WCF: P4 | (1) Houston Rockets vs (2) Golden State Warriors | Tied 2-2

[ken6199]

Worst than the overreaction is, certain posters from both camps have been hyping/downplaying their own talent for respective agendas.

Some GS fans, "oh Houston is great, they are #1, they are better than us, y'all don't believe it now you see", to make GS win more commendable, or a loss less of a choke.
Some Houston fans, "oh GS is stacked, they are the GOAT team, we are no match", to make a Houston win more impressive, or a loss more acceptable.

Fact is, both teams are evenly matched, while GS has a slight advantage on talent and offense variety and that's all it is. No need to swing to the extreme to either sugarcoat the win, or scapegoat the loss.

GS is clearly more talented.

True, but sometimes the less talented team who is close-ish enough in talent can pull it off. We'll see, but Houston has really fought well. At the least they need to win game 5 to make sure there is a game 7.

The shorter the series is, the better chance the less talented team has, and HCA proportionally weighs more (66.7% now, compared to 60% and 57%). One clear observation is, GS has overwhelming talent coupled with mass experience, however Houston's lack of success (especially CP) fueled them with more hunger and hustle, something they absolutely need to for every win. Spurs took game 5 at home last year, hopefully it's our turn now.

game 5 a must for Rockets. just gotta keep playing at faster pace.

All games should be must win vs this GS team. However, proven that we can win on the road, it's not the end of the day if lose game 5. Looking back at the series, I would give game 4 a 9/10 on "must-win" scale, game 2 a 8/10, and game 5 a 6/10.

[Hello Brooklyn]

I still think the pressure is on Houston.

They have to win Game 5. If Warriors win this game, they can close it out in their own building.

Houston has to win and then try to make it a 7 game series.

[ProcessDoctor]

Encouraging to see Houston put up a real fight against GS. There is hope!

[ILOVEIT]

Houston needs to get extremely lucky to win this series.

houston is 4-2 vs warriors this year in games harden has played

2-1 in oracle

houston is a better team
clearly

Book marking this for re-posting after the series is over.

[MaxRider]

I still think the pressure is on Houston.

They have to win Game 5. If Warriors win this game, they can close it out in their own building.

Houston has to win and then try to make it a 7 game series.

pressure on both team because both team can win on the road

[ILOVEIT]

Have to give Houston credit....Warriors scored 12 points and Houston won by a bucket.

BTW, this game was the same game played game one of the year....Warriors in control late only to play **** ball down the stretch.

Good news....Warriors can come out and war in Houston and have a good chance to win.
Bad news....who cares if the same team can come home and crap the bed.

I completely prefer the unselfish 73 win years team with Bogut and Barns over the current ISO hero ball style with KD.

I hope Warriors win this...but frankly they would deserve to lose this. They seem to think they can just mail it in every other game.

[Mamba Mentality]

Dubs are going to win the next two... I still think it's crazy that they only lost by three points last night considering all the circumstances (no Iggy, KD **** the bed, Klay getting hurt, Steph getting into foul trouble). Expecting a much different, more locked in team for the remainder of the series.

[NZB2323]

What's the status on Iggy and Klay?

[lambchop]

What's the status on Iggy and Klay?

klay is day to day

[Kabookalu]

I still can't believe Harden was playing great defense on Durant.

[ButCanMarkDunk]

Is it possible to search this site for all of the people who posted they wouldnt watch the playoffs because GSW was a lock to win/sweep/dominate?

A lot of crow eating if HOU can stay hungry.

[MaxRider]

last night game L2M report

http://official.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/05/L2M-HOU-GSW-05-22-2018-1.pdf

[Grillman]

last night game L2M report

http://official.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/05/L2M-HOU-GSW-05-22-2018-1.pdf

Draymond Green playing illegal defense. Whaaaaaat?

He has been doing it all series.

[Missing Rings]

Its not calling heads of tails. It’s not totally random. I think a lot of those posters intended to be disrespectful to Houston.

I don't. I think a lot of people realize the talent level on Golden State is unmatched in this league and didn't think Houston would be able to switch consistently on defense.

Nobody is saying it is totally random. Not sure why you are bringing that up

Posters should be able to use their basketball knowledge to make a good prediction.

There are more variables at play to take into account than any forum member here can. To think otherwise means that forum poster is likely working for an NBA team at the moment.

However, a lot of folks blindly hate Houston and therefore predicted GSW in 4/5 which was totally wrong. I’m glad to take this moment to point out how wrong they were. The salty Jazz fans, the Harden/CP3 haters... all of em. Wrong.

What about people being objective who do not hate Houston (like myself) and predicted Golden State in 5. Are you really going to rub it in my face because the team you cheer for did better than what I predicted?

[og15]

Dubs are going to win the next two... I still think it's crazy that they only lost by three points last night considering all the circumstances (no Iggy, KD **** the bed, Klay getting hurt, Steph getting into foul trouble). Expecting a much different, more locked in team for the remainder of the series.

I think if you consider all the circumstances for Houston too, it is a similar situation that they won after being down double digits to start the 4th, playing a 7 man rotation, not able to use Mbah due to his injury, not really being able to play Capela, Eric Gordon shooting 4/14 FG. That wasn't really a game that Houston should win either based on the circumstances.

[hongdayuan]

I still think the pressure is on Houston.

They have to win Game 5. If Warriors win this game, they can close it out in their own building.

Houston has to win and then try to make it a 7 game series.

if Houston wins why would they want to try to make it a 7 game series? unless u mean "try" as in lose in Oakland on purpose...

[Jstock12]

Read on Twitter

Is this still basketball or did it get merged with football at some point?

This is just LOL... Let Mario Hezonja do stuff like this, and he'll become a 'superstar' as well

[Lala870]

last night game L2M report

http://official.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/05/L2M-HOU-GSW-05-22-2018-1.pdf

"if you have any questions please contact the NBA"

LMAOOOO

[hongdayuan]

Dubs are going to win the next two... I still think it's crazy that they only lost by three points last night considering all the circumstances (no Iggy, KD **** the bed, Klay getting hurt, Steph getting into foul trouble). Expecting a much different, more locked in team for the remainder of the series.

I think if you consider all the circumstances for Houston too, it is a similar situation that they won after being down double digits to start the 4th, playing a 7 man rotation, not able to use Mbah due to his injury, not really being able to play Capela, Eric Gordon shooting 4/14 FG. That wasn't really a game that Houston should win either based on the circumstances.

warriors had 6 more TOs in a game that they lost by 3. at the end of the day, it's about which team wants it more when against the odds (both teams were facing certain adversities last night).

If warriors lose this series, it's because they played with the IDGAF attitude throughout the season and couldn't adjust their bad habits when it counts, no other excuses. If Houston wins, it's because they were the better team (not talking about talent) that have been locked in since day 1.

With all that being said, warriors should still be able to win this series if they can finally feel that sense of urgency.

[alebaba]

But that's what makes the POs special, players step up. In 2016 even klay thompson dropped 45 on the road against okc to save them on the road, I wont go through lebrons performances, I've seen Dirk do amazing things etc.

Guys just have to step up. That's what makes players legendary. Can't just base stephs greatness on real plus minus (I know you re not).

HOU is an awesome team. When Curry got really hot they put them away easily. A combination of kd and Curry should get you enough great performances in a 6 or 7 game series to come out on top.

But yes, I agree they lack all 3 of those traits you listed (inb4 video of durant in game 3, up 2-0)

Yep mostly agree with you but I don’t share your opinion on Steph. I just don’t think he’s ever stepped up in the yoffs against a great team and I’m still waiting for it. Was outplayed for half the 15 series by a fringe D league (or G, whatever) player. LeBron and Kyrie crushed him in 16. KD carried him in 17. And even like you said - it was Klay who saved him in the WCF in 16. It was Draymond who was having the best warrior series in the 16 finals.

He’s just so fragile and the stupid 1st quarter shimmys in losses are starting to mount.

Steph wasn’t even bad in the 15’ series. He didn’t shoot it like he did in the regular season but he avg 26/5/6 on .585 TS% to Delly’s 7/3/3.

I felt Iggy deserved the FMVP though as he was efficient, 2nd leading scorer and defended LeBron great that series.

Steph struggled in Game 2,iirc really bad in a loss but started to get his rhythm late in the series. Even went 37/7/4 in Game 5. I think people just really remember that bad performance early in the series and think he was dogshiet the whole series. Not you specifically, just pops up here time to time.

It's because ppl actually watch the series instead of looking at stats. Curry play like crap until like the last 4 mins of the game when the game was out of reach. This is the reason why stats doesn't tell the whole story, you have to watch the game. I was actually rooting for the Warriors this series and was pretty pissed off at curry for playing like crap.