Playoffs 2017: WC First Round - Houston Rockets (3) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

[Osirus89]

Russ has to play his part on the defensive end tho. There can be no more lazy defense by him.

That's not even anything from him, if Harden's getting switched onto Adams every play Russ doesn't matter. They can try to change schemes but it still leaves Kanter worthless and likely just confuses everyone more. Either way now I expect a full on blow out, followed by Houston fans brigading the league because Harden wins and Westbrook is a big phony stat padder blah blah blah.

I predict a close game and us coming up with a win in game 2. I can't see this team sucking like this two times in a row.

I'm hoping this is the case if we want any chance of an upset. We still have a chance to steal a road game. If we come back to OKC down 2, we might as well start looking toward the offseason.

I REALLY want to see how the team looks coming into game 2. Its make or break for some of the guys. Victor needs to do something and I want to see the defense on pnr. If these things are the same as game 1, I am really looking forward to people raking Donovan over the coals. The national spotlight is on him now after that horrible game 1.

[bondom34]

Read on Twitter

lol

[Andre Roberstan]

Read on Twitter

lol

Frederick Douglass is being recognized more and more.

I take his point, but the Kanter tag at the end is peak PR-speak.

[Pillendreher]

Read on Twitter

lol

Billy has had enough. Maybe this will get the team going. Stop messing around and go after wins, not feelings.

[oken]

I wrote this before

sleestak may not have realized the shining in Harden's eyes when he sees Kanter entering the game every time. He's like the hungry wolf that had been waiting for that moment to have a feast when he sees Kanter. Unfortunately, even though I am an admirer of his passion and offensive arsenal, I believe Kanter cannot provide any positive contribution against small-ball-ish teams like HOU because he cannot switch/rotate/check his back etc. (basic defensive things) properly.

And I was right.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Kanter is unplayable on any team that has championship goals. He'd be great on a team that is tanking. OKC should keep him and start him next year after they trade Russ, Dipo and Adams for picks and prospects this off-season.

[Old Man Game]

I mean we were multiple Westbrook miracle comebacks away from a multigame losing streak against teams like Dallas, Orlando, PHX and Denver late in the year. Could easily see us losing2 in a row. Hell, we could very easily get swept if we're being honest for a minute. Team has too many negative players playing minutes.

[bondom34]

Yep I picked Houston in 5 but was hoping they'd not get blown out.

[Osirus89]

Kanter is unplayable on any team that has championship goals. He'd be great on a team that is tanking. OKC should keep him and start him next year after they trade Russ, Dipo and Adams for picks and prospects this off-season.

Dipo and Adams aren't worth jack diddly. Russ is the only person that will get you a return and you still have Donovan in place. We would just turn into the Knicks. KP is talented as I don't know what and he is not happy being on a trash team. Truth serum for KAT and Wiggins and they would tell you the same thing. Davis is a top 10 player and his team and organization sucks. You start over again, but if the team sucks (which it will), our young prospects will turn into "get me up out of here" Paul George. KD left this team for what he viewed as a better situation. You don't think Jackson, Fultz, Ayton, or Doncic do the same when we suck. If he can leave....

Russ wants to be here. Why trade him? I would clear the entire roster out besides him and reconfigure if it came to that, but he isn't being moved for anything.

[bondom34]

Well, Boston can't buy a rebound, that's literally the one thing Kanter does well.

[bondom34]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/thunder-coach-billy-donovan-may-decide-cant-play-enes-kanter-much-161743756.html

National media picking up.

[Dadouv47]

Donovan will do the opposite. He will play Kanter more (at the 4 IMO )

[hardenASG13]

If they start trapping out of that screen, and it works, donovan will be praised for making the obvious adjustment, just like last year to the spurs. They clearly can't switch their bigs onto harden. Also, Roberson can't get through that high screen consistently. Trap seems like the answer. If Roberson playing his elite defense doesn't have any impact, like in game 1, will it be worth it to sacrifice all spacing on offense, forcing Westbrook to jack 3s, kanter to be doubled, and stopping oladipo from being able to drive, as he's no kd or Westbrook and can't overcome the free help from Robersons man clogging the driving lanes? Curious to see what adjustments they make to these problems. My guess would be none, but looking forward to seeing it.

[Old Man Game]

Please, people, separate your posts into separate paragraphs. Some of this is just painful to sort through.

[ducler]

[Dadouv47]

let's play with some heart at least (and smartly)

[Pillendreher]

Thunder Up!

[NaturalThunder]

Do we lose by less than 30 tonight? Maybe keep it under 25?

[ThunderBolt]

Do we lose by less than 30 tonight? Maybe keep it under 25?

I say we keep it close in the first half, suck in the third and make a respectable comeback in the fourth. Lose by 14.

[Pillendreher]

Superb start!