How Can the Rockets Beat GSW With a Healthy Curry?

Yes, just make him unhealthy again.

 

I just watched some highlights of CP3 this season. Still can't believe we have CP3 on this team. I believe CP3 and Harden will be a 2-headed amazing monster in the WCF.

No one can say for sure who will win...that is why they play the games. But CP3 and Harden and MDA have a lot to prove and in some ways, this is their best and ONLY shot for all intents and purposes to win it all. This season has been extraordinary and it would be an incredible let down to not finish it by winning it all.

I don't think CP3, Harden and MDA necessarily feel pressure because of how this season has gone, but more so they have a goal and have a relentless drive to achieve it. Rockets defense will be focused (my humble opinion) against the Warriors. There's history between individual players and max motivation to go out and get it for the Rockets.

Of course Rockets still have to get past the Jazz this series first. But I just can't see CP3/Harden losing because they didn't give it their all. And "giving it their all" against the Warriors I believe would be more than adequate to dethrone them. Because the rest of the Rockets squad are on the same mission and just as hungry.

Sum of all parts, this machine will take down the Worriers. But first.....go get that game 2 win convincingly tonight Rockets!

 

we've done the same offense and defense all year against everyone. no need to change now.

on defense:

• switch everything, 1:1 matchups are irrelevant.

on offense:

• shooters run to the corners and wings.
• if no one is open off the fast break run a PnR with a pointgod and capela making their center play 2 on 1, or making them leave shooters to help.
• if that doesn't work we iso a pointgod and hope they score or drive and kick to a shooter.
• if nothing is working post up a pointgod

the warriors will switch everything on defense too, so its unlikely that the PnR will be that effective. there will be a lot of harden trying to pin his man on his back after the screen so he can get the 2 on 1 with capela in the paint. we will mostly be relying on iso ball after that. the pointgods will call a pick with whoever curry is guarding and make him switch on to them and defend in isolation as much as possible. the warriors will to the same to harden so he can't "hide" on green, as well as running paul around a lot of off-ball screens while guarding curry to try to tire his legs.

the warriors offense relies on shooters running to the corner on fast breaks, then falling back into some PnR action for curry or durant, similar to our offense. unlike our offense instead of relying next on the iso, they go into a half court set with a lot of off-ball screens and cuts to open things up for their shooters. if the rockets get back on defense quickly and switch everything to stop the off-ball movement, they will be forced to rely on the PnR for curry and KD.

in the end it comes down to the warriors PnR with curry or KD, vs the rockets iso with harden or paul. with both teams switching everything on defense, i lean towards the unstoppable iso. they can always iso curry and KD, but i like our iso players better. plus the post up will work to our advantage since both pointgods have been effective there all season, while only KD can post up for the warriors.

even though i think we have a slight advantage, it will come down to which role players get hot. can gordon, ariza, tucker outshoot klay, green, iggy? can our limited minutes guys like ryno and green outshoot young and livingston? can capela//nene/tucker control the paint better than mcgee/west/green?

i say we win in an epic 7 game series.

 

It's more likely that Iggy will be the primary defender on Harden. Actually it'll be Klay/Iggy taking turns.

 

well shitte, if you don't know how to beat 'em, NOBODY DOES.

 

Call Tonya Harding.

 

Jazz First
Then worry about the rest

Rocket River

 

Had to look twice to make sure this wasn't an AirLangi post.

 

I'm amused at how everybody keeps talking this guy matching up against that guy, etc...

We switch on defense, so I'd imagine during crunch times the Worriers will do what we do and thats force switches until you get the matchup you like - and then iso...

so really its all gonna be about weakest defensive link... thankfully Harden is playing much more focused defense or we'd get exploited there... so I gotta say, I think Curry is going to be the weakest defensive link on the floor at most times - so advantage us!

 

All we need is DMo's butt sweat.

I.D.I.O.T.

 

PnR with whoever Curry is guarding.

Attack curry in iso constantly because he is a defensive liability.

Attack him so much he has to exert so much energy on defense hat he isn’t as efficient offensively.

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Absolutely crush the defensive boards. Can’t allow extra shots for this team.

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Limit the turnovers and force turnovers. Dominate all of the 2 for 1 possessions end of quarters. We need those extra shots.

 

Curry’s inability to defend Harden after a switch on pick and roll will ultimately be the Warriors’s down fall.

 

We’ll see how healthy curry is when he switched on to Harden.
Dudes gonna have two broken ankles!!

 

The only matchup that really worries me against GS is Dray v Clint. Draymond seems to be pretty good at just about neutralizing Clint and making him nearly a non factor on both ends... And we really are a big three, so that will hurt us if it keeps happening.

That's not to say that's the only difficulty we'll have, but matchup-wise, we have enough great defenders to throw at Durant, Klay, and even Steph. And enough scorers to keep them occupied on the other end.

 

Move without the ball better than them. Their passing is on point and draymond is their best passer.We have to get by Utah.

 

Play physical, play a bit dirty and hit them in the mouth from the get go.

 

He has been unhealthy to the Pelicans. Inedible even.

 

Take care of Don Mitchell first, worry about Steve later.