WCSF: (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs (4) Houston Rockets, Part 1 | Series Tied 1-1

[Sedale Threatt]

Because you keep saying they figured them out.

For 2 quarters, they produced probably the highest ORTG I've ever seen in a playoff game.

Their offense wasn't figured out at all this game.

If Westbrook didn't play like a g-league player and Rondo didn't play like an AS, Houston is up 2-0.

Houston hit every 3 they took for a little while. They held the offense to 17 points in a tight game in the 4th quarter. They held them to 20 in the first quarter. They played great defense against a team that jacks it up from 3, that team shot lights out and they still held them to under 110 in the modern league. Thats incredible defense

I mean if you want to go overboard, you do that.

I don't think the Lakers were great defensively at all this game.

Most of Houston's threes were open looks.

I thought we were outstanding for the first 12-18 minutes. Then they started to figure out the traps and picked us apart. We can get a little tighter but you can see why Phil used to hate double teaming unless there was no other option. It's a concession that you can't guard somebody straight up (which we can't in Harden's case), and good teams capitalize on that.

[Emhoward]

This is going to be a repeat of the Blazer series. I don't think Houston's going to win another game.

I don't know, I don't think so man. LA's halfcourt offense is still a bit ugly, and I expect at least one more non-horrible westbrook game.

[SmellingColors]

Rockets didn't lose because of Westbrook. Lebron is still Lebron and AD was great in iso today.

Perhaps not, but if you were to blame a player, it was def westbrook.

I'll agree with that. I just think blaming one player who isn't the centerpiece of their offense is too simplistic for me.

[NPZ]

Imagine if the Rockets had a pg like Chris Paul to pair with Harden.

If they ever are that lucky, they shouldn't let CP3 go.

[Emhoward]

LeBron also hunted the right matchups to give the Lakers very steady offence.

Rondo was also surprisingly effective. Those 2 mid-range jumpers he hit took the air out of Houston.

Bron especially hunted when Westbrook picked up his fifth, I think they got a quick 4 pts just because Westbrook couldn't guard

[BlackKnight]

Geez Rondo was +28 for the game. I only watched the 2nd half but offense seemed to flow well with him on the floor

[Adam Stern]

Just a couple of seasons ago there were people who argued Westbrook was just as good as Harden.
Imagine if that were really true.

Tonight the dude just looked like a 1000 pound achor around the neck of the Rockets.
Why is he jacking up so many threes now after toning down all year?

[trickshot]

I don’t see Rockets making 22 3’s in the next game. Lakers need to do a better job closing out on them after doubling Harden. It’s easier said than done, but that’s only adjustment they have to make to win this series.

Do you see Rondo playing that well again and Westbrook playing that badly?

Probably not.

This series might go the distance.

Dude it's Westbrook we're talking about here

[Dr Aki]

Geez Rondo was +28 for the game. I only watched the 2nd half but offense seemed to flow well with him on the floor

Players move off ball with their hands ready because they expect Rondo to not shoot

[Emhoward]

Rockets didn't lose because of Westbrook. Lebron is still Lebron and AD was great in iso today.

They didn't lose because of the guy who was -14 and scored 10 points on 15 shots? Westbrook is a really bad basketball player that will lose you more games than he'll help you win.

+ 7 TO's. They never had a shot

and those 7 to's lead to transition opportunities to an offense that hasn't exactly been worldbeaters in the half court. Westbrook was horrible.

[grindtime22]

I don’t see Rockets making 22 3’s in the next game. Lakers need to do a better job closing out on them after doubling Harden. It’s easier said than done, but that’s only adjustment they have to make to win this series.

Do you see Rondo playing that well again and Westbrook playing that badly?

Probably not.

This series might go the distance.

It is going to be hard for Westbrook to top this game. That last 1.5 minutes of the 1st quarter and 1st few minutes of the 2nd was the single worst stretch I have ever seen a player have. Everytime he touched the ball, the Lakers scored in transition. Up to that point, the Rockets defense had been perfectly acceptable. In the other stretches of the game, the Rockets were clearly still better with him sitting.

Not only does he screw everything up on the offensive end, but he also feels he has to do the same on the defensive end. The other Rockets are just grinding on the defensive end. They are giving everything they have and battling away to make things tough. Meanwhile Westbrook constantly gets lost and gambles if he even bothers to try. He walks around on defense as much as James Harden does with off ball offense. He doesn't even try to get back in transition. It is embarrassing.

MDA would probably gladly trade Westbrook for Melo at this point.

[Adam Stern]

Rockets didn't lose because of Westbrook. Lebron is still Lebron and AD was great in iso today.

Perhaps not, but if you were to blame a player, it was def westbrook.

I'll agree with that. I just think blaming one player who isn't the centerpiece of their offense is too simplistic for me.

Saw a lot of fans, and sports shows, blaming Rondo after last game.

[TheGOATRises007]

I don’t see Rockets making 22 3’s in the next game. Lakers need to do a better job closing out on them after doubling Harden. It’s easier said than done, but that’s only adjustment they have to make to win this series.

Do you see Rondo playing that well again and Westbrook playing that badly?

Probably not.

This series might go the distance.

Dude it's Westbrook we're talking about here

I mean Westbrook has had his fair share of stinkers, but he looked like a g-league player out there.

Why didn't you address the Rondo point?

[NPZ]

I've been extremely critical of LeBron over the years, but age 35 with his head still at the rim level - -- respect. He's a freak.

I was still at rim level at age 35. I only had to stand on the 3rd rung and I was up there looking down in the basket like Mike.

[Optms]

This is going to be a repeat of the Blazer series. I don't think Houston's going to win another game.

I don't know, I don't think so man. LA's halfcourt offense is still a bit ugly, and I expect at least one more non-horrible westbrook game.

I expect them to take one more game as well but this series is done. Its going to be infinitely harder for the Rockets to stop the Lakers offense then vice versa.

[Sedale Threatt]

Vogel is obsessed with Rondo's swag

[trickshot]

Do you see Rondo playing that well again and Westbrook playing that badly?

Probably not.

This series might go the distance.

Dude it's Westbrook we're talking about here

I mean Westbrook has had his fair share of stinkers, but he looked like a g-league player out there.

Why didn't you address the Rondo point?

Maybe because i never said i disagreed with the Rondo part

[MarcusBrody]

I've found it interesting to watch how the Morris brothers have played/behaved in their respective LA destinations. They both seem - for better or for worse - to have picked up and amplified the personality of some of their dominant personality teammates with Markief seemingly calmer interpersonally and more under control than at some previous stops now that he's playing with Lebron (and maybe AD), whereas Marcus seems to have gone full heel, taking his cues from Beverley.

[NPZ]

I don't think the east is gonna be scared

The Easts biggest challenge in the Finals will be the Refs.

Also Frank Vogel is ass.

None of these west teams are gonna be able to handle the defence from the east. Boston, Toronto or Maimi.

And don't forget the Bucks.

[lazybatman]

Houston hit every 3 they took for a little while. They held the offense to 17 points in a tight game in the 4th quarter. They held them to 20 in the first quarter. They played great defense against a team that jacks it up from 3, that team shot lights out and they still held them to under 110 in the modern league. Thats incredible defense

I mean if you want to go overboard, you do that.

I don't think the Lakers were great defensively at all this game.

Most of Houston's threes were open looks.

I thought we were outstanding for the first 12-18 minutes. Then they started to figure out the traps and picked us apart. We can get a little tighter but you can see why Phil used to hate double teaming unless there was no other option. It's a concession that you can't guard somebody straight up (which we can't in Harden's case), and good teams capitalize on that.

I think it was just our 3s falling(Morris, KCP and Green) and their WIIIIIIIDE open 3s not falling in the 1st quarter. That quarter and this game was pure luck, outside of Rondo and Lebron's 2nd half performances. Rockets would be licking their lips at the thought of us playing this defense again.

TERRIBLE COACHING TODAY!!!