RealGM

“We know they are one of the best teams in the league,” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said of the Rockets, who ran their franchise-record win streak to 17 following a Wednesday win in Milwaukee against the Bucks, the same night the Raptors became the first team in the NBA to clinch a post-season berth with a victory in Detroit against the Pistons.

“We feel like we’re one of the top teams. It’ll be a good test for us. I’m hoping we have a hot gym, they (fans) get so excited that they make it a hostile situation for Houston.”

At Little Caesars Arena, the atmosphere with electric as several thousand Raptors-clad fans turned the venue into a home environment away from home.

“I loved it,” Casey said of the vibe fans projected. “It felt like we were at home. My hats off to the fans. They presented themselves and they helped us when times were tough.”

“We make the right play. If a guy helps, we kick it to the corner or wherever it may be. But we play the way that we play.”

There’s no disputing how Harden and Paul have completely ripped apart the notion that they could not play together when Houston acquired Paul from the L.A. Clippers. The theory suggested both all-stars must have the ball in late-game moments, but winning and putting aside all agenda and ego trump everything.

“A lot of times it takes two, three years of learning how to close teams out best and all that,” D’Antoni said. “But these players, they want to get it done now.

“They’re talking all the time: ‘What’s the best way to do this? What’s the best way to guard that?’ They’ve kind of figured out offensively who they can pick on and who they want to try to go to, who has the hot hand.”

The Raptors are now in the Rockets’ red glare, that rare prime-time matchup Toronto always relishes.

Perhaps Friday does loom as an NBA final preview, but the truth is that’s far too premature.

Either way, it should be fun.

Mr. E wrote:Why is a Raptors fan making a game thread here?

And what is this Father/Son stuff?

It is funny how the article posted points out that Harden & Paul actually work together...because two high IQ guys who want to win and make others better...yeah. Brilliant reporting there, Woodward & Bernstein.

FIT!!!

Go Rockets! Time to send these Wildlings back north of the Wall.

Mr. E wrote:Why is a Raptors fan making a game thread here?

And what is this Father/Son stuff?

It is funny how the article posted points out that Harden & Paul actually work together...because two high IQ guys who want to win and make others better...yeah. Brilliant reporting there, Woodward & Bernstein.

FIT!!!

Go Rockets! Time to send these Wildlings back north of the Wall.

TMU wrote:
So much fire in this post.

Mr. E wrote:By the way, I finally saw that Derozan dunk people are freaking out about.

The only thing that stood out was the piss-poor defense.

TMU wrote:

Mr. E wrote:Why is a Raptors fan making a game thread here?

And what is this Father/Son stuff?

It is funny how the article posted points out that Harden & Paul actually work together...because two high IQ guys who want to win and make others better...yeah. Brilliant reporting there, Woodward & Bernstein.

FIT!!!

Go Rockets! Time to send these Wildlings back north of the Wall.

So much fire in this post.

pkiskool wrote:Wow so lame around here... what do people in houston do.

Mr. E wrote:Is Anderson still out?

I’m assuming that Nene is available.

MaxRider wrote:

Mr. E wrote:Is Anderson still out?

I’m assuming that Nene is available.

Nene is available
he's out last game because of back to back
Wright didn't make the trip
Anderson is still out (kind of scare of his hip now)
JJ is doutbful
Capela probable with sore calf again

dukes_wild wrote:I thought the Rockets were a big market team why is their RealGM board so dead?