Bev and D-Mo would have made a difference. How much is debatable. What is not in question is that the Clippers are pretty much the very worst match the Rockets could have drawn. Go back the last 15 games between these two teams, regular season included, and check the scores. Clippers is to the Rockets what Memphis is to the Warriors. A matchup made in hell for both the current losers in the series. This is not to excuse the Rockets players horrible performances up to date. There is an element of quitting that is very disturbing, and I suspect this is really why the vast majority of our fans are in revolt today.
matchup is important, no question. but matchup is one thing. mentally check out of the game - several times in a row - is another.
IMO Motiejunas was our second best player in the regular season behind Harden. He was the most consistent threat in the paint to dump it to when we went into a lull, a pretty consistent spot up shooter from three. James Harden is missing Dmo in this series because they play off of each other so well. Dmo stretched the floor for James Harden to drive into the paint because the opposing center has to guard Dmo at the three when Howard was out for half of the season. IMO Dmo was the second reason James Harden competed for a MVP and the second reason we we got to the Playoffs.
Doubt DMO+Bev will make up for the 3 blownouts we suffered. This team is flawed. By flawed, I don't mean they are not good, by flawed I mean they are not great.
By consistent I mean he shot a eFG% of 54%. He made the second most amount of hook shots in the NBA this year. LINK Whenever he got the ball anywhere near the paint he'd make a move or 2 and he was automatic.
Who really cares 'what could have been?' fact of the matter this team had enough to AT LEAST compete and they have humiliated themselves and their fans. Living in a fantasy land where what if's and could have's rule is pathetic.
Having Bev would have allowed the Rockets to hide Harden on Defense by guarding Barnes as opposed to either Paul, Redick, or Rivers whenever Crawford isn't in the game. Beverley - Paul/Rivers Harden - Barnes/Crawford Ariza - Redick/Crawford That alone might have helped conserve some energy for Harden for the Offensive end of the court. That being said, the high PNR and double screen PNR would still be the death of us without any consistent weakside rotation. For all the talk of how stout our revamped bench is, Brewer and Smith have been complete no-shows this series. Brewer can't keep his feet and Smith is just totally MIA. He (and Jones and Capella) should be trying to just dunk everything instead of taking it up soft and missing layups due to Jordan's presence. If you get fouled, so what? Getting DJ in foul trouble would be much more valuable than you getting your shot blocked, missing the layup, or missing your free throws.
the fact that you have to mention you have to hide a supposedly MVP caliber player on defense is pretty sad. that should never ever be the case.
IMO we have a bright future if DMO can come back healthy next year and if we can get some help for the PG spot.
You're in denial, stop lying to yourself. This team isn't strong or tough enough to win in the playoffs.
Well certainly not the whole thing, but we are better than we were last year, and if we keep improving and get healthy - then that is the goal, right? DD
This. You nailed it. You could have 5 DMOs and 5 Beverly's but if you don't play with urgency and heart you will get the same results. Again with or without DMO and Patrick Beverly there was zero excuse to come out in game 1 sleep walking and no fire without Chris Paul playing.
While Bev was playing: Damian Lillard 14pts (5-16) Ty Lawson 13pts (5-14) Deron Williams 15pts (5-16 Chris Paul 22pts (8-18)
It is called playing to your strengths. In this series, the defensive match-ups have not been in our favor due to a weakened starting unit. Unfortunately, this was still true in Games 1 and 2 when Paul was out because Blake took over the role as primary creator for the Clips. Yes, it is discouraging that they didn't come out with more fire in this series, but if you are constantly giving up open looks and guys are raining jumpers down on you, it is really hard to move onto the next play. Guys make shots, sure, that's basketball. However, the goal is to have them take the shots you want them to take, not getting off whatever shot they want off of the flow of their offense. It is the singular biggest difference in this series. Griffin, Paul, and now Rivers can dictate pretty much whatever shot they want on offense while Jordan and Redick are taking away our first options on the other end with their team defense. That's the reason for the crazy scores, we can't stop anything they are doing, and on the other end, we're letting the defense too often dictate where the ball goes because we don't have effective counters.
This is a forum where the moral victory has gotten stale and unbecoming. No excuses for how this team is currently playing. Bev and Dmo wouldnt have done anything to change a caustic environment and losers mentality that has set in. We are witnessing a culture shift in the most radical sense practically overnight. Why even look for a bright side? Heads should roll, someone should be held accountable this is ineptitude on a grand scale and in the public eye.
