ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 5/3/2013 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 6)

He does?

 

LET GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is my last post before the game, so:

BEAT OKC!!!

 

OKC goin fishin'

 

Wow. Betting line is ROckets -1. Obviously, Westbrook is out, and this is a home game for the Rockets, but that is a sign of some respect. I was guessing OKC -3, maybe 2.5 (last game's line was OKC -9 I believe, also without Westbrook).

 

If we win tonight id kinda feel sorry for westbrook, sitting back watching his team get dominated by the last seed without him being able to do a thing. it's got to be a terrible feeling.

 

of course, he was killing it against Smith, so... hopefully against Asik it won't make as much of a diff.

 

Vegas has us winning this game but losing game 7

 

I'll take that

 

Winning a game seven in okc would be one of the biggest upsets in the nab. I think the league would do everything in it's power to make sure the Thunder advance, including bringing in everyone's favorite ref Joey Crawford.

 

lol, double-teaming Harden won't be the answer.

 

If they double team Harden, Parson's will own them.

 

Lets Go Seven chant to be started before the game during warmups

 

LOL We were just unanimously picked to win tonight on Around the Horn.

Getting some love and it feels good.

Now lets take care of business.

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GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!

 

Lets go get it!!!!

 

AB in there!

 

Once Westbrook is out, OKC only has one player left who moves the defense, so Durant doesn't really have much of a choice. It just goes to appreciate Scotty Brooks' coaching in letting Westbrook shoot and drive so much, despite Westbrook having a worse FG%, eFG%, and TS% than even Lin, let alone Durant. A lesser coach may have even preferred Reggie Jackson next to Durant going full Durant, as Jackson plays more in the flow of the game and is much more efficient. Of course, Jackson doesn't move the defense and he is no Westbrook (incidentally, this is also why I think Lowry is and will probably always be better than Dragic, Lawson, and Vasquez).

With Westbrook out, Scotty Brooks has no choice but to play down to McHale's level, and McHale has a lot more experience playing this brand of circus ball. Scotty is a quick learner, though. He has no doubt realized by now that playing this brand of circus ball, the team is at the complete mercy of outside shots falling, because without two players moving the defense for each other, easy interior shots are hard to come by and few and far in between. Look for Brooks to adjust his lineup to optimize for outside shooting, now that he only has Durant to move the defense. This is a circus ball vs circus ball outside shooting contest now, for both sides.

Morey's increased variance is in full force, thanks to Westbrook's knee.

 

I'm not concerned about what the backups do or don't do. The starters are going to get the vast majority of the minutes, just as they have in almost every game this series.

The key is to just keep the game close until the 4th. Make Durant play as many minutes as possible. Martin, Fisher, and Thabo are going to get open looks from 3....we just have to hope they miss them.

I felt good about game 4, but not game 5. Today, I'm indifferent. Regardless of how this game finishes, the Rockets have given me reason to hope for a very bright future.

One game at a time.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Carlos Delfino has a fractured bone in right foot. Out for the playoffs.</p>&mdash; Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/330435445248901120">May 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Did anyone bring up Perkins' uncalled basket interference in the 4th with 11:10 left in game 5 ??? He grabbed the net and shook the rim. That was a brooks layup that should have counted.

I'm probably late on that, but just noticed it while watching the quarter again and I haven't seen anyone mention it. It would have given us a 16 pt lead at the time.