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Matt Bullard: The Rockets needed a closer, that's why they have CP3

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Progs, Apr 5, 2018.

  1. don grahamleone

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    It’s like people forget that Paul messed up bad 30 seconds before that. Great game winner, but bad turnover late in a game. If we got that play off without the turnover we would have won anyway.

    Harden is still the better closer, but it’s great having a second option!
     
  2. darksoul35

    darksoul35 Member

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    Lets not act like Harden has never closed a game out. How many times have we been blowing leads while he is taking his rest in the 4th and comes in and scores 10 plus points in a row?
     
  3. ElPigto

    ElPigto Member
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    People easily forget.
     
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  4. Tom Bombadillo

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    If you aren’t concerned with Harden closing playoff games under pressure, I seriously wonder If you have watched him the last few years. He gets rattled first, and then he gets tired and quits. CP3 and Beard need to overcome this flaw together. It is real.
     
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  5. saleem

    saleem Member

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    CP3 isn't a consistent clutch player but he is more mature than Harden.

    James can close a game out too, but I think part of the reason that he doesn't succeed is because he is very tightly guarded, and with good reason too. If James was slightly taller, quicker and explosive, he could blow by players with ease under heavy pressure.. i.e. against 1 taller defender or vs 2 defenders at the same time, and finish the game quickly. CP can and does make plays down the stretch for that reason, but not consistently. At times, Harden finishes better than Chris too.
     
  6. saleem

    saleem Member

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  7. saleem

    saleem Member

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    Sorry for the duplicate post.
     
  8. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    Harden wins a finals MVP and that narrative is dead. Until then...game 6.
     
  9. Cstyle42

    Cstyle42 Member

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    I guess when Harden hit that clutch step back 3 in Curry's face that wasn't clutch...
     
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  10. Dankstronaut

    Dankstronaut Way, way out here.

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    Are we back to trying to self destruct? Chris and James play on the same team now (and all season).

    Fear not CF.net! The playoffs begin soon and we’re going to truck teams just like we did all season long.

    This wont be a random team and matchup coming at James with a different plan than normal. In a game that doesn’t matter. Anyone tries to deny him with constant double teams 40ft from the cup in a 7 game series they may as well waive a white flag. You leave shooters open for 3s and leave your defense constantly out numbered hoping one of the greatest playmakers in the game can’t figure it out? Please, PLEASE try it. James will go for zero points, zero assists and a win every game.
     
  11. ipaman

    ipaman Member

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    Harden did his job by getting doubled near half court the last 4 possessions and damn near the whole game. Tuck and GG missed wide open shot after shot that if they hit CP3 never even has to return to the game. Harden needs to keep doing that and it will be all good. If he starts to try hero ball (like it sounds some are advocating) against a double he and the rockets will be screwed.

    All you haters, losers, and fake ass narrative creating scrubs can gtfo!
     
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  12. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Speaking of closers.....remember the time Kyrie was the closer for Lebron to hit the big shot to win Cleveland a championship?

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

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    That was Gawden, not Harden.

    These people want Harden to be like the Dream in those vhs clips where he torches D Rob all the time, not the Dream who couldn't beat the Sonics because his help couldn't make any threes and their defense forced him to turn the ball over.
     
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  14. tinman

    tinman 999999999
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    Clutch level is high with CP3
    D'Andre's free throws held him back in LA
     
  15. Nero

    Nero Member

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    I would just liek to say - if the rockets hit just a few of those corner 3's they were clanging all 4th qtr (looking at YOU, GG, Luc & PJ), then none of this conversation is taking place.

    I guess that's the Achilles Heel of this team, if there is one.. when the shots dry up, other teams can make runs. But it doesn't suddenly make Harden better or CP3 better when those shots from other guys are falling.They were doing the same things they have been doing all year - getting guys the right shots in the right spots. And normally those guys have been knocking them down.

    But big kudos to CP3 for understanding the shots just weren't falling, and for having the ability and the gigantic brass balls to just go on in and do it himself.
     
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  16. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist

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    lol!
     
  17. ryano2009

    ryano2009 Member

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    Ray Allen in Miami
     
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  18. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    I didn’t listen to the Rockets broadcast. Couldn’t he have simply meant “The Rockets needed another closer”, because relying on one guy to close every game is not a good idea?
     
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  19. ParaSolid

    ParaSolid Member

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    Harden did ok this game. He didn't choke by any means in terms of decision making. Should've made those FTs though.

    And as others have pointed out, he's demolished a lot of good teams in the clutch this year (GSW with the stepback on Steph and the block, POR with the stepbackS).

    I liked that Portland hit them with that double team strategy though. These are the types of specialized defenses that teams are going to deploy very soon against them. I thought they did a great job of finding the shots they wanted, but since Big Dick Gordon and Ryno were unavailable, the shots didn't drop.
     
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  20. dmoneybangbang

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    Probably because CP3 doesn't mind taking the mid ranger.
     
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