ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 4/16/2017 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

Spoiler

5. Who wins the series, and in how many games?

Herring: Rockets in 5. I just don't think the Thunder, with their two-big lineups, will be able to cover enough ground to adequately contest Houston's spacey offense. And even if they could, the Thunder would be hard-pressed to outscore that sort of attack, which is far more efficient than their own.

Haberstroh: Rockets in 7. Too many weapons at coach Mike D'Antoni's disposal.

Adams: Rockets in 5. Houston simply has too much firepower for a Thunder team that is more suited to play a methodical team.

Engelmann: Rockets in 5. The Thunder are probably better than your average No. 6 seed, but the Rockets were not only the third-best team in the West but also the third-best team in the NBA, with an offensive rating just a hair below that of the stratospheric Warriors.

Pelton: Rockets in 5. Given the overall difference between the two teams, I think this is the most likely outcome.

Bonus: What would persuade you that the Rockets are title contenders?

Haberstroh: A vicious stomach bug wipes out the Warriors for the next two months.

Pelton: I'm not sure anything in this series would persuade me of that, but the biggest thing I'm looking for is how well Houston can defend. The Rockets' defense was about league average during the regular season, which hasn't historically been good enough to win a championship.

Adams: If Oklahoma City slows down Harden and the Rockets roll regardless. In the playoffs, every team works to take away your first and second options. If the Rockets can succeed with Harden serving as a quasi-decoy, that would make me feel better about their championship potential.

Herring: In this series? Probably nothing. You can't prove you're a contender by knocking off a team that really hasn't shown to be one. Best they can do here is build confidence for the next round.

Engelmann: Nothing in this series. Even if they pull off four consecutive blowout wins I would still not see them as a contender. They'd need to show that in the next round, where the Spurs likely will await.

 

What will we learn?

Max: Everyone is focusing on Westbrook vs. Harden. What I think of now & what we can learn is does the D'Antoni system in the playoffs - in a one off, those threes are falling - but in a best of 7, is there something OKC can do seeing it multiple times? Will refs call the game differently that affects the Rockets? D'Antoni said this morning that he came to realize when coaching in the past(Phoenix), he should have doubled down on threes & didn't embrace it to the extent he should have. We'll see that now in the best of 7. This will not answer it definitively but will offer new evidence.

SA: What Westbrook will do in the postseason with this team. One thing to do it in the regular season. Come playoff time without Durant, we'll learn a lot about Westbrook & the minimal amount of help he's perceived of having. We'll learn about D'Antoni when teams have time to prepare for you & lock down. We'll see what the Rockets (team) & Westbrook (individually) are made of.

 

goats

 

Important Question: is Toyota Center gonna be a sea of red with all Rockets shirts?

 

I'm looking forward to a TC blackout closeout game (maybe Game 5).

 

Dear Lou, Eric, and Trev.

If you guys read this, please understand that you guys must start making some shots. The shooting has been brutal the last few weeks. If you guys don't start knocking down shots, the Rockets will be watching the playoffs from home very soon.

Good luck guys.

 

I don't know why we seem to be sleeping on the Thunder.

Our four games this season, except the last one, were considerably close. I'm really nervous about this matchup. People having us winning the series in 6 games or less must not have seen the someone downward trend this team has taken in 2017.

It would be magical though if we could go back to November/December form.

 

So are we starting Capella against Adams?

 

I feel the same: the soft, sickly sweet smell of hubris is in the air. However, I'm confident that the rockets team won't be giving in to it and will be focused.

 

I'm resigned to fact that the media will probably pick Westbrook winning the MVP. I want nothing less than a SWEEP. When he's announced as the MVP winner, it will be considered a historical embarrassment by the NBA writers.

 

It wont be. Dirk won MVP and his team lost to Baron Davis and co.

 

I love your blow-up doll's blow hole. Must be great when you're feeling extra lonely.

 

Got this from r/nba

 

Won't be surprised at either outcome yet the Rox are clear favorites.

 

Saved - love it, but then again I love anything Rockets!

 

I am so HYPED right now!

 

Lol it's gonna be a loooong 48 hours.

 

We hit close to 50% of our threes in at least four of the next seven games we win, if we are well below that, we lose.

The end