With House Rejoining the team and Faried, Rivers and co solidified into the rotation, are the Rockets complete for a legit title run? Who would have thought House was the missing piece to our ring but he does bring everything we need, 3 point, driving ability, decent defender.
I think this team is capable of winning a title and is about as complete as it's going to be for the remainder of the season. I don't expect there to be any additional signings and suspect that D'Antoni is still determining who is going to fit in his playoff rotation. If Shumpert doesn't start to produce the way he's expected and House resumes where he left off, expect House to fit the 7 or 8 man playoff rotation D'Antoni is likely going to run while players like Shumpert sit out postseason.
15 games left in the season including tonight's huge matchup against Golden State. Thats just under 20% of the season left for the team to stay healthy (for once) and lock down roles/rotation and build cohesion and chemistry. I am excited to see a completely healthy Rockets team now. This team is really lacking the chemistry last year's team had they are much more versatile on both ends of the floor with the roster this year. The big thing is MDA is going to have to learn to trust larger rotations in the playoffs. He hasn't historically and he will have to now.
if they show they can contribute against GS and be playable, then hell likely have no problem doing so. He had no problem with a deep rotation in both series prior to GS a year ago
against Minny and Utah he played a 9-man rotation half the games, and 8-man the other half...and that doesn't count garbage time players. I can see him going 9 all series this time. And against us, the Warriors went to an 8-man rotation in the WCF, last year, even before Iggy got injured. We would have matched that all series had Luc not become unplayable, even with Paul injured...and this year Faried will play, whereas Nene didn't.
We have the best harden and the best rockets this year. If Houston gets champion, Harden will replace Lebron as the 1st man in the league
No, I'm still waiting on Shump to show up. He needs to get healthy and get some more games in. We need defensive players who can spread the floor in the playoffs. This guy has serious playoff experience. I expect more from him and so should everyone else.
Yes. House helps bridge the gap between our guards and “Bigs.” Allows Tucker to rest and not need to play 40+ mins of stressful playoff action in a 7 game series ( I believe he earned 29 mins in last years WCF’s). Where Capela might not play more than 32 minutes a game vs the Warriors (I don’t feel Cousins will play much vs us)... (player) X/ (player) Y/ House/Tucker/Faried lineup will kick tail vs the Warriors. Rockets finally have a counterpart to Draymond Green physicality and energy in the form of Faried. Faried (Hou): 27.4 mins......15 pts...........9.4 rebs...........42.9% (3P%)../ last 9 gms: 1.0 (3PA).......55.6% (3P%) Draymond G: 31.2 mins......7.0 pts..........7.5 rebs...........25.0% (3P%)....................: 2.4 (3PA) Cousins is being attacked each game for his defense lately. Last 11 games: —4.7 (+/-)....28.0 (mins)....17.5% (3P%). Vs Houston Rockets (2/23/19): Cousins was a minus 17. Shumpert/Rivers/CP3/Green can check Curry/Cook/Klay Thompson (Klay is more or less just a bigger JJ Redick)/Livingston......Defense will win the matchup of this group. Edge Rockets. House/Tucker > Iggy Harden/Durant will negate themselves for the most part. Series Houston (4-2) barring injuries. Beating the best (Warriors) props the Rockets up to beat all other contenders. What has seemed like a poor year for the greater part, turns out successful. Go Rockets!!
Good posts all round here. I too am hoping for the best Apache, but I sure wish DeAndre had been bought out from the Knicks. His presence in the paint would given us a big weapon against bigger centers. Faried is doing his best. I like him, but he isn't much of a defender. Capela's defense in the paint has been subpar so far all season long. Nene is too old, despite his courage and size. Rivers has a hard job on defense, but he needs to wake up on offense. He is too talented, not to do so. I'm happy to see you posting again. Lets go Houston Rockets!
