Warriors vs Rockets || First Take game 5 ||

I don't think its in Harden's DNA to attack right away either. Cp would probably start really using the screen..Harden not sure.

Athletic Alchemy

Appreciate it Rac! Thank you for your support!

Athletic Alchemy

regardless the outcome this year, I think we see a lot of roster changes.

Athletic Alchemy

Exactly! His history says he will get hurt!

Athletic Alchemy

muggings being allowed and then touch fouls being called.

Athletic Alchemy

I agree he needs to start the offense. But I think he is as close to 100 as anybody else playing this time of year. In fact you could argue he should be fresher.

Athletic Alchemy

CP going down changes everything!

Athletic Alchemy

Well said...

Athletic Alchemy

I agree about fighting through the screens. Harden (and Paul) just stand there and wait for the switch. There's not much urgency. It's a boring offense to watch.

Steve

They've worked so hard. I have faith in them they will figure it out.

Bailey

With CP3 out, Warriors need to take advantage but CANNOT relax. On paper it just doesn’t look like HOU can beat GSW with CP3 but in last nights game, CP3 was the worst Rocket player in terms of +/-. He had 2 points in the 1st half before scoring 18 in the 2nd half. His defense is always surprisingly good though. With Eric Gordon now starting and Gerald Green presumably playing much more taking Gordon’s spot in the 2nd unit, this will just lead to many more 3 point attempts. We all know what Gordon can do and Gerald Green’s crazy shot making. Warriors will need to pressure Harden to dribble himself out the game and get himself tired. That leaves Gordon as the lone ball handler and we like our chances there. A gift has been given to us but it’s not as easy to open as it looks! Don’t fall for the trap and TRUST your system!

Hey Alch, I'm a fan from Germany and waiting anxiously for the full-game breakdown. Just wanted to give you, after these bitter losses, props and thanks for your insightful and well-balanced analyses. They let me enjoy the intricacies of the game, especially the details in team/individual defense. I'm hopeful, that we win the series.

One of the last 1 or 2 possessions of the game, Klay was standing still near the logo at half court. When the broadcast replayed that possession, all I could do was stare at Klay just standing there. His body language was of a person that 1) didn't want the ball, and 2) had checked out of the game mentally. The game wasn't lost at that point. We didn't have Andre the last 2 games, but the reason we lost is something else. Something has happened in the heads of the Splash Brothers and KD. I don't know what it is. Maybe they're playing scared. Maybe deep down, they're afraid they can't win this series. And it changed them. Alch, I agree with everything you said in this vid.

e40

The thing about the Chris Paul injury and the fans making excuses is that when you sign Chris Paul, you know there is a chance he will get injured. It is a chance the Rockets took. They knew Chris Paul might not be healthy in the playoffs because he rarely is. This is the risk you take when you get Chris Paul. We also NEED to stop the iso ball. It might also get our guys tired. That might be why we are choking in the fourth quarters because we are tired from this iso ball. David West did great to revert to the motion, but Steve Kerr has to be telling the players to stop the iso, unless he is the one who calls it. I hope not. I still have some hope especially with CP3

Them being in the bonus w/ 6 min left really pushed me off...Harden with 8 FTs in the 4th then they reversed the travel call which would have been a huge momentum change. I don't like that the refs were constantly stopping the game on both ends.

Tre

Steph is not 100 still man and he's not in shape to play these type of minutes they need to have him on a minute restriction for the 1st half of the game KD looks tired too, they need to go back to the regular rotation Ironically if Swaggy was in on the 4th he would've hit that wide open 3...but CP-3 would've got hurt. If he plays next game with that shot hammy, they need to punish him, get the switch and drive his ass to hoop just like he would. He's probably gonna play, cuz the hamstring is like that, it hurts but you're never sure. But if he does and we attack him, he wont be able to play game 7 that's 100%, I remember his face at the end of the season with the hamstring, the pain was real and serious and I know what that feels like, can't do fucking shit when that goes. Curry needs to drive and kick out to Klay and KD Curry as the mother fucking point guard should start the offense 80% of possessions he's in. Not this dribble up and hand off to fuck Draymond with his 3 million turnovers. Why is Dray handling the ball so much, he's a not shooter, and only drives when they pull out the red carpet for him.

Stevie Ray

It sounds crazy but I echo what Kerr said, GSW is in the driver's seat right now. We are actually in a great position. Getting our 2nd best defender and best ball handler in Iguodala back. Even if CP3 plays, there's no way he's close to 100%. I'd be shocked if he plays G6 with a G7 on Monday. A hamstring injury is a very serious thing especially to a player built like a tree trunk and relies heavily on his lower body for leverage. With a hamstring, your entire leg is compromised bc it affects both the hip and the knee. I've been saying for the past 2 days that the offense needs to run thru Curry. KD is pressing right now. A KD iso can be a good play if it sets up good shots for himself or teammates but KD is trying to do too much on his own. He's not trusting teammates and not letting plays develop. 0 assists tells you all you need to know. KD missed all 4 shots in the 4Q. But I think Kerr is the one calling for these plays, that's why Curry is deferring. Kerr needs to wake up and do what's obvious to everyone - run offense thru Curry. KD made some adjustments and attacked the rim more but we cannot have Curry be this passive in games of this magnitude. I think Kerr realized this and we saw Curry handling the ball much more in the 4Q and that needs to continue on Saturday.

I always said teams concede to the screen and switch way too easy. It’s almost like they just let it happen and not try to fight over it. Idk what it is, GS has been there the last 2 games to get it done but they haven’t gone out and earned it.. Houston is playing to win and GS just wants to stick around long enough to see what’ll happen next. Why aren’t they backdooring Houston on the perimeter when they over play? Houston is selling out in the perimeter to dent the ball. There’s no off ball screen action to free guys up. GS isn’t trusting what got them there flat out

Reggie Westley

I don't think we would of lost both of these games if iggy wasn't out

Plissken

This was an intense and emotional game! I’m slowly accepting the harsh reality that we won’t be going to the Finals again heading into our 1st elimination game with KD. Now similar to what you said, I’m wearing and I assume others are too, a “fake smile” because of the CP3 injury and we are playing in Oracle. I just have to accept the fact that right now, the Rockets are just better than us and it hurts because Gordon, Tucker and Capela were all correct. As Lebron would say, our team is too “top heavy” and there isn’t really a bench player that can create a play and make an impact in this series. Our Core 4 has been decent by far from good enough. War ain’t over but we got 1 more chance to give us another chance in Game 7. I’m not sure which Warrior will show up but they better give it everything they got.

Kerr during the season always had them figure out close games by themselves and never called a time out to set up a play. Now in close games with steph having no confidence and kd chucking up bricks, we don't know who to turn to. The refs in this game was suspect, this is the second straight game we outscore the rox and they win on some egregious flopping. I don't know about kd on this team man ever since steph been out they have been leaning on him and now that steph is back he doesn't want to go back in his role. Kerr needs to fucking coach and run some plays or he needs to give the clipboard to mike brown