ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 4/27/2013 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 3)

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Can't blame Asik. His weakness is not so good hands and his offense is not there against good D team like OKC. In truth, Asik is a great back-up center for lots teams. I am not sure Asik is a starting center for a team with a goal of making a deep run.

 

If he sits and Rockets lose, people still blame him.

 

Without Lin, all the pressure go to Harden to make play every single time. Other players also depend on Lin for wide open shots too. Regardless, we should have won this game if it wasn't for Harden choking FT and turning over the ball. I mean UNDER CRUCIAL MOMENT when every possession is VERY IMPORTANT and you start throwing away the ball? LOL...that was sickening to see.

 

forget that, you can hit 100% of those, but those bonehead turnovers late are inexcusable.

 

um, the holes in his game LOST us the game. People still like him, and he will be a great leader... but why cant some of you just realize he played badly down the stretch and ALLOW people to be disappointed? He deserves criticism, and will LEARN from it. That doesn't mean people have to be super-positive about everything with rainbows and ponies and sht.

 

At least we fought back and not give up and get blown out

 

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He almost always is. If I was their GM, Ibaka is the 2nd most important player on OKC.

 

It's the job of the team's supposed superstar to finish the game. I couldn't give a rat's behind if the dude played great for 3 1/2 quarters if in the last few minutes all we get are turnovers and a bunch of ISO dribbling. He did way more things wrong than right in that 4th quarter, particularly in the last couple minutes when literally every possession mattered.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>McHale says he was trying to get officials' attention to call timeout after KD 3. When turnover ensued, did NOT want team to foul.</p>&mdash; Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/328369787820462080">April 28, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

Look..this guy AuburnRockets isnt talking about his O, hes talking about his D so dont know what you are talking about lol

 

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Agreed. Harden does have lots of playoff experience. He should be the calming influence.

 

because the team I love just choked 2 games away from the top team in the league. I know they're supposed to lose... its just so heart-breaking. Its one thing to be down 1-0....2-1...3-0 is just depressing, especially with a total of 6pts difference in the last 2.

 

Arent you the guy who calls peope lin only haters for the samethings?.

 

I think this experiment by McHale is not working w/ Delfino playing PF....it's just not going to work man....you're giving the other team 2nd chance shot because they're outrebounding those short guys. I believe that's why Ibaka got one of those rebound and put back...it's pretty pathetic to see that Thunder missing shots and still getting a 2nd chance shot.

 

I expected this team to have shown some progress from the beginning of the season, but still the same bonehead mistakes from staff and players.

Forget youth, I don't know how a training camp and one more birthday is supposed to automatically get these guys to play more as a team, that should have already been accomplished by the end of the rgular season. We're losing because this team, after a full season still doesn't mesh with their star player.

Whatever it is, personnel, coaching staff, there's gotta be some changes this summer.

 

Yeah, there is plenty of blame to go around for sure. Asik rolling to the hoop ain't happening...even shooting against thin air. You first have to CATCH the ball which Omer "Hands of Stone" Asik ain't doing. We are literally 4 on 5 on offense when he is in. First he isn't hustling down the court...he's anywhere from 7-9 seconds just moving into the offense and it's not like he's killing it on the defensive end giving up rebounds like a kid giving up his lunch money. I just don't care for what he brings. Smith is a better offensive threat by far.

 

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Yes, the original poster is wrong; Asik played good D. He almost always does. I knew what the original poster was saying, and I would like to say I definitely disagree with him.

 

I saw him calling for it multiple times and I even thought Crawford looked at him. But then again it's Joey Crawford, when is he ever going to do something in our favor.

 

nah.... taking it to OKC twice, the possibility of a few plays being a 2-1 HOU lead? I think that'd be more attractive than LA right now actually.

 

So the team basically did nothing right after that 3-pointer? Terrific. And yes, that foul on Fisher was beyond stupid. There was a 5 second differential in the shotclock and gameclock. You have 2 choices there. Foul immediately so at least you have 20-25 seconds left down no more than 3. Or play defense and try to secure the rebound so you only need a 2-pointer to win, albeit with potentially only 3-4 seconds left.

Instead we get a foul on Fisher after letting the Thunder burn off 16 seconds and still end up down 3.