2014 NBA discussion thread

Rockets looked pretty good last night. It was good to see Dwight Howard do well in the paint. All they need to do is take one in Dallas and this will be done in 5. Originally Posted by kerwil62

Like I predicted. Hard fought, but done nevertheless.

Too many easy lay ups missed and too many offensive rebounds given up the last couple of games. Three point shooting was off too. Aminu gave Harden fits last night. Hopefully it was just the team looking past this round although that's a problem in itself.

I'm not sure who I'd rather see next round.

I don't think the Rockets have an answer for Chris Paul or Blake Griffin but they don't have a bench.

Tony Parker looks tired. Tim Duncan is still Tim Duncan just a little older and wiser and Pop uses his bench well to keep him fresh.

If the Rockets play the way they did the last two games of this series they'll get hammered. Originally Posted by boardman

I agree BM. They didn't look too great.

They MAY get by the Clippers but I predicted the Spurs to win that series( they're up 3-2 and can close them out on Friday at home).

I'll say this again, if the Rockets play the Spurs(that's what it's looking like will happen), the Spurs will win in either 5 or 6. Maybe 7(it won't be a sweep). As long as the Spurs have a bench, they will give teams pure hell. And even if the Warriors play them in the Western Conference Finals, they will give them hell!

H-town....y'all should start praying it's the Clippers you see in R2....'cause if it's the Spurs, your season is as good as done.

With 40% of it's starting lineup out (ie: injured / kicked off the team) the Mavs still gave y'all a lotta problems. The difference in this series wasn't your MVP hopeful; it was Howard....Dallas basically didn't have an answer for him over the course of those five games.

Dwight's a unique talent, no doubt. But Duncan, even at his advanced age, still has plenty left in his bag o' tricks. They will prolly neutralize one another's impact during the course of an entire series. But the rest of that Spurs lineup....y'all are simply gonna have problems if some things that were issues vs the Mavs don't get buttoned up.

.......I'll say this again, if the Rockets play the Spurs(that's what it's looking like will happen), the Spurs will win in either 5 or 6. Originally Posted by kerwil62

the Mavs still gave y'all a lotta problems. Originally Posted by Chateau Becot

A 4 games to 1 overall advantage doesn't seem to add up to "a lotta problems."

Admittedly, I am usually guilty of being a "homer" but it seemed to me that the Rockets pretty much controlled the tempo throughout most of the recently completed series.

It wasn't a sweep but it was pretty damn close to it!

As for the Spurs presenting problems for the Rockets, that will probably be true. But they've got to get there first! We'll just have to wait and see who the opponent will be and then we can start speculating.

I personally believe whoever the Rockets end up playing, will be a difficult match up for us. By the same token, the Rockets will no doubt present problems for their opponent, as well.

Such is life in the Wild West!

Bottom line, there is an awful lot of parity in the Western Conference. As it relates to the end of (2015) season records, there was not much difference between the #2 and #7 seeds.

It was about as close as I've ever seen it!

A 4 games to 1 overall advantage doesn't seem to add up to "a lotta problems." Originally Posted by bigtex

2/5 of their starting lineup (core guys) were out starting in game 3, the series should have been a sweep. Rockets have had injuries too, but only to role players. Parsons and Rondo were key guys for Dallas. And they still only lost game 3 by two points, both games there were very competitive. And if Barea and Aminu were in the lineup starting in game one, the series might have gone 6 or 7 games.

And those guys, Aminu and Barea are alright players, Dirk and Tyson Chandler are pretty old, whoever the rockets face in the next round are going to be way more difficult to deal with than the Mavericks team they just faced. Barea, a slightly above average PG was able to have his way in the paint. Tony Parker and CP are leaps and bounds better than that guy or any other PG on Dallas.

Rockets deserve credit for winning and doing what they had to do, but it wasn't all that impressive in the way they did it. Things like 15 turnovers in the first half isn't going to cut it in the next round.

Rockets deserve credit for winning and doing what they had to do, but it wasn't all that impressive in the way they did it. Things like 15 turnovers in the first half isn't going to cut it in the next round. Originally Posted by TheDon

I guess that was the point I was attempting to make.....not taking anything away from Houston. They won the series....spoils to the victor.

Rocket fans are all too aware of how injuries can affect a team's performance / chemistry (see the 40+ games Howard missed during the regular season). That's what the Mavs experienced with the loss of Chandler Parsons (33 mpg / 16 ppg / 5rpg) right before the playoffs. His 5 for 15 in his only game was an indication he was injured and not going to be a factor in this series (it's not been divulged what the issue is....but I suspect he's going to require micro-fracture surgery and will be out for a year.)

On another note, the Cavs will find out pretty soon what the loss of Love will mean to the rest of their playoff fortunes, right?

Spurs/Clippers are going to game 7!

The Rockets should be well rested for the next round.

Spurs/Clippers are going to game 7!

The Rockets should be well rested for the next round. Originally Posted by bigtex

The Rockets and the Clippers on Monday night.

It should be an excellent series!

My "homer" first instincts tell me the Rockets in 7.

With CP3 gimped up, you may be right. If he goes down or misses any games, Houston might be advancing.

The Rockets and the Clippers on Monday night.

It should be an excellent series!

My "homer" first instincts tell me the Rockets in 7. Originally Posted by bigtex

If Paul is really gimpy it gives us an advantage for sure. That's my biggest concern. Guard play.
Big Baby is out. Starters Paul, Griffin and Jordan have the advantage over the Rockets starters. If the Rockets can force significant minutes from the Clippers bench for whatever reason( injuries, fouls) they can even that out.

The Rockets were well rested alright. TOO well rested!

The Clippers came in town and straight up whooped their ass! WITHOUT Chris Paul! 16 points?? The Rockets just gave the fuck up.

They better step up their muthafuckin' game before their asses wind up being 0-2 going to LA!!

They looked terrible. Like I said, no answer for Griffin. Jones tried but he's overmatched.
Way too many turnovers, on both sides but the Rockets just looked sloppy as fuck. Harden couldn't hold on to the ball to drive the lane. Couldn't make a decent pass either. Worst game I've seen him play so far. Having Paul out may have actually helped the Clippers rally as a team.

I turned it off when there was a couple minutes left and the Clippers nailed their second 3 to go up by, what was it, 14? Rockets had obviously given up after missing their 3's. It was a 12 point swing in about 30 seconds. That's how you put the lights out.
I thought Big Baby was out. How is it that a man that big can play as smooth as he does?

23 turnovers.

Well they made up for it last night. The last thing they needed was to be down 0-2 heading to LA.

Paul may sit out again tonight. If I was Rivers I would sit him again. They've already stolen one without him. If they lose tonight they are right back were they started and Paul will have had two more days recovery and will be that much fresher down the stretch.

In order to win the Rockets have to attack the basket, establish a physical game and set a tone early. They need to get Jordan out like they did last game. Clippers were a different team. Griffin is in a zone. He could easily go off again tonight. They've got to get in his head early and make him pay inside even if they have to burn some fouls to do it. Let Dorsey beat up on him a little maybe. Oh, and Harden needs to shove a ball right down Barnes' throat. That would be a good charge.

It's not the end of the world if the Rockets lose tonight but the Clippers seemed to get an edginess about them from winning game 1. If they can win game three in a decisive manner again it will give them a lot of confidence.

It's not the end of the world if the Rockets lose tonight but the Clippers seemed to get an edginess about them from winning game 1. If they can win game three in a decisive manner again it will give them a lot of confidence. Originally Posted by boardman

Them muthafuckas got all the confidence in the world right now. They stuck all kinds of dick in the Rockets' ass with no lube and no condom! 25 muthafuckin points!!!

This shit will be over in 6 with the Clippers advancing to the Western Conference Finals. SMMFH.......