ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Clippers 5/8/2015 (Playoffs Round 2, Game 3)

I cannot recall a team ever completely and utterly abandoning their identity in a matter of about 2 weeks. The defense that we were known for is all but gone.

We can only hope the 2nd half effort last night continues, but I'm not confident. We'll see.

 

Had a friend who played corner for Baylor who strained his hamstring and tore his labrum...

he told me he would much rather deal with a torn labrum 10 times than with a strained hamstring; that pain is constantly aggravated..

don't mean to wish injury on anyone, but cp3's injury is something that i imagine will bother him all the while..

we really gotta take advantage when he's out, or if he's playing...make him labor to the point of no return..

 

Playing no defense is disgusting.

 

He had a lot of in the paint shots in game 1 and blew 4 of them. Not sure what he has to do to get going

 

More like they had to hide him on defense. If Paul is back they're going to have to decide whether to put Ariza on Paul or Griffin. Players outside of Dwight & Ariza need to step up their defense. Far too many players who just don't make the effort to run back on defense too.

 

As an earlier poster mentioned, whether you are starting or not, play one quarter at a time, and laser focus on doing the little things to win within those 12 minutes.

 

No predictions by me are the best predictions for the Rox

 

Make the 2nd quarter a priority

 

Rockets shots will finally start falling in this game. The team will be ready to get the W on the road. Blake will start feeling more fatigue as this series rolls on. Don't know IF CP3 will be ready for this game but with a bad hamstring one will never know how much percentage wise healthy he will be for the game and IF the hamstring will tighten up during the game.

 

No more FT for Harden, Guaranteed loss by the NBA.

 

The Clips are extremely sharp and comfortable in their games because of the Spurs series. Conversely, the Rockets have gotten used to sloppy basketball because they have not had to play at a high level against the disastrous Mavericks.

The Rockets need to understand from the first two games that they are in the playoffs where everything matters. They need to match the Clippers' intensity and sharpness. They have the talent and personnel to do it and I thought that they made a giant leap in their level of play in game 2.

They will need to adjust to Chris Paul obviously. Whether they will be able to do it in Game 3 is pretty doubtful. I do think they steal one in LAC after getting smacked in the mouth (again) by LAC on the strength of Paul's return.

 

Yeah, second quarter has been a disaster in all seven playoff games.

 

A win here would help me forgot about game 1

 

A win here would help me forget about game 1

 

Yep. I am expecting a loss, but we'll see.

 

I feel oddly optimistic about this game. Not sure why. But I had a strange feeling we were gonna lose Game 1 that whole day, and I figured we'd win last night -- so I'll just ride the optimistic gut feeling for this one and hope to be right again.

 

Keep on riding that feeling---to some Ws

 

Same here. I actually feel the Rockets will find a way to win convincingly for some reason.

 

James Harden will finally realize and play like he's the GOAT. #betthatnevergottasweatthat

 

Watched Game 1, couldn't watch Game 2, and not gonna watch Game 3 for obvious reasons....

Hope we win.