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ClutchFans Game Thread: Mavericks @ Rockets 4/18/2015 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Clutch, Apr 16, 2015.

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benchmoochie Contributing Member

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tnluong84 said: ↑

I can't wait to finally come to Houston this weekend and watch the game live among the tens and thousands of Rockets fans! By the way, I'm looking to buy a Harden jersey at a store nearby. I've called everywhere but none of the stores carry Rockets jerseys...I live in San Diego. Does anyone know what stores carry NBA jerseys so I buy one for tomorrow's game?
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Rockets fanatics online shop

#201 benchmoochie, Apr 17, 2015

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Mchale just wants to rest Dwight. It's only Dallas so no big deal

#202 Sydeffect, Apr 17, 2015
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red5rocket said: ↑

I like how Harden and Josh basically are letting their play do the talking while Cuban is talking
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The team let Parsons do the talking for the team last season with his whole "I'm the best SF in this series" thing.

I think this team is going in as underdogs. Everyone expects them to be early outs or not make it very far (past the 2nd Round, if we make it past the 1st).

This team knows it can be competing in the Finals, they are letting their play do the talking now.

#203 RocketsJumer, Apr 17, 2015
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I think the weather outside right now is indicative of a soon to come clash between these teams comparative to a fight between Zeus and Poseidon

#204 Tdugs710, Apr 17, 2015

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Hakeemtheking said: ↑

Clint will be the truly X-Factor!!!
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If near-future Clint can become what Brandon Wright was to the Mavericks then I like our chances and our future

#205 RocketsJumer, Apr 17, 2015
vstexas09 Contributing Member

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I really think Jason Terry is our X factor. He talks a big game and has kept this team's mentality on check. I think apart from his leadership qualities, he can still knock down some daggers. How sweet it would be.

#206 vstexas09, Apr 17, 2015
got em COACH Contributing Member

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#207 got em COACH, Apr 17, 2015

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I am so glad they have ESPN offshore. Can't wait to see the Rockets let their games do the talking. I'm pulling for a sweep in this series.

Let's go Rockets!

#208 Htownballer38, Apr 17, 2015
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Everyone has their own x-factor

for me its T-Jones

#209 Pull_Up_3, Apr 17, 2015
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It's important for tjones and josh smiths to exploit dirk's lack of defense. Dirk has ZERO lateral quickness.

Let either of them clear out and go ISO on dirk.

#210 mario_v, Apr 17, 2015
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Pull_Up_3 said: ↑

Everyone has their own x-factor

for me its T-Jones
Click to expand...

It's just different every game

Brewer, smith, jones can all have random 20 points nights

#211 Rockets025, Apr 17, 2015
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Rockets025 said: ↑

It's just different every game

Brewer, smith, jones can all have random 20 points nights
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I agree but Jones will be starting and defending Dirk.

If he could play solid D and get some offensive rebounds that would help the Rockets tremendously.

Also his defense is the most IMPORTANT thing, he gets lost a lot on defense and sometimes recovers with blocks due to his athleticism. That however doesnt make him a good defender. I'll be watching him closely

#212 Pull_Up_3, Apr 17, 2015
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After Blazer glory, Rockets eye new story

HOUSTON -- Dwight Howard was asked what was learned from last year’s playoff-series loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Houston Rockets center answered swiftly.

“Anything can happen in .9 seconds,” he said.

Portland’s Damian Lillard hit a game-winning basket with, yeah, nine-tenths of a second to play, giving the Blazers a series-clinching 98-96 victory over the Rockets.

“It’s already out of our heads, that was last year,” Howard said. “We’re a much better team and we learned our lesson, and I think everybody is on the same page this season. So we’re looking forward to this playoff push this season.”

The playoff push starts Saturday for the Rockets, who face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. The pressure increases for a franchise that has advanced past the first round just once since 1997.

Despite finishing with the third-most victories in franchise history, another first-round exit will be deemed unacceptable -- especially considering how general manager Daryl Morey said the Rockets should compete for a title.

The pressure to win is mounting.

Right?

“Probably no more pressure than Dallas’ is to move on,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. “Honestly, pressure is what you put on yourself. I don’t think like that. We got a game to play on Saturday night. Win, lose or draw, we’re playing.”

James Harden comes into the playoffs trying to redeem himself after last year’s disastrous efforts. He shot a career-playoff-worst 37.6 percent from the floor while averaging 26.8 points per game. In the first three games, Harden shot 26.5 percent from the floor which included a 13-for-35 shooting effort in a Game 3 win.

Harden has moved on from that series and merged into a MVP candidate after finishing second in the league in scoring (27.4). He led the league in minutes played (2,981), free throws attempted (824), free throws made (715), total points (2,217), Hollinger Estimated Wins Added (24.1), 30-point games (35) and 40-point games (10).

In his three seasons with the Rockets, Harden has been eliminated in the first round, but the team's seeding has increased every season from an 8-seed in 2013 to a 4-seed last year to the current No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.

If the Rockets are to move forward in the West, they need Harden to produce a far better effort than last season.

“I think the first two years that I’ve been here has definitely been a learning experience for me,” he said. “I think that first year just making the playoffs as an 8-seed, getting that experience with basically a young team, and that was an experience for myself and the team. And last year losing the first two games at home, you can't do that, especially against a really good team. Those two years really helped me out coming into this third year, and I see the game of basketball in a different perspective.”

Terrence Jones, Harden and Howard are the lone currently healthy team members who return to participate in the playoffs after the series loss to Portland. McHale, while acknowledging what happened last season, would rather focus on the now, which is the same method he followed during the regular season that led his team to a No. 2 seed and a Southwest Division title.

“Of course I think everybody thought about what happened,” he said. “It was a very disappointing end, but we don’t have many guys that played in that series anymore. So you might as well ask what happened in the 1978 Finals. Seattle played well.”

Jokes aside, the Rockets need to win this series in the worst way or the summer will just be like a brutal winter.

“No, you can’t play that game anymore and you can’t play that series anymore,” McHale said. “You can’t do anything with that stuff; it’s about tomorrow. The looking-back stuff -- driving in the rearview mirror, you run into a lot of stuff in front of you. I don’t look to that stuff too much.”
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Playoffs: Scouting Rockets-Mavs

Insider offers a breakdown of every playoff series using an expert combination of scouting from Amin Elhassan and advanced metrics from Bradford Doolittle to answer three crucial questions. Also included are predictions from the writers, and ESPN's NBA Basketball Power Index projection for the series. Below is a series preview for the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.

After the last few offseasons these two Texas teams have had, it's only right that they'd finally duke it out in the context of a best-of-7 series. It started when the Mavs' intended free agent target, Dwight Howard, spurned them in favor of the up-and-coming Rockets. Dallas shortly thereafter hired Rockets exec Gersson Rosas as their GM, only to part ways with him a few short months afterward (he ended up returning to Houston). Then, last summer, the Mavs stole restricted free agent Chandler Parsons from Houston by crafting a cleverly structured deal that made matching unpalatable. Along the way, the organizations have exchanged words on various levels, from players to coaches to even owner Mark Cuban (shocker, right?). It's all good-natured rivalry, but now the two teams get to settle it on the hardwood, in only the third meeting in postseason history.

QUESTION 1: Can the Rockets survive their extensive injury concerns?

Elhassan: For the most part, yes; they've managed to do so all year long, with a cast of versatile players like Corey Brewer, Trevor Ariza, Terrence Jones and the midseason pickup of Josh Smith. Those players (along with the injured Donatas Motiejunas) were greatly responsible for Houston's defensive rise this season, as they injected energy and toughness, as well as the versatility to hedge and switch. However, the biggest defensive key might have been the injured Patrick Beverley, who's made a career out of being a nuisance to most of the Golden Age of point guards, and has been the perfect complement to James Harden's ball dominant offensive role. While the Mavs might start Rajon Rondo, expect a lot of time with Monta Ellis sharing the floor with other speed demons like J.J. Barea and Devin Harris to stress the Rockets defense just enough.

Doolittle: They should be fine in this series. As well as Motiejunas played, getting Jones back to tag-team with Smith as the primary 4s is fine. And while not having Patrick Beverley to slow down opposing point guards would be a major handicap against most teams in the West, I'm not sure that's the case against Dallas' point guard combo of Rondo and Ray Felton. Key parts both, but not the kind of scorers who are likely to light up Jason Terry or Pablo Prigioni. Bottom line is Harden will be on the court, and when that's been the case, Houston has won consistently all season.

QUESTION 2: How big of a role will Rajon Rondo play for Dallas?

Elhassan: I'd be surprised if we saw as much Rondo in the postseason as we did in the regular season: Of the Mavs' six most frequently used lineups, five did not feature Rondo, and all five had dynamite net ratings ranging from +11 to +23 points per 100 possessions. The sixth lineup (that had Rondo) by contrast was -3.8 points per 100 possessions. In order for Rondo to play a role for Dallas, he's got to buy into it: namely high-level on-ball defense (perhaps even against Harden) and rapid decision-making on the offensive end (no ball-sticking). Otherwise, he'll see a lot more pine than time.

Doolittle: There's simply no question that the Dallas offense was better before acquiring Rondo. After all, the team ranked first in offensive efficiency during the first half of the season, and was smack in the middle of the pack in the second. Rondo and Ellis don't seem to be a good fit at that end. At the same time, Rondo's defense in this series will be crucial. Houston's weak link on offense is the league's third-worst turnover rate. Dallas ranks fourth in forcing turnovers. So Dallas' best bet sure looks like getting Rondo and Ellis into the passing lanes and out on the break. In the halfcourt, if they have to iso Dirk Nowitzki or Amar'e Stoudemire every time down the court, so be it.

QUESTION 3: Which bench needs to have the bigger impact in this series?

Elhassan: The silver lining of Houston's injury problems this year has been the experience and rhythm-building of the bench. The "next man up" mentality has aided the Rockets tremendously in preparedness and ability to maintain margins while starters not named Harden were off the floor. Meanwhile, the Mavs have regularly featured bench players in their most important lineups, most notably Al-Farouq Aminu and Barea. For Dallas, with Parsons banged up and Rondo a question mark from a productivity standpoint, the performance of the bench is critical to its chances of success this series.

Doolittle: These have been two of the best reserve units in the league over the course of the season. In terms of bench WARP, Houston finished third behind Boston and Toronto, and Dallas was fourth. Five players in this series finished in the top 25 league-wide in reserve WARP: Smith, Aminu, Harris, Brewer and Prigioni. On paper,it looks like a wash. But I'd say the Dallas bench needs to step up to augment an offense that has been up and down recently. That may well mean a huge series from Stoudemire, who is certainly capable of delivering. However, he has a tough counterpart to contend with in Smith.

Predictions

Elhassan: Mavs in six. The postseason is a game of adjustments, a chess match between the head coaches, and Rick Carlisle has grandmaster status. I think the Mavs have underachieved all year long as they've attempted to placate strong personalities, but once the playoffs start, Carlisle has carte blanche to run the lineups he feels are most effective. Dallas has been a pioneer in lineup analysis, so it should come as no shock to us that the Mavs know what works and what doesn't.

Doolittle: Rockets in six. The Rockets' foundation talent in Harden and Howard is too much for Dallas to contend with, especially now that the Rockets have improved their veteran depth with the likes of Smith, Brewer and Prigioni. Dallas is always tough, and will be in this series. But the Rockets' offense has been getting better and better as the season has gone along and the Dallas defense gives up too many 3-point looks. If the Rockets don't go crazy with coughing the ball up, they'll move on.

Don't be surprised if ...

Elhassan: We get one vintage performance from the old timers in this series, Stoudemire of Dallas and Terry of Houston. Both players were acquired for their offensive explosiveness, and both have had their moments during the regular season.

Doolittle: This is the last we see of Rondo in a Dallas uniform. It just hasn't worked.

BPI Projection

54 percent chance Rockets win series. Most likely series outcome is Rockets in seven.
Click to expand...

#213 J.R., Apr 17, 2015
Last edited: Apr 17, 2015

napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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Every article I read just gives me nerves. C'mon Rockets. Just focus on game 1.

#214 napalm06, Apr 17, 2015
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things to watch

rondo: hope he doesn't have that playoff intensity that he is known for. although don't think rondo helps them much in this series.

harden fouls: does harden get them. if he doesn't, will he go step daddy and drive n kick. which he has when they take away his left away. Think he is ready this playoff. Bet on it

tjones: idk what we gonna get

the good jsmooth: love this guy. not afraid of big shots (jet brewer ariza) big shot takers too

hack a rocket
#215 mike2k132, Apr 17, 2015
across110thstreet Contributing Member

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Finley was out of bounds in '05!

#216 across110thstreet, Apr 17, 2015
Last edited: Apr 18, 2015
samtaylor Member

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Let's face it, this entire postseason is all about James Harden. He is the top 2 MVP candidate. He is the leading scorer in total points. He is the reason the Rockets are the 2 seed. This is his time. He HAS to be focused. He Has to be lethal. He HAS to hate his opponent. He HAS to be clutch.
If he averages 27/6/7 like he did in the regular season, I can't see this going more than 5 games.

Arguably the best 4 shooting guards in the last 25 years were Jordan/Kobe/Wade/Drexler. They all won championships. Will James Harden elevate his game to reach that tier of greatness? Or will he go down as a Tracy McGrady/Vince Carter type?

I'm all in on The Beard. He's only 25. He still has the potential to be an all-time great. BUT he HAS to win this series. No way around it. An all-time great doesn't lose three straight years in the 1st round.

Do I expect the Rockets to win it all THIS season? No
But Harden has to show up. If he delivers and we don't win it all, then you can go ahead and blame McHale, Morey, Howard, injuries, bad luck whatever. But if James Harden wants to solidify himself as THE SG of this generation, he must win this series regardless of McHale or injuries or poor shooting from others.

#217 samtaylor, Apr 17, 2015
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mario_v said: ↑

It's important for tjones and josh smiths to exploit dirk's lack of defense. Dirk has ZERO lateral quickness.

Let either of them clear out and go ISO on dirk.
Click to expand...

Agreed. But also run PnR with Harden and the PF as well. Set a good screen and Harden is going down hill against Chandler for the finish, kick out for 3, or dump off to Dwight.

And if they switch, that's Harden going 1-on-1 with Dirk which is an easy blow-by.

#218 LG1200, Apr 18, 2015

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Since coming back from injury, Dwight per 36 minutes is averaging about 23 points/15 rebounds. Playoff Dwight is already here once McHale unleashes him

#219 Zergling, Apr 18, 2015
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People are acting like Dwights still injured. This beast is about to be unleashed! Expect hella rim hangs!

#220 JMAD21, Apr 18, 2015

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