someone tell them this is the playoff's.

 

Still don't get it do you, these games say something about how we will compete against gsw. I gave it three games Harden has not shown up for two in a row, you cant do that against GSW, if we get that far. I'm always the first to support harden but Im sorry no excuses this year. Mchale is gone, Dwight is gone he's got help time to play. My expectation is to atleast compete with GSW if not win it all but it doesn't look like we'll even do that. We're not playing any better than the Spurs.

 

Everything is good in the hood if we win comfortably next game, then blowout Game 5.... Vice Versa is acceptable too.

Rockets' current playoff grade is C+..... Championship seems somewhat doubtful.

Hope isn't lost though.

 

This is precisely what the Rox did not bargain for. That their stars make shots, and potentially extending this series to 6.

The Rox have to shoot lights out to close this out quick. The hope that the inconsistent Timber Dogs beat themselves, is starting to wane.

The youth of the Timberwolves and other teams will pose more problems than people here think.

4-1 is still possible but the carnivores have licked blood.

Game 1 was a testament, Harden had 44 and the Wolves were close.

 

They held serve. We will break serve the next game.

 

After 1 loss? damn.

 

We'll be damned.

Nah, the harder the games become, the less they can rest up.

 

Harden hasn't played well for two PLAYOFF games and he's supposed to be MVP. If he's not showing up for Minnesota what's he gonna do against Utah or GSW? You guys are slow to understand certain things. I had to break down why it was a bad idea not to rest the guys and Luc gets injured and everyone's like oh well we'll be fine. It actually hurt us as a team. Last year Harden was injured before the playoffs and he played a lot of minutes so I made excuses for him. Those don't fly this year either play or let us find someone who is willing to step up for the playoffs tired of the Rockets being a laughing stock in the post season.

 

No, I see a team that has had a lot of different lineups that have not played in set rotations since clinching homecourt weeks ago. The players coming in and out of the lineups and the stars essentially playing to avoid injury has taken the edge off of the team. That's on them and the coaching staff, but it has nothing to do with last year, or Harden's playoff past. Obviously, I want him and the rest of the team to pick up the intensity and play like a top seed, but I am not ready to panic.

 

We better or I riot, lol.

 

Sure, but I hardly consider the Wolves being the Top of the West.

Utah (maybe OKC) and the others will be alot tougher. I am not scared of anyone but teams are playing well in the playoffs so far.

You just can't be going into this and say hey, we have won 65 games, those games came in the regular season where you could go from one opponent to the next, and dun have to game plan against one opponent every game.

The playoffs dun work like this, it's a mini tournament. If you peak at the right moment, even the Pelicans have the chance to advance deep.

 

Yeha you'r e making excuses it's ok, I'll give you a pat on the back when he goes 0-30 next game, lol. Seriously though Im going by his last two games not last year or any year before that. Again you can't not show up against GSW. I'm grieving for our championship run not for the first round. Here's to hoping Lebron comes here in the offseason.

 

What's puzzling to me Daywalker02 is we haven't played a solid all around game yet. It's almost as if they are not hungry as a complete squad. I mean you can tell Green is hungry and maybe a few others. Maybe they think the TimberPups will lay down and just hand us this series.

Man I've watched every playoff game and you can tell the Warriors 76er and Pelicans have kicked it into another gear. The Raptors, Pacers, and Celtics look pretty good as well.

 

What worries me more is not how guys like CP3 wants it. It's the idea that the Rox have played their hearts and skills out in the Regular season.

They left it all out in the regular season and now they are playing inconsistent ball. Cannot tell how much gas there is left in the tank.

It happened before. Even in 2015, when we made that comeback against the Clippers, but the team was inconsistent.

People adore MDA but MDA isn't a tough coach that holds his stars/role players accountable.

That said, I think they may close out in 4-1 but have a harder time going forward.

 

I believe that's the case as well. I might not like the bullcrap the Warriors pulled, but man look how fresh they look. Them jokers were probably laughing at us and the media. Oh they can have the regular season record but watch how they crumble in the playoff's. We're going to fake like we're hurt and then turn it on in the playoff's.