I don’t understand why the Rockets were playing Hack-a-Jordan in the first half. What were they hoping to accomplish? That the Clippers’ pace would be so screwed up that they’d get frustrated and quit at halftime? That they’d be able to foul their way through Chris Paul and Blake Griffin’s time on the court and get to the Clippers bench, even though all the foul shots means the starters are getting lots of rest standing around on the court? It’s nonsensical to look at the stats, discern that fouling Jordan results in a Clippers possession that averages less than 1 point, and start fouling at a time in the game when it doesn’t make sense. Besides, isn’t pace important for the Rockets? Didn’t it screw them up as well?
Just a dumb strategy by Kevin McHale, and garbage basketball at that.
They were fouling him because Dwight picked up a quick 2 fouls in the first (along with a tech). If Dwight’s not out there to at least match or contain Jordan, Chris Paul is going to have a field day tossing the ball to open guys or driving.
When they stopped hacking in the 3rd, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run or something. Hacking works to slow down the scoring by the Clippers, its just that the Rockets can’t manage to score every time Jordan makes 1/2 or 0/2. If they didn’t hack, the Clippers might have won by 50.
I read people writing, with a straight face, that because of Rose’s remarks he should be traded post-haste for whatever flotsam might be available. I read people saying he lacked the will to win, wasn’t tough enough to play in the NBA, lacked the disposition to be a true star.
I wonder if those people still believe those things, now that he’s slashing past Cavs defenders like they’re knee deep in sewage.
I can’t tell if Austin Rivers is undergoing some career defining transformational event or if the Rockets PnR defense is just that horrid. Maybe a little of column A, a little of column B.
It’s too bad Noah is a shell of himself. If he was even half of what he was just a couple years ago Cleveland wouldn’t stand a chance. I wonder if it’s because Thibs ran him into the ground. It’s sad seeing him struggle to make a simple play around the basket anymore, he’s borderline Perkins out there.
After fast forwarding through 17 hours of FTs in the first half I actually watched the TNT half time show to see if they’d still stupidly defend the current rules with their old “just make free throws” non-sequitur. After bitching about how boring it was, they did! Incredible. They should be forced to watch it on a loop, Clockwork Orange style.
I can imagine these guys in the pre-shock clock era defending the status quo of games that barely reach double digits. “Just make a play, y’all. Don’t be afraid.”
In fairness, one can put forth defenses for not changing the rules. But saying players should “just make their free throws” is pointless.
I’m not a Bulls fan, but I would not have wanted him traded. I did, however, have question his toughness (and common sense) after his asinine comments. You can’t question his talent, though. And really, in the first 2 games, I’m not sure how much slashing he was doing considering he attempted 0 free throws. Seemed like he was taking more jumpers.
And Thibs was doing his best to run Jimmy Butler into the ground this year. My goodness, he played a lot of minutes.
So, do the referees have a hard-on for Gasol in particular, the Grizzlies in general, or just don’t like the Warriors? For most of what I’ve seen in the last two games, Gasol is clearing people out in ways that would be illegal in the NFL, while the referees look on beaming with pride, then someone grazes Gasol’s waist and the whistles come out.
Anyone else seeing this? Is it just normal NBA star-servicing?
I’ve noticed that they are not calling carries at all. Not that I might that much, it makes Chris Paul crossovers really exciting. But yeah, no carries at all and Paul is pretty blatant about it, does it like 5 times a game.
Surprisingly, the Rockets managed to fulfill my second prediction and win Game 5. I still think the Clips win Game 6 handily, with getting Howard into foul trouble early, and avoiding the same for Jordan. Doubt the Clips’ll stink it up as bad from outside as they did in Houston too. Still, I’m predicting it to be close, until a giant Clips run in, say, the middle of the 3rd, then it’ll be a laugher. Despite covers.com, I’d still lay whatever the Clippers are favored by to win.
Be great if the Rockets could prove me wrong though.
Well that was unexpected. LeBron had a mediocre game, Irving was injured, no Love, and yet the Bulls got absolutely stomped at home in the elimination game.
Not quite the middle of the 3rd, nor really all that of a run yet, hut it’s not looking good for Houston. Naturally, I’ve put money on none of these games this series.
I love it. I go to bed, with the Rockets down something like 17 with 2 to go in the 3rd, in complete collapse mode. Seriously, when I went to bed, the score in the 3rd was something like 25-10 Clippers, with Paul to the line to add to the lead. Everything going pretty much as I predicted at the end of Game 2. I let all of you here know how frustrated I am with back to back posts.
And wake up to find out they somehow won by 12. With Harden on the bench for a lot of it, I gather. Sports can be crazy.
Must have been a heck of a game in the 4th. I wonder how the Clips’ll overcome it in Game 7?
I only sat up because I watched my Oilers blow a 35-pt lead in Buffalo so now I am compelled to watch to the end, you never know what the final may bring.
It was a hell of a fourth quarter, whichever little demon was keeping the Rockets from hitting shots in the third decided to go sit on the Clippers’ shoulders in the fourth.
I felt like the Rockets played great defense all game but they couldn’t hit shots. It was frustrating watching them make stops but run down the court and not convert. Finally in the fourth it came together and that was with Hardin sitting the whole fourth-quarter.
The Clippers played great and I figured my basketball season was going to be over when it got to a 19-pt lead. Looking at the box score, the only guys scoring where Paul and Griffin. When they went cold in the second-half, nobody was there to pick up the slack.
I think ESPN said something like teams up 3-1 are about 97% to win a series, while home court teams win about 80% of the game 7’s. Game Seven is going to be fun.
As an aside, I apologize to the general board population for posting late last night. I knew something was wrong with the post but couldn’t quite figure it out. “Their” for “They’re.” Sheesh.
Whaaaaathefuckwasthat??? They couldn’t buy a shot in the 4th!
I’m still picking the Clippers for Game 7 because overall, I still think they are the better team, but they stopped driving and attacking and just tried to play not to lose. I’m not going to harp on the role players too much because I don’t think one game sets a trend and they’ve been pretty good overall during this series. Austin Rivers still has been better than expected, and is good more times than not, so everything we’ve seen up to Game 5 doesn’t automatically go out the window after one bad loss. One of the periphery players, Rivers, Crawford, Redick, will show up in Game 7 and Jose Smith won’t hit those timely 3’s again. It’ll be close, but Clippers in 7.
Also, since Tony Allen’s playing in Game 6, I’ll pick the Grizz over Warriors tonight and Atlanta probably closes out the Wizards though I’m shocked John Wall played that last game with 5 fractures on his wrist. What kind of injuries are those? Are they not career ending? I know if you have even microfractures in your foot or knee, you’re having surgery and out for the season. Is Wall just not using that hand? Seems like a bad short term move by the Wizards to let him keep playing if it will jeopardize their future.
What is the hell’s wrong with the Bull’s management? They run the MJ dynasty out of town because “management wins games” and sucked for a decade, now they have a great coach in Thibs and reports are likely he’s gone too? Who are they going to get that’s better? Though I suppose the question is really who are they going to get that they like more? Just shut up and let the man run his team!
How the hell did the Bulls score 31 in the first quarter and 42 the remainder of the game?! At home, even! And LeBron only scored 15! What a weird, weird game.
Bulls looked listless offensively, and they got absolutely demolished on the boards. Once they got behind and couldn’t hit a jumper, they kinda gave up.
Thibs is a great defensive mind, but I’m not convinced he’s necessarily a great coach. He’s like Larry Brown, he can turn things around in a hurry, but he burns you out.
Gutsy move by McHale leaving Harden on the bench. If a lineup is working, you have to go with it.
The NBA really needs to cut some games off the schedule. Too many walking wounded in these playoffs, it’s drained some of the spark I expected.
If he’s really Gusty, he’ll leave Harden off the starting lineup and let the 5 on the floor at the end of Game 6 start Game 7. In fact, do that McHale, come on, its working for you! In fact just tell Harden not to even play!
Same here. Any time an N.B.A. playoff series (especially one from the conference semifinals forward) goes 7 games I almost instinctively believe that the N.B.A. front office had something to do with it. That may not be true in EVERY case but it’s what I’ve come to believe about the N.B.A.
