ClutchFans Game Thread: Clippers @ Rockets 5/4/2015 (Playoffs Round 2, Game 1)

i would say that, from what I saw overall, Rockets will be lucky to win one game this series. Thi Clips are so much better than the Mavs it is not even close.

 

No. They were unprepared, period. You could tell by their effort(or lack thereof) and body language. They really thought this would be a gimme, Paul or no Paul. And once the Clippers actually put up a fight after their shaky first quarter, the Rockets just quit.

What's scary is they played like this during most of that Dallas series as well. It's just that the Mavs sucked, so they didn't have it in them to come back and make that series competitive. Game 5 was actually very similar to last night's Game 1. Unforced turnovers, missed free throws, and lazy offense. The only reason the Rockets pulled that one out was because of last second 3's by T-Jones and Harden and the Mavs not having someone of Blake Griffin's caliber on their team.

 

The Clippers had a lot of turnovers because they rely so heavily on CP3 to dominate the ball and keep it safe, the Rockets had so many because they are undisciplined.

If the Rockets don't find some BBALL IQ and discipline quickly, this will be a fast series win for the Clips.

DD

 

[youtube]LIzUwT_pBSs[/youtube]

 

No...not at all.

 

WOW!! I did not even see that because the stream didn't want to work with me and I just skipped trough that part, since a loss was a given. Now I'm even more pissed, that is unforgiveable, the Clippers are laughing at us...

 

We just aren't battle tested as a team, I know our individual players have but as a team we aren't. I dont know why Harden was being SO passive, it was like he was scared. I understand Jordan was there but he HAS to keep attacking.

 

They call him the pussinator.

 

Really? The Portland series wasn't a battle? Games 1, 3, and 4 all went to overtime and Games 2 and 6 had the Rockets down and up by one possession respectively with just seconds remaining. And even Game 5 was still in doubt until the final minutes(and was an elimination game, BTW).

Hell, even OKC back in 2013 was a battle. Games 2, 3, and 4 went down to the wire. And Game 5 was an elimination game on the road that the Rockets managed to win before finally falling in Game 6.

Granted, not all of the same players from those series are on the current roster. But some of them are. Including Harden. I don't have any problem conceding that the Clippers are more tested than the Rockets, especially over the last couple weeks after that brutal series with the Spurs. But this idea that our guys are a bunch of neophytes who've never been in these situations before is absurd.

 

They played like they don't give a ****, I don't remember the last time I saw them play such uninspired ball. Maybe the Utah game in March or the Detroit game in January? It was gross to watch, Harden played like Curry was the MVP. I was really hoping he'd be playing with a chip on his shoulder, guess not. It sucks we've lost HCA, but I hope this serves as a wake up call and they regroup and come out playing like a hungry, desperate team. We need the next 2 in a big way.

 

This team came out flat and with no energy. To make matters worse we QUIT. Yes we QUIT. We gave up towards the end instead of having some pride and fighting till the very last second like real well coached championship teams do.

I hate the loss esp without Chris Paul. It was a game that we absolutely had to take.

Loss aside, the manner in which we played was very very disappointing. Lack of heart, lack of pride, throwing in the towel early, giving up like losers is UNACCEPTABLE.

A serious inquisition must happen. Morey better seriously question McHale and the players about what exactly went on last night. It's a bad advertisement for Rockets basketball and NBA in general when you quit like that.

 

Everything has been said already in this thread on why/how we lost.


Moving on to Game 2 tho.

I want to see more Prigs and Brewer, TJones needs to wake up, and Smith needs to play with control if we are to have a chance.


I do give credit to the Clips tho, they really just wanted it more, and Griffin is a triple double waiting to happen, im not sure how you stop the Clips to be honest they had our number during the regular season.

If we our to have a chance tho, the team has to figure out what they want, win a ring/ or go on vacation early.

 

come on. It's not like he can get free throws from faking this. :grin::grin:

 

Perhaps. It seems as if we, I daresay, underestimated this Clippers team?

 

The return of the living dead

 

Bad game ... but I'd rather have this performance in Game 1 and not in Game 7.

 

WHAT! THE! HELL! why must we endure such grueling losses? Oh well......on to Game 2!!

 

Revert to Game 2 Tactics (mavs series)

Can someone please explain why McHale doesn't consistently go to the pick n roll with the Harden, Howard and Josh combo that was working so well for them in game 2 last series? Those 3 guys play it so well!

 

My knock on Harden remains the same

LOOK TO SCORE you dip****. He comes off screens looking to go 1 on 1 instead of being aggressive and driving to bucket to put pressure on the defense.

 

I can't believe the overreactions by some of you after 1 loss. Who cares if CP3 didn't play? This team is good enough to beat them with or without him. Last night was jut a horribly played game and I expect them to bounce back strong on Wednesday with a lot more heart. Relax guys, it's a 7 game series. Unless you have the Rockets sweeping this series this shouldn't be a surprise. I still have the Rockets in 7. Sit back and enjoy all of the adversity this team will face. It will only make it sweeter when we advance.