ClutchFans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 4/19/2017 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 2)

Will be at the game sitting close to the Red Rowdies. Thinking of bringing this sign I brought to a game in 2013:

 

love the petty

 

Just dont let up, got a good feeling about Lou Will and EG tonight. Hopefully results in a dub for us.

 

I'll be disappointed if this is a close game. We should be blowing them out or at least comfortably win.

 

You already know this game will be closer, or if we lose, it'll be because of some questionable calls.

The league wants this to be the glorified matchup and the media wants to see their votes for WB justified. Like Simmons said, he will get all the calls.

I hope Donovan still keeps Kanter in, but i think it's unlikely and think he may give Sabonis/McDermott a go, which worries me.

I think we lose a close, controversial one because of refs.

120-113

 

Expect quick foul calls today on the Rockets, most likely Beverly.

 

Beverley is almost guaranteed to have 2 fouls within the first 6 minutes.

 

Bev needs to cool it with the reach-ins early. They will be more likely to call it. Worried about this.

 

He usually comes out shortly thereafter anyway.

 

If I'm D'antoni I'm telling Bev to hold back his insane intensity until the 4th quarter that way he doesn't get sucked into the game the league refs wanna play in the first quarter.

Boom don't play into the trap.

 

Game 1 crowd = Game 2 crowd. Game over, game, set and match. I'm waiting for Russy to blow heat..... at after-game press conference. I hope when Rockets end this series he gets asked, "Would you want MVP, or get to the 2nd round?" We will see a human blow torch.

 

This game will be a lot closer - I worry that we struggle in this one.

DD

 

Rockets weren't exactly sharp in Game 1 though. The 3pt shooting generally was about as bad as it could be for most of the game. What would you anticipate as struggling in this game?

 

Key will be the Rockets matching OKC's intensity. Rockets won the intensity battle the last game and it made all the difference.

Capela & Nene just out worked Adams/Kanter/Gibson. Might have been Capela's best game in terms of physicality. That is a matchup to watch.
And then of course the Beverley intensity factor.

Like others have mentioned, foul calls could mitigate some of the aggressiveness. Will be watching that closely.

 

O'Rly ESPN? Westbrook bested us the whole year? we won the regular season series 3-1. We've had a better record all season by a huge margin.

http://www.espn.com/nba/

 

Rockets have a tendency to come out very chillaxed and not try hard. Hope they don't pull this crap out tonight since I will be watching.

 

The hustle was there from the opening tip. I think both teams were overhyped and trying too hard. The Rockets really didn't settle down til the 2nd quarter.

 

deserves its own thread

 

deserves its own thread.