R2 G4: Los Angeles Clippers (2) vs Houston Rockets (1)

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/597603849558425600[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/597610841123454976[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/597606282540011520[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/597606796166041600[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/597612392508485632[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/597615197075984386[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/597608223017828353[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/isaaclowenkron/status/597608386062983168[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/597612359297814530[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/jillpainter/status/597609696921456640[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/597609196880793600[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/597561732530315264[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/597616789749534720[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/597607772859969536[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/597606569719758848[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/benmaller/status/597614287096385536[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/BenAlamar/status/597603802267648002[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/jadande/status/597618327347798016[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NBA/status/597607602747351040[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CallieRivers25/status/597610491607789568[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/mariashriver/status/597605492538548224[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/OldenPolynice1/status/597615483538407425[/tweet]

[mttwlsn16]

^that last one by Olden Polynice sums up the past 2 games quite well

[nickhx2]

i watched the postgame live.

what i liked most about it was when they were asking dj questions. i forget what the question was but dj was very clear and very to the point on the answer. the clippers want to win 9 more games and nothing else matters.

dj's had many issues with focus and mental toughness over the years. but after hearing that answer i won't be doubting him anymore until he proves me wrong.

[mkwest]

Neddy & Quake don't let it get personal.

[mttwlsn16]

Harden on whether or not he's getting fouled, "I have the scratches on my arms to prove I'm getting fouled."


BRUH

[mkwest]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1od-zfN6c[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mkh8XAv-Mc[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnYzNqh2pes[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsiSk5L0KNM[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp0YwBra07M[/youtube]

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/597664496493137920[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/597655104297115649[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/BossCloss33/status/597654028655271936[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/FredNBCLA/status/597604179121549313[/tweet]
Damn!
[tweet]https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/597632979276464128[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/janiscarr/status/597625021528440832[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/basketballtalk/status/597627646395228160[/tweet]

[nickhx2]

isn't it crazy to think we are the favorites? wow.

the sports bettors must love us quite a bit right now.

[kylem4711]

I bet $20 before the season started. i'll only win 200, but it will be the best 200 won ever.

[Ranma]

it's cause cp3 BEGGED the refs to keep him in the game. he told all the rest of his team to beg the refs too.

he must want dwight to feel the pain of continuing to get destroyed by dj.

it's also gotta really mess with dwight in the head. he shoulda been thrown out but it's fine.

I was out on a family outing for Mother's Day and got back in time to see the foul before I had to get ready for dinner, so I missed most of the game and exchange. Thanks for the heads up, nick. I caught up with some tweets and this thread. It sounds like the first half was an agony of a Hack-a-Thon on DJ, so I guess I should be grateful not to have endured it. I like the attitude that the Clippers are displaying in taking care of business and showing off that killer instinct that was missing in the past. The team took to heart the lessons learned from its battle with San Antonio so I'm particularly glad that they're looking to be the aggressors in punishing their opponents into submission making sure not to give them hope or life to get going.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AminESPN/status/597592494424125441[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/TheCauldron/status/597615488315826177[/tweet]

[Ranma]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjzvJYWtoc[/youtube]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/TheCauldron/status/597588609097736192[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/TheCauldron/status/597562330776510464[/tweet]

[Ranma]

While acknowledging again that Houston is a dangerous team given their offense, the Rockets are a flawed team that is not going anywhere when you have Dwight Howard and James Harden posing as the leaders of that squad because that's what they both are: posers, not leaders. On top of that, they're over-reliant on their offense to the point of practically ignoring defense. Doc is handily out-coaching McHale.

I've said in the previous series that the Spurs really can't stop the Clippers when they're playing their game and I still believe that despite the grueling battle that ensued. The Rockets, on the other hand, obviously don't warrant the same level of respect. Yes, they can beat us, but only if we aren't disciplined and focused, which is why the Clips shouldn't take them for granted and make sure to take them out early since they are quite prone to throwing in the towel.

Howard and Harden don't really make their teammates better, especially when they publicly view themselves as being above them. It's not just Harden's comments about he and Howard being the team's only "cornerstone players" after the departures of Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin, not to mention the Donatas Motiejunas "eating separately" comments, it's also been evident when Howard left the Magic and then the Lakers.

Tim MacMahon, ESPNDallas.com (7/25/14)

"Dwight and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets," Harden said while appearing at a charity event in the Philippines, according to The Philippine Star. "The rest of the guys are role players or pieces that complete our team. We've lost some pieces and added some pieces.

"I think we'll be fine next season."

During an appearance on the "Jay Mohr Sports" show on Fox Sports Radio, Parsons reacted strongly when told what Harden reportedly said.

"That's a pretty ridiculous statement if he meant that," Parsons said. "That's part of the reason I wanted to go to Dallas, because I'm ready for that next step. I'm ready for a bigger role, and I'm ready for more leadership.

"If anybody should understand that, it's James, because he was in the same situation in Oklahoma City and then he got his chance to come to Houston and shine. I'm not real sure what that means."

Rockets-Mavs Rivalry Receives a Shot


Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel (3/7/13)

"I'm not surprised by it,” Redick said, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com. “I would be more surprised when Dwight starts taking responsibility. That would be the most negative thing I can say, but that's the truth.

“You can't take all the credit and not accept any of the blame.”

J.J. Redick: 'I'm Not Surprised' by Dwight Howard's Comment


It's laughable to think that Harden was not only in the running for the MVP award but also considered a better candidate than Chris Paul or that Howard wanted to be Superman to Kobe's Batman instead of Robin during his time with the Lakers. Neither of these guys are winners and likely never will be. Sure, they're individually talented players but basketball is a team sport and until these pretenders understand that, they'll never achieve true basketball success. There are certain intangibles that speak louder than pure numbers.

[mattd13]

ranma you last statement was right on. truer words were never spoken. if jj had started his career with either blake or cp3 his career would be a different story. howard is the most selfish prima donna in basketball. he is all about me. McHale would be doing himself a favor if he moved on. no one will motivate that group.

[Ranma]

Fran Blinebury, NBA.com (5/12/15)

...one can only be dumbstruck by an inability or an unwillingness to engage and compete with the Clippers just about from the opening minutes of Game 1, when a worn-out team with an injured Chris Paul sitting on the bench set the tone.
...

Eleven years into his NBA career, on the cusp of turning 30, Howard remains an anomaly, a splendid physical specimen quite capable of both dominating and disappearing into the wallpaper. He still is, in many ways, the ultimate frontrunner, an engaging personality with a mega-watt smile when the sun shines and one who becomes dark and cloudy at the first drops of rain.
...

But to not play well is one thing. To not play hard is another and the outcome here could lead to a re-examination of the Howard-Harden combination as a 1-2 championship-level punch.

With one more chance for the Rockets to plant their flag, an even longer summer awaits if it's another white one.

Potential Early Playoff Exit Least of Issues Rockets Face