The refs will play a huge part as to how things go in game 6. The three early fouls on Jordan made a huge impact on game 5 in the Rockets favor, just like the three early fouls on Howard made a huge impact in the Clippers favor in game 4. All the complaining about how many free throws Harden shoots sometimes leads to the refs eating their whistles when it comes to the Rockets. The other key to game 6 is the role players have to step up like they did in game 5. Ariza has been playing good defense, but missing shots earlier in the series. He had his jumper falling in game 5. Terry shot the ball much better as well. Brewer and Smith had basically been no shows in the series until game 5, but played much better last night. For the first time in the series the Rockets bench out scored the Clippers. If the refs call the fouls they should and the role players contribute like they did in game 5, the Rockets should have a very good chance of getting a win in game 6.
1. Give it everything you got... 2. Loved the idea of playing full court defense last game. I think that is equally as effective at taking them out of rhythm as hacking DeAndre Jordan... but it doesn't kill this team's offense in the process. 3. Much more PnR with Harden and Josh Smith up top and Dwight waiting around the bottom of the key. It puts DeAndre Jordan on an island. Josh Smith just needs to make a good decision with the basketball when he gets it 4. Attack the basket looking to score. You don't get the whistle if you look to pass every time.
I think we have the formula. The important thing is to execute and not panic when they make their runs or when officiating turns against us. Just stay level-headed. I don't expect us to shoot that well since it's the Clippers home court. I expect the Clips to come out with a lot of energy. Gotta match that and even exceed. So McHale should sub out as soon as players' energy lags. Howard must stay out of foul trouble. Hopefully those FTs drop. And we can stop the Clipperss runs by hacking Jordan.
I'd like to see Josh and Terrance pick Griffin up for 94 feet whenever the Clipps decide they want to let him bring the ball up. Pressure him. He's talented, but he's not a PG. I see no reason to just let him walk the ball up the court. Seems like an easy opportunity to create a turnover to me.
at this point they just have to play as well as they did last night. there aren't any big adjustments now. it just comes down to who is the better team and can execute
Keys to winning game 6: 1. Get Jordan in foul trouble early 2. Get Jordan in foul trouble early 3. Get Jordan in foul trouble early
Harden and Howard just play the way they played in last game, then we have a very good chance to win it.
I would also double CP3 in the backcourt, forcing someone else on the Clippers to initiate their offense, which disrupts their offense and requries Griffin to initiate the offense since neither Redick, Barnes, or Jordan can. Run constant doubles at CP3, test the decision making of the other 5.
I thought the hacking was well played last night. When we were up by 18, how likely is it that DeAndre makes 18 free throws in the last 6 minutes and we don't score at all? Much more likely for them to get hot and hit 6 3s.
I feel like we should continue to play aggressive and look to penetrate of PnR and cuts. We did really good last night mainly because we forced Jordan into early foul trouble. When they are down Jordan in the middle, their middle becomes extremely soft, just like when we are down Howard, though Smith somewhat helps with that.
Huh, 12-21 for 30 points for Blake, his second highest scoring game of the series, and only 1 turnover. What exactly qualifies as a rhythm?
Make Harden get another triple double and then molest Chris Paul the whole game...in a nonsexual way of course
Harden, Josh, and Howard should score often and early, be it simple Harden PnR, or Harden-Josh-Howard frog-leaping alley-oops. The purpose? Get DeAndre Jordan in foul trouble early. If we can get Jordan in foul trouble again, we will get them. But the Clippers may sent help defense to protect Jordan. So Ariza and Terry need to have their three-pointers ready.
