ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Warriors 5/20/2018 (Western Conference Finals, Game 3)

Well, Chelsea did win, so lets make it 2/2

 

They beat us the first game in our house, we should do the same in their house.

 

Props to Chauncey Billups

Paul Pierce "Steph doesn't look 100%"

Billups "come on man, his first game back against the Pelicans, I didn't hear all this injured talk, the guy can have a bad game ya know."

He gave credit to Houston for attacking him on defense and sticking with him on offense. Says everyone is a little banged up this time of year, quit making excuses for Steph.

 

[LOL]

Jalen & Paul: Steph is hurt
Chauncey: Get that bullshit outta here.

[Concerned with Steph's struggle this series?]

Paul: A little. If we go back a couple years when Cleveland beat them in the Finals, that was the primary reason they won. They isolated Steph. That's what this is reminding me of. He's a weaker link on defense & is coming back from injury. They're taking advantage of it. Rhythm isn't there offensively. It'll take time, maybe a few more games for him to get consistency going. Right now, it's just not there.

Chauncey: If there is a kryptonite for him, be physical with him. Run him off the 3pt line. Challenge him. They're putting him in every single action to wear him down. It's Steph. He's a great player & will figure it out.

Jalen: This is the narrative we had all year: If Steph isn't 100% or at a high level, can they beat Houston. People went back & forth. If we see the Steph from Game 2 the rest of the series, Houston will win.

Chauncey: So Steph's hurt?

Jalen: He doesn't look as fast.

Chauncey: Why do we keep hearing that?

Paul: He's raised the bar so high. 2-time MVP.

Chauncey: He had almost 30 a few minutes when he first came back, now he's hurt?

Paul: The bar for him is so high. If you see him give you 15 points, 1-10 from three, that's not normal.

Chauncey: You can just play bad.

Paul: Not a guy like that. A guy like that does not play bad like that.

Chauncey: My goodness, y'all are trippin' man.

Jalen: Going into or during the playoffs the last 3 years, he's dealt with injuries. That's an absolute fact. Capela got switched onto him a few times last game. He couldn't blow by him. Before, he would have had that dude on skates. I'm not saying it's an excuse if they lose. He's not operating at optimum levels.

Paul: He's not 100%.

Chauncey: So that first game he came back, did we say he's injured, he's hurt?

Paul: You come back for that first game, the energy/adrenaline. Then you settle in...your legs aren't there.

Chauncey: Going against Houston & Chris Paul. You have no adrenaline?

Paul: Your legs aren't there. Your legs get tired faster.

Chauncey: Know why those legs are tired? Because they put him in all that action & he's playing defense every single play. That's why them legs are tired, not because he's hurt man.

Michelle: So you're not seeing anything to believe he's hurt?

Chauncey: At this point in the season, no one feels great. He'll get hot, have a 40 point game and no one will say anything. You can have a bad game. You don't have to be hurt.

Paul: Back to back, that's not normal of him. He set a bar. Top 5 player in the game. He does not come out & play under par for 2 straight games.

Jalen: He don't have his bounce & rhythm.

Chauncey: How tired would you guys be if you had to play defense (iso) every single play?

Paul: That's the coaching genius of D'Antoni. He's figuring out ways to get him isolated.

Jalen: He's the worst defender of the 5. So do you think he's 100%?

Chauncey: No but I don't think anyone is 100% right now. He's gotta be 90-something.

Jalen: Do you think they can win if he's 90%?

Chauncey: Yes.

 

CP3 (sitdown with Wilbon):

(Warriors) If you aren't trying to beat them, who are you trying to beat?

Do you believe in windows of opportunity?

Windows of opportunity, not sure that phrase resonates with me. I do believe in the moment. I'm not a big "Well next year we can do it." For us, we have a special team. If this was year two/three, "Oh, whatever." I know this thing we have is special. We have to take advantage of it.

 

Ridiculous the excuses Curry get. Harden or Paul being hurt will never be mentioned unless they actually sit out the game smh.

 

You know it's interesting coz we happen to allow one of those (game one) a series too, donkey.

 

This will give extra motivation to our Houston Rockets!

 

Yea I hope you’re right. They aren’t respecting our ability

 

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

- Proverbs 16:18, 1611 King James version

 

Draymond last words before going down!

Unfortunately, one cannot turn Curry into a good defender overnight.

 

Who is going to luckys pub tomorrow?

 

Donkey csn stay locked in on Capela our guards rule the paint on offense.

 

biggest key is to weather that 1Q storm GS will inevitably try to come out with

 

1Q and 3Q usually show the major adjustments in the game, weathering both of these Q will be key, however, I agree that definitely 1Q in G3 will be very important on the first road game of the series for Rox especially when winning G2. It is why winning G1 is so important in a series like this because they are at home and the upper hand on possible adjustments and game plan with series tied 1-1. If we lose G3, it puts tremendous pressure on us for G4.

Hopefully no more Foster/Brothers in this series so we aren’t on the back foot of a series like this one.

 

Warriors will probably blow their load in the 1Q, and Rockets will take over the other 3 quarters.

 

A Rockets clad pastor? Run as One.

Spoiler

 

If Harden or Paul sit out with injuries, the media will say or imply that they aren't tough enough, or even call them quittters.