The Rockets may show signs of fight at stretches during the games but their main problem is consistency and lack thereof. They may play well enough to make some of the games interesting especially early. But, I just don't see them playing a solid four quarters against GS in any of the games. And, that's been the problem all season long. It used to be we sucked in the first quarter. Then, we started playing decent in the first quarter and the second quarter became the lame duck quarter. If the Warriors are smart, then they will take Harden out of it and make the rest of the team beat them. Short of a Beasley miracle, the Rockets aren't going to win without Harden dropping at least 30 or 40 points per game. There's not enough scoring from the role players to make up for those points. And, that's even if Howard gets his 20 points.
And for them to compete against the Warriors they need to sit Corey Brewer for the whole series. He has no business playing I don't care about his overpaying contract. At least play him for 9 minutes. But he has no business playing. Same with Jason Terry but I rather see him playing over Corey Brewer. They should let Terry coach a little, let him use his coaching abilities and experience to help the team. That might be better than playing Corey Brewer.
My strategy is to alternate defenders on Curry often, like at least every 2 possession. Problem with sticking beverly or Ariza for even say 4 or 5 minutes is that no one will have the focus or energy to stay in his grill for that long. By alternating say Beverly for 2 possessions, Ariza 2 possions, KJ 2 possessions, each player only needs to zone in on him for 2 possessions. You have to literally be within an inch of body contact from Curry full court, 1 foot of space and he'll launch.
The key is to play them physical. Any finesse team you have to play as physical as the refs allow. That's why finesse teams often don't do as well in the playoffs than the regular season when teams turn up the defensive intensity. This will require DH, PB and JH to really step it up. No easy task in today's wimpy nba but you gotta play it by ear and see what the refs allow and also - no easy layups.
Its sad that the Rockets do have the talent to beat the warriors. If only we had the coach and offensive/defensive system as well..
Defense, defense and more defense. Limit our turnovers. Get back in transition Howard and Smith please make your free throws.
We are going to have to play like a team possessed to even win 3 games. I would never wish injury on any team. I'd rather beat a team and their best. I don't think that's possible for us this year.
haha, no they don't. Nobody appears to have the talent to beat the Warriors (barring something crazy, like series-changin injury) in a 7 game series. Of the 9 teams that beat them this year, nobody ever did it more than once. That's why they are the greatest team in NBA history thus far. The Rockets would be serious underdogs in a 7-game series had they won 41 games, 51 games, or even a franchise-record 61 games. If only..... we had a magic historically great coach and a magic historically great offense and defense we could beat them! IF ONLY...!
The only way we have any chance of winning, is to play old school basketball. Here is what we have to do is let Curry get his points, I don't care how many he gets.. But STOP EVERYONE ELSE.. that is only chance...
