Here's a thread for your scattered thoughts about this series. I'll go first... Game 1 has been the Rockets' only poor performance, and it was the first playoff game for 5 of the 8 guys who played. The Rockets dominated the last two games, both potential closeouts. Golden State's biggest leads in those games were by 3 in G5 and by 2 in G6, Houston's biggest: 30 in G5 and 17 in G6. The Warriors' 4th quarters in both of those games were pathetic, very likely due to the fatigue of their three aging stars. I don't see them pulling out a close G7 on the road. For the series, we're outshooting GS from 3: .402 to .394. Nobody would have predicted that.
More... Despite what many on here say, Ime has outcoached Kerr. Or more accurately, Kerr outcoached himself by WAY overreacting to Jalen's big Game 2. In the first two games, FVV scored 17 points total and was 3/20 from 3 (.150). With the Warriors' defense scrambling to contain Jalen in G3, Fred got going with 17 on 3/9 from 3. And in the three games since, with Kerr continuing to focus his defense on not letting Jalen go off again, Fred has had 25, 26, and 29 pts on 18/27 from 3 (.667). Kerr succeeded in shutting Jalen down, but in the process provided us with a series leader and an offensive threat other than Alpi. The two biggest deciding factors in this series so far have been Kerr's overreaction to Jalen's G2 heroics, and Udoka throwing double-bigs and zone defenses at GS and forcing them to try to find an answer. That same focus on stopping Jalen also is because Kerr knows throwing multiple defenders at him will likely produce turnovers, since he's not great at passing out of double- and triple-teams. Jalen has responded with only 10 turnovers in 6 games, and 5 of them were in Game 4. In the other games he's averaged 1 TO. He may not be scoring like he should, but he's helping us win games.
And three shorter ones... We need to pick up FVV's option for next year, and extend Adams to keep him around another year as well. After this series, I'm convinced that giving up anything of value for an aging vet like KD will take us farther from our goal of true contention than doing absolutely nothing would. I'm surprised Ime didn't pull Sheppard in the last minute yesterday the second he missed his only 3pt attempt.
Nate Williams got his first career shot attempt in a playoff game before Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore.
The less Dillon Brooks, the better. He always plays worse when he gets too emotionally amped (see Grizzlies vs Lakers and Grizzlies vs Warriors). He's getting baited by Jimmy, Draymond and it's playing directly into their hands. Remember when Jimmy had that hard foul on him on the fast break and he bricked both free throws after? He's also an awful rebounder. Jimmy rebounding over him at will in games 1, 3, 4 were a way big reason they were able to barely pull those out. Refs also seem to be calling any marginal contact by him a foul based off his reputation (but for some reason this doesn't apply to Draymond). Dillon getting into foul trouble yesterday was a blessing in disguise.
Alpi has been straight-out balling all series. Meanwhile, Amen didn't really show up until the second half of Game 4, but has been instrumental in the last two wins.
My observation is people live in Jalen Green delusion. I get treated like I am on bath salts for suggesting Jalen Green might have a bit of lack of mental fortitude and we should be careful about building around him. After game 2 people were ecstatic replying to my posts saying how wrong I am about my observation (one which I had for years now). I did not waiver and this series farther cemented my opinion. People lack understanding and often for some odd reason think I am suggesting he doesn't have basketball skills or can't see his improved defense and value the gravity he can sometimes have by pulling a help defender to him. My main problem with Jalen Green is not so much on Jalen Green himself but what the organization is trying to do with him. I would be fine in a Tari Eason level role for Jalen (Not Tari Easons role, I am talking about a different role but similar level). Pay Jalen significantly less and reduce his role into something more fitting to what he is capable of and I would be happy with Jalen.
Sengun is balling, Amen and FVV are showing, Adams deserves the man crushes he routinely gets, Brooks has been decent to good, Jalen showed up one game but keeps doing other things to help us win, Tari and Bari have had key contributions and Holiday even had a role last game. Basically, sometimes you, sometimes me, always us.
It’s much simpler than that. If both Jalen and FVV suck we lose. If one plays good and the other one doesn’t then rotations and FT’s decide the games. If both FVv and Green play great we blow them out. Ime has not outcoached Kerr. We have the far superior team and depth. Ime is still relying on coaches on the floor instead of taking the reins himself. There is not a doubt that he is screwing up with Jabari’s and Jalen’s minutes. The biggest difference in this series is that Amen has lost his playoff jitters and FVV is shooting an unsustainable 70% from 3. We need FVV to play out of his ass this next game and get away from the boogie man. This team will not feel the same pressure against the Wolves as they do against GSW.
The Rockets are playing with more poise and correcting mistakes every game, overall. Ime's coaching adjustments are real (and magnificient), but credit to the players for stepping up. The veteran leadership of Fred and Adams has been as important as their play.
I though the league screwed the Rox by giving 2 days rest off in the first 3 games allowing the old GS warriors to stay up, and now that they are playing every other day, our youth and athleticism is taking it's toll. DD
Championship experience means a lot. The Rockets are on vacation right now without FVV. Actually, probably would’ve been on vacation days ago.
The Warriors are essentially playing the better version of the 2019-2020 Rockets small ball when we had 6’7 Robert Covington and 6’8 Unc playing center and PJ Tucker and House as the rest of the front court. I’m so glad that BS era is long gone.
I don't remember ever seeing a Rockets player shoot at 66.7% from behind the arc in three straight playoff games. Nobody comes to mind. Fred's been on fire.
Jabari can’t dribble and should never attempt to Sengun is dominated by Draymond in the paint When Amen attacks and drives good things happen and need to give him more opportunity to do that Jalen is a net zero
