WCQF: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets | P1

[Galloisdaman]

Paul had a really rough first quarter. May be a bit of rust. Hope he bounces back. SGA got some looks but didn't finish. He should shake off the nerves soon. Rockets got the benefit of the doubt on a couple of calls. Would like to see more running and more passing. Too much 1 on 1 settling for poor shot.

[NaturalThunder]

I know I have a reputation for being "this guy", but I really feel like the whistle hasn't been all that even.

Regardless, there's no excuse for being controlled this soundly by the Westbrook-less Rockets.

[NaturalThunder]

Jeez. This is all kinds of bad. Schroder is rusty as hell. We can't shoot. We can't defend. This is ugly and going to get uglier.

[ThunderBolt]

This offense is pathetic.

[ThunderBolt]

I’m not going to be able to watch this series.

[NaturalThunder]

Zero ball movement. One-on-one contested shots, righ tnow mostly long range jumpers.

No Westbrook for the Rockets and they're beating us like a rented mule. I know we played above our talent level all season long, but I thought we could compete with the Rockets in a playoff series. Sure as hell thought we could be competitive in a game if they didn't have one of their two superstars.

[Galloisdaman]

I know I have a reputation for being "this guy", but I really feel like the whistle hasn't been all that even.

Regardless, there's no excuse for being controlled this soundly by the Westbrook-less Rockets.

Rockets are out hustling OKC so its not surprising to me that they are getting the calls. Guys need to move on offense and defense. They are watching instead of moving.

[Galloisdaman]

That a boy Gallo!

[Galloisdaman]

I’m not going to be able to watch this series.

Come on. Its a bad half. Hopefully they wake up. We saw some positives late.

[ThunderBolt]

I guess we really believe that this series will be won by dumping the ball in to Adams. He leads the team in fg attempts. Good game plan billy.

[ThunderBolt]

I’m not going to be able to watch this series.

Come on. Its a bad half. Hopefully they wake up. We saw some positives late.

Considering how the thunder have performed in the playoffs the last three years and the fact that I didn’t want them to be here, I’m kind of on edge.

[Galloisdaman]

I guess we really believe that this series will be won by dumping the ball in to Adams. He leads the team in fg attempts. Good game plan billy.

I don't mind that play if he is open down low but I would not force it.. I actually think CP3 had his worse half in a long time. His shooting, passing and decision making all were bad but we have to think that he will be better either in the 2nd half or next game. SGA was not that good either. Schroeder was the best of the guards. Id start setting some inside picks for Gallo in the paint and make the Rockets foul him. Actually they all should be able to score inside if they have movement because the Rockets dont have a shot blocker.

[Galloisdaman]

I’m not going to be able to watch this series.

Come on. Its a bad half. Hopefully they wake up. We saw some positives late.

Considering how the thunder have performed in the playoffs the last three years and the fact that I didn’t want them to be here, I’m kind of on edge.

I understand. It was a poor half. I'd just like to see more intensity and hustle. If they move more they will have a chance. Announcers are right. Let Harden shoot that 3. Don't foul him and bail him out.

[NaturalThunder]

I guess we really believe that this series will be won by dumping the ball in to Adams. He leads the team in fg attempts. Good game plan billy.

Playoff Billy is back!

I'd like to think he'll make the necessary adjustments but there is severe roster limitations (lack of capable of wings) and he's been outsmarted by D'Antoni in a playoff series very recently.

[NaturalThunder]

I’m not going to be able to watch this series.

Same here. I'll be just getting home from work when game 2 is well into the second half, so I won't have to "commit" to watching it depending on the score. If we lose game 2, I don't think I can bring myself to watch anymore of the series. Just another year and another severely disappointing playoff showing it looks like.

[mr570]

Okay I take it back. Billy sucks.

[NaturalThunder]

Why are our defensive rotations so atrocious? Is it purely because the matchups are awful for us? Is it mostly a lack of effort? A combination of the two?

So many Rockets possessions are ending in wide-open threes.

[NaturalThunder]

Okay I take it back. Billy sucks.

Billy's playoff track record speaks for itself. Some of it is still on Presti for our severe roster limitations: lack of capable wings and virtually zero three-point shooting. But, Donovan's recent playoff history shouldn't have given us much hope to think we could make this a series.

[Galloisdaman]

Guys just look off. I was a bit worried about that with all the resting of players in the bubble. Hard to flip a switch.

[getrichordie]

Not really sure what else we are supposed to do but throw it into Adams when no one is hitting shots. Giving ball to Adams in opportune situations is definitely not the issue.

SGA
9/4/1 in 35 minutes

Schroder
6/0/4 in 32 minutes

Paul
20/10/9 in 37 minutes