ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 1/15/2015

You are right that the West is crazy as in crazy good this year. HCA is what can make the difference in the playoffs. Limiting the off nights is the key.

 

Folks it's a looooong Basketball season. Take a look at other Top Teams losses and you'll see they've lost trap games as well like the Rox did against Orlando. Just the night before Orlando beat the Bulls so go figure. S#$# happens. I'm more impressed with last nights win against the Majic. They had no answer for Josh Smith as he roamed the lanes.

Can't wait for T Jones get back on the floor. We'll darn near have a bench loaded with players that could potentially be starters for other teams.

 

Take away those 4 bank shot 3s or if the Rockets shot anywhere near their average from long range the game could go either way. Can they realistically shoot like this at least 4 times in 7 game playoffs series? That is a tough odds for me to money on.

 

Where's the gif of harden's crossover and J over Durant?

 

Most games the Rockets will not score 40 in the first quarter or build an early 26-point lead against a team as good as OKC. But that doesn't mean they can't beat quality opponents on a consistent basis if they show up and at least play hard and smart. Also, they won't always be playing their 3rd game in 4 night against a team that's had 6 days of rest. That might be the most impressive aspect of last night's win.

 

Good point, thats what the TNT squad brought up. They asked can you win a championship by scoring that many points off 3's. Shaq and chuck of course said no. everyone else said yeah you can, its never been done before with a team like the rockets, but of course its possible.

Which i agree with. BUT between now and the playoffs we're going to have to develop some type of system of inside/midrange scoring as a backup plan. Because when we aren't making our 3's, we literally fall apart and collapse. It's happened multiple times this season. If we don't develop some type of backup plan for when our 3's aren't falling, we're going to be a first round exit again. this is KEY to our success. Because being realistic we are not going to shoot 40% from 3 every game in a 7 game series.

 

The TNT dolts are so dismissive of Hardin and the Rockets. I just hope the Rockets can make them look like the fools they are with some impressive post-season play.

It seems to me they are unaware of the changing of the guard (pardon the pun) and are still swinging off of Kobe's\Lebron's\Durant's balls. Even ESPN has the Cavs\Lakers game on the front page. It's so f**king lame and predictable.

And the Dwight bashing during the game was completely uncalled for. If I didn't know better, I'd say it's a collective baiting effort to get him to "prove" he's not "soft". I'd personally love to see him deck someone like Kobe who physically would be no match for Dwight, but it would come at too great a cost.

A fantastic game by Hardin and company. As a life-long Hakeem super-fan, I haven't felt this excited about this team since the McGrady\Yao heyday. This is going to an awesome season to sit back and watch these guys play.

 

And they did. Ariza picking Durant's pocket and taking it in for the slam was a thing of beauty.

 

View from my seat last night. I believe McHale said "Fellas, we're going to give it to James and see what happens."

 

Buckner, Jones, and Finch (I think) look like they are about to jump you

 

Our crowd last night..

Like what the heck gives? Went to the game last night. Nobody didnt want to put on the clutch city t-shirts. It got so bad that I actually got 3 extra shirts because 1. the seat next to me was empty and 2. nobody didnt want one. Did the same crap game 1 of the playoffs last season. Our fans are crap.

 

Not much left to say, James Harden was not born on Earth but Planet basketball.

 

Then stop gambling.

 

Thank You, every time I look in the forum, I always see quotes about playing hard; but not too often (at least not from what I read), I see quotes about playing smart. Last night, I didn't see Perkins mind games get the better of Howard. And Ariza was not intimidated at all about Durant. Great game all around.

 

In all fairness, season ticket holders like myself have tons of these shirts already. They gave them out nearly every playoff game last year. I have like 6 of them in my house right now!

 

If Rockets cut down on the turnovers they win in the playoffs it's as simple as that.

 

Smith also played smart. Driving it inside and playing the 2-man game with Harden. Plus, the team was careful with the ball. And they looked to push the tempo despite playing their 3rd game in 4 nights. Harden didn't waste 6 or 7 seconds to get the ball across the halfcourt line like he normally does. His pass to Ariza for the corner 3 late in the 4th is a perfect example. Most nights, the Rockets would try to just milk clock and hang onto a lead. But OKC gave them a wide open look and the Rockets took advantage of it.

 

Ariza bothered Durant most of the night.

Yeah Durant had an efficient night, but those seemed to be off of Josh Smith.

 

If you are going to take away some of our three's, don't forget to take away a couple from OKC, who also shot well over their season average.

 

We just blew out OKC who had 6 days to prepare for the Rockets on a B2B and people are complaining.

They sound like miserable people.