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I agree with this post but for Bayless to be so dismissive was disrespectful based on how we closed out the Clips. He said that the Rockets are closer to the team that lost 3 games other that the team that won four. How is that opinion even possible? I like what the NBA TV's analysts said, they give the Rockets a "punchers chance".
Skip Bayless is an idiot. How could anyone watched the series say the Rockets are still the team that lost those 3 games and are not the team that won the last three. If the Rockets learned only one thing from the Clippers series it's that too much ISO and not enough downhill play is a formula for failure. I am more confident that this Rockets team will beat the Warriors than I was they would beat the Clippers simply because the Rockets transformed in that series.
Is Speights ruled out for the entire series? I hadn't heard that. As for the Rockets, I'm not saying they're on the Pelicans' level. Sometimes it's about matchups. The 1996 Sonics lost a game to the 39-43 Kings in their first round series and then swept the 2-time defending champion Rockets in the next round. Does that mean the Rockets were worse than the Kings that year? Of course not. But the Rockets clearly have had issues with the Warriors this season. There were mitigating circumstances in that 4-0 sweep like Dwight(and others) missing 2 games and not being healthy in the other 2. No Smith or Brewer in the first 2 games. The games all being played 4+ months ago. But it's also incredibly naive to act like that 4-0 record is meaningless. The Rockets will have to play nearly flawless basketball to beat Golden State and they'll need to do it 4 times in 7 games.
They're not THAT deep. Barbosa is an aging three point shooter, Livingston can make plays here and there (nothing special, Speights is meh,Speights is ok good scrappy big, Igoudala is no 3 point threat and has lost a step, David Lee = garbage. Can't even push his way back into the starting lineup over Draymond freakin Green. Our bench; Brewer, J Smoove, Terry? (if Pat comes back?), Pablo, and Clint Capela. We haven't even brought Dorsey, Papanikoula, Nick Johnson, and KJ McDaniels. Not that they'll play as the rotation has obviously been cut down to 10 man since the playoffs began.
Yeah, I heard those remarks. I get where he's coming from. The Rockets have shown an annoying tendency to revert to those bad habits where Harden ISOs too much, they stop playing defense, and they look awful out there on the court. Hell, they did it in the 3rd quarter of Game 6 before the epic comeback. But I disagree that they're closer to that team than the one that won 3 in a row against the Clippers. The Rockets overall have been outstanding over the last 12 quarters of basketball. The only bad one they've had is that 3rd quarter in Game 6.
Have you watched the Warriors lately? Iggy has been terrific off the bench. And you're way off about his 3-point shot. It's been on lately. Livingston's been a solid backup PG for them. Speights if healthy is a decent backup big man. Barbosa is old, but he still gives them solid minutes off the bench. Even Lee has had his moments in the playoffs. The Warriors are a legit 10 deep. The Rockets are a legit 9 deep themselves(10 if they can somehow get Bev back). But I'd absolutely give the edge to Golden State's bench in this series.
This. It's getting seriously old to hear everyone's b****ing and complaining. We're the ones in the WCF. Who gives a f*** about what Bayless or anyone else says? What bearing does it have on anything? If they were to praise and pick the Rockets, what would that even matter? The game is played on the court, not on the set. If you don't like what these guys say, don't watch/listen. Don't give them the ratings.
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What's with all the sighing though? Seriously, dude acts like every episode someone close to him just died.
Skip saying the Warriors will sweep is way better news for Rockets fans than if he was saying the Rockets would win the series...how can anyone complain about that?
