Are the Rockets done, Toronto style?

[Moranis]

Harden and Paul both played well but it wasn't enough.  So was game 1 a series ender or will the Rockets actually be able to figure it out?

[makaveli]

They are a bit like toronto, a great regular season team, but in the playoffs things get a little bit tougher. They have no chance against the warriors, so GSW in 4-5.
Mike No D Antony, no way you win a chip with no D.

[CelticD]

I've called Houston "Toronto West" before. Always thought Pringles' play style was good for the regular season but not good in the playoffs against more sophisticated defenses.

All that being said, I hope they manage to give GS a run for their money. It's no nauseating watching how good this team is. If Durant doesn't choke a 3-1 lead against the Warriors, or if Westbrick wasn't such a bad teammate, or if the Warriors don't choke a 3-1 lead against LeBron, none of this happens.

[ederson]

They are a bit like toronto, a great regular season team, but in the playoffs things get a little bit tougher. They have no chance against the warriors, so GSW in 4-5.
Mike No D Antony, no way you win a chip with no D.

Based on stats Houston is not bad on D

[Green-18]

I never believed in the Rockets so I would have said it was done before it started.  Their isolation style of play works against 90% of the league. Golden State is an exception.  The Warriors have the defensive length and versatility to force Houston into legitimate scoring droughts. 

The Rockets are front runners by design.  It's frustrating as an NBA fan because their two stars are capable of more.  I wish D'Antoni had implemented some real offensive sets that are predicated on ball movement.  The iso style could still be the primary offense but they need a new wrinkle to keep the Warriors honest on defense.     

I think this series ends in 5 games, maybe 6.  With that being said, the Rockets are still WAY ahead of the Toronto Raptors.  Their style might have been good enough if not for Durant's weak decision to join to Golden State. 

[TA9]

This might be a bit controversial but I don't think Rockets is a good team. They play horrendous defense and even though good offensive will carry you far in the regular season it won't be sufficient in the playoffs.

[estendius]

Overall the Rocket is a good team. Because the GSW is in their own level.
The C's full healthy can better than Rocket or not ?

[Green-18]

This might be a bit controversial but I don't think Rockets is a good team. They play horrendous defense and even though good offensive will carry you far in the regular season it won't be sufficient in the playoffs.

Their defense is far from horrendous.  This is becoming a popular assumption due to D'Antoni's reputation for neglecting defense.  In reality the Rockets were among the better defensive teams in the NBA.  Capella is a dynamic center with the ability to provide excellent help defense at the rim.  Paul, Tucker, Ariza, and Mbah A Moute are all good defensive players as well.   

Houston has two glaring weakness that get exposed against Golden State.  First, their isolation heavy offense is prone to scoring droughts.  It's simply not sustainable for 48 minutes against a defense like Golden State.  Second, they don't have enough two-way players to combat the versatility of the Warriors.

[footey]

This might be a bit controversial but I don't think Rockets is a good team. They play horrendous defense and even though good offensive will carry you far in the regular season it won't be sufficient in the playoffs.

Their defense is far from horrendous.  This is becoming a popular assumption due to D'Antoni's reputation for neglecting defense.  In reality the Rockets were among the better defensive teams in the NBA.  Capella is a dynamic center with the ability to provide excellent help defense at the rim.  Paul, Tucker, Ariza, and Mbah A Moute are all good defensive players as well.   

Houston has two glaring weakness that get exposed against Golden State.  First, their isolation heavy offense is prone to scoring droughts.  It's simply not sustainable for 48 minutes against a defense like Golden State.  Second, they don't have enough two-way players to combat the versatility of the Warriors.

Only watched first quarter and read box score but isn’t their biggest problem the same as everyone else’s?

No one on this planet can guard Durant one on one, and if you double him you pay dearly.

[Green-18]

This might be a bit controversial but I don't think Rockets is a good team. They play horrendous defense and even though good offensive will carry you far in the regular season it won't be sufficient in the playoffs.

Their defense is far from horrendous.  This is becoming a popular assumption due to D'Antoni's reputation for neglecting defense.  In reality the Rockets were among the better defensive teams in the NBA.  Capella is a dynamic center with the ability to provide excellent help defense at the rim.  Paul, Tucker, Ariza, and Mbah A Moute are all good defensive players as well.   

Houston has two glaring weakness that get exposed against Golden State.  First, their isolation heavy offense is prone to scoring droughts.  It's simply not sustainable for 48 minutes against a defense like Golden State.  Second, they don't have enough two-way players to combat the versatility of the Warriors.

Only watched first quarter and read box score but isn’t their biggest problem the same as everyone else’s?

No one on this planet can guard Durant one on one, and if you double him you pay dearly.

Pretty much but I still think their lack of diversity on offense is a larger problem.  Houston can hang in there until the scoring droughts begin.  The Rockets had a bunch of poor shots late in the clock that led to easy points for Golden State. 

The iso style puts way too much strain on Harden and Paul.  It also allows the Warriors to conserve energy on the defensive end.  85% of the shot clock is spent with Harden dribbling beyond the arc.

[Sophomore]

This might be a bit controversial but I don't think Rockets is a good team. They play horrendous defense and even though good offensive will carry you far in the regular season it won't be sufficient in the playoffs.

Their defense is far from horrendous.  This is becoming a popular assumption due to D'Antoni's reputation for neglecting defense.  In reality the Rockets were among the better defensive teams in the NBA.  Capella is a dynamic center with the ability to provide excellent help defense at the rim.  Paul, Tucker, Ariza, and Mbah A Moute are all good defensive players as well.   

Houston has two glaring weakness that get exposed against Golden State.  First, their isolation heavy offense is prone to scoring droughts.  It's simply not sustainable for 48 minutes against a defense like Golden State.  Second, they don't have enough two-way players to combat the versatility of the Warriors.

Only watched first quarter and read box score but isn’t their biggest problem the same as everyone else’s?

No one on this planet can guard Durant one on one, and if you double him you pay dearly.

Pretty much but I still think their lack of diversity on offense is a larger problem.  Houston can hang in there until the scoring droughts begin.  The Rockets had a bunch of poor shots late in the clock that led to easy points for Golden State. 

The iso style puts way too much strain on Harden and Paul.  It also allows the Warriors to conserve energy on the defensive end.  85% of the shot clock is spent with Harden dribbling beyond the arc.

One other problem for Houston's style - it relies on Harden and Curry drawing multiple fouls on defenders to score from the free throw line. What NBA official do you think is going to foul out Curry, Thompson, or Durant on those ripthroughs, jump shot kick outs, and out of control charges to the rim? Fughettabout it.

[mr. dee]

This might be a bit controversial but I don't think Rockets is a good team. They play horrendous defense and even though good offensive will carry you far in the regular season it won't be sufficient in the playoffs.

Their defense is far from horrendous.  This is becoming a popular assumption due to D'Antoni's reputation for neglecting defense.  In reality the Rockets were among the better defensive teams in the NBA.  Capella is a dynamic center with the ability to provide excellent help defense at the rim.  Paul, Tucker, Ariza, and Mbah A Moute are all good defensive players as well.   

Houston has two glaring weakness that get exposed against Golden State.  First, their isolation heavy offense is prone to scoring droughts.  It's simply not sustainable for 48 minutes against a defense like Golden State.  Second, they don't have enough two-way players to combat the versatility of the Warriors.

Most of them are good defenders, but not elite. Looking at the past list of championship teams, all of them have at least a DPOY or 1 all-defensive 1st team level player, especially at the wing position. CP3 isn't the defensive force he was. Tucker, Ariza and Mbah A Mouter are good, but not great defenders. They had Beverly last season, but the rest of the team are just average to mediocre defensively.

Lebron, once upon a time was an elite defender
Kawhi is a great defender too when healthy
Iggy and Draymond are elite defenders. KD is becoming one too with the warriors

[Rakulp]

If Houston can't figure it out in Game 2, this series is a GSW sweep...and that's bad for the NBA.

A GSW/Cleve series...again...is not going to excite the fans.  The only way to improve ratings is for the Celtics to drive a stake in DracLebron's heart, and then turn to the Frankenstein monster that is GSW and say "You're NEXT!"

So, for the sake of the NBA's ratings, we accept that challenge!

[SHAQATTACK]

first nail in coffin ......lebron awaits the winner to decide his next move.

one more nail and the gig is up.


Lebron to Houston .....is next move

[Androslav]

I think it is a 5 game series.
IMO, Houston has to rely on Tucker and Moute for the offense to succeed.
Otherwise, it is predictable, GSW can load up on 3 creators and they will tire them out with time.

2-way players are made for the playoffs, just like our current starting 5 is.
Houstons (3)&D players don't offer ballhandling skill, nor constant shooting and teams gameplan doesn't include much ball sharing (logical as there are not many skilled role players). Those are flaws that will cost a team if the opponent can exploit it. And GSW surely can.