http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12002989 First couple minutes is rockets talk where simmons says Harden is MVP. . Zach Lowe says Rockets are biggest surpise
Also brings it up a few mins later where Zach says Steph may be front runner, Simmons says no Harden is front runner. Wonder how those ESPN bloggers who think Harden is barely a top 5 SG feel about that
If anything, the media is having to discuss Harden and the D. MVP still doesn't mean chip. Losing it might make harden play even more fierce.
Simmons brings up how surprising it is the Rockets are 16-4 despite a less than 5 point differential. What they fail to mention is that Houston has just CRUSHED several teams so badly that much or all of the entire 4th quarter the starters rest and the point totals get closer than they should with the scrubs playing. Memphis and Minnesota recently for example. Phoenix too. Earlier in the year Boston and San Antonio games as well.
That averages out over time. Other teams also crush people, and still maintain relatively large leads. It all factors in... Which is not to say you couldn't have a completely dominant team that just let's teams narrow leads down in the 4th quarter because they put in complete scrubs and it would skew the results... some of that is taking place here because when the Rockets "empty their bench" in the 4th quarter, they are putting in guys who basically have never played in the NBA before... but its not the only takeaway
The point differential is just a statistical, historical fact. Even that (53-win pace!) is an amazing achievement with the injuries we've had; it's even more amazing that a shorthanded team is eking out enough sneaky wins to surpass our Pythagorean record. Let's not be so sensitive about every little negative comment. The Harden no-defense narrative will unfortunately not be shed this year, but Lowe is perfectly correct in saying that he's still doing exactly what the Rockets need to win regardless of if you rate his defense as below average or all-NBA. The real question is, with Harden carrying such a huge burden, can the Rockets find the balance point between getting him some help (hopefully via reintegrating Howard) without killing his momentum (via running 20 Howard post-ups a game).
Warriors are the most overrated team in the league. Memphis is probably the best team right based on performance. This is pretty much the softest stretch of 13 games this year for any team. Not one contender. No Bulls are not a contender. OKC didn't have Durant/Westbrook. Wolves Bulls Pelicans Magic Pistons Hornets Magics Heats Thunders Jazz lakers Hornets Nets
For the top teams, there really is no "best" right now. It all comes down to matchups IMHO. If healthy, I want to say that the Spurs are still the best. We are the 2nd best. Warriors and Grizzlies are a close third.
Didn't realize their record was so good. And we have a 3 way tie for 2nd place. And the next two teams after that are only one game back. So glad our injuries didn't cause too many losses or we would be battling for 8th with Phoenix.