ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Warriors 5/21/2015 (Western Conference Finals, Game 2)

I have no idea what will happen tonight...

... and if you're a Rockets fan, or sports fan in general, neither do you. We've seen Rockets teams go home on a near half court three at the buzzer. We've seen a Rockets team as a massive underdog lose their best player in Game 1 and still take the most talented team in the league to 7 games. We've seen the 95 Rockets come back from down 3-1, go on the road to win two against the Spurs, only to promptly lose the next two at home, before finally winning in 6. And we've seen Game 6 against the Clippers this year.

I don't know what's going to happen.

But if Steph keeps hitting 6-11 from three, and the Rockets continue to have 2-3 role players that struggle (Jones, Terry, Brewer last game), then they aren't winning.

In fact, not that this is a surprise since it's the basic truth of pretty much every great team and every championship team ever, but the performance of those role players basically dictates who wins.

 

The thing with Dwight is, it's not just getting Dwight out there, it is getting "Playoff Dwight" out there. Sure Dwight on the court can help some (and it is better than nothing), but to be "special" the Rockets need the "springy Dwight."

Can Dwight come back....not just back from the injury, but back to being Playoff Dwight?

 

the refs have yet to call 21 FTs practically throughout the playoffs for Harden.

He'll get to the line 10 times if we're lucky and he'll just need to make his shots. Refs aren't doing Houston any favors, even though its just their job to call actual fouls.

 

He's had 18 attempts in either Game 5 or 7 last series. He had 15 or so attempts in a game in the Mavs series. Granted, these were at home. But he can get to the line a bunch depending on which refs we get.

 

Definitely shopped. I think that is actually a Chicago jersey... I believe someone posted the photo of he posing in one?

 

Slight update

https://twitter.com/jonathan_feigen/status/601461462259736578

 

This plus two other factors to consider: turnovers and rebounding. When all is said and done I'm willing to bet that the winner of this series will be the team that commits the fewest turnovers and wins the rebounding battle.

 

Official 1: Monty McCutchen
6-1 regular season, 1-1 playoffs, Harden FTA: 11.56, Team FTA: 31.56, Opp FTA: 22.44

Official 2: James Capers
3-1 regular season, 1-0 playoffs, Harden FTA: 11, Team FTA: 24.6, Opp FTA: 25

Official 3: John Goble
1-2 regular season, 2-1 playoffs. Harden FTA: 7.83, Team FTA: 27.5, Opp FTA: 22.67

We usually don't have too much trouble with these refs. I have a good feeling we can steal this one tonight

 

Once again it will come down to how they REF the Game

Allow the grabbing and pulling and moving screens in the one sided fashion . . . the Rockets in for a long night

Rocket River

 

He's averaging over 10 a game in the playoffs. He's shot 15 or more 3 times.

 

I heard some idiots this morning on ESPN saying we where better off without Dwight. I love Mike and Mike but I had to cut it off after hearing that. I think we still have a chance to win tonight but I am nervous.

 

So with those refs in mind, we shouldn't be surprised if Harden gets to the line 15 times tonight.

 

Either the national media never watches the Rockets or they're so blinded by hate that they'll say whatever idiotic thought enters their minds.

 

Rest Dwight. Give him those added two days. It's not worth losing him potentially for rest of series. You gotta win 4.

 

In a sense they are right. But now how they think they are.

We are better with springy Dwight (AND HAVING DMO), as was said above. None springy Dwight is basically Asik but with the extra downside of having to post him up every now and then.

The Dwight that can slam back put backs and bring down 20 boards with 5 blocks? We need that Dwight. Dwight is just not a player that is going to get better without his athleticism unfortunately. Good thing for us is if he avoids major knee injury that ability to sky high should last him until he's about 34 or so.

 

when the Warriors go small, McHale should put in Capella, he can guard players on the perimeter and destroy on the pnr on offense

 

I'm convinced they don't watch many games even though they are payed good money to analyze them. 2 jobs that must be awesome because it doesn't matter how much you suck at them are NBA ref and NBA analyst.

 

listening to ESPN you would think the Rockets got blown out in game 1

only people at ESPN who don't hate Houston are JVG and David Thorpe