ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 5/14/2018 (Western Conference Finals, Game 1)

Fair take, and accurate. No more 'playoffs flu' or even 'ok' Harden, the Rockets need MVP Harden every game from here out.

 

He's echoing my sentiment earlier in this thread. Game 1 IS a must-win for the Rockets. No, it won't determine by itself the eventual winner of this series, but psychologically it'll do so much for the Rockets. And it'll instill at least some doubt and concern in the Warriors' minds.

 

we need every single body in the gym that night, shout as loud as you can and stick it to the champs, if the fans don't show up in this game, then shame on you guys who called yourself fans!!!

 

Key to this series, apart from the obvious (Harden, Paul and Capela playing well):

1) Eric Gordon needs to be an aggressive mofo this series. We absolutely need him to relativley match Klay Thompson’s production. If he can average a somewhat efficient 18-22ppg this series, our chances of pulling out this series goes exponentially up. He cannot just be a standing shooter like he has been for many parts of the playoffs; he has to attack the rim like he did in October.

2) Force a lot of Warrior turnovers. The one glaring weakness of the Warriors’ offensive attack is their carelessness with the basketball. It’s scary to think that they could still put up 120+ while also having 20 turnovers but when those turnovers happen will be huge for us. We must be able to force some key turnovers, especially late in games or when the Warriors are streaking to slow them down.

3) Make Curry work for his shots and on defense. I don’t think Curry is close to even 90% healthy. Our guards have to abuse him defensively and make him work for every shot on offense. Curry is really the key to the Warriors offense; force a bad night from him and everything gets a little tougher for them.

4). Make KD, and KD, alone beat us. The Warriors do not like having to rely on KD isolation late in game (it works but that’s not how they like to play/are used to playing). Make KD go into OKC iso heavy mode and it’ll marginalize the others namely Thompson, Curry and Dray’s passing.

 

anyone see the prices at toyotacenter.com- they are ridiculous. Even higher than secondary market. I don't get it.

 

$330.00 for lower end zone minimum. Ouch. I'll wait for Game 5 (hopefully with Rox up 3-1 or tied 2-2).

 

Who is playing in NBA Finals?

Max: Toughest pick in years. Cavs & Rockets.

SAS: The Rockets are a special team but I gotta see someone knock off Golden State to believe it. I've got Golden State winning one of the first two, protecting home court in games 3 & 4, losing game 5, winning game 6 and winning in 6, meeting the Cavs again. Cavs in 6 vs Boston.

What match up do you want to see?

SAS: Golden State-Boston. Houston or Golden State vs. Boston. I'd rather see Boston in the Finals than Cleveland.

Molly: Warriors in 6, Cavs in 7

 

Section 423, Row 1, Seat 11. First game of the year!

 

Underrated factor during the series is how much whining and complaining Steve Kerr is going to do to the referees on Harden/CP3's flopping, travelling, free throws, etc. He could go all Mark Cuban at us and get away with it.

 

D'Antoni can whine with the best of them though. We're not dealing with McFail anymore who would barely say a word to the refs in defense of his players.

 

Home crowd will be the loudest it's been all season.

I guarantee it. This series is being hyped up crazy.

 

I hope this helps getting butts in seats and loud at tip-off

 

TILLMAN needs to do a 5 dollar beer all game so people can get loud and crazy.

 

Hell no! Then people will be at the concessions all game.

 

But they also have people carrying beers around that goes down isle to isle.