GT: Milwaukee Bucks @ Houston Rockets (8:00pm ET, TNT)

[eliteballer]

Should be a good one.

[eliteballer]

Here we go..

[Naero]

With Giannis on the penultimate year of his contract (and his recent intimations (https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2019/10/23/giannis-antetokounmpo-contract-depends-milwaukee-bucks-performance-sign-free-agent/4065651002/) about leaving), these next-two seasons are title-or-bust as far as I'm concerned. They already squandered a golden opportunity last year, and there's no reason they can't forge an even better one this season while superteams are dormant.

Let's start off the season on the right foot. :rockon: Remind everyone (especially Harden himself) why you're the reigning MVP, Giannis.

[Kblaze8855]

Marv doesn

[DoctorP]

in

[Smoke117]

Giannis :roll:

[LoneyROY7]

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Try again, g-anus.

[sdot_thadon]

Let's go Rox.

[Kblaze8855]

Looks like a third of the Rockets crowd running late....

[LoneyROY7]

This team is gonna be a f*cking blast this year. :rockon: :rockon:

[imdaman99]

Bank them 3s Westbrook. Whatever it takes :lol

[Naero]

Bledsoe has to be the lowest-IQ member of the All-Defensive team. :facepalm Just stick to the gimmicky perpendicular defense on Harden, which worked last year, rather than ever biting his three-point bait out of all shooters.

[LoneyROY7]

Why is Mike wasting a challenge on that meaningless call? :facepalm :facepalm

[Kblaze8855]

Coaches stay using that challenge in the first quarter.

Has anyone won a block/charge challenge yet?

[ImKobe]

Why is Mike wasting a challenge on that meaningless call? :facepalm :facepalm

game's not gonna be close bruh

[LoneyROY7]

It's crazy how much Russ is gonna improve our rebounding...one of the Rockets biggest weaknesses last year.

[Kblaze8855]

Hell they actually won.

Is it like the nfl challenge where they have unlimited uses so long as they win them?

[FireDavidKahn]

That didn't take a while.
https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1187523346449096704

[LoneyROY7]

Thats not even close to an offensive foul.

[Manny98]

Frauden :roll:

[ImKobe]

Hell they actually won.

Is it like the nfl challenge where they have unlimited uses so long as they win them?

You don't have unlimited uses in the NFL, you only get two per game or three if the first two are successful.

[LoneyROY7]

Tyson!

[ArbitraryWater]

Harden 0/2, 8/8 FT's

[DoctorP]

damn, tht hook tho, lopez

[DoctorP]

love that matador d, :lol

omg houston :lol

[LoneyROY7]

Harden 0/2, 8/8 FT's

:pimp: :pimp:

[LoneyROY7]

Damn 2 successful challenges. :eek: :eek:

[Kblaze8855]

I see you only get one even if you win it.

I

[LoneyROY7]

Russ going downhill.

:pimp:

[Facepalm]

What the hell is up with Westbrook's hair? :roll: :roll: :roll:

[DoctorP]

chandler playing well here in his 77th year

[LoneyROY7]

Got Sefo on the squad too. Throwback OKC team.

[DoctorP]

holy g-anus! that spinning one hander

[DoctorP]

What the hell is up with Westbrook's hair? :roll: :roll: :roll:

:lol

[Naero]

Korver. :applause:

If only he were just 1-2 years younger; then he might really move the needle. He

[ImKobe]

What the hell is up with Westbrook's hair? :roll: :roll: :roll:

looks like a cockroach :roll:

[LoneyROY7]

Russ kicking out to open shooters is a beautiful thing, man.

[Facepalm]

:lol
Dude looking like a black kewpie doll

[DoctorP]

Dude looking like a black kewpie doll

he must be waiting for the antennas to receive commands from venus

[Naero]

So many missed wide-open three-pointers. :facepalm

All the more unwatchable while the ECF is still fresh in my head (and nightmares).

[Facepalm]

[QUOTE=Naero]Korver. :applause:

If only he were just 1-2 years younger; then he might really move the needle. He

[LoneyROY7]

Rockets ball movement really good right now.

[DoctorP]

these dudes shooting lights out

[RoseCity07]

Harden is still a clown. His game never changes. Still attempts to flop his way to every call. Pathetic.

Lopez is camping the lane. Dude could get called for 3 seconds every time.:lol

[DoctorP]

harden crazy good

[LoneyROY7]

These refs are f*cking retarded man. Harden has 4 damn fouls.

[ImKobe]

Westbrook's so ****ing good

[dazzer87]

WB looking good so far. :applause:

[LoneyROY7]

James and Russ are gonna be such a sick f*cking duo.

Haters are gonna be banging their heads all season. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[DoctorP]

Bucks gettin murked.. not sure i can keep anus in my top 5

[imdaman99]

Still do not like Westbrook's hair :lol

Feel like he will still have to do something with his shot. Even though he has always been a good rebounder, and he can push the ball to open shooters...but that happens less in the playoffs. He will never be a good shooter, but become respectable like Kidd did.

[DoctorP]

James Wonton?

hmmm

[ImKobe]

Still do not like Westbrook's hair :lol

Feel like he will still have to do something with his shot. Even though he has always been a good rebounder, and he can push the ball to open shooters...but that happens less in the playoffs. He will never be a good shooter, but become respectable like Kidd did.

He grew into a respectable mid-range shooter and had some good 3-point shooting seasons and suddendly just lost his shot completely. He was an 81% FT shooter for the first 10 seasons of his career and looks like a liability at the line now.

[DoctorP]

James Hardong

[LoneyROY7]

Lopez is a very underrated rim protector.

[DoctorP]

the balls are moving well for houston

[Proctor]

James and Russ are gonna be such a sick f*cking duo.

Haters are gonna be banging their heads all season. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:
Until April. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[ImKobe]

Rockets' ball movement is on another level and this is the first game of the season against an elite defense.

[Smoke117]

Middleton making the max is such a joke.

[Proctor]

Harden's shot selection gets worse every year. Embarrassing.

[LoneyROY7]

Harden having a rough shooting night.

This defensive scheme really upsets his rhythm. It showed against Utah in the playoffs too.

Just play him on his back I guess. :lol :lol

[Smoke117]

Harden's shot selection gets worse every year. Embarrassing.

Going to be a lot of bricks this year now that he's also playing with Westbrook.

[DoctorP]

bricks piling up now.

anus wearing em down

[ImKobe]

bricks piling up now.

anus wearing em down

Why the hell is anus pulling up from 3?

[Naero]

The Green Freak has been hulking out this quarter, but I

[DoctorP]

Why the hell is anus pulling up from 3?

i think he picked up something from the world cup this summer?

or

maybe its just currrent league trends


or

maybe he wants the bucks to underperform?


:lol

[LoneyROY7]

Love how Harden and Russ both still impact the game to such a degree when they're shooting poorly.

18 assists and 16 rebounds combined. :applause: :applause:

[juju151111]

Harden having a rough shooting night.

This defensive scheme really upsets his rhythm. It showed against Utah in the playoffs too.

Just play him on his back I guess. :lol :lol
His shooting hand. He basically turns into a passer because he cant pull up

[Turbo Slayer]

WESTBROOK THREE :applause:

[DoctorP]

that postup was so inefficient :lol

cant believe it just happened

[DoctorP]

G-Anus found the rhythm. rolling now

[Doranku]

Westbrook's energy :applause: :applause: :applause:

[RoseCity07]

uh oh... Looks like Westbrook has shot the rockets out of a lead.:lol

The cancer continues to spread.

[LoneyROY7]

LOOK AT THAT HUSTLE.

Russell Hustle.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/5qFQfYUaBhSrbHNtIC/giphy.gif

[Naero]

ERSAN! :applause:

[DoctorP]

Ilyasova will win MVP this year

[PP34Deuce]

This is the most defense hussle I've seen from westbrook in awhile

[dazzer87]

WB hair.......:biggums:

[LoneyROY7]

AND-1 Mutha****aaassss.

[Doranku]

uh oh... Looks like Westbrook has shot the rockets out of a lead.:lol

The cancer continues to spread.

You mean Eric Gordon? Dude is 4-16 with 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks. Dude has literally done nothing but toss up bricks. :oldlol:

[DoctorP]

Hardong and Westbrick stopping the GAnus bleeding

[LoneyROY7]

JAMES TO RUSS.

AAAGGGAAAINNNNNN.

:rockon: :rockon:

[ImKobe]

You mean Eric Gordon? Dude is 4-16 with 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks. Dude has literally done nothing but toss up bricks. :oldlol:

on wide open threes at that

Westbrook's played an amazing game and would already have a triple-double if not for all those bricks.

[Naero]

Westbrook

[DMAVS41]

I actually really like how Russ is playing tonight, but dude has got to get into the gym and shoot a ton. This team isn't winning anything with him this broke on his shot.

I don't know what happened...he obviously was never a great shooter, but he's been broke as **** for the last couple years now and it is going to kill this team if he doesn't fix it.

[Doranku]

Take Eric Gordon out. What the **** is wrong with this guy? Jacking 28 footers early in the shot clock when you're 4-16. **** outta here.

[LoneyROY7]

F*cking Gordon chucking like crazy.

[LoneyROY7]

Bruh, how many 3s is Gordon gonna miss man.

[imdaman99]

Why did Dantoni take Westbrook out of the game? He finally got going. Not gonna win with Gordon launching

[DoctorP]

this is and has been the challenge for houston...how to win when not hitting those deep Js

[Indian guy]

I am amazed by Giannis-the athlete every time I watch him play.

[Doranku]

Gordon and Harden a combined 6-30 shooting. :oldlol:

[DoctorP]

rockets...imploding

[StrongLurk]

I feel like more defenders should guard players like they do harden.

Just crowd the crap out of their strong hand.

[DoctorP]

Why did Dantoni take Westbrook out of the game? He finally got going. Not gonna win with Gordon launching

needs three point shootin?

[RoseCity07]

Harden trying to kick his legs out to get foul calls:roll: :roll: NOt working. Meanwhile he is complaining to a ref as Lopez hits a 3. Classic.:roll: :roll:

[LoneyROY7]

This game is bullsh*t, meng.

Such an annoying scheme for Harden to play in game 1.

[ImKobe]

Harden & Gordon 4/18 from three. Unreal.

[DMAVS41]

Gordon and Harden a combined 6-30 shooting. :oldlol:

Actually a good sign for the Rockets. That is almost never going to happen to those two guys at home and they are still right there in this game against one of the best teams in the league.

[LoneyROY7]

My n*gga Eric Gordon -20 in a 6 point game. :lol

[DoctorP]

Harden trying to kick his legs out to get foul calls:roll: :roll: NOt working. Meanwhile he is complaining to a ref as Lopez hits a 3. Classic.:roll: :roll:
:lol

[Doranku]

Actually a good sign for the Rockets. That is almost never going to happen to those two guys at home and they are still right there in this game against one of the best teams in the league.

Yeah and Giannis is having a great game on the other side as well. Rockets will be a good time if Russ continues playing like he has tonight.

[LoneyROY7]

G-Anus get your B*TCH ASS OUTTA HERE.

[Naero]

Giannis

[DMAVS41]

Yeah and Giannis is having a great game on the other side as well. Rockets will be a good time if Russ continues playing like he has tonight.

Completely agree about Russ.

Honestly the Rockets look way better than I thought they would.

My only worry for them throughout the year will be Russ's shot if he plays like this. He's playing the right way, but at some point he's going to have to hit some shots (and he just did)...

The other stuff is pretty simple. Harden needs to play great. We'll see if he can in the playoffs against the best teams...he doesn't have a great track record in that regard.

[ImKobe]

These refs have been horrible both ways, smh.

[Doranku]

Russ is straight up carrying the Rockets tonight.

LMAO at the 4th quarter stats

Russ: 13 points, 3/4 shooting
Rest of team: 1 point, 0/12 shooting

[LoneyROY7]

Russ is DOMINATING.

Eat shit haters. :lol :lol

[dazzer87]

harden is trash....... :roll:

[DoctorP]

Hardong not gettin the calls

[DoctorP]

Russ is DOMINATING.

Eat shit haters. :lol :lol

youre losin tho :lol

[LoneyROY7]

This shit is ridiculous. They've called Harden for 4 offensive fouls...he's made 3 of the shots.

F*cking insane.

[DMAVS41]

Harden is amazing, but he really needs to clean up all these mistakes...especially late in close games.

If they start calling his pushoffs more often dude better adapt or he's going to be about 75% as good...and that won't be close to enough.

[Doranku]

lmao what a terrible shot by Wes Matthews

[RoseCity07]

Matthews just opened the door with that hero ball shot. He can make that but he definitely wanted to be the hero.

[DoctorP]

matthews may have just daggered

where was that for team usa? :lol

[dazzer87]

fvking bailed out........ :roll:

[Doranku]

Props to Tucker for battling. Not much else you can do against a guy in the post who has 6+ inches on you.

[Kblaze8855]

Did I really just see Dantoni complain about brook swinging his arms through Tucker for the foul like he doesn

[Marchesk]

Harden 14-14 from the line :lol

[DoctorP]

Hardongs had a putrid second half

[DMAVS41]

[QUOTE=Kblaze8855]Did I really just see Dantoni complain about brook swinging his arms through Tucker for the foul like he doesn

[Proctor]

Harden is SO bad. Lmao f*ck you Rockets :lol :lol

[Naero]

Lopez is earning his upscaled contract down the stretch. :applause:

[imdaman99]

I don't understand why Dantoni does this, he takes out Capela and has Tucker guard someone like a foot taller than him. I get it Capela doesn't shoot 3s so he doesn't earn his minutes :lol

[Marchesk]

Harden has more free throws made than FGA.

[Doranku]

I don't understand why Dantoni does this, he takes out Capela and has Tucker guard someone like a foot taller than him :lol

To spread the floor. It's working on offense but Brook and the Bucks are doing a great job of countering on the other end.

[DoctorP]

Ilyasova strengthening his MVP bid

[imdaman99]

To spread the floor. It's working on offense but Brook and the Bucks are doing a great job of countering on the other end.
That's fine but I would rather them force someone else to beat them with Giannis not in the game. Dantoni has no plan B.

[ImKobe]

Even Westbrook can't save the rest of the Rockets from choking.. Harden's only points come off FTs in the 2nd half.

Either way they'll be a top 3 seed this year. They had a really bad game from their 1st and 3rd options and still held the lead for most of the game against the Bucks with Giannis playing at his best.

[Proctor]

Nice choke Rockets. Westbrook and Harden definitely scaring people.

[Doranku]

That's gotta be one of the worst games of all-time by Eric Gordon.

4-19 shooting, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, -22 +/- (the next lowest on the Rockets was -5)

[DoctorP]

China is happy now. The rebellious dissidents have lost

https://schen5.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/xi-jinping3.gif

[Jasper]

Harden is SO bad. Lmao f*ck you Rockets :lol :lol
special one foot 3 pointer out of bounds = new shoot.

Bucks know how to play him.

we know who is the reignin MVP.

[RoseCity07]

Harden is trash. Goodnight.:lol

[LoneyROY7]

Not worried even a little bit. :lol :lol

[Jasper]

That's gotta be one of the worst games of all-time by Eric Gordon.

4-19 shooting, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, -22 +/- (the next lowest on the Rockets was -5)

both teams played tight IMO

[Smoke117]

Losing to the Giannis-less Bucks down the stretch...Haren and Westbrick a complete disaster just like we all knew they would be. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Kblaze8855]

Harden and Gordon 6/32 taking 20 threes....

[AirTupac]

Not worried even a little bit. :lol :lol

Loser:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

Jump back to Clips quick

[qrich]

Refball and a L.

[Naero]

Great game, Rockets fans. :cheers:

Harden and Westbrook will synergize much better than expected if the latter maintains his playstyle tonight: tireless hustling and off-ball driving, as opposed to all the impetuous jumpshots he took while on the Thunder. Both need to refine their jumpshooting mechanics, but it should be heartening overall that the two MVPs can combine for 9-30 and still task the Bucks down the stretch—much of which is attributable to their all-around contributions and coaching.

It's early, but they didn't seem that far behind LA in the title-contention picture out West even in tonight's loss.

[tpols]

Brook lopez's soft style and touch has become a premier asset in today's game ...bombing 3's and stretching the floor at the 5.

Westbrick and harden are gonna have to hot potato it a ton to win in todays league.

[imdaman99]

Westbrook 16 rebounds. Seems like Steven Adams is still boxing out for him :eek:

[Smook A.]

Not really worried cause Rockets barely lost where Harden and Gordon both shot ridiculously bad, especially Gordon. Arguably the worst game of his career

Bucks team really stepped up in the clutch without Giannis so props to them

Very impressed with Westbrook tho. Looking forward to the season's progression and how well Harden and Russ mesh.

[BlakFrankWhite]

Gordon sucked balls.

Rockets are a team full of midgets.

Still predicting 55 wins though :cheers:

[BlakFrankWhite]

Harden 14-14 from the line :lol

Honestly he should have had 20 ft's. :confusedshrug:

[brutalBBQ]

Aye yo, I'm PJ Tucker, check out mai fresh kicks dawg

[ball247]

Harden had this game circled claiming he deserved mvp only to put up this trash performance :roll:

[Jasper]

Harden had this game circled claiming he deserved mvp only to put up this trash performance :roll:
ditto