Clutchfans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 9/4/2020 (Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

Any news onnHouse? We need him

 

The only thing that can beat small ball is even smaller ball. Thunder and their three small guards gave us fits. Lakers don’t have any guard who is capable of driving to the basket and finishing.

 

It was interesting because I think they actually tried to go smaller in the second half when they stopped playing Javale and put Rondo in more. If we can keep forcing them to try to play our style rather than theirs, the Rockets win this series easily. They don't have the personnel to play small.

 

I think the only chance they have is to play our style. McGee and Dwight are absolutely useless versus us. Even if he gets good post position we should just foul him and send him to the line where everyone knows they can’t shoot. Problem is they don’t have enough guards. It’s gonna take 50 from Lebron to beat us.

Good thing if the refs start cheating the Rockets can just implement hack a somebody strategy.

 

Lebron already calling that a “feel out game.”

You can keep feeling out those L’s homie

 

Pre-Game LeBron: “it’s not like I’ve never played against 5 guys that can shoot 3’s. I’ve been playing ball since I was 9, nothing new”

Post-Game Lebron: “it’s like playing the greatest show on turf”

He actually said that...

 

Those 3 or 4 imaginary fouls called on our guys in the 4th quarter didn't help the Lakers much. I'm glad we were dominating them at that point the calls didn't make a difference.

I can't wait for game 2. It's gonna be good!!
I hope we shut them down again, even harder.

 

Who would have guessed the small ball Rockets would have had the same amount of rebounds as the giants in purple?

PJ and Westbrook were hustling for those balls!

 

LeBron wanted the bubble games and helped organize it or so I thought. "Turf" is his downplaying excuse?

 

Wow. With all the Lakers hype I was nervous but not scared. I knew we had solid advantages against a big team, but we have to have good games from WB and our shooters, they delivered. What gives me confidence now is our defense. Lakers don’t have the guards that are needed to beat our guys inside. Posting up on us is not going to work and AD will wear out. I like our chances. This was a great win!!!

 

Good news is Westbrook is back to aggressive mode. Just luv it.

 

the slight hesitation to throw off leborn's timing to get the dunk off. elite footwork.

 

We won game 1 in San Antonio in 2017 too before collapsing. It's great to be excited after one game but this thing is far from over. Let's save the arrogant trash talking to after the job is finished.

 

I really hated mark jones on that commentary. No praise for Harden. I think he said, 'he had to punch that in, heard the footsteps of lebron'

 

Those are interpreted as 'praising' words. You are really reaching and need to think about that anger that is being channelled from elsewhere.

 

LOL. Go back and listen to the full play.

 

He’s talking about the 1999-2002 St Louis Rams, “The Greatest Show on Turf.”

He was saying playing against the Rockets’ speed was like trying to keep up with Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk, and Az Hakim as wide receivers

 

We got the shots we wanted all game. They couldn't keep us out of the lane. If we hit our threes at a decent clip it would've been ridiculous.

We also gave them the shots we wanted. I'll take AD fadeaways and Rondo threes all game long. I'm sure they'll adjust, but AD likes those types of shots which bodes well for us.

 

Prior to this play, I think LeBron had about 2-3 chasedown blocks on other Rockets, already. While it wasn't praising Harden, it also wasn't like Mark Jones said Harden got lucky or anything else to suggest putting down Harden.

Even Bijani, the tweet's author - and Rockets reporter - captioned his tweet "James Harden escapes LeBron James" and not "Harden jams one down on LeBron."

 

Shut the hell up .. mark jones or whatever his name was riding the lakers nuts all night