Nearly immediately after joining the Houston Rockets, comparisons of their playing style and incredible talents started; as well as the contrasts.
"That's cool", he said. The more hated a player is by other fan bases, the more beloved a player is by his own fan base, which is to say that Beverley might be the most popular non-Harden Rocket of the last five seasons, and one of the five or ten most popular non-title team Rockets of all-time.
It's been one playoff disappointments after another for the innovative coach. With their 51-31 record, the Cavs held the No. 1 seed for most of the season but are going to enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed against the Indiana Pacers. The year before, when the Rockets made the Western Conference Finals, he was at home with a wrist injury, stewing over not being able to compete on the biggest stage. Everybody in the arena and everybody watching on their televisions, phones, and tablets knew who was going to take the last shot. But sports are emotional, and we've all said things in moments of passion we either didn't mean or we come to regret. "I've seen it all already", Westbrook said, when asked whether he'd broken down film of how Beverley defended him in Game 1. "I would personally, but everybody would, too".
The series-opener was a reflection of D'Antoni's success this year. They'll have to deploy their best defensive lineups.
Harden had nine assists and seven rebounds, and Beverley, who had the unenviable task of guarding Westbrook, had a playoff career-best 21 points along with 10 rebounds. It's one more lovely result of his long-running, "Russ against the world" mentality.
Historic Russell Westbrook (6-of-23 FG, 3-11 3PM, 9 TOV, 22 PTS) and running-mate Victor Oladipo (1-of-12 FG, 0-6 3PA, 6 PTS) were overshadowed by the Rockets' tandem of Harden (13-28 FG 37 PTS) and Beverley (8-13, 4-of-6 3PM, 10 REB, playoff career-high 21 PTS).
The NBA MVP award typically goes to the best of that single season. "He's been doing it for so long so he knows that what he does and what he brings to the table works".
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Golden State, aiming to get back to the National Basketball Association finals for a third straight year and regain the crown they surrendered last season to Cleveland Cavaliers, had 32 points from Kevin Durant in his first playoff game as a Warrior.
Though relying heavily on 3-pointers has always been a hallmark of D'Antoni's offense, he's taken it to another level in Houston.
Oklahoma City finished with 16 fastbreak points, roughly in line with their regular season average, but their transition game actually struggled quite a bit - especially after defensive rebounds.
In a unusual twist of regular season fates, the Thunder struggled on the rebounding front, ceding an outrageous 31-4 advantage in second chance points to their higher-seeded rivals.
Harden made two free throws to cap the third quarter and leave Houston up 89-74 entering the fourth. "If he didn't practice, there's concern", Warriors coach Steve Kerr said about Durant's calf and his status.
His players certainly feel the same way. Here's what they need to change in order to ensure a victory in Game 2. If they expect to keep pace with the Rockets' points factory, they could really use someone like Kanter, a guy who can come in and easily score 20 in limited minutes, available to them. "He talks to you, you have conversations".
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