Clutchfans Game Thread: Thunder @ Rockets 9/2/2020 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 7)

I think this could be likely not really due to anything valid but because I don't think Tillman really truly cares for him anyways, and probably wants his own guy running the show. He's been cordial in the public because he knows how popular Morey is, but he'd throw him under the bus first chance he gets no doubt.

And honestly I think Morey would welcome it more than some might think. The guy has more to offer than just GM of the Rockets. I think there are big things ahead for Morey. Not sure exactly what, but the guy probably has bigger ambitions even though I know it'll kill him that he never won a title with the Rockets since this was his passion for so many years.

 

He can leave with his head held high knowing he tried to move heaven and earth and exerted every avenue possible to bring a championship it just hasn’t happened and that’s unfortunate.

 

Is this a joke?

The teams he has lost to had 4-5 all stars and was an all time great, maybe greatest, team. Dwight? Seriously? And the Westbrook he has in these playoffs has been a negative. He’s been an one man show these playoffs and delivered besides inexplicably getting the ball taken out of his hands at the end of the last game.

 

Not a failure yet. Our championship team in 95 was pushed to the brink in the first round. Just enjoy the ride. I have confidence we will advance.

 

There this gut feeling i dont like where okc will have us close and Paul will put the nail in the coffin sending houston out of the bubble.
If they lose to okc i think im done with this team. Because they have no money for free agents, and they cant even get pass a rebuild Cp3 team.

 

Okc had the same record as the Rockets in the regular season. They are not playing an 8 seed. The Rockets were without their second best player for 4 games and a shell of him for 2. How does this prove anything?

With that said they have still shown they were the superior team that should’ve won the series already, THANKS to their style of play which has stifled okc’s offense. If they end in losing it will be the result of massive coaching blunders in game 3 and 6, and a gimpy Westbrook that came back and hurt the team, DESPITE the style of play that got them here.

 

OKC 147, HOU 96

Lol edit, now I see you already answered

 

But .. But ... Warriors Dynasty? The Heatles? Boston Big 3?

All it takes is ONE secondary "star" ??

Dont let Kawhi fool you.

 

Do people not understand when you launch 50+ threes that you drive less thus less FTs? As much as we've been driving more than during the regular season, it does not change the fact we shoot a lot of outside shots compared to OKC. Combine this with our tendency to reach, swipe at the ball, try to get steals - as a strategy - and have shown to be undisciplined probably due to being undersized at almost every position and it's not that shocking.

 

Don’t make me bump that “Trade Harden thread”.

 

So....

The Rockets always do the opposite of what my gut expects. If I think they have pulled sht together and should win, they play horribly. If I am down on them and think that they'll get crushed, they play incredibly well.

My gut says we're losing this, because the narrative and irony surrounding it all is too perfect, Scott Foster is reffing, Harden has never, ever shown he can be the one we can count on in closeout games, and just because I don't remember the last time I felt confident in a Game 7.

Let's hope my gut is again wrong!

Houston is more talented, has had FT disparity and down every game, and Gordon/Rivers have been shooting pretty terribly to this point. We need this to go right, and badly. I will be watching and rooting, because I know its absolutely possible that not only could we win, but we can do it in convincing fashion.

Now, with that said, if we lose this then I may just be finally giving in and giving up on the Harden era. No its not all on him, he's outstanding and incredibly talented (in a legendary way almost), and coaching, management, injuries, and role players absolutely play their parts in all of this, BUT...

If he starts shooting a bunch of stepback 3s, not demanding the ball in crunchtime, not aggressively attempting to free himself up to get the ball in our half halfcourt, slowly bringing the ball up in dire situations, etc, then I am done. Then f 2020 fully and a Harden-led squad will truly go nowhere.

We are the better team, and we should win this.

 

you bump it every year and harden is still a rocket the next season lol

 

That's not a score prediction. It's the FT disparity...

 

Lol

 

Rockets shot a lot of 3s during the year, and were one the league leaders in FTs.

 

I don't think my heart could handle losing to OKC tonight. Knowing what we traded for Westbrook and how light our war chest is going forward as a result, losing to a team we traded CP3 to would just be the worst.

 

if we lose, so be it. We are just not good enough. I am cool with that. Our goal was to make out western conference and have a chance at the championship. I don’t agree that we will fire sale everyone including Harden this offseason. We will have a new coach and new system. Harden is still in his prime. Unless he wants out, we keep him for the new direction.

 

bring those old headband crews back: Brewer and Josh Smith for game 7. pretty sure Chris Paul would throw up a little when he sees them headband crews on the floor. They killed CP with his clippers team back in the days.