I certainly think the Rockets can win Game 6. Let's be honest. Any scenario prior to Game 5 that had them winning the series would've included a Game 6 victory. I don't think anyone expected them to win Game 5, drop Game 6 at home, and then bounce back and win Game 7 in San Antonio. So let's say they respond to the heartbreaking loss last night and take care of business in Game 6. The problem is that Game 7's are very hard to win on the road. Especially for a team like the Rockets who are prone to careless turnovers and cold shooting nights. Really it all comes down to Kawhi's status. If he's hobbled by his injury, the Rockets would have to try to lose this series(like they tried and succeeded in losing Game 5). But if he's relatively healthy and can play at about 80% in Games 6 and 7, then I'd favor the Spurs to advance.
We're blowing them out at home while they're barely escaping to beat us at their place. Objectively, we are the better team but they have home-court advantage. If we lose this series, the Game 3 home loss was the killer, along with obviously choking away Game 5.
Nah, Game 5 was the killer. Game 3 was just a bad night for the Rockets and a good night for the Spurs. It happens. Last night was practically handed to the Rockets on a silver platter and they still blew it.
This is true. A game on their court without Parker and then Kawhi and you have 5 minutes (OT) to win and go up 3-2 with the next game at home. Unbelievable opportunity.
This is eerily reminiscent of the Clippers seminfinals series a couple years ago. The Rockets were gifted a Game 1 opportunity when Paul was out with an injury and that team was less than 2 days removed from an exhausting 7-game slugfest with the Spurs. And they promptly came out flat and got blown out on their home floor. To McHale's credit(a phrase I hardly ever use), he apparently gave the players an earful after the game. We'll see if D'Antoni is able to get through to these guys after what happened last night. Game 6 is a must win anyway, so you would assume they'd show up for that one. But if Kawhi is hobbled in Game 7, there's no excuse this time. Execute your offense, hustle for every loose ball, and finish the Spurs off. Sure, we'll still get stomped by the Warriors in the WCF, but at least get that far and see how you measure up to them.
Harden not running any plays in the first 3 minutes of OT was strange may well have cost us the game. But I will say that Harden got us there in the first place. He had a great first half, and when it wasn't going for him or the rest of the team in the second half, Harden did score some buckets that got the team moving again. Harden's post defense against bigger guys was actually impressive. He was matched up against Gasol, and Aldridge. He did a solid job not giving those guys easy looks. His defense didn't go so well against the Spurs guards but without Nene, the post defense needed help and Harden did a good job with it. I'm not denying the mistakes he made, especially down the stretch, but those things don't change the things Harden was doing well. The Rockets had a chance to win this one in San Antonio. That's all we can ask. Next time the chances may fall our way. I've watched the Rockets Clutch City teams in the 90's. I saw them come back from being down 3-1 against the Clippers. This team can definitely do it.
It wasn't really about effort imo. It was about the team going crazy hard for 3 quarters executing the offense/defense with energy, and then running out of gas in the 4th, which leads not only to slow execution but towards the end it was resulting in gigantic mental lapses. These guys were done, they couldn't even think. But what disappointed me more was how Harden reacted to it. He's the leader of this team and in those circumstances you have to make a call about whether the right decision is to feed someone else, carry the team, be angry, be positive, or whatever. I believe he let frustration get the best of him, and instead of energizing his team he both deflated them with untimely in-team anger and holding on to the ball faaaaaaaaar too long. What disappointed me even more than that is he didn't come out in the post game and say "damn, I mishandled that as a leader. I could have turned that into a win if I had demonstrated some elite leadership." MDA said he is not certain if he will extend the rotation for game 6 because he hadn't had time to think about it. He should know. He should have known before OT. If these guys are going to be stubborn about ignoring the fact that the role players SHOWED UP in game 5 while MDA/Harden miscalculated, then we will not get the highest level of motivation from the whole team, which is what you need to beat the Spurs. These role players will give us 100% because of their character, but we need 110% from them.
Last night's game wasn't a matter of the team coming out flat. Besides missing too many open threes, they played well, defended hard, and really deserved to win that game. They simply just ran out of gas because of this asinine 7-man rotation.
If that's really what it was(I think poor coaching and execution were just as paramount as fatigue), then the players need to speak up in the locker room and at practice. I'd rather D'Antoni give Dekker and Harrell 5-10 minutes each and deepen the rotation. Even if they make a few mistakes out there, if it means Harden and the rest of the team make far fewer boneheaded plays in crunch time, so be it. I also think D'Antoni needs to consider going back to Anderson as a starter with Gordon off the bench. We need Gordon and Lou sparking that 2nd unit.
Plus Road Ryno is actually pretty good and should be starting as it is. Hell, he even made 3-7 threes in his last home game so maybe he's finally turned it around at TC. After Gordon's bad game, yes Ryno should start again.
I'm usually the post biased rockets fan. And I feel like series may be over. I feel dantoni gave this away more so than James. Because the whole team was drained with 3 mins in 4th and the whole overtime. This is why you need to use more of your bench
One game at a time. The ability is there but is the intelligence? Hopefully they will learn from Game 5. Coach included.
I saw two Rockets-Spurs games in San Antonio this season. The first was the devastating loss on March 6. The second was the euphoric Game 1 win. I didn't think I could feel worse than I did on that March night driving home, but I did last night. We missed a wonderful opportunity to potentially put the Spurs away tomorrow night. Today, however, I feel hopeful. After seeing how hard we fought, I know we can take the next two games. This members of this team truly care about each other, and they have the will to win the next two. This team has not quit all year, and they won't quit now. The intensity we showed on defense last night is all you need to know about our chances. Two more performances like that and we move on to play Golden State. It's time to believe again.
Keep dreaming, this one ends tomorrow night. They better get their dollar beer and empty arena pregame concert promotion going because tomorrow will be their last opportunity to show a half empty lower bowl for three quarters. Yall better switch to baseball mode and stop wasting your time with these b**** ass ******s
I'm really confident we will win game 6 and feel 60 to 40 in our fave to win game 7. What we need to do is to smash them Thursday night and have a lot of momentum for Saturday nights game in san antonio
