Rockets lost to the Pelicans

[timtonymanu]

It won't be tough. The Rockets are trash. We lost by 4 to them and it was because everyone played like crap. No matter what happens in the regular season, the Spurs would absolutely crush them in the playoffs. Next to the Thunder, the Rockets are easily one of the least disciplined, dumbest, most selfish teams in the league.

[Fireball]

The Rockets aren't beating the Spurs in a series.

95% here said that about the Clips last year ...

[Budkin]

Well the Rockets weren't too tired to score 108 points tonight. That's 20 more than they scored last night. The Spurs didn't play well against Houston, but they still shut them down pretty well.

This tbh. Total overreaction on the 4 point road loss to the Rockets where we played our absolute worst game of the season. On Christmas. But what else can you expect on SpursTalk?

[Budkin]

95% here said that about the Clips last year ...

Last season was a complete disaster from start to finish minus like a 3 week stretch.

[timtonymanu]

95% here said that about the Clips last year ...

The Rockets don't have Chris Paul and Blake Griffin though. That game showed that Wing Stop knows how to contain Harden too.

[Kawhitstorm]

Parker had a bad game no doubt on Christmas. Again let's see what happens on Saturday. I think we'll get a much clearer picture of what the playoffs will look like. It won't be a walk in the park, but we need a challenge in the first round. We flipped a switch when the Mavs gave us a series in 2014. It'll be tough, but we'll prevail.

The last game wasn't an outlier, there has been a trend. The Spurs have historically struggled against the Rockets since the Yao/Van Gundy days & Harden has been a thorn on the Spurs side since his OKC days as he's one of the few guys that give Kawhi trouble. The fact they have Dwight/Capela in the paint means Porker is going to be timid so unless his jumper is falling, he's going to be useless. There bench also gives the Spurs bench match-up problems especially if Lawson rediscovers his form.

[Uriel]

This tbh. Total overreaction on the 4 point road loss to the Rockets where we played our absolute worst game of the season. On Christmas. But what else can you expect on SpursTalk?

To be fair, a big reason why we played so poorly on offense was because the Rockets played hard on defense. The fact that Houston has shown they can beat us when they put 100% effort is somewhat concerning heading into a potential first-round matchup with them.

[Mel_13]

Spurs have lost one post-RRT game to Houston since Kawhi's rookie season. That was game 81 in 2014 after the Spurs had clinched the #1 overall seed. Damion James started for Kawhi in that game.

[wut]

If the Rockets gave the level of attention they did on defense last night every game, they'd be a top team. They'd also be gassed by February.

It's true. But, I will say that they showed what their potentially capable of when they care about playing hard...albeit the Spurs still nearly won that game on their court with their level of play. The thing is, the Clippers knocked the Spurs out in the first round in the same manner....by being impossibly aggressive which they didn't need to sustain past a week or two to get past the Spurs and gassed themselves for the next round. It's almost like teams are willing to go nuclear to beat us despite the fact that it will mean the end of their season; it's a scary notion. Looking at it from the other side of the coin, it's probably the only way teams can beat the Spurs.

Also being exposed in the game against Houston was our offense when teams go into zone defense, it cripples us. Our offense needs to do a better job of understanding what plays to run when teams switch to zone, Pop needs to do a better job there. Spacing needs to improve so we don't turn the ball over too much.

[spursistan]

they just lost to Atlanta at home.. watch them get rolled by the Warriors next only for their scrubs to show up against us in the game after

[Kawhitstorm]

they just lost to Atlanta at home.. watch them get rolled by the Warriors next only for their scrubs to show up against us in the game after

Their defense/rebounding was horrendous in the 2nd half which was their strong suit against the Spurs. Basically, they have the talent but when you best player is a lazy motha a then the role players aren't going to do the dirty work. They are dangerous when they are playing w/ desperation which is why you don't want to face them in the playoffs.

Although they were scoring at will, OKC was also hemorrhaging on defense in the 2nd half b/c their transition defense is horrific.

[Darius Bieber]

they just lost to Atlanta at home.. watch them get rolled by the Warriors next only for their scrubs to show up against us in the game after

Yeah it'll be a loss to Golden State for sure. That would be a three game losing streak. No way they lose four in a row. It's only fitting that they beat us by 30+.

[Robz4000]

Houston

[bic50]

Brb off to clutchfans

[UNT Eagles 2016]

They just lost to the W's at home after winning the whole night

[benefactor]

As I said in apo's thread, there's no reason to ever judge the Spurs by a game on Christmas.