ClutchFans Game Thread: Blazers @ Rockets 4/30/2014 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 5)

I wonder what would have happened if we went with jordan hamilton instead of garcia in games 1 and 2. I think we pull at least on of them out. At least we found out that last year was a fluke for garcia in the playoffs.

 

We need to get Daniels more shots, need to play a lot smarter in game 6 or we're going to lose big.

 

I'd like to see the team bear down and push the lead up when the opportunity presents itself. Last night, when we had those 14-17 point leads we made all kinds of careless plays when Portland was in a major scoring drought. Could have pushed the lead into the 20s if we had focused on making fundamental offensive plays.

 

i know harden is off but a lot of it has to do with matthews. he is definitely taking harden off his game.
harden should drive more and get in him foul trouble so he get matthews out of the game.

 

Great Win by the team! Observations from the game is that our players had more intensity than the blazers and hustled more ensuring to win those 50/50 balls. Good bounce back game for Lin, Parsons did well, Howard was his usual dominant self and Asik shut down LMA.

Game 6, the boys need to come out with even more intensity, and I really hope Harden can knock down a few quick points early to get his confidence going.

Loved McHale's "Hold, Hoop, Hold" statement in the last 2 mins of the game. Gave them something to focus. The guys delivered + more.

 

He's also one of the few full-time trolls still active on the board. Acts like a crazy LOH but every once in a while his mask slips and you can tell he's actually a crazed LOF.

 

He sure did give it his all. Most of us would call in sick if we felt that bad. He sure is a WARRIOR.

 

Our defense and Harden's offense down the stretch were big last night.

Jeremy had a good shooting night; Omer and Dwight were huge on the boards and on defense; Chandler picked up his game, and had some important scores. Pat Bev still contributed mightily even though ill.

Another important factor was LMA, and specifically the early foul trouble he got into. He got called with his second with just under 6 minutes left in 1st Q and was immediately pulled. He was asked about this in post game presser:

Q: Did the foul trouble take you out of it a little bit and get your rhythm off?

A: I think it did. Usually, I play the whole first [quarter] and I get more touches. I couldn't find my rhythm. That kind of threw me off. When I came back in, the whole flow of the game was just different. We were playing more pick-and-roll. We were playing more isolation with the guys that were going, so I was just trying to fit in out there.

 

What a fun game. Good to see Lin create his own redemption. Harden's defense and shooting down the stretch were really encouraging as well.

I like Asik guarding Aldridge, but as soon as Terrence Jones comes in, I'd like to have the Rockets give the ball to Jones and take it at LA just like the Blazers have done by posting up Matthews on Harden.

 

LMAO will have to rewatch.

 

Why is Portland utilizing 5 or 6 players off of the bench and the Rockets only using 3?

 

This gif always cracks me up!

 

what are you talking about..they're key bench players are mo williams, wright, and robinson..i count 3 not 5 or 6

 

Fantastic victory last night. Got to Love Beverley's heart and desire. Lin played big last night. Howard handle his business and the post and Parsons, Asik and Jones had solid games. Even though Harden still struggled he came up big in the 4th.


Can we win the next two? Hell yeah.

I said I wasn't going to watch this game, but I couldn't help myself. Would have missed a good win by them Red Nation Rockets Boyzzzz

 

Who is Portland using? Mo Williams, Thomas Robinson, Freeland, and Wright are the only ones getting significant time off the bench. And Freeland barely counts. He's just brought in to hack Dwight.

Meanwhile, the Rockets are playing T-Jones, Lin, and Daniels. That's basically a draw right there.

 

anyone know where you can buy the clutch city shirts they were giving out last night?

 

The Trail Blazers said the two shots Lin hit as the shot clock expired were deflating.

Damian Lillard

On Jeremy Lin:
"He threw up some crazy shots," Lillard said. "That's when you know a guy is having a good night. They would put one up at the end of so many good defensive possessions, and it's going in. That let you know what kind of night it was."

Wesley Matthews

On What Happened Down The Stretch:
“They made plays. You have to give them credit. They played with a sense of urgency, desperation, that we knew they would. It seemed like Jeremy Lin hit big shot after big shot. We got stops and still gave ourselves an opportunity. They made plays when it came down to it.”

On Jeremy Lin:
“He made plays. I remember two tough 3’s at the end of the shot clock, so that is six points right there that easily could have went either way, but credit him, he made plays, he was attacking the rim, aggressive and 21 points off the bench is huge.”

Robin Lopez

On If The Trail Blazers Have Lost The Edge:
“No, I don’t know it was that. I think we may have underestimated how desperate they were going to come out. I’m excited for Game 6 and I know that they will come out with a greater level of intensity and confidence and we will have to try and match it overcome it.”

On The Difference In Tonight’s Game:
“I think it was just the energy in the first half. I don’t know if Houston did anything different. They just came out very desperately.”


Head Coach Terry Stotts

On The Game:
“It was another hard fought game. Obviously, we got down early in the first half, and I didn’t think we played the way we’ve been playing the series. We turned the ball over to much and were a little out of sorts defensively, but we made a good run in the second half. It was just another hard fought game and so we look forward to playing them on Friday.”

On Seeing A More Intense Effort From The Rockets
“I think both teams have been playing with a high intensity all series. I didn’t necessarily notice it one way or another because all the games have been at a high level of intensity and effort. I think you’ll see the same thing on Friday.”

On The Rockets Shutting Down LaMarcus Aldridge:
“He goes three-for-twelve and missed a couple of free throws and maybe his foul trouble got him out of his rhythm. Out team is constructed where we have to take advantage of the opportunities that are there. Obviously, LA (LaMarcus Aldridge) didn’t score, but we still scored 98 and we had some opportunities in the last three minutes. Obviously, LA (LaMarcus Aldridge) has had better games in the series, but I don’t know if it was necessarily their defense, but give Houston credit they played hard and we’ll look at the video and see here we can get better.”

On Jeremy Lin:
“He hit two big shots as the shot clock was coming down in both halves and those were big momentum plays. Those were his only two 3’s or, I’m sorry, one was a two, those were two big momentum plays for them and kind of took a little bit out of us. Both those plays we had a good defensive stand and then he throws it up at the end. His penetrations hurt us, particularly in the second half. We know he is very capable of doing that for them. For him to have 21 off the bench gave them a lot of big points.”

 

"Pretty simple for Houston down deep. Quick and slashing, score every time. Slow and holding it, Blazers swarm and snuff."

Tweet from Blazer's commentator.

 

man, portland is going to be ready for game 6..

i really hope we can pull through. so nervous about that game.