Quote:
Originally Posted by kerwil62
Agree on all points.
THIS was the game the Rockets were supposed to win. KD probably won't come back until Game 3 or 4 of the next series, if that. The Warriors has just too much playoff experience without KD, and went back to that dominant team they were without him.
Another thing is they're paying CP3 way too much gotdamn money for him to not show up this series.
My prediction was correct. Rockets denied again by the Warriors.
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I can agree with most of what you agreed to. What I can't get behind is that CP3 didn't show up.
I don't know what more you can expect of the guy. Hell, he scored 27 in game 6. His averages for the series are about what he did in the regular season. Dude is pretty consistent and I think he is the heart of the team.
Curry got hot in the 2nd half. The Rockets had no answer for it. I don't know that anyone has an answer for hitting 28 footers on a catch and shoot.
If anyone didn't show up it was Capela and he's the one who got the big contract this year. He went from 16.6 ppg in the regular season to 9.7 in post season. He got pushed around and out played.
I think the biggest problem is D'Antoni. He has one game plan and refuses to adjust. GS took them out of that plan in games 1 and 2 by turning it into a physical game and by not letting Harden get off easy shots and he damn sure didn't get the calls and the free throws. Although he got his points he had to work to hard for it and his defense suffered.
This team needs a consistent forward. KD and Klay Thompson(I know he's a 2 but at 6'7"he can play a 2nd 2 or 3 and he can defend) are both free agents and I'd take either if they'd come here but it's going to take big money to make that happen. Maybe more than big money. If they win it all they may both decide to stay put, Thompson especially. Durant has a player option for 31.5 million. He can probably get 40+ for 3 or 4 years from someone. Thompson can get 25 - 30. If KD leaves he'll surely get it from GS.
Kawhi Leonard is a FA and I think would be a good fit. He's the one they need to be courting. He'll get big money though. They have to convince him that he's the missing piece to put them over the top. The problem is how do they afford him.
Between Shumpert, Tucker and Gordon they each averaged about 10 million this year. They might consider keeping Gordon, he has one year left on his contract. Shumpert is a FA not worth the 11 million he got. Tucker would need to be traded with 2 years left on about $7 million /year. Get rid of Nene and his 4 million next year. They don't need him and Faried both. That's about 22 million but the trade rules complicate that so they will have to get creative and probably make a three way deal. Manimal's salary is minimal. Bring back Rivers, Green and House and go get another scorer. With guaranteed salaries and the NBA trade rules it gets real complicated to pull some of this off but if they could the team would look like this:
Paul
Harden
Leonard
Gordon
Capela
Rivers, Green, House and Faried are the main bench players but any of them can be replaced if they find someone better in FA and they are all FAs. You also have a few other projects like Hartenstein and Clark who need to be able to stay in the big league and contribute.
BTW GS salary this year 146 million, Rockets 126 million. Drop some dead weight and they've got the $$$ to get another big time player. Even if GS loses KD they'll probably keep the rest of the team that just kicked our ass.
