1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

The Ringer: The Houston Rockets Are Playing Like They Can Beat Anyone

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Shaq2Yao, Apr 18, 2019.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Shaq2Yao

    Shaq2Yao Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    8,520
    Likes Received:
    16,942
    https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/4/18/18484530/houston-rockets-utah-jazz-game-2-round-one-playoffs

    And after a second straight blowout win over the Utah Jazz, they appear to be ready to take on their toughest test in the next round
    By Haley O'Shaughnessy Apr 18, 2019, 1:40am EDT

    Repeat after me: The Rockets could upset the Warriors. You’ve heard that sentiment before. This season, last season, the one before that. From podcasts, from your uncle in Houston, from your own inner monologue. “The Rockets could beat the Warriors” is an opinion somewhere between brave and foolish—this is known as a take—hedged with word choice; they could beat Golden State, just as Kobe Bryant could coach the Lakers or Zion Williamson could stay another year at Duke.

    See, Houston has made fools of men before. Burned them. Once, legend has it, 27 times over. But if you’re looking for certitude to place in the Rockets, and in the idea that they could soon be champions, hold dear this image from their 118-98 Game 2 win against the Jazz on Wednesday, a shot that followed James Harden literally shaking his defender out of the frame:



    A picture breaks a thousand ankles. And the video is pretty good, too.



    Though this happened two minutes into the game (thoughts and prayers to Ricky Rubio, whose life was spared only because Harden’s shot didn’t go in), Harden standing alone later felt symbolic of Houston’s place in the West through the conclusion of Game 2s. Denver and San Antonio have both lost one; Utah and Oklahoma City are down two; Portland, though more convincing than everthrough two wins, still isn’t at Houston’s threat level. And Golden State, well, Golden State blew a 31-point lead, the largest in playoff history, against Los Angeles on Monday.

    But the context of a historically bad Warriors loss isn’t really necessary for full confidence in the Rockets. It helps Houston’s case, sure, but so does Harden logging the third playoff triple-double of his career (32 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists), or P.J. Tucker’s four 3s and Clint Capela’s three blocks, or a 20-point win despite Chris Paul’s shot not falling, and the fact that every Rocket who logged more than 11 minutes made it to the line on Wednesday. The Rockets ousted the Jazz last postseason, as it seems they soon will during these playoffs, but on shakier terms. They lost that Game 2 at home—this time, no intensity was lost. Houston no longer seems as prone to play up or down to an opponent thanks to Harden, who no longer seems prone to playing any way but out of his mind. Utah was never close; at the end of the first quarter, the Rockets had 39 points, the Jazz had 19, and Harden had 17. (It’s worth mentioning that Utah’s defensive strategy—one that Milwaukee employed this season—might’ve helped Harden more than it limited him; in an effort to deter Harden from going left, the defense essentially gave the reigning MVP open looks to the right, which he easily turned into floaters and lobs. It didn’t work in Game 1, and, to no one’s surprise, it didn’t in Game 2, either.)

    Keeping Round 1 as brief as possible is best for the Rockets for reasons other than keeping focus. If they advance, and if the Warriors beat the Clippers, a Western Conference finals rematch between the two would happen in Round 2. Blowouts like games 1 and 2 against the Jazz will only keep Houston fresh: Harden played 33 minutes in both games, while injury-prone CP3 averaged even fewer. For the Rockets, there’s less of a gap between could and will than ever before.
     
    #1 Shaq2Yao, Apr 18, 2019
    luckyman76, waytookrzy079, D-rock and 7 others like this.
  2. DreamShook

    DreamShook Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    70,656
    Likes Received:
    114,669
    Haley O'Shaughnessy is a Westbrook apologist. I wonder who called in sick for her to write this one.
     
    #2 DreamShook, Apr 18, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2019
    glenadyll, hakeem94 and Plowman like this.
  3. Mr. Space City

    Mr. Space City Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2009
    Messages:
    31,041
    Likes Received:
    36,459
    That loser Chris Vernon must be feeling extreme discomfort reading that.
     
    #3 Mr. Space City, Apr 18, 2019
    Earnie Banks, BigMaloe, Williamson and 2 others like this.
  4. jcf

    jcf Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2012
    Messages:
    2,190
    Likes Received:
    2,271
    Best part: Harden, who no longer seems prone to play any way but out of his mind.
     
    #4 jcf, Apr 18, 2019
    diehardrockets, luckyman76, CCity Zero and 9 others like this.
  5. xaos

    xaos Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2015
    Messages:
    6,185
    Likes Received:
    15,468
    That picture of Harden all alone is amazing. That's a picture of the former MVP who is playing against a top defensive team whose game plan surely has James Harden's name all over it in the playoffs. It looks like he showed up early to the game for shoot around.
     
    #5 xaos, Apr 18, 2019
    diehardrockets, luckyman76, CCity Zero and 16 others like this.
  6. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    10,968
    Likes Received:
    11,941
    By far my least favorite NBA person they have at the ringer. Writing is fine, but listening to her on their NBA podcast is rough.
     
    #6 jordnnnn, Apr 18, 2019
    Invisible Fan, glenadyll and hakeem94 like this.
  7. Lurch

    Lurch Live Wilder.

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2008
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    855
    I love the Ringer but cant handle the NBA show. Its a very difficult listen. I love Bill Simmons though and can listen to him talk NBA all day.
     
    #7 Lurch, Apr 18, 2019
    RocketWalta, biff17 and hakeem94 like this.
  8. DarkHorse

    DarkHorse Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 1999
    Messages:
    6,733
    Likes Received:
    1,247
    Simmons and Kevin O'Connor picked the Rockets to beat the Warriors. FYI since a lot of people dislike/mistrust them.
     
    #8 DarkHorse, Apr 18, 2019
    luckyman76, D-rock, Plowman and 2 others like this.
  9. Williamson

    Williamson JOSH CHRISTOPHER ONLY FAN
    Supporting Member Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2002
    Messages:
    15,267
    Likes Received:
    18,474
    Really? The only person on the Ringer staff that I struggle to listen to is Chris Vernon. Aside from the fact he's a Rockets and Harden hater, he's also one of those guys who gets very defensive and never admits there is any possibility he could be wrong. And his voice is annoying. I actually enjoy Haley.
     
    #9 Williamson, Apr 18, 2019
  10. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 1999
    Messages:
    45,162
    Likes Received:
    31,126
    I literally laughed out loud this morning when Brendan Haywood said Harden crossed Rubio off the channel, and he had to turn to Telemundo to find him.
     
    #10 Dr of Dunk, Apr 18, 2019
    diehardrockets, luckyman76, Red Nation RGV and 19 others like this.
  11. BigMaloe

    BigMaloe Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2012
    Messages:
    13,817
    Likes Received:
    15,050

    [​IMG]


    .
    .
    .

    Who wore it Better?
     
    #11 BigMaloe, Apr 18, 2019
    diehardrockets, Richie_Rich, DreamShook and 7 others like this.
  12. xaos

    xaos Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2015
    Messages:
    6,185
    Likes Received:
    15,468
    Hahahahah! :D
     
    #12 xaos, Apr 18, 2019
    CCity Zero, Invisible Fan, waytookrzy079 and 5 others like this.
  13. SemisolidSnake

    SemisolidSnake Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    4,921
    Likes Received:
    5,803

    He missed that shot, though, right? Or did he have another shot where he was that wide open?

    Also, is that the last episode of Fresh Prince? Because the last episode of Fresh Prince is pretty much the saddest last episode of anything ever, IMO.
     
    #13 SemisolidSnake, Apr 18, 2019
  14. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    10,968
    Likes Received:
    11,941
    I dunno. I listen almost daily and I just never find her to be that knowledgeable for someone who covers the NBA. A lot of surface level stuff and outside drama crap and not much more. And although I find the ringer as a whole to be more interested in the stories outside the game than the game itself, I think she might be the most egregious. Just not the type of coverage I’m interested in.

    Vernon I actually don’t mind other than his complete disgust over Harden. I actually enjoy listening to KOC mess with him after Harden and Houston play well.
     
    #14 jordnnnn, Apr 18, 2019
  15. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2006
    Messages:
    37,973
    Likes Received:
    15,447
    Dang, that's funny.
     
    #15 durvasa, Apr 18, 2019
    seeingredtx likes this.
  16. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2010
    Messages:
    8,396
    Likes Received:
    11,158
    Better than listening to 610 AM obsess over the NFL schedule release when the Astros were in a 10 game win streak and Rockets are dominating the Jazz...
     
    #16 lnchan, Apr 18, 2019
    Lurch, rgw20014life and smp like this.
  17. photojoe

    photojoe Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2013
    Messages:
    3,175
    Likes Received:
    3,313
    That part is great, but I think the best part is the photo. It looks like Harden is in a gym by himself just casually practicing shooting.
     
    #17 photojoe, Apr 18, 2019
    hakeem94, D-rock and jcf like this.
  18. Andy Sheets

    Andy Sheets Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2002
    Messages:
    1,099
    Likes Received:
    1,001
    He missed it. The Rockets had like 5 or 6 plays last night that could have been classic highlights if they'd just made the shot :)
     
    #18 Andy Sheets, Apr 18, 2019
    snowconeman22, Deckard and hakeem94 like this.
  19. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 1999
    Messages:
    45,162
    Likes Received:
    31,126
    The Big Moron Shaq put him on Shaqtin a fool for missing it.
     
    #19 Dr of Dunk, Apr 19, 2019
    Richie_Rich, Deckard and hakeem94 like this.
  20. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2002
    Messages:
    56,811
    Likes Received:
    39,118
    The Big Moron is the right description and the fat fool badly needs a prescription, @Dr of Dunk. Don't give it to him!
     
    #20 Deckard, Apr 19, 2019
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now