ClutchFans Game Thread: Spurs @ Rockets 4/10/2015

Yeah, getting blown out would almost have been better. We got so many little gifts down the stretch but couldn't capitalize... so frustrating.

 

Nope, every seed is still in play outside of 1 of course.

Even if the Spurs, Grizzlies, Clippers say lose out we could even go back to 2 if we win out. Portland is just kinda stuck in the middle to play whoever finishes '5'

Still tons to play for.

 

Spurs have had Rox balls in a vice for almost 20 years....no reason to change now I guess.

 

Blinded by the season sweep last season

 

As others have mentioned...the hack a Rocket big isnt the only strategy the Spurs have for the Rockets.
Their other options:
1. Diaw in the post vs Jones or Smith
2. Pick and roll off Tim Duncan's man
3. Kawhi on the post vs James or Ariza
4. Double James every possession
5. Flop off your own player (ie. Manu and Mills)

If the Rockets manage to shoot well from the FT line, Pop will go to plan B...if not plan C..D, etc. Mchale will have to lose that game before readjusting. Recall that the Rockets wouldve been swept last year if it werent for a Rookie(Daniels) hitting a cold blooded shot at the end of the game.

 

Coaches still can't coach playoff-level basketball. With Harden so stymied, why call for a lay-up at the end? And why not a playmaker like Prigs in the endgame to make it easier for Harden? What killed us were Harden's bad plays in the 4th.

Lack of coaching to help put the team over the top in a winnable game.

 

Had u beat by a week.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?p=9658697#post9658697

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Josh Smith on Popovich's strategy 2foul him:&quot;He's a great coach.He knows how 2disrupt the rhythm of the game but we still had an opp to win&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/586733522204790784">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard: &quot;No excuses. It doesn't matter if they hack us, the main job is to get a stop.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/586734213988089857">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard: &quot;I feel pretty good, just upset we let those guys beat us again.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/586734655002423296">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Josh Smith on hack-a-Josh:&quot;It was a good strategy.I stepped to the line confident but I wasn't able to make the majority of the free throws&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/586731759825334273">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>James Harden on missing last shot in 104-103 loss to the Spurs: &quot;Got to finish.Got to finish.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/586730720703291393">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Harden did not say was fouled. Left it at &quot;Got to finish. Got to finish.&quot; Actually no one complained in locker room. Plenty of other issues.</p>&mdash; Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/586731677658976256">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ariza on the hacking:&quot;We got to see a preview of what teams are going to try to do to us and we can learn from it and get better from it.&quot;</p>&mdash; Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/status/586732220624146432">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pop said Bust A Smoove was as much about taking ball out of Hardens hand as exploiting him. Did it work? &quot;Absolutely&quot;</p>&mdash; Dan McCarney (@danmccarneySAEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/danmccarneySAEN/status/586723693461536768">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Greg Popovich on Hack a Josh: &quot;Absolutely (it worked). I'd trade it any day rather than have James Harden with the basketball.&quot;</p>&mdash; Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/586737259212382208">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard: &quot;I'm just upset that those guys beat us again. So, we just got to get ready for the next one.&quot;</p>&mdash; Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/586732997107384322">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>James Harden on his evening: &quot;I missed a couple of layups.&quot;</p>&mdash; Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/586736649758973952">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Corey Brewer on Bust a Smoove: &quot;If they've got to do that to beat us, oh well.&quot;</p>&mdash; Dan McCarney (@danmccarneySAEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/danmccarneySAEN/status/586733730305159169">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>So the Rockets get fouled when they don't want to, don't get fouled when they do. Scary team, but they have playoff problems.</p>&mdash; Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN/status/586720844048502784">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Clean block by Duncan

Harden should of known better, take a freaking shot, n live with the result

 

Lol @ person who left me angry/vitriol-filled rep

 

Thanks. I don't know about you guys, but I've given up on any type of title aspiration for this season. You just can't win with only one reliable ballhandler and shot creator. The DMo injury made this even worse now.

I just want the situation that gives us the best chance to win a playoff series. Let's remember guys, before we start talking championships or conference finals, we need to do something that this franchise has only done once in the last 18 years: win a freaking playoff series. And to me, getting a 5th seed and playing Portland gives us our best shot.

 

Let's think positively the Spurs are the defending champs and are playing out of their minds as of late . We might be the only team in their hot stretch this close to knocking them out. We did pretty decent prior to meeting them. So there is still hope.

 

I'd still say it was not the FT shooting that cost us the game. If Josh had started hitting, Spurs would try to beat a number of other ways.

It was Harden playing bad when he did have the ball. The FT shooting in fact kept us in the game. It was their defense on Harden and Howard. Ariza and Jones were shooting well. Brewer is another no-show.

 

If only harden gave the around the back pass to dwight. I think dwight was open under the basket right since duncan had to step up to block the shot.

 

Dwight was dropping those all night. Maybe a lob or a floater over the top.

 

rockets suck ass and we aint getting out the first round

 

F it y'all. We're a better road team anyway

 

they blew us out in san antonio

 

First round exit if this level of play shows up again

 

A 6th seeded rockets won it all 20 years ago, don't lose hope in clutch city!