WCSF | (1) Golden State Warriors vs (4) Houston Rockets, Part Two (Series tied 2-2)

[bargnanimvp]

shoyld be 3-1 rockets if it weren't for the epic rig job in game 1.

could be 3-1 warriors if it weren't for 5-6 blown calls on curry in the 4th today

Did u not see hardens last 2 or 3 shots? Klay gave him no space to land

From a neutral point of view i saw Harden jumped forwards with his legs extended at an angle to try and land on Klay on some of those plays, and if it happens sometimes it's hard to judge future calls. But again i'm not bitching about the calls or results, i'm simply pointing out bad calls can go both ways and talking in absolutes about results being different if xyz happened with the refs is silly.

[Rednation91]

could be 3-1 warriors if it weren't for 5-6 blown calls on curry in the 4th today

Did u not see hardens last 2 or 3 shots? Klay gave him no space to land

From a neutral point of view i saw Harden jumped forwards with his legs extended at an angle to try and land on Klay on some of those plays, and if it happens sometimes it's hard to judge future calls. But again i'm not bitching about the calls or results, i'm simply pointing out bad calls can go both ways and talking in absolutes about results being different if xyz happened with the refs is silly.

Gotcha. Completely agree on last part

[Strepbacter]

Even if it looked better, by the numbers the Warriors' postseason offense is clearly better since Durant joined though.

2014: 110.2 ORTG (+1.5 rORTG)
2015: 108.7 ORTG (+3.4 rORTG)
2016: 110.5 ORTG (+3.8 rORTG)
(Durant joins)
2017: 119.0 ORTG (+7.7 rORTG)
2018: 113.9 ORTG (+5.0 rORTG)
2019: 119.6 ORTG (+10.2 rORTG)

It's not particularly close. Beauty of the offense aside, it's clearly and unsurprisingly been more effective with a guy who's been averaging 31.1 ppg on 64% TS and 4.6 apg in the postseason for you guys since he joined. And that's one reason why I want Durant to leave. While I think the media and casual sports fans overrate how good Durant is, I don't think Warriors fans give him enough credit.

why are you comparing their ORTG against the playoff average instead of against their opponents? that's not how it done.

That would be ideal but it takes too much time. Feel free to do that if you want. Considering the sample size of opponents, it should be accurate enough.

its pretty deceiving though. for example their rORTG in 2015 was actually +5.5. in 2014 it was +4.7. these are significant differences.

[ken6199]

I think I also said this. Last year WCF Houston got blown out on their losses, and won narrow games. They got blown out by Spurs in 17, same in 16 obviously, and vs both GS and Clippers in 2015 they had multiple games they lost by 30. This year they might not be as talented, they will still have to scrap for every single win as the underdog, but one thing is they are surely less likely to get blown out. I am not talking out of my ass - the last time they got blown out is Jan 21th @ Philly, and that's without Paul and Capela against a top 3 center Embiid. They have this dog in them this year that they refuse to go down easily.

I think whatever the talent gap from last year's team through the loss of Ariza and Luc, were compensated by the elevation of Harden. Yes he will still occasionally give you 0-13 FG shooting stretch, but he will impact the game on other ways and earn us a game 3 in Utah, delivering key defensive plays down the stretch including that steal on Gobert. 4 years ago, 11 TO in elimination; 2 years ago, when the going got tough, he went complete ass vs Spurs. I think it's less likely those kind of enigma performances will return this year.

As to the Warriors, KD is still a constant, but something needs to step up if they need game 5, and that someone cannot be Iguodala or even Draymond Green. They narrowly got by in game 1 and 2, I doubt they will get by another time. Curry shot a little better this game, more aggressive, but still blew some easy shots that he used to make with ease. I have no doubt he will continue to get his form back in G5, though I believe the Rockets coaching group will continue to ramp up a Curry oriented offense to continue to attack him and make him nowhere to hide.

[cpower]

because Klay and Steph have been worse? really you have two seasons of the old offense with mixed success. the most playoff success is the version pre greatest season of all time steph anyway. but still the most success the team you love ever had is with KD. he is the clear difference maker you have. your most consistent performer. even if you think the best of Curry is better for any run or series game in and out KD gives the most elite level of consistent play. the framing of one ring really skews the perception of what was accomplished because KD brought a dynasty.

i am not saying Curry played good, he was bad this series. But when the offense went through him there was a difference and we came back to beat the rockets last year. Yes KD gives the most consistent PPG out of anyone but he has not been the playmaker and defender he ought to be. Curry is just as equally important, if not more to get the warriors to where they want to be. Do you know the record when we have KD and no Curry for the warriors for the past 3 years?

he was bad last year too. then his 3's finally went in and everyone said it was KD holding him back. same thing but even worse now and all of sudden KD is holding him back. ought to be? your guy is literally being hunted like 15 seasons in the league Melo? while never being the true PG of his team. KD does just as much creating. plays better defense. does the scoring in a game that isn't highest efficiency wins(tho he is efficient allowing for all the touches needed for others to get going).
they lost games when near 30ppg in the regular season was out? shocking. where the Warriors want to be? the guy literally taking them once a defense can gameplan is consistently being disrespected because of non crucial games? realize he's laying like trash and you're blaming the guy keeping your team in the game. but I don't think you'll have to worry about it next season.

what? you should go back watching how KD iso every time in g4/5 and almost blew the series for us

[GYK]

its crazy blame KD but touches have barely changed for Curry/Klay/Dray/Iggy since he came.

[red96]

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Harden's bucked up eye makes this great.

[jradMIT]

Agree, i'm just sick of fans complaining and missing the point that bad calls go both ways all the time in this league. I'm pretty sick of the way the NBA does not hold refs accountable and the way they flip flop between one thing being a foul one day then not being a foul the next is what creates this blame the refs culture that is so toxic right now. Imagine if other big sports during their play offs/finals/important games just arbitrarily have days where they 'let them play' and don't call their sports by the actual rule book. Not talking specifically about today that much but it just annoys me in the NBA right now.

Congrats to the rockets though, if anything i think i want them to win this series this year for a change up.

I completely agree on the second point. I’ve never understood why the whole concept of “let them play” is so acceptable. Why is the NBA the only sport like this? Imagine in the NFL in the playoffs DB’s could take liberties in coverage and Olinemen could get no calls on holds, or in the MLB all of a sudden the strike zone gets larger and ties stopped going to runners. It’s ridiculous but that’s the way it is, and they wonder why the officiating is getting ripped. If it’s a foul in March it’s a foul in May.

However to the first point game 1 was a horribly officiated game, like historically bad, there’s a reason why it got so much flack. its because it was that terrible. Nothing is above criticism and game 1s was well deserved.

Um, that's exactly what happens in football. They let all kinds of penalties go in the playoffs (esp the SB)

Not true, tell that to the Seahawks in 2006 SB, NFL calls in the postseason are indistinguishable from the regular season, only the NBA is night and day.

[yoyoboy]

why are you comparing their ORTG against the playoff average instead of against their opponents? that's not how it done.

That would be ideal but it takes too much time. Feel free to do that if you want. Considering the sample size of opponents, it should be accurate enough.

its pretty deceiving though. for example their rORTG in 2015 was actually +5.5. in 2014 it was +4.7. these are significant differences.

They've played great defenses in the Durant era, too, though. #3 and #1 defense in 2017. #6 and #3 in 2018. This year has been different since LAC was #21 and Houston #17, but it's a little deceiving because Houston has actually been insane defensively since the All Star Break when they switched their scheme. Not to mention GS is posting a postseason ORTG 4.0 whole points above the next closest team, so it's not like they're not taking advantage of that.

[Strepbacter]

That would be ideal but it takes too much time. Feel free to do that if you want. Considering the sample size of opponents, it should be accurate enough.

its pretty deceiving though. for example their rORTG in 2015 was actually +5.5. in 2014 it was +4.7. these are significant differences.

They've played great defenses in the Durant era, too, though. #3 and #1 defense in 2017. #6 and #3 in 2018. This year has been different since LAC was #21 and Houston #17, but it's a little deceiving because Houston has actually been insane defensively since the All Star Break when they switched their scheme. Not to mention GS is posting a postseason ORTG 4.0 whole points above the next closest team, so it's not like they're not taking advantage of that.

yeah durant has definitely made them much better offensively. no disputing that.

[GYK]

i am not saying Curry played good, he was bad this series. But when the offense went through him there was a difference and we came back to beat the rockets last year. Yes KD gives the most consistent PPG out of anyone but he has not been the playmaker and defender he ought to be. Curry is just as equally important, if not more to get the warriors to where they want to be. Do you know the record when we have KD and no Curry for the warriors for the past 3 years?

he was bad last year too. then his 3's finally went in and everyone said it was KD holding him back. same thing but even worse now and all of sudden KD is holding him back. ought to be? your guy is literally being hunted like 15 seasons in the league Melo? while never being the true PG of his team. KD does just as much creating. plays better defense. does the scoring in a game that isn't highest efficiency wins(tho he is efficient allowing for all the touches needed for others to get going).
they lost games when near 30ppg in the regular season was out? shocking. where the Warriors want to be? the guy literally taking them once a defense can gameplan is consistently being disrespected because of non crucial games? realize he's laying like trash and you're blaming the guy keeping your team in the game. but I don't think you'll have to worry about it next season.

what? you should go back watching how KD iso every time in g4/5 and almost blew the series for us

go back and realize it took a couple of games for Steph to figure out something against the switching. like many series the opponents figured out something to affect him. couple of games of high volume 3's TS% go up no one cares.

[Admiral-Kizaru]

Lost due to a lack of proper rebounding. Nevertheless, Steph in particular was shafted by th refs multiple times shooting a three or going to the basket. Additionally literally no offensive foul was called against Harden Cp3 and Gordon who straight up pushed off every single time they shot the ball. On th other end Rockets continue to receive touch calls on their way to the hoop. It’s all so maddening. Warriors will bounce back Steph and Klays shooting will normalize over the next 2 games. KD continues to play amazingly.

Dubs in 6 and I’ll make an AV or Username bet on this for anyone who thinks otherwise . I won’t be able to sleep well these next few days god I hate sports

[ken6199]

People better respect that Utah defense. And team overall. People thought it was a joke to think Houston would have a much easier time against GS.

Idk. They just defend differently. Utah is more purposed, kinda like the Bucks defense without Bledsoe and Giannis, but in the same principle. They tried to key in on Harden to take away his main weapons and let the others beat them.

Warriors maybe because they hate to go away from their comfort zone in defense, or they have too much pride, or I think it's because of having KD/Iggy/Draymond/Klay, they defend usual. The result of this? They do not take Harden away from his comfort zone either. You give some you take some. Remember, they also have one important key factor in their defense - to NOT expose Curry on Houston attacker. Utah might not have that array of elite perimeter defender to single coverage Harden, but they do not have this loop hole to hide in Curry either.

[NapoleonII]

Lost due to a lack of proper rebounding. Nevertheless, Steph in particular was shafted by th refs multiple times shooting a three or going to the basket. Additionally literally no offensive foul was called against Harden Cp3 and Gordon who straight up pushed off every single time they shot the ball. On th other end Rockets continue to receive touch calls on their way to the hoop. It’s all so maddening. Warriors will bounce back Steph and Klays shooting will normalize over the next 2 games. KD continues to play amazingly.

Dubs in 6 and I’ll make an AV or Username bet on this for anyone who thinks otherwise . I won’t be able to sleep well these next few days god I hate sports

Your July 2017 join date makes complete sense.

[Admiral-Kizaru]

Lost due to a lack of proper rebounding. Nevertheless, Steph in particular was shafted by th refs multiple times shooting a three or going to the basket. Additionally literally no offensive foul was called against Harden Cp3 and Gordon who straight up pushed off every single time they shot the ball. On th other end Rockets continue to receive touch calls on their way to the hoop. It’s all so maddening. Warriors will bounce back Steph and Klays shooting will normalize over the next 2 games. KD continues to play amazingly.

Dubs in 6 and I’ll make an AV or Username bet on this for anyone who thinks otherwise . I won’t be able to sleep well these next few days god I hate sports

Your July 2017 join date makes complete sense.

What an intelligent well thought out comment. With that logic, you never existed as a person until 2007. Put up or shut up will you take the bet or no?

[alebaba]

Lost due to a lack of proper rebounding. Nevertheless, Steph in particular was shafted by th refs multiple times shooting a three or going to the basket. Additionally literally no offensive foul was called against Harden Cp3 and Gordon who straight up pushed off every single time they shot the ball. On th other end Rockets continue to receive touch calls on their way to the hoop. It’s all so maddening. Warriors will bounce back Steph and Klays shooting will normalize over the next 2 games. KD continues to play amazingly.

Dubs in 6 and I’ll make an AV or Username bet on this for anyone who thinks otherwise . I won’t be able to sleep well these next few days god I hate sports

Your July 2017 join date makes complete sense.

What an intelligent well thought out comment. With that logic, you never existed as a person until 2007. Put up or shut up will you take the bet or no?

Bandwagon.

[Admiral-Kizaru]

Your July 2017 join date makes complete sense.

What an intelligent well thought out comment. With that logic, you never existed as a person until 2007. Put up or shut up will you take the bet or no?

Bandwagon.

[ocelot17]

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[Admiral-Kizaru]

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lol he was fouled though....

[rrayy]

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lol he was fouled though....

By who? The invisible man?