2013 NBA Playoffs

[PhoSita]

That Rockets team has really won me over.  They play hard, and they play some really pretty basketball on the offensive end, lots of ball movement and a number of guys who can get in the lane.  I really dig Omer, as well.  Offensively, he's fairly inept, but he's one tough customer inside.  He reminds me of Kendrick Perkins circa 2008 to 2010.

Oh, and I really like their coach, too.

The Rockets are my second favorite team in the league.  Morey is the best GM in the league.  Now that they have their star scorer, I'm excited to see what they can do once their young players continue developing and they get a complementary star to put next to Harden.

Maybe they already have that complementary star in the form of a prettyboy named Chandler.

Nah.  Don't get me wrong, I really like Chandler Parsons, and I think he's a very solid starting SF.  I think he's on par with Jeff Green, just a better outside shooter and not as athletic.  Much better rebounder, though.

I think that Houston team is an All-Star caliber power forward away from being really good.  If you added Josh Smith to that team, or example, I think they'd win a lot of games and be a formidable opponent for anybody.

Motiejunas and Jones both look like decent young prospects at the power forward spot.

Yes, they do, but I'd be very surprised if either becomes a star.

[Who]

That Rockets team has really won me over.  They play hard, and they play some really pretty basketball on the offensive end, lots of ball movement and a number of guys who can get in the lane.  I really dig Omer, as well.  Offensively, he's fairly inept, but he's one tough customer inside.  He reminds me of Kendrick Perkins circa 2008 to 2010.

Oh, and I really like their coach, too.

The Rockets are my second favorite team in the league.  Morey is the best GM in the league.  Now that they have their star scorer, I'm excited to see what they can do once their young players continue developing and they get a complementary star to put next to Harden.

Maybe they already have that complementary star in the form of a prettyboy named Chandler.

Nah.  Don't get me wrong, I really like Chandler Parsons, and I think he's a very solid starting SF.  I think he's on par with Jeff Green, just a better outside shooter and not as athletic.  Much better rebounder, though.

I think that Houston team is an All-Star caliber power forward away from being really good.  If you added Josh Smith to that team, or example, I think they'd win a lot of games and be a formidable opponent for anybody.

Motiejunas and Jones both look like decent young prospects at the power forward spot.

Yes, they do, but I'd be very surprised if either becomes a star.

Motiejunas looks like he has a chance at being special. Very skilled for a player his size.

[D.o.s.]

My man Reggie Jackson got ROBBED on that final shot.

Only if you don't really know the rules.

Asik has definitely proved his contract to the Rockets.

Oh that's a load.  If it had been Durant or Harden going in for that layup with that amount of contact, the refs would've blown the whistle.

Those would be the Jordan rules you're referring to, which conveniently ignore the NBA rules. Specifically verticality:

VERTICALITY-Verticality applies to a legal position. The basic components of the principle of verticality are:
Legal guarding position must be established and attained initially, and movement thereafter must be legal;
From this position, the defender may rise or jump vertically and occupy the space within his or her vertical plane;
The hands and arms of the defender may be raised within his or her vertical plane while the defender is on the floor or in the air;
The defender should not be penalized for leaving the floor vertically or having his or her hands and arms extended within the vertical plane;
The offensive player whether on the floor or airborne may not clear out or cause contact that is a foul;
The defender may not "belly up" or use the lower part of the body or arms to cause contact that is a foul outside his or her vertical plane.

That said, I agree with you--if that had been KD or Westbrook or Harden, it would've been free throws.

I know that the "verticality" rule exists -- thanks for linking the language, though.

It's just that the rule is not called with any sort of consistency.  The refs basically pick and choose when and for whom they are going to invoke it.  So it's a rule without much meaning, if you ask me.

Agreed. My favorite is palming. They could call that on every, single, possession. They called one on KD last night and I was quite shocked.

[D.o.s.]

Also, thus-far quote of the post-season:

nothing says playoff intensity like weed socks.

http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2013/04/30/jordan-crawfords-strange-choice-of-socks/

full disclosure:I'm not trying to hate on Crawford here, nor do I believe that his choice in sockwear says anything negative about his character or commitment to winning/Celtic tradition/blah blah blah. I just thought it was a hilarious caption.

[Fafnir]

Denver playing so much better than the last three games right now.

[Bahku]

Love how aggressive the Grizzlies are tonight ... keep it up, guys, and steal one at Staples!

[D.o.s.]

Rooting for the Grizzlies, but the Clips completely wasted a virtuoso Paul performance in Game 5.

[Who]

Congrats to Memphis. They have completely turned that series around. From 0-2 down to up 3-2. They are in the driver's seat now.

Clippers imploding.

[Celtics18]

Oh my goodness, Scotty Brooks is such a scumbag for going with the extended Hack-a-Asik in the fourth quarter.  Good for Omer for making close to 70% of them, and good for McHale for sticking with him.

Go Rockets!!!!

[SparzWizard]

Harden sure knows how to shut that crowd up!

[fairweatherfan]

Oh my goodness, Scotty Brooks is such a scumbag for going with the extended Hack-a-Asik in the fourth quarter.  Good for Omer for making close to 70% of them, and good for McHale for sticking with him.

Go Rockets!!!!

Has the Hack-a-Whoever strategy ever worked?  Even once?  I can't think of a single time.  Not only kinda bush league but not even successful.

[D.o.s.]

I'm a big fan of how Houston plays. I like their brand of up-tempo basketball. Fun to watch.

Hack-An-Asik was pretty much the opposite of that. Great win.

[SparzWizard]

Rockets just pulled another Celtics tonight!! 

[Celtics18]

Oh my goodness, Scotty Brooks is such a scumbag for going with the extended Hack-a-Asik in the fourth quarter.  Good for Omer for making close to 70% of them, and good for McHale for sticking with him.

Go Rockets!!!!

Has the Hack-a-Whoever strategy ever worked?  Even once?  I can't think of a single time.  Not only kinda bush league but not even successful.

And then he backs off down the stretch when they need to foul.  I don't get it.  Is he a complete moron?

Anyway, happy for McHale, Asik, Harden, and the rest of that Rockets squad. 

It would be so fun to see both us and Houston force game sevens after starting off down 0 and 3 . . . and then both winning game seven on the road!!!

[Galeto]

Houston really looks like they can win this series.  Obviously Durant's the best player in the series and he's been playing at peak form but Harden's a great player in his own right and capable of matching Durant in any game.  Without Westbrook, I'd take Harden's teammates over Durant's.  If not for Durant's fortunate bounce in game 3, Houston could be up 3-2 right now.   

Count me in as loving the way Houston plays.  They're always pushing the ball and with Harden's ability to attack the paint and their team-wide three point efficiency, their shot selection is commendable.