2017 Playoffs: (3) Houston vs. (6) Westbrook

[Lamrock]

Yesterday's results have locked in two more playoff match-ups: Rockets/Thunder and Clippers/Jazz. Gonna hold off on the Clippers/Jazz thread though, since we don't know who will have home court advantage in the first round.

This should be a fun series - a match-up between the two MVP candidates. I got the Rockets in 6. Westbrook should be able to will the Thunder to a couple wins, but I don't think they have the firepower to beat them in a series.

[JaoSming]

Beard in 6

[PeacemanNOT]

I'm expecting a lot of blowouts.

Rockets in 6

[Phil89]

Have to agree with the Rockets in 6. They are just a better team. If Adams/Kanter/Oladipo show up to help Westbrook then maybe OKC can win a couple of games.

Hopefully the MVP match-up will live up to the hype.

[Andrew]

Rockets in six is definitely the safer pick and I'd agree that it's more likely, but all the same, I'm going to predict Rockets in seven. It'll hopefully be a very fun series with some big numbers.

[[Q]]

How do you not vote Westbrook for MVP? He's been doing everything himself. That only gets you so far against a better team. Rockets in 6

[I Hate Mondays]

Rockets in 6, Harden will go super saiyan

[Kevin]

Rockets in 6 too.

[Phil89]

Rockets in 6, Harden will go super saiyan when he won't win the MVP

Pretty much what happened.

OKC need to rebound better or this series will be over quickly. It's one of their biggest strengths but they got smashed 56-41 in the opening game.

I mean, Patrick Beverley got one more rebound than Steven Adams/Taj Gibson/Enes Kanter got combined. That's just embarrassing.

[I Hate Mondays]

Rockets in 6, Harden will go super saiyan when he won't win the MVP

Pretty much what happened.

OKC need to rebound better or this series will be over quickly. It's one of their biggest strengths but they got smashed 56-41 in the opening game.

I mean, Patrick Beverley got one more rebound than Steven Adams/Taj Gibson/Enes Kanter got combined. That's just embarrassing.

They need that home court vibe, OKC fans are very loud. They'll bounce back and win a couple of games at home

[benji]

phpBB [video]

[Phil89]

Thunder are playing much better in game 2 and are leading 68-62 at the half.

Westbrook has 22p/7r/10a already. He seems to want to make a statement after the game 1 disappointment.

[Andrew]

A monster game for Westbrook, but the Rockets overcame that early deficit, and they're up 2-0.

[Phil89]

First ever 50 point triple-double in the playoffs, apparently. But I reckon he'd rather have had the win.

Hopefully home court gives OKC something extra and they can keep the series alive.

[big-shot-ROB]

phpBB [video]

[PeacemanNOT]

Westbrook had great game and I honestly thought they had it in the bag but as soon as the fourth quarter came... shit went down hill. He obviously doesn't trust his teammates down the stretch. I heard Reggie Miller talking about how we shouldn't blame him because his teammates couldn't hit anything, when most of the end of the fourth quarter was Westbrook chucking up threes, looking for fouls, screaming at the referees and not getting back on transition defense.

Unless Westbrook changes how he plays and thinks in games, he isn't going to win shit and honestly if they lose this series I think we should put our triple double bias and all his massive scoring performances aside and really consider whether or not he is the MVP. When have we ever seen someone win MVP, shoot as poorly as he is and only lead them to the sixth seed and not even get past the first round?

[NovU]

Spot on Peaceman.

As I said before, his huge stats come at cost. People are willing to award Thunders' entire success to Westbrook but never the other way.

If his key teammates maintained last year's production level while Westy had 35% usage rate producing just about at the same rate, I think the Thunder more or less would have been the same team with just more focus on teamplay. For instance, it's hard to believe Kanter suddenly became such a bad rebounder (Steven Adams also regressed) while Westy suddenly became one of the best rebounding PG ever. It seems more plausible to believe it's done design. Rebounds are finite and considered largely to be a team activity and biggest beneficiary has been Westy this season. Factor this in, is Westy really better than Harden, if then in what area? In reality significant win category for Westy over Harden was in rebounding with 2.6 rpg advantage.

[PeacemanNOT]

Check out this compilation of Westbrook missing teammates in the fourth quarter:

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/6 ... teammates/

[Stress Fracture]

I was in awe of Westbrook's shooting in the third. I thought the Rockets will lose that game.

But the vintage 4th Quarter Westbrook did it again.

Kanter, Adams, and Gibson should get more touches. Pound the ball inside, WB!

[I Hate Mondays]

Westbrook might've stopped his team's development for an entire season. No dragging back, just stagnation. It's not me saying it. It's the media people saying it. Peacemannot's compilation video it's just the cherry on top, I've seen many situations like these during the season.
I guess I'll ignore any record breaking stats from now on. They become irrelevant and it's easier for players to break records nowadays. I don't want to look like one of those internet trolls but they are right. A 73-9 record means nothing when you blow a 3-1 lead in The Finals, a scoring record during the All-Star game is irrelevant when the defense is worse than an under-10 school game, just as a triple-double record will be easily forgotten if the Thunder don't get at least two wins in this series.

[air gordon]

Point taken but that's a bit hyperbolic

Now I'll agree with you on all star game performances. Does anyone really pay attention to those?

The 73-9 regular season finish will be remembered for quite some time as well as the westbrooks triple double average.

This Westbrook situation. Seems there is no middle ground here. Either he has to do it all because of lack talent or he's not passing it enough to his teammates who still are lacking talent

Is his performance, specifically his 4th qtr clutch play in the regular season, any different from IT?

Westy played a magnificent 1-3 qtrs then it all went down toilet in the 4th

[Phil89]

Thunder win game 3, just.

Harden and Westbrook really living up to the MVP hype.

[PeacemanNOT]

Man that was close, great game for Westbrook but those missed free throws in the end was hard to watch. Almost cost them the game.

[Lamrock]

Yeah, you could tell he was disappointed in himself nearly blowing it with those missed free throws.

I couldn't believe they were praising the Thunder for immediately fouling Harden up three with 9 seconds to go. Takes basically no time off the clock, gives them two free points and another chance to force a turnover or miss a free throw. Do these guys even play 2K?!?!

[Phil89]

Also props to Westbrook for only taking one three-pointer in the game. Hopefully he now realises that he doesn't need to take those horrible shots.