Series Thread: 1st Round: OKC Thunder vs Houston Rockets

[RobToxin]

Not to make this a political thread but I found this nugget from a Rockets fan.

Didn't all the teams take a couple of days off as a sign of protest?

 

[bksballer89]

 

[wildturkey]

Rockets can beat the Lakers imo, at least make it difficult their defense isn't up to snuff or if Davis plays soft (which he is prone to do on occasion). I don't much like Rondo at all but at least this series going 7 gives LA an extra day of rest to get him healthy as a potential guy to guard Westbrook or Harden when Green and KCP aren't out there

 

[tlance]

I would if I'm a Lakers fan.

Lakers/Rockets is 6 or 7 game series

Lakes/Thunder is 5 games max...possible sweep

My thinking too.

Houston offers matchup issues for the Lakers and the 3 point shooting is wild card.

Don’t see OKC seriously threatening LA.

 

[Wishbone]

My thinking too.

Houston offers matchup issues for the Lakers and the 3 point shooting is wild card.

Don’t see OKC seriously threatening LA.

OKC gave the Lakers one of their worst losses at 105-86. The Thunder youth is no joke vs an old team like LA.

 

[tlance]

OKC gave the Lakers one of their worst losses at 105-86. The Thunder youth is no joke vs an old team like LA.

I am not saying it will be an easy series,

but I think the Lakers match up pretty well with OKC and have more talent.

Matchups with Houston are more problematic.

 

[Shanemansj13]

My thinking too.

Houston offers matchup issues for the Lakers and the 3 point shooting is wild card.

Don’t see OKC seriously threatening LA.

Right if Houston gets hot from 3 they can beat anyone. And Harden and RW, mainly Harden could either shoot themsleves out of a game or dominate. More upside.

OKC is a more complete team and they better defense.

Both matchups are tough for the Lakers bc of their lack of depth but I doubt they wanna see RW and Harden with their lack of guards.

 

[Shanemansj13]

OKC gave the Lakers one of their worst losses at 105-86. The Thunder youth is no joke vs an old team like LA.

Hard to compare regular season to postseason especially when you have two superstars. It’s a different game

 

[bksballer89]

Hard to compare regular season to postseason especially when you have two superstars. It’s a different game

Yep plus Lebron pretty clearly found his rhythm. He was struggling big time in the bubble until game 3 of the Portland series and since then he has looked like the player he was prior to the season being suspended due to covid

 

[bksballer89]

And honestly i just really want to see the small ball vs big lineup go head to head in a 7 game series.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

And honestly i just really want to see the small ball vs big lineup go head to head in a 7 game series.

You would think in a seven game series AD would absolutely feast on the Rockets but his couple games after they capella trade I don't remember them being anything crazy

 

[Shanemansj13]

At points RW looked like a kid in church league just flinging the ball around...like we know who he is and what type of player he is but this is Game 6 man. Some of those passes were bad for him...like atrocious. Do you really want to go to a Game 7 against a pissed off CP3 even at his age? Nope.

 

[bksballer89]

At points RW looked like a kid in church league just flinging the ball around...like we know who he is and what type of player he is but this is Game 6 man. Some of those passes were bad for him...like atrocious. Do you really want to go to a Game 7 against a pissed off CP3 even at his age? Nope.

Yes

 

[Shanemansj13]

You would think in a seven game series AD would absolutely feast on the Rockets but his couple games after they capella trade I don't remember them being anything crazy

They could just throw it to him every play. So PJ Tucker will be guarding him? lol. Unless they change the lineup around but I feel that wouldn't make sense since they acquired RW to play even smaller than they have in the past.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Yes

You would rather go to a Game 7 than win in 6. Interesting

 

[tlance]

They could just throw it to him every play. So PJ Tucker will be guarding him? lol. Unless they change the lineup around but I feel that wouldn't make sense since they acquired RW to play even smaller than they have in the past.

PJ Tucker is a beast.

I am not saying he can guard AD because of the height difference, but I would say at least half the teams in the NBA don’t have a better matchup for him. Maybe more.

Tucker can muscle him off his spots and force jump shots that AD will either make or miss.

 

[Shanemansj13]

PJ Tucker is a beast.

I am not saying he can guard AD because of the height difference, but I would say at least half the teams in the NBA don’t have a better matchup for him. Maybe more.

Tucker can muscle him off his spots and force jump shots that AD will either make or miss.

They are gonna feast on the boards

 

[thunderc]

Sure am enjoying this analysis on a series that isn’t going to happen.

 

[tlance]

They are gonna feast on the boards

They have to.

Because Houston will feast in transition unless they are pulling the ball out of the net every time.

 

[trojanfan12]

Right if Houston gets hot from 3 they can beat anyone. And Harden and RW, mainly Harden could either shoot themsleves out of a game or dominate. More upside.

OKC is a more complete team and they better defense.

Both matchups are tough for the Lakers bc of their lack of depth but I doubt they wanna see RW and Harden with their lack of guards.

They seemed to handle Dame and CJ pretty well.