ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 4/16/2017 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

Absolutely loved the data about bev guarding Westbrook. The on and off data is very interestin

 

If the 3rd seed means anything then we will win this. We have the better team, period. It's not all about Westbrook and Harden, We are the Rockets!!!!! Propulsion ahead, the sky's the limit. Let's do this!!! Go Rockets!!!!!!!

 

Do we know the ref assignments yet? I just want to stay far far away from Tony Brothers. I see that he is doing the Cavs/Pacers game today, does that mean he won't do our game tomorrow?

 

Do we have our playoff roster yet? Is it still 12 players? I'd leave off Wiltj and Taylor. Probably Brown for the last spot.

 

It is, but it is not exclusive.

Root is also showing it.

 

No kidding, and thanks to J.R. for finding and posting that. I've forgotten how many times I've read someone on the board downplaying Bev's defensive skills. Boy, are they wrong. This part is amazing:

Spoiler

Pelton: Fact. When Beverley was on the court against the Thunder this season, Westbrook shot just 41.5 percent, according to NBA.com/Stats.com, and had as many turnovers as assists. The problem for the Rockets comes when they try to defend Westbrook with someone -- anyone -- else. In those situations, Westbrook's shooting percentage improved to 48.0 percent from the field.

Engelmann: Are the Rockets even trying to slow down Westbrook? According to Dennis Rodman, when the Bad Boy Pistons played Michael Jordan, they'd let MJ get his points but focus on shutting down everyone else. I can see the Rockets employing a similar strategy with Westbrook.

Herring: Both. Beverley will probably slow him down some, but not singlehandedly. I'd expect for Beverley and the Rockets to occasionally trap Westbrook to force the ball out of his hands. OKC, which according to Synergy has shot just 3-of-14 this year when Westbrook gets trapped, will have to prove someone else can score.

Adams: Fact. In the three games Beverley played in versus the Rockets, he guarded Westbrook nearly 60 percent of the time, more than twice as much as any other Rockets defender. When guarded by Beverley in the half court, Westbrook averaged 0.84 points per play. When guarded by anyone else, he averaged 1.05 points per play.

Haberstroh: Fiction, but that might be a good thing. Here's why: Westbrook wants to destroy Beverley, but that plays precisely into the Rockets' hands. With Beverley on the floor, Westbrook scores 39.4 points per 36 minutes. Amazing! But there's a catch: It's hyper-volume, not efficient, scoring.

With Beverley out there, Westbrook shoots 41.5 percent on 29.8 field goal attempts per 36 minutes (30 percent on 11.3 3-point tries, per NBA.com/Stats). When Beverley sits? Westbrook shoots 48 percent on "just" 21.4 field goal attempts per 36 minutes (46.7 percent on "just" 6.4 3-point tries). The sample size is small, but the Thunder are minus-16 when Beverley is on the floor with Westbrook and plus-14 when Beverley is out of the picture. In this case, maybe less is more.

 

Playoff rosters are 15 just like regular season. 12 players are named Active before the start of each game

 

Struck him out 3 times

 

Hate having to wait until Sunday!!!!!!

 

The 3 seed in the east lost... glad they got the jinx off us

 

Russ gets a triple double in every game.

 

The Rockets have to take the **** seriously
They cannot be 'surprised' in the first game
and go down 0-1 then try to 'wake up'
I mean . . .they can but i don't recommend it

Rockets cannot get down by the Refs . . ..
I will be interested to see if Playoff Russ gets all kinds of crazy foul calls.
I expect at least 5~6 sh!tty calls against the rockets a game
they will have to try to over come them . . and not let it get in their head

Rocket River

 

You're right about the refs...Harden may not get the calls at the same rate as the regular season, so he's going to have to focus more on scoring/assisting and less on trying to draw fouls to get to the FT line. It is a big part of his game, but he may not be able to rely on it as much in the playoffs.

 

I hope Harden and Williams got the memo and do not waste possessions trying to bait the refs.

Also I hope Harden doesn't throw stupid unnesseccary passes full court and in traffic and waste possessions while giving 2 the other way!.

 

it is the playoffs. I think the centers are actually going to get up and grab those boards rather than leave them for Russell.

okc
okc
okstfu

 

IT'S ALMOST TIME! GO ROCKETS GO!

 

Throwing up in my mouth. Tmac and sekou smith quoted on sportscenter saying this is the best season in nba history.

Lmao. Im really not a hater. Like ive said multiple times i like westbrook and hes a top 5 player in the nba but cmon hes 6th seeded and leading nba in FGAs and breaking records in usage rate.

Curry hype was annoying but curry deserved it. He won 73 games and the championship. His advanced stats were great too. He dropped 30 5 and 5 on ungodly efficiency. The hype annoyed me but I couldnt be too salty cause he was winning.

Westbrook hype is.....,.