ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Spurs 5/1/2017 (Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

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I love how pro active Mike AntoniO was from the let go. It feels really good to finally have a coach capable of coaching playoff level basketball. he made the right adjustments and always got on the guy

As opposed to the useless incompetent fool Kevin McFail who always seemed lost. It still hurts to know that we wasted away 3-4 years of Harden by hiring nad rehiring that moron. Thanks Maury

 

^^^ Stop plagiarizing takes from 790 ^^^

LZ said that 2 minutes before you pressed "send".

 

I knew we'd take a huge **** on them in their own home court but that wasn't even human ****. It was huge mounds of elephant ****

Spoiler

 

guess stephen a. does actually know a little basketball

 

Maybe it's for the best that things worked out this way. What if the Rockets have a competent head coach and win that 2014 series against Portland? I don't know if they would've won the title that year. That would've required going through the Spurs(back when they were younger, had Duncan, and were on a mission), and the 2-time defending champion Heat. But odds are with at least one playoff series win that postseason, they decide to match Parsons and maybe Bosh comes here. Imagine where our roster would be right now with those two on the payroll.

I don't think coaching would've mattered much in 2015. Bev and D-Mo were out for the playoffs and Dwight got hurt in Game 1 vs the Warriors. The Rockets simply didn't have the bodies to compete with the Warriors. And even though 2016 was a complete disaster, it made the organization realize that they were better off without Dwight. Which opened up capspace for Anderson and Gordon and a roster spot for Nene.

 

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Great job Rockets! Remember Spurs will make major adjustments for Game 2 and Pop will work out something. Up to us to keep that in mind and find counters

 

How can Mike D get upset when we have a 30 point lead? I would send the bench squad in even if it's only in the third quarter.
Kevin McHale-

 

After a blowout like that I am prepared to be on the edge of my seat again at the next game. We did what was lacking against OKC, and that was getting those fast break points. They completely took that out of our game, and going from a little over 6 fast break points a game to 27 is huge!!!! Top that off with a 3 pt shooting frenzy and there was no stopping us!!!! What a fun team to watch after enduring what seemed like an endless amount of misses from behind the arc lately. As sweet as it is, we all know that San Antonio is too good of a team to not go down without a fight, and we can be streaky with the 3. But, what excites me most is that we are finding our way back to getting those fast break points, our guys are sharing the ball more, our defense looks much better, and our guys are playing with more confidence. We aren't hesitating so much in taking the shots, and getting back into the groove from behind the arc. Those are all huge qualities we need to play at Championship Caliber level.

My dream scenario is that we keep playing like we know we can, smartly, and with confidence. We need to continue to play aggressively, but not let them push our buttons to the point that our guys lose self-control, and fall into their trap for getting us the big Technical. Finally, I just want our guys to show the Spurs once and for all that the time has come for the rise of the Rockets, and a new team taking over once again to represent the best of the State of Texas. I just want to say, "What's up little doggie? That team logo you are sporting is just a representation of nothing more than one of those spray painted silver plastic spurs a little kid wears on his cowboy boots. You are all just a bunch of Rhinestone Cowboys, and not the real deal. We are from Clutch City, and these Rockets are ready to lift off and take us straight to the top. There is no stopping us now!!! Go Rockets!!!!

 

Last night was a product of Spurs coming off a Grizzlies series where there pace was grind it out, and a Rocket finding the mean in three point % in the playoffs.

Expect a better game 2 but if the Spurs feel the need to rely on Kawahi that much the result will be similar(not the blowout).

 

MDA stepped up his intensity last night.

This guy is locked in. It's almost like he doesn't care about inferior opponents. He wants to beat the Spurs in a big way. Love the passion.

 

The Spurs (in my guessing) will try to take away the 3 in game 2. I don't think they are going to "gamble" again hoping the Rockets go cold (which is totally possible). Rockets made themselves comfortable quick. I expect the Rockets to drive down the Spurs throats and draw fouls and make a ton of layups in reaction to the game 2 adjustments.

It would be nice if Anderson and Ariza can hit their occasional kick out 3s amid the penetrations. That didn't happen consistent enough in the OKC series. Hopefully it's different this round.

 

Yes it's true the Spurs just got off a grind with the Grizzlies. But that's just part of the game and playoff basketball. A 'fresh' Spurs squad wouldn't have fared much better last night.

Also, the Spurs did get 3 full days of rest, which is not bad at all.

 

But the problem for the Spurs is they like to grind it out. The reason the Grizzlies give them such a hard time is they also like to play that way. The Spurs will try to slow the pace down like the Thunder did in the first round, but I'm not sure they'll succeed. They don't have the defenders OKC did to frustrate the Rockets on offense. And it only makes matters worse that their best defender, Kawhi, has to carry so much of an offensive load.

This is like the regular season series between the two teams. If the Rockets lose, it'll be because they beat themselves.

 

Yeah, so true! I'm expecting that as well. I agree! We will need to adjust as needed, draw those fouls, and continue to keep up the speed and get those fast break pts as much as possible. We can't rely on the 3, but certainly are capable of finding ways to get some open looks, and just can't hesitate or lose confidence.

 

I was RELIEVED when the Rockets were able to close out OKC in 5. I just feel a lot more comfortable about the Rockets against the vaunted Spurs because of how well they always play against them. Last night was the first complete game I've seen this year. Every player was great.

 

Is it just me but like our players shoot the ball much faster, Ariza, Anderson and even Harden(even it's impossible for Harden to look fast but he is always step ahead, that's the beauty). Like they did not give chance to Spurs to contest.

 

He's lost to the Spurs too many times to take anything for granted. He's probably also nervous that the Rockets tend to blow big leads and he doesn't want to risk them setting a record choke job or something.

Great game last night, but I'm sure the Spurs will be mad and get focused for the next game so the Rockets need to keep it up.

 

They weren't ready.... lol.

Will need 4 games like last night to take down the Warriors.