WCF: P3 | (1) Houston Rockets vs (2) Golden State Warriors | Tied 2-2

[XxIronChainzxX]

Bigger challenge means bigger reward. That's why I do not understand this "xxx ruined the league" thing. Well, instead of complaining, do something about it. Give it your best shot. If you pull it off, that becomes a lifetime memory of achievement. Beating this Warriors team (in WCF) certainly serves as much weight in my heart as either of those Hakeem's championships. "We did the impossible" is the mentality.

You can suck, tank, rebuild, or you can gamble big. To me personally, I am glad our GM chose the latter. He didn't chicken out, "oh they will be good for another 3-4 years, lets just tank, accumulate assets, and wait for our turn". He knows superstars like Harden don't come to Houston every other year, so if you are lucky to have one, go all in, make the best out of it, even it means you can still end up winning nothing AND pay for the price for this gamble for the next half decade of being mediocre (ie going back to those Kevin Martin days).

But that's just me.

While I agree with this (I felt the Cavs were playing with house money in last years finals), it can't be much fun for NBA fans whose teams are not involved.

And those are the fans the league wants watching these games. The Warriors have only been challenged one time in the past four years, and by regular season standards, this is the best team the Warriors have played. I think that's why ratings are doing well.

But if the Warriors finish this in 5 games with four double digit wins, there doesn't appear to be much hope on the horizon. That would mean that the only challenger the Warriors faced in four year in the West was dismantled by them recruiting the best player from that team.

So if they do win the 3rd title and that constitutes breaking the league, they are to be condemned for succeeding at what LeBron has been trying to do for nearly a decade ?.

Yes! Exactly. The fact that LeBron failed at rigging the league and KD succeeded means KD gets all the ire. He also gets his reward - a huge number of basically free rings. You think you're identifying some kind of hypocrisy here, but there's none. The reason there's none is that the criticism comes from the result, not the intent.

[Mylie10]

GAME 4 PREDICTION:

I start Looney tonight.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/5/21/17378110/andre-iguodala-leg-injury-kevon-looney

Read on Twitter

Warriors win a tough one. This might be the closest game of the series tonight. Could be a wire job.

[ken6199]

Read on Twitter

It's KeVON Looney.

[Warriors07]

Looney goes nuts getting 20/20 and 5 blocks, GS win by 44 pts. GG

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Another playoff game, another blowout. Sheesh. What would it take to get an overtime game?

[ISayshowmee]

Start ZsaZsa.....Rockets just might just settle for jumpers for most of the game.

[xfactor]

While I agree with this (I felt the Cavs were playing with house money in last years finals), it can't be much fun for NBA fans whose teams are not involved.

And those are the fans the league wants watching these games. The Warriors have only been challenged one time in the past four years, and by regular season standards, this is the best team the Warriors have played. I think that's why ratings are doing well.

But if the Warriors finish this in 5 games with four double digit wins, there doesn't appear to be much hope on the horizon. That would mean that the only challenger the Warriors faced in four year in the West was dismantled by them recruiting the best player from that team.

So if they do win the 3rd title and that constitutes breaking the league, they are to be condemned for succeeding at what LeBron has been trying to do for nearly a decade ?.

Yes! Exactly. The fact that LeBron failed at rigging the league and KD succeeded means KD gets all the ire. He also gets his reward - a huge number of basically free rings. You think you're identifying some kind of hypocrisy here, but there's none. The reason there's none is that the criticism comes from the result, not the intent.

So following that logic, When 'KD and company' win 8+ rings, the criticism can begin? If so, why so soon? He has just 1 ring. In essence he hasn't done anything yet.

Watch on YouTube

[ken6199]

Start ZsaZsa.....Rockets just might just settle for jumpers for most of the game.

They won't. They will just field the ultimate death lineup with Aaron Jackson, Gerald Green, ISO Joe, Jooo Cheee, and Tarik Black to counter Zaza's dominance on both end of the floor.

[xfactor]

GAME 4 PREDICTION:

I start Looney tonight.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/5/21/17378110/andre-iguodala-leg-injury-kevon-looney

Read on Twitter

Warriors win a tough one. This might be the closest game of the series tonight. Could be a wire job.

Looney will likely start with Swaggy getting increased minutes. I know the stats say there won't be much of a drop off, but my eye test says differently. The only net positive I see is better rebounding. That's about it.

Read on Twitter

[Knicks Byke]

I can see Jordan bell getting a few minutes. He a rookie so bit inexperienced, but he’s not as clumsy as a traditional big and can help with some switches.

Jordan Bell aka gerber aka baby food.

[Edrees]

I still don't get why Javale doesn't get some minutes. He played well in garbage time in game 3.

[bmurph128]

Bigger challenge means bigger reward. That's why I do not understand this "xxx ruined the league" thing. Well, instead of complaining, do something about it. Give it your best shot. If you pull it off, that becomes a lifetime memory of achievement. Beating this Warriors team (in WCF) certainly serves as much weight in my heart as either of those Hakeem's championships. "We did the impossible" is the mentality.

You can suck, tank, rebuild, or you can gamble big. To me personally, I am glad our GM chose the latter. He didn't chicken out, "oh they will be good for another 3-4 years, lets just tank, accumulate assets, and wait for our turn". He knows superstars like Harden don't come to Houston every other year, so if you are lucky to have one, go all in, make the best out of it, even it means you can still end up winning nothing AND pay for the price for this gamble for the next half decade of being mediocre (ie going back to those Kevin Martin days).

But that's just me.

While I agree with this (I felt the Cavs were playing with house money in last years finals), it can't be much fun for NBA fans whose teams are not involved.

And those are the fans the league wants watching these games. The Warriors have only been challenged one time in the past four years, and by regular season standards, this is the best team the Warriors have played. I think that's why ratings are doing well.

But if the Warriors finish this in 5 games with four double digit wins, there doesn't appear to be much hope on the horizon. That would mean that the only challenger the Warriors faced in four year in the West was dismantled by them recruiting the best player from that team.

So if they do win the 3rd title and that constitutes breaking the league, they are to be condemned for succeeding at what LeBron has been trying to do for nearly a decade ?.

Your response makes no sense for what I posted. Them winning a third title wouldn't constitute them "breaking the league" - and anything could happen - if Klay or Draymond leave the team will be mortal again. But if they bounce this Rockets team with ease, going up against them will feel hopeless until at least one of them leaves.

[iggymcfrack]

Game of the season tonight. Either Houston’s going back home with the series tied and HCA for the last 3 or else the Warriors are basically NBA champions. I really think Rockets have a pretty decent shot with Iggy hurt and the Ws on mild letdown after the blowout. Betting market gives Houston a 22% chance to win tonight. I’d say more like 40%.

[XxIronChainzxX]

So if they do win the 3rd title and that constitutes breaking the league, they are to be condemned for succeeding at what LeBron has been trying to do for nearly a decade ?.

Yes! Exactly. The fact that LeBron failed at rigging the league and KD succeeded means KD gets all the ire. He also gets his reward - a huge number of basically free rings. You think you're identifying some kind of hypocrisy here, but there's none. The reason there's none is that the criticism comes from the result, not the intent.

So following that logic, When 'KD and company' win 8+ rings, the criticism can begin? If so, why so soon? He has just 1 ring. In essence he hasn't done anything yet.

Watch on YouTube

They haven't failed yet. The narrative for the Heat died when they got stunned by the Mavericks and then were underdogs against OKC. Right now the Dubs have rolfstomped the league. When they've never been down in a series and never lost two games. Let's wait to see how it plays out before missing the mark on what's hypocritical.

[michaelm]

While I agree with this (I felt the Cavs were playing with house money in last years finals), it can't be much fun for NBA fans whose teams are not involved.

And those are the fans the league wants watching these games. The Warriors have only been challenged one time in the past four years, and by regular season standards, this is the best team the Warriors have played. I think that's why ratings are doing well.

But if the Warriors finish this in 5 games with four double digit wins, there doesn't appear to be much hope on the horizon. That would mean that the only challenger the Warriors faced in four year in the West was dismantled by them recruiting the best player from that team.

So if they do win the 3rd title and that constitutes breaking the league, they are to be condemned for succeeding at what LeBron has been trying to do for nearly a decade ?.

Yes! Exactly. The fact that LeBron failed at rigging the league and KD succeeded means KD gets all the ire. He also gets his reward - a huge number of basically free rings. You think you're identifying some kind of hypocrisy here, but there's none. The reason there's none is that the criticism comes from the result, not the intent.

I don’t have any problem with people not liking the result, everyone can “root” as you guys put it for whatever and whomever they choose as far as I am concerned, and I readily concede LeBron’s superior contribution to at least the Cavs title in comparison with Durant’s title win last year.

As far as character assessment goes, which is what I do have a problem with, it is intent which counts imo however.

[kamaze]

Whats with the hate on the showboating or this shimmy? I personally love it. Kobe and jason terry had the jet wings after a 3, MJ with the tongue, the mailman with his arm behind the back, vince carter with the fists after a dunk, darius miles with the hands against the head, melo and his dumb thing he does after a 3, wes matthews with the bow and arrow after a 3 and james harden with his stolen Lil B chef dance. There are many more. People are crying over the steph shimmy? Is it because they are always winning?

Excellent list.

I'd add Kobe's big ball dance as well. One of my favorites.

I thought Sam Cassell started that?

He did lmao.

[ken6199]

I still don't get why Javale doesn't get some minutes. He played well in garbage time in game 3.

McGee, West, Zaza, Nene, Black, Anderson, and to some extent Capela are all unplayable in this series.

Of course you can go "Hey Imma go big and force you to go big", but more likely than not, you get killed by fielding one of those bigs out there, who immediately gets picked on and attacked to death. That would be the automatic breakdown of that ultimate switch chain. This series is about pace, Houston obviously picked up the pace in game 2 and that's the game they won. It's not just about the overall possession pace e.g. 7SOL, it's more about the pace of switching and rotating, and faster transitions.

The game 3 garbage time had -20 deficiency, Houston starters all had around -20 plus minus in a 41 pt blowout. I would not put too much attention into 3rd string bench vs bench.

[xfactor]

Read on Twitter

[michaelm]

While I agree with this (I felt the Cavs were playing with house money in last years finals), it can't be much fun for NBA fans whose teams are not involved.

And those are the fans the league wants watching these games. The Warriors have only been challenged one time in the past four years, and by regular season standards, this is the best team the Warriors have played. I think that's why ratings are doing well.

But if the Warriors finish this in 5 games with four double digit wins, there doesn't appear to be much hope on the horizon. That would mean that the only challenger the Warriors faced in four year in the West was dismantled by them recruiting the best player from that team.

So if they do win the 3rd title and that constitutes breaking the league, they are to be condemned for succeeding at what LeBron has been trying to do for nearly a decade ?.

Your response makes no sense for what I posted. Them winning a third title wouldn't constitute them "breaking the league" - and anything could happen - if Klay or Draymond leave the team will be mortal again. But if they bounce this Rockets team with ease, going up against them will feel hopeless until at least one of them leaves.

They are not immune to age or injury, and if someone can build a team around an athletic big too strong for Green they might be in trouble as well.

As I have said, I don’t have a problem with people not liking GSW being dominant if they prove to be again, but even apart from GSW not having taken Durant from OKC imo (OKC no longer had him, he was a Free Agent and had given OKC a more than adequate try) complaining about GSW killing competition in the West given LeBron has made FA moves twice to help him dominate the East for 7 years and now possibly an 8th is a bit much.

[xfactor]

I still don't get why Javale doesn't get some minutes. He played well in garbage time in game 3.

McGee, West, Zaza, Nene, Black, Anderson, and to some extent Capela are all unplayable in this series.

Of course you can go "Hey Imma go big and force you to go big", but more likely than not, you get killed by fielding one of those bigs out there, who immediately gets picked on and attacked to death. That would be the automatic breakdown of that ultimate switch chain. This series is about pace, Houston obviously picked up the pace in game 2 and that's the game they won. It's not just about the overall possession pace e.g. 7SOL, it's more about the pace of switching and rotating, and faster transitions.

The game 3 garbage time had -20 deficiency, Houston starters all had around -20 plus minus in a 41 pt blowout. I would not put too much attention into 3rd string bench vs bench.

I think Kerr hopes D'Antoni puts Nene in, so he can counter with West. Kerr loves his high post facilitation around the elbow with the half court sets. As far as Javale, I think brief minutes would work, but as you noted, he'd get exposed on certain switches, and despite his length and aestheticism, he usually is a second behind when returning to protect the rim after moving out on the perimeter. Other than that, his energy is a plus.