'Houston’s shortcomings might have had more to do with mentality than pure talent'

I'm ok with this take, but i still like to be in the middle here cause that game 1 should not be forgotten just because we choked in other games.

 

You know why Houston lost last night's game? James Harden: the same player that give you joy also give you pain. Just watch the last few minutes of the game when it is either 2pts or tied. James Harden pushing off against Green and get called for offensive foul, he also did a lazy pass the Chris Paul resulting in a steal by Klay after Curry made a 3pts. Give him credit for making a 3pts and also a 2pts layup. But on defense, when Warriors were up by 3pts with about a minute left; when they double Curry which lead to Green driving to the hoop...Green passed to Iggy and Iggy to Klay for a 3pt dagger....but if Harden had played better instinctive defense by moving out quickly to cover Iggy, Chris Paul don't have to make a guessing game which lead Klay to be opened for that 3pts. I just feel that as great as Harden is offensively? He is also a detrimental to the Houston's defense. Nobody talk about this, but if you watch the last few minutes....it was Harden that got killed defensively and also committing turnovers in crunch time.

Now of course nobody would say anything about Harden because he's the leader (even if he makes mistakes), but if your leader is not willing to admit wrong or take responsibility...then there is a problem. And this problem will continue to be there because nobody want to talk about it....BECAUSE IT'S JAMES HARDEN. And this ain't even the first time...Harden tends to be that sort of players during crunch time.

 

Harden had 3 turnovers in the last 3mins of the game. It just adds to his legend of imploding in elimination games.

 

I think most fans on here are delusional - all season until the grim reality smacks them in the face in the post season...

Every year I spend the season pointing out deficiencies like... boxing out, rebounding, a crunch time alternative to chucking 3's, not relying on free throws, longer rotation, etc...

All season I get little Morey Jrs quoting me reg season stats about how great our efficiencies are and how great we are based on our record and if you you look at our record when x, y or z happens we're even better.... blah blah blah...

Then it all goes to hell (usually due to undisciplined nature regarding some fundamentals) and everybody acts shocked...

...smh...

 

Tv, and the NBA wanted a 7 game series, but someone forgot to tell the refs., and Curry.

 

There is definitely a mentality issue where Harden seem uncomfortable when the expectations are high and he doesnt have the safety net of being t he underdog. He doesnt seem to be able to handle it when there is no excuse for failure.

its similar to his style of play as well where getting fouled seems more of a priority than making the shot, as it seems to divert attention to the ref making or missing the call instead of Harden making or missing the shot.

 

James is the reason we didnt win - but he's not the reason we lost...

James could have put forth some herculean effort down the stretch and won it for us... he's done it numerous times...

or we could have played a better all around game... had a better gameplan than ill advised chucking of 3s by anybody and everybody... better focus... better care of the ball and fewer turnovers... some better higher % shots... etc... and this game should have been over by half time...

but GSW was wounded and struggling - so we played down to their level content to just chuck - and then they pulled away while we let them...

 

Tried veteran coaches now let's go after an ex Rocket like Sam Cassell or Mario Elie! H-Town Crazy!!

 

1 (Arrogant nerd Gm who thinks math wins games)
2 (Arrogant coach that makes no adjustments and decided to eliminate mid-range and post ups)
3 (Cheap owner that gave up a 1st rd pick to get under the luxury tax)
4 (Old declining 2nd superstar that only came to Houston to ride Harden's coat tail)
5 (Soft Center that can't even win a jump ball let alone a championship)

 

And they call us haters...when we know that what we are pointing out are deficiencies which will ultimately cost them.

DD

 

Rockets had the talent to beat them. They just didn't have the heart or killer instinct.

 

"cant you just enjoy the win?"

lol

 

They had heart. Lack of heart is getting smacked by 30 or 40 in an elimination game. That didn’t happen here. They played very hard the whole series. The fact that all the games were within 6 points is a testament to that. That’s not easy to do against a Warriors team that can really pour it on if you lose focus. Frankly they already looked gassed in the third quarter of game 6. I don’t think effort was the issue.

But I agree that they didn’t exhibit a killer instinct. They had a lot of opportunities they squandered in games 5 and 6, and they know it. I think deep down, the Rockets (and probably every other team in the league) have doubts that they can actually beat the Warriors. Someone will beat them sooner or later. I hope the Rockets get it done next year.

 

Needed a little killer instinct for a few quarters and we didn’t have it

 

It's so frustrating watching James Harden on a career defining game that will write his legacy decides to stroll around the court for most of the game showing absolutely no urgency at all. He has some serious mental hurdles to overcome.

 

The issue is we had 90m tied into a uselessness lump and 160m tied in an aging role player masquerading as a star. We got lucky that Gordon and tucker carried their load and were able to keep the games close and win 2. Can’t expect them to step up every game tho..

 

Harden didn't play Faried or House?

Rocket River
good to know

 

dont worry, we all know what will happen next season.. #RUNITBACK

then lose to the warriors again, yay. lets keep doing this until Harden can no longer carry CP3's washed bum.

 

What sold me on the mental weakness was how they passed up threes and started driving in praying for a call, then turning the ball over out of their nerves.

Rivers passing away the three to ego, then ego doing the same drive he does all series without realizing GS adjusted.

And Gerald Green... He's a crutch much like Brewer was. Drop Gerald and tell James to be more like Russ.

Where was James? Why didn't he demand the ball? I think it was jvg who said technically that was a good play to pass it away. It was the same story again and again, playing something they normally didn't do but GS allowed them to do



Can Harden sleep at night thinking he made the right play by taking the ball out of his hands? Well that's what he did the last two games in the last six minutes

Then all of a sudden after gs closed the game that they started chucking and making threes

TOO LATE ****ERS. YOU CAN REST UP FOR SUNDAY NOW

 

The Harden issue is huge. This guy has something mentally off about him. The way he sometimes lollygags around half court or just takes himself out of the offense or even looks like he's dazed and confused on defense sometimes. Harden can be so aloof in important games/moments. Maybe he needs a sports psychologist.

What stood out to me before this playoff series was how the Rockets beat the Warriors a couple of times and of course our fans began talking smack about it. Then late in the season Curry talks about how playing the Rockets again would be a statement game. The Warriors came in without Durant who was injured and won the game in Toyota Center. They're so experienced and talented that they basically coasted the whole season but when it was time to face a rival they knew they might see in the playoffs again they called it a statement game and delivered the statement that they're just better than the Rockets.