Rockets vs Mavericks Game Thread

[insidehoops]

Rockets vs Mavericks July 31, 2020 game thread. Starts 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN TV.

Rockets are 40-24, Mavs are 40-27.

Rockets 6-seed in West, Mavs 7-seed.

Rockets have same record as the 5-seed Thunder.

Rockets are without Eric Gordon, their SG who starts at SF because the team plays super smallball.

Mavs star Luka Doncic this season: 28.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 8.7 apg.

[LAmbruh]

LONEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY


https://media.giphy.com/media/d6FMPGtxkxKko/giphy.gif

[LoneyROY7]

LONEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY


https://media.giphy.com/media/d6FMPGtxkxKko/giphy.gif

:pimp:

[tpols]

really interesting to see what happens here. I have to think the rockets smoke them.

[LAmbruh]

:pimp:

https://media.giphy.com/media/ToMjGpA7IaMPxBbUfny/giphy.gif

[ELITEpower23]

Loney's boys gonna go off

https://media.giphy.com/media/X6HX1rwXI9HAMNEmQV/giphy.gif

[kentatm]

https://media0.giphy.com/media/C9jPWXOtPjOrqSdgZs/giphy.gif

[insidehoops]

James Harden with 5 quick points

Kristaps Porzingis with 4 quick points

[scuzzy]

Luka already crying to refs :lol

[Ghost1]

Luka already crying to refs :lol

classic luka

harden looks homeless :lol

[kentatm]

This courtside angle ****ing sucks.

[scuzzy]

classic luka

harden looks homeless :lol

got a nice Florida tan though


handsome af

[ELITEpower23]

Porzingod

[LoneyROY7]

James been locked in since he touched down in Orlando.

[scuzzy]

Rachel Nichols looks sexy with a mask

[scuzzy]

harden cookin

[insidehoops]

Late 1Q: James Harden has 23 points and he's shooting 100% FG. Crazy.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Damn they are on pace for 168 points each

[Kblaze8855]

You couldn’t let me play with Boban. I’d **** up the offense forcing him the ball. He’s downright unguardable in the modern league.

[LoneyROY7]

Team needs to play some defense lol.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

You couldn’t let me play with Boban. I’d **** up the offense forcing him the ball. He’s downright unguardable in the modern league.

He had Ben maclemore on him and luka chucked up a 3 instead hahahah. The problem with Boban is who does he guard? He's guarding Tucker at the 3 point line now which is bad for him.

[Kblaze8855]

Team needs to play some defense lol.


You hear Dantoni joke that the rockets have experience social distancing because that’s how they play defense?

[Kblaze8855]

Not only is impossible to stop he’s impossible to front. I’d feed him like Shaq in 2000 for 15 minutes a night and I bet he averages 18. His man isn’t even getting too open. I’m sure a good offense would find a way to exploit him on D but in short bursts he’s a WMD.

[NBAGOAT]

boban is comical vs any team besides like 3 teams.

[fourkicks44]

Problem with Boban is he can't guard anyone under 7ft

[LoneyROY7]

Russ heating up. Need it so they stop doubling James every possession.

[Doomsday Dallas]

Who is Trey Burke?

Where did he come from again?

[LoneyROY7]

Literally doubling him every possession.

It's so f*cking corny.

[fourkicks44]

Who is Trey Burke?

Where did he come from again?

Sixers cut him at the All-star break.

He is too short and can't guard anyone over 6ft.

Like a midget version of Boban.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Porzingis says he plays better without the added 8 pounds of muscle. Skinny man's game, most players are better when lean. Unless you're Giannis and you just dunk on people.

[KissMySwag]

160 combined at the half.

:biggums:

[Doomsday Dallas]

160 combined at the half.

:biggums:


Welcome to 2020

[AussieSteve]

Any defense happening in this game?

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Welcome to 2020

We saw good defense last night in the Lakers/clippers game.

Mavs/Rockets are just the Nash suns of this era, so it was expected.

[LoneyROY7]

Rockets need a 3nD big man like Serge Ibaka.

[fourkicks44]

Cov :bowdown:

[NBAGOAT]

Rockets need a 3nD big man like Serge Ibaka.

they'll throw money at him this offseason

[kentatm]

RIP Harden's nuts

[Twiens]

Rockets need a 3nD big man like Serge Ibaka.

Perfect fit, Ibaka would make them a legit contender IMO

[LoneyROY7]

Perfect fit, Ibaka would make them a legit contender IMO

Russ
Harden
Covington
PJ
Serge

That's legit.

[tpols]

luka is so impressive with his patience, IQ, and skill. never really watched him before... but this from a rookie is larry bird composure.

[LoneyROY7]

No rim protection right now is definitely tough to watch.

[Doomsday Dallas]

Solid 10-0 run there by the Mavs.

[NBAGOAT]

luka looks great but too bad his stepback hasnt gotten noticablely better. He's still streaky with meh averages there, then again no one is great at those besides harden

[Doomsday Dallas]

Sixers cut him at the All-star break.

He is too short and can't guard anyone over 6ft.

Like a midget version of Boban.


6 for 6 on 3's so far.

[NBAGOAT]

the rockets cant have luc show up fast enough. seems like half their rotation has hit a minor injury

[fourkicks44]

6 for 6 on 3's so far.

He is playing the game of his life right now but he could always get buckets.

That was never his issue.

[tpols]

mavs have stupid 3 pt ability.

[kentatm]

3 quarters in and KP (32), THJr (24), and Burke (25) have 81 combined points. Knicks fans in shambles.:lol

[LoneyROY7]

Mavs shooting like Gods lol.

Can't do much when a random like Trey Burke has a game like this.

[fourkicks44]

3 quarters in and KP (32), THJr (24), and Burke (25) have 81 combined points. Knicks fans in shambles.:lol

:oldlol:

[NBAGOAT]

if giannis doesnt win this year and next, the smart move is to go the mavs in 2021

[StrongLurk]

These two teams are chucking threes like crazy. It's actually pretty freakin boring to watch.

Like watching a shoot around before the game.

[fourkicks44]

It's definitely a different game to last night

[LoneyROY7]

That's not an and-1?

[~primetime~]

Maxi Kleber :D

[Stanley Kobrick]

oh wow

[~primetime~]

Geez

[LAmbruh]

Clutch city! :lebronamazed:

[fourkicks44]

Robert Covington is THE man :bowdown:

[Gotterdammerung]

Lucky roll by Harden, lucky tip-in by Covington.
:kobe:

[~primetime~]

This shouldn't have gone to OT :facepalm

[999Guy]

Houston is simply worse. They’ll be down most of the OT. But I bet Houston still takes this in the last minutes anyway.

[NBASTATMAN]

Freaking Mavs scuk in close games.. Luca needs to get more of offensive game .. He is a top player in the league but he lacks a go to move in the cluth.. He is young so he will get better but they just stink in close games.. Harden is the best offensive player in the game.. Imagine him playing on the Mavs with all that shooting.. WOW

[Gougou]

Porzingis is eating this small ball lineup.

[LAmbruh]

James. Harden. :pimp:

[999Guy]

Dallas is loaded with competent bums like Curry, Hardaway, DFS. But none of them play good defense.

Disgusting.

All the giant white guys + Wright play good defense but no one else on the roster.

[LAmbruh]

What kind of hair gel does Kristaps use? Amazing strength :biggums:

[~primetime~]

This was a choke job :facepalm

[L8krH8tr]

Not even the Rona can stop russssss

[LAmbruh]

Ro Co :pimp:

[fourkicks44]

Ro Co :pimp:
:applause:

[LoneyROY7]

49/9/8 on 70 percent.

:pimp:

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Lonely ass Mavs defense hahahha Kawhi is about to put up 45PPG on 80% TS vs them in the 1st round

[coin24]

Donthicc should be taking the shots not looking to pass in the last minutes.. epic choke from Dallas

Seth curry is a useless scrub.

[insidehoops]

In the 153-149 OT win, James Harden finished with 49 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, on just 20 FG attempts.

[tontoz]

Just got done watching the game. Harden was just too good. 49 with a 94% TS lol.

When you have a MVP in his prime you are going to do well in close games. Ordinarily Harden is worn down by this time of the season. Their iso ball style, and the fact that he actually plays when healthy, can lead to fatigue. No load management with Harden.

Fatigue won't be the issue this year. Curious to see how he does in the playoffs. Harden/Russ seem to have figured out how to play together. They let Russ attack in transition at will which is obviously effective and it reduces the burden on Harden.

I love Luka's game but those step back 3s are hard to watch. If i am on the opposing team i want to bait him into taking those.

KP looks fully recovered from last years injury and was clearly having an easy time against Houston's small ball. Would have liked to see him get more touches to exploit the mismatch. He could easily shoot over anyone guarding him and his jumper is better than Luka's.