CP3 is 0-9 in his last 9 Foster officiated games. But if the NBAs choice is to have the Lakers game shown in China or not, they will go with yes, so expect horrible officiating tonight. Here's the thing... the Rockets have gotten virtually NO calls the entire series. This teams ability to do the same thing over and over and expect different results (shoot threes when they're 0 for whatever, complain about calls as if that will change things, run the same out of bounds plays that don't work or result in Harden offensive fouls, etc, etc.) is part of the reason they are unlikely to win a championship. ****'s going to get tough on a playoff run, unless you are just an absolute dominant team, which they are not. Clutch City was borne out of the fact that both those squads faced serious adversity in the playoffs. The Rockets in the JH era have overcome adversity ONCE in the playoffs... when he was sitting on the bench in a 4th quarter. I like James Harden, but this is what it is at the moment. Put up, or shut up. Don't complain about the refs. They can call a game biased a direction, but they can't entirely swing an outcome of a game, unless it is just pure and blatant on the level of Lakers-Kings 4th quarter game 6.
There's no way Adam Silver will let the entire Chinese market blackout a Lakers series. The NBA ratings are in the tank and Lebron/Lakers is the only draw they have left. They need the revenue.
Last night I taught my Brazilian-born wife a new phrase: "Putting your thumb on the scale." "The problem with the NBA is that these games mean money. Longer series mean more money." (This China thing I didn't know at the time, but it fits.) "So it feels like the NBA puts its thumb on the scale: 'OK, 2 pounds of brisket'. 'Uh, your thumb is on the scale.'"
Also consider that a rockets loss could mean that Morey gets fired, which again, is a win for the NBA, because the China rockets ban would be over.
Sam Amick posted a The Athletic piece about the league wanting to be on good terms with CP3 because he's the head of the players association and the league is about to enter negotiations with them on a new CBA contract. CP3 also played a big part in formation of the bubble. Maybe they feel they owe him one? Either this or that, it definitely feels like the league is raw-doggying the hell out of the Rockets and they don't give a damn about hiding it.
If Rockets win tonight, freedom and democracy wins. If Rockets lose tonight, China has won in invading America.
Winning is a bare minimum for a real "Contender". Who cares if the dice are loaded? They're the ****ing fifth seed!!!
