ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Thunder 4/21/2017 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 3)

Yaaaaaaay *slow clap*

 

Academy award worthy

 

Impossible scenario. Game 5 in Houston. Game 6 in OKC if necessary

 

Sam...you saw what I saw...I watched the most obvious and 1 I've seen in some time not called...these refs weren't calling anything short of murder.

 

I wonder if anybody, especially those that slighted Jeremi Grant, know he is the nephew of Horace Grant and son of Harvey Grant? Kid should fill out into a Power Forward body...

 

Yeah. To my eyes OKC is getting any shot they want any time they want while their defense and rebounding is making everything harder for the Rockets. And Westbrook may have been shocked out of his knuckleheadedness and remembered his teammates are quite good. The Rockets need to make adjustments and play with some focus or they could be in for a long series.

 

Our bigs were extra soft today. They need to bring it like the first game, or this thing will be a long series.

 

Yes, there was too much isolation/pounding the ball. Better to keep it moving.

 

Beverley all bark and no bite tonight.

 

And you see what I'm seeing now: "Why didn't the coach call the TOUCHDOWN play" level of analysis by @Plowman

 

We'll be 2-2 going back to Houston if this defense keeps up

 

Let's see

Anderson stinks like really stinks, like we can get better for less money stinks
Bev can't score
Capella gets abused
We don't run anything for nene
They took R three point powers
We turn the ball over like we like it

 

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but if Harden hadn't missed those last 2 FT's at the end of the last game, he'd be 38-38 from the line in the last 2 games... wow. As it is, 36-38 ain't too shabby considering his FT shooting was looking shaky towards the end of the season (well, for him, anyway).

 

Why do we always have these ugly starts?

Is it because Harden is too hell-bent on trying to involve his teammates and not looking to score more often? He commits way too many turnovers in the 1Q, which has been a recurring pattern from the regular season. I'm actually surprised that Morey and MDA still haven't made any changes to address this issue.

How about Harden being aggressive from the get-go and make defenders to over-commit or second-guess, thereby making it easier for him to create for others? Harden's play-making in 1Q has not been working for a while, especially against good teams. It's time to make some changes.

 

i'm getting anxiety

what if maxed out on harden's great games and he lays egg like he's prone to do from time to time after a great stretch and we lose game 4?

people are not talking about it enough but harden's brilliance is the only reason we're up 2-1 and not down 1-2.

he kept us in the game in game 2 until the role players finally stepped up.

we really can't stop them in the paint and if harden has a poor game we get crushed.

 

Agreed - Let's let him ride the pine a bit and let Williams pick up a start.

 

For anyone saying that Harden's shot at the end wasn't a good shot, I completely disagree with that sentiment. He had the ball at the top of the key with 3-4 seconds left and had a chance to win the game with a clean look before his defender could get a chance to get a piece of the ball. Given OKC's length defensively and how that possession turned out earlier where Gibson prevented Harden from getting up a shot at all, I think that was the smart play.

If he drives, there's a damn good chance the ball gets stripped and he doesn't even get up an attempt. And the referees more than likely aren't calling a foul on that play no matter how hard he gets hit. He saw a window to take a clean 3-pointer to win with the buzzer sounding. I think that was a solid decision. And he just barely missed it.

 

Wolverine was more like a little Chihuahua today. Bad.

 

Very nervous about game 4 as it is a must win game for us.

 

Our bigs made me wish we had a big tonight. You are right! They need to bring it like the first game or yes, it will be a long series.