That was a weird game. The Rockets looked like the superior team for most of the game, yet had some crazy sequences to get reeled back in. Aldridge 3 in the corner(ridiculous shot) And the Lillard tip ok over Howard was also plain luck. The Rockets are a much better team.
PB is not that important in this series. Lillard and LMA can't get more than 70 anymore. Their team is not deep enough. Once Rockets' starters play better, this series end very soon. The next series against Spurs should be the one to be worried. They are deep and their second units will be killing this team if PB is not available.
I would like to say that our two super stars Harden and Howard are the key components to winning this series. This shouldn't come down to Beverly. Beverly does not start of many teams in the league. I'm not under rating his defense and what everyone is saying may very well be true, that without Beverly we are screwed, but I think that than speaks more to Harden/Howard not showing up in the playoffs for us.
That 3 LMA heaved and subsequently hit after Howard played 20+ seconds of great D was THE shot. Ridiculous.
It is a series. Seven games. Whoever wins more, deserves to advance. Simple. If the Rockets don't win the series, it is on them. I cheer them, I support them, I enjoy watching them play, I am obviously a Rocket's nut, I am on ClutchFans ( how much more radical can you get?), BUT I don't play, I don't defend, shoot, or rebound. They "play" the games. They will win or lose. I will be elated or disappointed. But there are bigger fish fry.
We played like total garbage. Our Stars were non existent in Clutch moments and theirs had herculean efforts...Harden let Wes Mathews punk him in the post on both sides...Howard forgot to sing his song while shooting his FTs. Mchale continues to coach terrible situational basketball, and hopes an iso Harden/Lin will create for him. The Rockets must exploit the terrible defense Lillard plays and just continue to abuse him. The Rockets must also find a way to get Howard going early, and let Harden do his thing down the stretch. That has to be the key to win. Howard must look to putting Robin Lopez in the rim and Harden must look to abuse his match ups. Everyone else showed up to play, but this team only goes as far as our stars carry us. Finally a simple message to the refs: Let the players decide the game, and stop getting so involved in officiating. The Rockets and Blazers were victims of terrible calls, and these are the playoffs. Bogus fouls and techs just ruin the game, and ruin momentum.
I thought that also really threw off the rhythm of our players, in addition to not getting any points at the line from D12
guys, remember last season's playoffs vs OKC game 1? We played scared. Much more awful than this game. But we bounced back. We fought. Of course, we did that with Bev leading the way. Who will be that Bev for us this season? Players have to dig deep. Who will emerge as the team leader?
I am thinking about the same here. LMA and Lillard both played out of their minds, and Harden did not even show up.
Right now, you just have to win Wed. Period. Don't win Wed and it's basically over. So forget about the series. We don't need PB to win the next game. And I don't think Harden will shot worse than he did, and Lilliard/LMA can't play any better either. We can win Wednesday and put the pressure back on Portland.
