Bringing back the same core and expecting a different result won't work- and not because of hurt feelings. This team has been virtually the same for the passed two years and both times have been dealt a huge disappointing end. At first we thought the Paul injury was to blame before realizing that it runs deeper than that. For whatever reason this team as assembled can not get over the mental hurdle (and how do you expect that to change in 2020)? You can change all of the smaller pieces that you feel fit but the fact remains that this team is predictable. Teams know they can exploit the Rockets weakness when it matters and even if the Rockets still have their number, the Warriors will find a way to still be in their heads. The Warriors beat the Rockets without Durant playing because they know how to play against this team. They know how much pressure to apply at the right time and when to change the tempo for their advantage. The way to beat your opponent is to force them into changing their tactics in a way in which you predict them to, and then attack when they are not fully prepared for the onslaught. Two years in with Paul and the patterns are only becoming more clear to the other teams in the league. Sure the Rockets can win 55 games again next year with home court advantage but that is not what this team was originally built to do and in order to change the outcome a shakeup has to come. The only way for that to happen without a trade is for Harden to defer to Paul to create a true two-headed monster. For whatever reason though he doesn't wish to go that route. In all honesty, I think Paul is happy to defer throughout the season to Harden. Allow him to get his 35+ points and handle the ball 90% of the time on the court. But they need a better plan of attack in the playoffs and winging it in the clutch is not going to do it. This whole off season should be just Harden and Paul talking to get a solid one-two punch going- something that not only would confuse the other teams but make them almost unstoppable. However, for that to happen Harden has to trust in Paul to run the offense even when the team is in a slump. I commend Harden for wanting to will the Rockets to every victory himself, but it's obvious to the league that once you get inside of his head he is prone to throw a tantrum on the court. I love Harden and he should be a Rocket for life, but his Kobe-style playing will not amount to a ring. If the Rockets truly want to win a championship then they have to mastermind a strategy that nobody would expect and be smart enough to execute that strategy when they need it (kind of like a boxer learning how to go south paw for the knockout). Until that happens, no free agent signing will put the Rockets over the hump (not even Kawhi or Lebron could save this team in that regard without a fallout happening somewhere).
When your team is essentially capped out and you have no real trade assets, outside of your best player (and Capillow) for some teams, you really don't have much of an option.
If CP3 wants anyone to defer to him, he needs to start showing up every night. $40M is a fortune to pay for someone who sleepwalked through 90% of the season.
58 game played lol. He's right we need more ball movement but he doesn't get to talk like he's actually a superstar anymore lol.
We got enough pieces to win it all... just a matter of getting a better more malleable gameplan in place and utilizing all our guys to their fullest potential... but if we're gonna play 'cornerstones & roleplayers' or vary the level of commitment/effort expected at any given time or have coaches that are too wussyish to address issues - then we're dead in the water...
That was a long ass post just to say you want Harden to defer to CP3. I mean who doesn’t want more running head first into players and flopping everywhere right?
I'm calling it now, just like I did last year. We ain't making the conference finals if we run it back. It's going to be another disappointing season where Harden won't win MVP or sniff the finals. CF will be disappointed and many of us here will want to blow up the team. We're in for a very toxic year in terms of team chemistry after this summer's fiasco. In this league, you have to improve a lot every off-season if you want to be a contender. Even the Warriors are doing that every offseason. Instead we take 2 steps back for every step forward. Morey shackling himself with horrible contracts like CP3 and Ryno.
Y’all forgetting CP3 was injured and was coming back from injury hence his numbers were down? I expect his numbers to go back up and all the haters to be gone, he’s gonna be fine.
The Warriors lost one of the game's top 3 players, as well as one of their key defenders and rotation pieces. Then they signed a guy who's had one good year (in a contract season) and plays the same position as their best player. And one of their stars will miss 75% of the season. They took a big step backwards offensively and a giant step backwards defensively. Now tell me in what universe that equals "improving a lot"?
