Is Houston going 4-0 against San Antonio this season.. [Archive] - Message Board Basketball Forum

T_L_P

04-15-2014, 10:52 AM

ABfor3

04-15-2014, 10:55 AM

I honestly think we are the only team capable of beating San Antonio besides OKC, our big men give them huge problems. Terrance Jones has stepped up to solidify the starting power forward spot, he is very athletic and can handle the ball I think he can be an X factor in that series. Dwight Howard and Omer Asik will be on Duncan nonstop, imagine having two of the best defenders at the center position guarding you allllll game..when one goes out, the next one comes in. Beverley had proven he can retain Parker, he went 27 and 8 way back in November , but since then he couldn't exceed 20 points . Parsons and Leonard will be a back and forth dual, both similar players.. I think it'll definitely go to 7 games

VIntageNOvel

04-15-2014, 10:55 AM

It's definitely a bad matchup for us. I mean, on paper their team should be able to beat ours on most occasions.

However, in the games I've watched, Pop didn't really look like he was doing much. He was observing, testing the waters a bit. The Playoffs will be a completely different story, even if the Spurs do end up losing.

care to explain deeper, why houston is a bad match up for spurs,
i believe last year duncan outplayed howard,
and harden is basically manu

and pop >>>>> mchale

ABfor3

04-15-2014, 10:57 AM

care to explain deeper, why houston is a bad match up for spurs,
i believe last year duncan outplayed howard,
and harden is basically manu

and pop >>>>> mchale
Key word is last year.
Howard was suffering from an ailing back throughout the whole season. Spurs are definitely still a great team but let's not act like Duncan , Ginobli, and Parker are 25.

ZenMaster

04-15-2014, 11:00 AM

care to explain deeper, why houston is a bad match up for spurs,
i believe last year duncan outplayed howard,
and harden is basically manu

and pop >>>>> mchale

Basketball analysis at its finest!

SCdac

04-15-2014, 11:18 AM

As a Spurs fan, not too worried about it...

SA was keeping up with HOU yesterday with half their lineup missing (Spurs were up in the 4th quarter 87-85 with about 5 minutes left).

3 of the Rockets wins came in November-January and I think the Spurs have gotten better since then, particularly Patty, Beli, and Kawhi. But the whole team is more gelled (naturally).

Reminds me of PHX suns winning the season matchup against SA in 05, or more recently in last season, losing both RS games to the Heat. ie. it's not always a clear indication of playoff ball.

- Kawhi missed 2 of the games against HOU, and if I'm not mistaken they fell to 8-8 without him on the season (62-19 team record).

- Tiago Splitter also missed 2 games against them.

- Danny Green also missed 2 games against them.

Either way...

Keys to beating HOU: Keeping Harden, Parsons, and Beverly out of the paint when they try to score for themselves or kick out to shooters. Cut down on second chance points. Make Dwight score one on one as much as possible without doubling him, make him catch it as far out of the post as possible. Get back in transition... On offense, attack as much as possible and don't settle for jumpers, HOU's rotations are weak and can get the best shot if they move the ball around. Parker must show up.

If Spurs can't do any of those things consistently, could see them having serious problems.

Duncan, Parker, Manu, and Kawhi's minutes will probably all increase. Spurs just tend to step up in the playoffs.

YouGotServed

04-15-2014, 11:24 AM

Houston will mop the floor with these clowns. Playoffs are all about star power, Houston in 5, maybe 6.

VIntageNOvel

04-15-2014, 11:33 AM

Basketball analysis at its finest!

i didnt aks you, if you cant explain it then STFU

Key word is last year.
Howard was suffering from an ailing back throughout the whole season. Spurs are definitely still a great team but let's not act like Duncan , Ginobli, and Parker are 25.

i didnt try to troll or anything
that was a serious "i never watch spurs-houston game" question,
so are you saying houston is a bad match up for spurs because healthy howard has been outplaying old man duncan this year? i thought duncan still put up a great number

SmackOrH.A.K

04-15-2014, 11:54 AM

It will be a great series if it happens. If Rockets beat Portland, I think this series would definitely go to 6 or 7. Nobody can really predict what the Spurs will do lol. I want to doubt them but they've proven everybody wrong so many times.

All I'm gonna say it is obvious the Rockets matchup better with the Spurs compared to Clippers and Thunder.

toxicxr6

04-15-2014, 12:02 PM

rezznor

04-15-2014, 12:10 PM

although I hope we beat the spurs and believe are fully capable of doing so, I will never underestimate a Popovich coached team. The spurs have proven time and time again that they are an elite team. imo Pop is the GOAT coach and I have real concern that he will coach rings around McHale.

either way, should be a great series.

All Net

04-15-2014, 12:34 PM

The two teams Spurs have struggled with OKC and Houston they went 0-8

plowking

04-15-2014, 12:39 PM

care to explain deeper, why houston is a bad match up for spurs,
i believe last year duncan outplayed howard,
and harden is basically manu

and pop >>>>> mchale

Duncan really didn't outplay Howard.

Duncan's team was way better is all, and they won. Howard was probably the best player on the court last season in their series.

navy

04-15-2014, 12:44 PM

Spurs just tend to step up in the playoffs.
No they dont. :hammerhead:

KG215

04-15-2014, 12:50 PM

Either way, it's still kinda of weird that a team that's going to finish with the best record in the NBA had two teams they went a combined 0-8 against. Wonder if that's ever happened?

SCdac

04-15-2014, 01:02 PM

Either way, it's still kinda of weird that a team that's going to finish with the best record in the NBA had two teams they went a combined 0-8 against. Wonder if that's ever happened?

Probably as weird as a 62 win team having no player average more than 16.7 ppg or 29.6 mpg.... Doubt that has ever happened.... Could be wrong.

rmt

04-15-2014, 01:09 PM

Duncan really didn't outplay Howard.

Duncan's team was way better is all, and they won. Howard was probably the best player on the court last season in their series.

DH 17 pts 11 rebs
TD 18 pts 8 rebs
TP 22 pts 7 assts

Howard was not the best player on the court last season in their series. Once Duncan and Splitter neutralized Howard and Gasol, the backcourt was no contest. A superstar in his prime playing a 37 year old to a draw, and you think he was the best player on the court :confusedshrug:

Spurs don't have problems with big men (see Howard/Gasol and Gasol/Randolph swept last year). It's the teams with good jump shooting (see GSW and OKC) that trouble SAS. It won't be Howard but Harden who is the Spur killer.

K.Koscik

04-15-2014, 01:40 PM

Usually a team's regular season record doesn't matter against another team in my opinion. Every postseason I see the same "so and so was 4-0 or 3-1 against ____" and more often than not it's completely different in the playoffs.

That said, I think the Rockets match up favorably with the Spurs. Come to think of it... they match up well with everyone. I can't really think of a team boasting mismatches against the Rockets.

THAT said, I feel like a lack of consistent offense from the low post will hurt them in the playoffs. If Harden doesn't get his freethrows, the Rockets are going to be disappointed this post season. They have an iso-heavy offense (18th in assists) and maybe most significant of all they are 7th to last in points allowed in the league. Not exactly the perfect storm to make it out of the second round. Hell, Portland has one of those offenses that could absolutely go off for a couple games as well. It should be an underrated first round matchup between these two teams.

ABfor3

04-15-2014, 01:43 PM

i didnt aks you, if you cant explain it then STFU

i didnt try to troll or anything
that was a serious "i never watch spurs-houston game" question,
so are you saying houston is a bad match up for spurs because healthy howard has been outplaying old man duncan this year? i thought duncan still put up a great number
My mistake, yeah we've created problems for them down low all season. Harden also seems to play his best games against the Spurs as we'll.. As I mentioned Duncan has been great especially for his age but we have two elite defenders at the center position, when Howard checks out, Asik checks in. It'll tire him out .

ABfor3

04-15-2014, 01:46 PM

I think rocket fans are getting ahead of themselves here.. They have a very real challenge in portland in the first round.. And if the rockets team are looking at the second round like some of there fans are... Both the fans and the rockets players will be watching the second round from their sofa
I don't think we're getting ahead of ourselves, were simply replying to the topic which was about the Spurs and Rockets ...if they meet . Nobody saying were a guarantee win..:facepalm at your logic

shoops

04-15-2014, 01:50 PM

I think the Rockets can very possibly take down the Spurs. They're just a bad matchup for the Spurs, and like him or not Harden's pretty much always been kryptonite for the Spurs; he was one of the biggest reasons OKC took down SAS in the 2012 playoffs I'd say.

oh the horror

04-15-2014, 02:19 PM

Haymaker

04-15-2014, 02:24 PM

You`ll want to double Howard since he`s a horrible passer and he can`t deal with double teams.
As a Spurs fan, not too worried about it...

SA was keeping up with HOU yesterday with half their lineup missing (Spurs were up in the 4th quarter 87-85 with about 5 minutes left).

3 of the Rockets wins came in November-January and I think the Spurs have gotten better since then, particularly Patty, Beli, and Kawhi. But the whole team is more gelled (naturally).

Reminds me of PHX suns winning the season matchup against SA in 05, or more recently in last season, losing both RS games to the Heat. ie. it's not always a clear indication of playoff ball.

- Kawhi missed 2 of the games against HOU, and if I'm not mistaken they fell to 8-8 without him on the season (62-19 team record).

- Tiago Splitter also missed 2 games against them.

- Danny Green also missed 2 games against them.

Either way...

Keys to beating HOU: Keeping Harden, Parsons, and Beverly out of the paint when they try to score for themselves or kick out to shooters. Cut down on second chance points. Make Dwight score one on one as much as possible without doubling him, make him catch it as far out of the post as possible. Get back in transition... On offense, attack as much as possible and don't settle for jumpers, HOU's rotations are weak and can get the best shot if they move the ball around. Parker must show up.

If Spurs can't do any of those things consistently, could see them having serious problems.

Duncan, Parker, Manu, and Kawhi's minutes will probably all increase. Spurs just tend to step up in the playoffs.

IncarceratedBob

04-15-2014, 02:25 PM

Two great teams, hopefully we get to see them matchup in the playoffs. Let the better team win

Rocketswin2013

04-15-2014, 02:26 PM

Pop went 0-2 vs. the Heat just last year and rested starters in that 2nd game.......

I'd rather face Westchuck and the Brooks' Thunder tbh. The Spurs are a great playoff team...

gyu

04-15-2014, 02:32 PM

Rocketswin2013

04-15-2014, 02:35 PM

DH 17 pts 11 rebs
TD 18 pts 8 rebs
TP 22 pts 7 assts

Howard was not the best player on the court last season in their series. Once Duncan and Splitter neutralized Howard and Gasol, the backcourt was no contest. A superstar in his prime playing a 37 year old to a draw, and you think he was the best player on the court :confusedshrug:

Spurs don't have problems with big men (see Howard/Gasol and Gasol/Randolph swept last year). It's the teams with good jump shooting (see GSW and OKC) that trouble SAS. It won't be Howard but Harden who is the Spur killer.
You really think Howard was in his prime? I mean he's better this year than he was last year and he's still not what he used to be pre-injury. Last season was the worst version of Dwight Howard post-2008.

SCdac

04-15-2014, 02:37 PM

You`ll want to double Howard since he`s a horrible passer and he can`t deal with double teams.

Word... Disagree kinda. I say stay home on the shooters, rather than committing a double on Howard and leaving Houston's good shooters open. It's the way playoff teams (ATL comes to mind) have guarded Howard's teams the last 4-5 years and it's worked because it's often the shooters that kill teams.. not necessarily his post presence or relatively low FGA (he only takes 2-3 shots a quarter on average).

Play the Rockets the way we played the mid-2000's Suns. Cut off the head of the snake. Only instead of Nash (who's also a brilliant play maker) it's Harden. Make Howard beat us like the way we made Stoudemire try and beat us singlehandedly.

SA should be more focused on Harden and Parsons than the offense of Howard. It's when those guys start penetrating, Howard gets a putback, an alleyoop, a better one-on-one shot after Houston has gotten an offensive board, etc. Howard feeds off them, naturally.

Having said that, sometimes it's appropriate to crowd and double Howard. But shouldn't be every time. If he can hit a contested shot over Duncan, Tiago, or Banes, more power to him. But it's one less shot for Harden, who's a foul-drawing machine and great passer.

SexSymbol

04-15-2014, 02:51 PM

McHale is one of the worst coaches, so there's no possibility they're going to WCF with him. All league is completely safe from the rockets as long as they have a flopping leader, another crying leader and a terrible coach.

oh the horror

04-15-2014, 03:11 PM

Also remember when BDiddy Warriors owned Mavs in the regular season? They owned them in the first round of the playoffs too.

True that

TMT

04-15-2014, 03:34 PM

The first two regular season meetings are really the two to look at when you break it down. One meeting in November about 15 or so games in for both teams and then the second on Christmas Day. Both games the Spurs were thoroughly outplayed mentally and physically. I actually had to turn my TV off on Christmas because it was getting so hard to watch. It seems James Harden plays his best basketball against San Antonio, and that might go for Chandler Parsons too.

The second two matchups the Spurs were without Leonard/Green/Splitter and then without Mills/Leonard/Green/Splitter the other night. The Rockets have been surprisingly healthy during these matchups. I believe Lin missed one game and Beverley another.

Spurs will have their hands full against a team full of athletes, good shooting and size. Harden has always been a Spur killer, Dwight definitely isn't happy with the Spurs after last year, and we always seem to let the young guns kill us. Much like OKC.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the 4-0 count because the Spurs weren't playing their best ball yet during the early meetings, and were without half their rotation the following two. But regardless this is going to be a hellish series. Could easily go seven games.

Droid101

04-15-2014, 04:25 PM

Regular season matchup record historically only matters in the first round.

ninephive

04-15-2014, 05:17 PM

navy

04-15-2014, 05:25 PM

Spurs are going to lose, and we will hear nothing but how they were over achieving with a bad cast and how disrespected they are when they have the best record again next season.

UK2K

04-15-2014, 05:30 PM

I think rocket fans are getting ahead of themselves here.. They have a very real challenge in portland in the first round.. And if the rockets team are looking at the second round like some of there fans are... Both the fans and the rockets players will be watching the second round from their sofa
A healthy BeverD = Rockets in 5

Lillard has played exceptionally poorly against BeverD

brantonli

04-15-2014, 05:30 PM

We also need to remember that the Rockets have won 1 playoff series in the last 16 years. Them winning 2 rounds will be a major achievement considering what this franchise has become.

That said, they have a solid squad and do provide one of the 3 or 4 worst match-ups for SA.

I think the Rockets (this past decade) have only ever held the 4/5th seed, or hte 8th seed, so either you're going up against the top seed, or against a very evenly matched opponent (Dallas and Utah :mad: ), so it's not too surprising the Rockets have only advanced once.

Also, the last game proved that a Rockets-Spurs series will be determined by the bench production. The Rockets bench got flattened by the Spurs bench last game, and the starters had to rescue the game. I think the sheer talent of Harden+Howard will be enough for the starting 5 to neutralise each other, but when the bench comes in, the Spurs have a definitely advantage.

Also, one game at a time. Rockets need to deal with Portland first.

Darius

04-15-2014, 05:59 PM

I sure hope it does as the Clippers seem incapable of beating the Spurs but have matched up very well vs. Rockets in regular season (I think Clippers are 4-0).

If the Clippers were somehow managed to beat OKC I'd much rather see the Rockets.

Realistically, however, it seems regular season doesn't means all that much.

YouGotServed

04-15-2014, 09:40 PM

Spurs are going to lose, and we will hear nothing but how they were over achieving with a bad cast and how disrespected they are when they have the best record again next season.

Spurs fans in the regular season: "We have the best record in the NBA. Why is everyone sleeping on the Spurs?"

Spurs after they choke in the playoffs: "We weren't supposed to be this good in the first place. Parker was tired, Ginobili wasn't 100% and Duncan is almost 40."

:applause:

TMT

04-15-2014, 10:10 PM

Spurs fans in the regular season: "We have the best record in the NBA. Why is everyone sleeping on the Spurs?"

Spurs after they choke in the playoffs: "We weren't supposed to be this good in the first place. Parker was tired, Ginobili wasn't 100% and Duncan is almost 40."

:applause:

:oldlol: Can't say this isn't true. But for whatever reason it has become a norm that we don't have the same expectations of the teams with real superstar power. This team that already has its championships achieved over a decade ago is defying father time and keep on keeping on.

It's like if the current Heat core were still together in 2019-2020 with some youthful revitalization and still winning games at a ridiculous rate. It's such a rare thing to see but everyone takes it for granted that the Spurs were consistently getting it done a decade ago and they are still around.

It's really such a unique situation that there really are no set standards for how good they should be or how far they should go. Hard to explain even.

AintNoSunshine

04-15-2014, 10:24 PM

So what's Spurs' record against the other WC playoff teams? Both OKC and HOU swept them

TMT

04-15-2014, 10:46 PM

So what's Spurs' record against the other WC playoff teams? Both OKC and HOU swept them

Clippers 2-1
Grizzlies 4-0
Mavs 4-0
Warriors 4-0
Suns 3-1
Blazers 2-2

yeaaaman

04-16-2014, 12:21 PM

Anyone remember when Lakers met Orlando in the finals years ago?

Orlando owned them in the regular season. Didn't work out for them.

All I'm saying is, playoff ball is different. I'd expect SA to advance. But Houston will give them problems.

West playoffs are no joke.

Yest playoff basketball is different but that lets not act like that Laker team played the Magic 4 times in the regular season so there was less to go on. And second nobody else Howard played with on the Magic was close to as good as Harden, I think this is a better overall team, or working their way there come next year at least. We'll have to see