7. 2017 SW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS v. 8. 2019 SW DIV CHAMP HOU ROCKETS
Spurs: 61-21, SW Div Champs, 9th in Off, 1st in Def
d. Grizzlies West First Round, 4-2
d. Rockets West Semis 4-0
Lost Warriors West Finals 4-0
#98 overall seed
d. '13 Nuggets (2-0, Kawhi 2 PotG)
d. '91 Suns (2-1, Aldridge/Kawhi)
d. '16 Thunder (2-0 Kawhi/Gasol)
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Starters
C Pau Gasol (36) 12.4 PPG 20.2 PER 6.4 Win Shares 2.5 VORP
F LaMarcus Aldridge (31, Texas) 17.3 18.6 7.2 1.7
F Kawhi Leonard (25, S Diego St) 25.5 27.6 13.6 7.1
G Patty Mills (28, St Marys) 9.5 15.2 5.1 1.6
G Manu Ginobli (39) 7.5 13.9 3 1.1
Rotation Reserves
C Dewayne Dedmon (27, USC) 5.1 16 5.2 .9
F David Lee (33, Florida) 7.3 18.5 5.7 1.4
G Kyle Anderson (23, UCLA) 3.4 12.5 2.7 1
G Tony Parker (34) 10.1 13 3 -.2
G Danny Green 29-UNC 7.3 10.1 3.4 1.3
Leaders: Leonard (3rd PER, 4th Win Shares, 3rd Win Shares/48, 2nd +/1, 3rd VORP, 1st Team All NBA
It's 25 year old Kawhi's Spurs; he's a top 5 player in the league, 36 year old Gasol also is 20+ PER, Kawhi finished 3rd in the MVP voting. We just saw the '04 Spurs lose the Region 1 Final; 13 years later here's the '17 club, the only holdovers are Parker and Ginobli. The Spurs beat a version of these Rockets in the playoffs and have lost just once in the tournament. Kawhi was All Defense first team, Danny Green made the second team. Kawhi was an All Star.
Rockets: 53-29, SW Div Champs, 2nd in Offense, 17th in Defense
d. Jazz West First Rnd
Lost Warriors West Semis 4-2
#127 overall seed
d. '62 Lakers (2-0, Harden 2 PotG)
d. '96 Bulls (2-1 Capela/Harden)
d. '73 Bucks (2-0 Capela/Harden)
Coach - Mike D'Antoni
Starters
C Clint Capela (24) 16.6 PPG 23.8 PER 10.8 WShares 2.8 VORP
F Kenneth Faried (29, Morehead St) 12.9 21.8 2.5 .3
F PJ Tucker (33, Texas) 7.2 9.2 5 1
G Chris Paul (33, Wake Forest) 15.6 19.7 6.6 2.8
G James Harden (29, Arizona St) 36.1 30.6 15.2 9.3
Rotation Reserves
C Nene Hilario (36) 3.6 11.9 1.4
F Carmelo Anthony 34-Syracuse 13.4 10.9 .3 -.1
F Danuel House (25, Texas A&M) 9.4 12.2 2.3 .4
G Gerald Green 33 9.2 11.4 1.9 .1
G Eric Gordon (30, Indiana) 16.2 12.2 2.6 .4
Leaders: Harden (1st in 3s, 5th in Assists, 2nd in Steals, 1st in Pts, 1st in PPG, 2nd Steals/Gm, 2nd PER, 4th Asst %, 5th Steal %, 1st Win Shares, 3rd Win Shares/48, 1st +/-, 1st VORP 1st Team All NBA
Capela (2nd FG%, 5th Reb/Gm, 5th True Shooting, 3rd Eff FG%, 5th Off Reb %, 5th WS/48)
Paul (3rd Assists/Gm, 3rd Steals/Gm, 2nd Steal%,)
The 2019 Rockets got bounced in the first round of the playoffs; they're here though, facing the Bulls; 28 year old Harden was 1st in WS, VORP, 2nd in PER and 3rd in WS/48. 24 year old Capela, 29 year old Faried cross 20 PER and Capela adds double digit WS; Harden won the MVP the year before and was second this year. The Rockets knocked off the top seeded Bulls and, like the Spurs, have lost just once in the tournament. Harden was an All Star.
Matchup:
C Capela (Rockets)
F Push
F Kawhi (Spurs)
G Paul (Rockets)
G Harden (Rockets)
Bench: Spurs
It's the 7th seeded Spurs; the top defense in 2017 against the 8th seeded Rockers, number 2 offense in 2019. Two ultramodern teams who outperformed their seeds and have lost just once each in the tournament. 25 year old Kawhi and 29 year old Harden battling it out; the winner most likely the Region 2 MVP.
Game 1: AT&T Center. Announcers: Bill Schoening/Bill Land
1Qtr
9 Spurs 14 Rockets 11
Spurs Ginobli, Mills(3) Kawhi, Gasol(3) Ginobli, Aldridge
Rockets Paul(3) Faried, Faried, Capela, Tucker
6 Spurs 17 Rockets 16
Spurs Kawhi(3)
Rockets Tucker, Capela, Faried(3)
Region 2 Finals - one of these teams reaches the Sweet 16 and joins the '80 Lakers
3 Spurs 29 Rockets 26
Spurs Gasol, Kawhi, Mills, Kawhi, Gasol, Kawhi
Rockets Paul(3) Harden, Harden(3) Capela
1Score Spurs 31 Rockets 26
Spurs Kawhi
Rockets
13 for Kawhi Leonard; the Region 1 Final was Kareem v. Duncan, here it's Kawhi v. Harden.
2 Qtr
9 Spurs 39 Rockets 29
Spurs Bertans(3) Lee, Parker(3)
Rockets Harden(3)
6 Spurs 43 Rockets 41
Spurs Lee, Kawhi
Rockets Nene, Nene, Gordon(3) Harden, Carmelo(3)
Harden's got 10; Rockets close to a bucket.
3 Rockets 48 Spurs 47
Spurs Green, Gasol
Rockets Faried, Harden
H Score Spurs 57 Rockets 54
Spurs Aldridge, Mills(3) Ginobli, Kawhi, Aldridge(1)
Rockets Harden, Faried, Carmelo
Harden with14, Kawhi 17.
3 Qtr
9 Spurs 68 Rockets 59
Spurs Ginobli, Ginobli, Gasol(3) Aldridge, Dedmon
Rockets Harden, Harden
6 Spurs 76 Rockets 68
Spurs Dedmon(3) Aldridge(3) Gasol
Rockets Capela(3) Gordon(3) Capela(1) Carmelo
Manu has 10; Spurs up 8
3 Spurs 84 Rockets 76
Spurs Green, Gasol(3) Parker, Gasol(1)
Rockets Harden, Capela, Harden, Harden
3 Score Spurs 92 Rockets 87
Spurs Aldridge(1) Kawhi(3) Parker, Kawhi
Rockets Gordon(1) Harden, Capela, Faried(3) Gordon(3)
Harden with a dozen in the 3rd - but he also has 5 fouls.
4 Qtr
9 Spurs 96 Rockets 94
Spurs Aldridge, Green
Rockets Faried, Faried, Paul(3)
6 Rockets 103 Spurs 102
Spurs Aldridge, Dedmon, Kawhi
Rockets Faried, Faried, House(3) Faried
Kenneth Faried with 10 in the first half of the 4th gives the Rockets the lead.
5:43: SA: Danny Green pumps home a corner 3.
5:25: HOU: Faried again - ties the game with the dunk.
5:17: SA: Kyle Anderson hits an 18 footer.
5:09: HOU: Gerald Green in traffic. 107-107
4:53: SA: David Lee drives and scores.
3:56: SA: Gasol triples from the wing and it's a 5 point game.
3:43: HOU: Harden with a bomb.
3:17: HOU: CP3 drives and scores and it is tied at 112.
3:07: SA: Gasol hits a 14 footer.
2:06: HOU: CP3 misses a triple - Capela is there with the putback. 114-114
1:59: SA: Patty Mills with the dead on 3.
1:30: HOU: PJ Tucker corner 3. 117-117. Tied. Tied. Tied.
At 31 seconds - it's Patty Mills again - another 3 from the top.
Harden misses the game tying triple - Capela is there again with the putback.
Spurs 120 Rockets 119. 20 seconds left.
Houston fouls Aldridge. He hits 1. 2 point game with 14 seconds left.
It's Harden. Harden for the win ----
Misses.
Ginobli hits a couple FT and it's over.
F Score: Spurs 123 Rockets 119
Nip and tuck down to the end - Harden had a chance to win the game but missed and it's the Spurs who take game one.
Kawhi: 24 pts/10 boards/8 assists-Player of the Game
Aldridge: 16 pts/5 boards
Gasol: 23 pts/12 boards
Ginobli: 12 pts
Mills: 14 pts/8 assists
Capela: 18 pts/16 boards
Paul: 11 pts/11 assists
Harden: 30 pts/8 boards/assists
Faried: 26 pts/13 boards
Gordon: 13 pts
Game: 2 Toyota Center: Announcers: Bill Worrell/Craig Ackerman
1Qtr
9 Spurs 8 Rockets 5
Rockets Paul, Harden(3)
Spurs Aldridge, Mills(3) Mills(3)
6 Spurs 14 Rockets 14
Rockets Harden(3) Tucker(3) Capela(3)
Spurs Kawhi, Aldridge, Aldridge
Game 2 - Spurs looking to wrap up Region 2 as the 7th seed.
3 Spurs 23 Rockets 23
Rockets Capela, Capela(3) Capela, Capela
Spurs Ginobli(3) Green, Parker, Green
1Score Spurs 32 Rockets 30
Rockets Harden, Capela, Harden(3)
Spurs Aldridge, Green(3) Aldridge, Kawhi
Harden with 11, Clint Capela has 14, LaMarcus Aldridge with 10.
2 Qtr
9 Spurs 37 Rockets 32
Rockets Gordon
Spurs Parker, Green(3)
6 Rockets 40 Spurs 39
Rockets Anthony, Harden, Harden, Faried
Spurs Aldridge
15 for Harden-30 wasn't enough in game one, how many will he give Houston today?
3 Rockets 48 Spurs 41
Rockets Harden(3) Harden(3) Nene
Spurs Aldridge
H Score Rockets 54 Spurs 50
Rockets Carmelo, Faried(3) Harden(1)
Spurs Mills, Gasol, Ginobli(3) Green
James Harden with 22 first half points as Houston tries to force the showdown.
3 Qtr
9 Rockets 59 Spurs 56
Rockets Paul(3) House
Spurs Aldridge, Lee, Aldridge
6 Spurs 64 Rockets 61
Rockets Harden
Spurs Kawhi, Mills(3) Mills(3)
Patty Mills with a couple of triples and the Spurs surge ahead.
3 Rockets 73 Spurs 70
Rockets Harden(3) Capela(1) Gordon, Gordon(3) Harden(3)
Spurs Ginobli, Aldridge, Lee
3 Score Rockets 79 Spurs 75
Rockets Capela, Faried, Faried
Spurs Mills(3) Kawhi
Harden with 30 12 minutes left, Rockets trying to keep this series going.
4 Qtr
9 Rockets 87 Spurs 75
Rockets Anthony(3) Faried, Harden(3)
Spurs
6 Rockets 93 Spurs 80
Rockets Harden(3) Gordon(3)
Spurs Kawhi, Kawhi(3)
It's the Rockets - 4 triples in 6 minutes - we are going back to San Antonio.
3 Rockets 101 Spurs 91
Rockets Tucker(3) Gordon(3) Capela
Spurs Green(3) Green(3) Gasol, Kawhi(3)
F Score Rockets 106 Spurs 95
Rockets Paul(3) Harden
Spurs Murray, Bertans
Region 1 went 3 with all the road teams winning - Region 2 is all home teams so far and back to San Antonio for the showdown.
Harden: 38 pts/7 boards-Player of the Game
Capela: 19 pts/22 boards
Paul: 8 pts/13 assists
Faried: 11 pts/13 boards
Gordon: 13 pts
Kawhi: 16 pts/7 assists/5 boards
Aldridge: 20 pts/boards/6 assists
Gasol: 4 pts/13 boards
Mills: 17 pts/5 assists
Green: 18 pts
Game 3: AT&T Center. Announcers: Bill Schoening/Bill Worrell
1Qtr
9 Rockets 9 Spurs 6
Spurs Mills, Aldridge, Kawhi
Rockets Capela, Harden, Harden, Paul(3)
6 Rockets 18 Spurs 16
Spurs Kawhi, Ginobli, Aldridge, Gasol, Kawhi
Rockets Harden(3) Paul, Faried, Capela
Winner wins Region 2.
3 Spurs 21 Rockets 20
Rockets Parker(3) Aldridge
Spurs Capela
1Score Rockets 30 Spurs 29
Rockets Parker, Ginobli(3) Ginobli, Anderson
Spurs Faried, Harden Tucker(3) House(3)
Kawhi v. Harden, the winner of this game will also be the Region 2 MVP.
2 Qtr
9 Rockets 37 Spurs 31
Spurs Aldridge
Rockets Carmelo, Carmelo, Gordon(3)
6 Rockets 43 Spurs 36
Spurs Green, Kawhi(3)
Rockets Harden, Gordon, Faried
Houston has its biggest lead of the day.
3 Rockets 49 Spurs 42
Spurs Kawhi, Lee, Dedmon
Rockets Paul(3) Faried(1) Capela
H Score Rockets 56 Spurs 46
Spurs Ginobli, Kawhi
Rockets Anthony(1) Capela, Gordon, Paul,
Double digit lead.
3 Qtr
9 Rockets 62 Spurs 53
Spurs Aldridge, Parker, Gasol(3)
Rockets Harden(3) Paul(3)
6 Rockets 69 Spurs 62
Spurs Aldridge, Aldridge, Parker, Aldridge(3)
Rockets Paul(3) Harden, Carmelo
9 for LaMarcus Aldridge to open the half - Rockets still up 7
3 Rockets 74 Spurs 68
Spurs Lee, Lee, Aldridge
Rockets Faried(1) Capela, Capela
3 Score Rockets 80 Spurs 70
Spurs Mills
Rockets Harden, Capela, Faried
Half dozen for Capela - the Rockets are 12 minutes away from winning Region 2 as an 8 seed.
4 Qtr
9 Rockets 82 Spurs 81
Spurs Dedmon, Dedmon, Dedmon, Kawhi, Kawhi(3)
Rockets Harden
6 Spurs 86 Rockets 84
Spurs Kawhi(3) Kawhi
Rockets Faried
Kawhi Leonard with 10 straight Spurs points and now it's San Antonio up with 6 to go
5:41: HOU: Harden hits a 30 footer. Rockets by a point.
5:29: SA: Kawhi 10 foot floater. Spurs by a point.
4:59: HOU: Harden in traffic. Rockets by a point. You see this?
4:17: HOU: Daniel House with the bank.
4:10: SA: Kawhi baseline J.
3:48: SA: Aldridge fadeaway the Spurs are back up 1
3:39: HOU: Gordon hits a long 2. Rockets by 1.
3:23: SA: Kawhi again - Kawhi again - Kawhi has taken control
2:22: SA: No one scores for a minute when Gasol hits a short 1.
1:59: SA: And then Ginobli with the corner 3! 39 year old Manu Ginobli, a holdover from the '04 team who lost the Region 1 Final is here 13 years later and hits the big triple.
1:25: HOU: CP3 in traffic.
:47: SA: Aldridge fadeaway - it's a 6 point game its almost done now.
Spurs hit FT down the stretch - 4 for Kawhi, 1 for Gasol and that's all.
F Score: Spurs 106 Rockets 98
Houston had a 10 pt lead after 3 q -- a 3 point lead at 4:17 - and they lose by 8; an 18 point 4 quarter swing. 28/8 for Harden in the loss. The Spurs fell short in Region 1 - but Pop has a lot of bullets left to fire and this one is a kill shot. Spurs win Region 2.
Kawhi: 33 pts/10 boards/6 assists-Player of the Game
Aldridge: 23 pts/5 boards
Gasol: 8 pts/15 boards/5 assists
Ginobli: 11 pts/6 boards/4 steals
All Region 2 Team:
C Kareem ('73 Bucks-3 PotG)
F Kawhi ('17 Spurs-6 PotG) - REGION 2 MVP
F Durant ('16 Thunder- 3 PotG)
G Harden ('19 Rockets-5 PotG)
G Jordan ('96 Bulls-2 PotG)
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