http://http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-141121/title-contender-pretender Shocker ... but I do agree that our bench needs help. That and I hope the last big piece is a PG that can create or a 4 that can post up and rebound. Guess you can't get both though.
4. Contender or pretender: Houston Rockets? Adande: Pretender. Their victories have been as disappointing as their losses lately. Barely beating Philadelphia at home with the 76ers on a back-to-back and squeaking by the depleted Thunder while Dwight Howard's manhood is questioned by a guy who's spent more time in a walking boot than on the court this season doesn't pass the championship sniff test. The one caveat: They match up well with San Antonio. Arnovitz: Contender. I'm not ruling out any of the West's top half this season, because I think we're in a strange NFL/MLB-type season where a third of the league has a serious shot if it stays healthy. With Patrick Beverly, Trevor Ariza and a healthy Howard, this is an elite defense. James Harden can be hard to watch, but he manufactures offense. With a little more production from the 4 spot and a few more buckets from Ariza, it's all there. Elhassan: Pretender!! The Rockets also suffer from a lack of depth. The ability to bring Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin off the bench last season was a luxury -- an expensive luxury, but a luxury nonetheless. While Kostas Papanikolaou has been a pleasant surprise, the bench has been inconsistent (especially on the defensive end) and limited. Like the Blazers, they'll have to pray for a healthy top seven come playoff time. Gutierrez: Pretenders. Houston's largest void is at the power forward position, and with Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Anthony Davis and the rest of the West PFs lurking, Houston will need to improve at that spot to put itself over the top. Strauss: Pretender. This one is tough for me because I think the Rockets can theoretically be top 10 in both offense and defense. There's just one nagging concern: They're really thin. The lack of depth is part of why Kevin McHale plays his stars too many minutes, which could bite them in the end. Unless Daryl Morey makes a move, I don't see it.
Seems about right, they are actually quite mild in their stance. Bench = thin --> Morey's fault! Time to own up Daryl. Can you imagine with Bosh, what kind of bench we would've had?
You wouldn't know it by watching games on TV. It looks like all their games have been on national TV so far lol.
Adande is a complete moron. "Adande: Pretender. Their victories have been as disappointing as their losses lately. Barely beating Philadelphia at home with the 76ers on a back-to-back and squeaking by the depleted Thunder while Dwight Howard's manhood is questioned by a guy who's spent more time in a walking boot than on the court this season doesn't pass the championship sniff test. The one caveat: They match up well with San Antonio." WTF was Dwight supposed to do? Punch him in the face and get suspended and then you'll be talking about his maturity issues. The rest of the guys were reasonable I guess, I guess this is the kind of analysis you get from a LA homer.
I think the thought process with getting the 1 more star is that the bench comes to you after you secure the big three. That when the Ray Allen and Mike Millers of the world jump on to get a chip.
There is an insider article now up about what the numbers say for who's a contender - anyone mind relaying what they say about Houston?
The loss of a turnover ridden player, a player with a bad attitude and injury issues, and a player who cared far too much about his hair has crippled the Rockets. Those 3 players were the difference maker and now we're screwed. So says the media.
Most teams with 3 stars don't have the cap to field a deep bench. What it does allow them to do though is keep a star on the court at all times and that star makes the game easier for anyone you throw out on the court. It's not a bad strategy, but you need to get one which is easier said than done.
dumb they all mention that there is a need at the PF spot - I wonder if they even noticed that our starting PF has been out 75% of the season so far. (but the part of being able to guard Griffin, Aldridge still holds true, but there would be much better production if Jones was around)
After the performance in the last 4 games, I completely agree with the hate. Massive amount left to prove. It won't get proved playing like this. We can say health this and health that but with Terrence's situation stretching into indefinite at a certain point you have to put up or shut up. Last 4, Houston has shut up.
I don't know why Adande is sniffing Dwight's manhood. But Houston has not played like a true contender overall.
Why is Washington DC on that list? They are a weak playoff contender in the East with a very old Pierce
These type of polls go back and forth throughout the year but the Rox are pretenders at this point. The front court depth is laughable, bad head coach, questionable, gimmick offensive philosophy, etc. The main thing that had a lot of people thinking they turned a corner was their much improved defense. The other areas, however, if not fixed and upgraded are too much to overcome I believe for the Rox to be taken seriously.
