<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets">@HoustonRockets</a> are banged up but GM Daryl Morey tells <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBeat?src=hash">#TheBeat</a> they'll fight through it. <a href="http://t.co/NP06tWjinV">http://t.co/NP06tWjinV</a> <a href="http://t.co/8XVtZno6Vg">pic.twitter.com/8XVtZno6Vg</a></p>— NBA.com (@NBAcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAcom/status/562456738230575106">February 3, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Video here: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2015/02/02/20150202-beat-rockets.nba/
<video width="853" height="480" controls="controls"><source src="http://nba.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/channels/nba_tv/2015/02/02/20150202-beat-rockets.nba_768x432_1404.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>Your browser does not support HTML5 video. Please update your browser to view this media content.</video> (Harden) Looks like he'll be fine. He actually banged his other knee twice in the Dallas game. 82 game schedule, you get a lot of bangs and just hope it doesn't keep you out long. Fear about Dwight's knee lingering and possibly pushing into the playoffs? Still undetermined. Definitely out for a stretch. Rest will be something that will help and they're looking at other non-surgical approaches to get him back as soon as possible. Fact you've played well without him give you solace in case he's out for awhile? We've battled all year. Terrence Jones is back, Motiejunas has stepped up, Josh Smith as you mentioned, Dorsey has given us good minutes. We don't feel good about it but we feel we'll battle and keep ourselves in the race and then when Dwight comes back, be stronger. Harden as your PG, you okay with that or feel you may have to fortify that position? We are putting a lot of pressure on James. For stretches we don't mind that but we are putting pressure on James on both ends. He's stepped up defensively. We feel good about our team, players who are stepping now and the young guys. We don't feel there needs to be a trade but we're pretty aggressive and if something materializes and makes us better, we'll do it but no one can keep up with Danny Ainge. Western Conference, 5th seed, how tough is it? We were 3rd the other night, lost a game, 5th, lose two you're 7th. At the end of the day, to win the title, you gotta be one of the top teams. No easy path to winning the title and a little harder in the West. This way we're more tested going into the playoffs. When you play in the SW division, is there a game within the game? More intense to keep up with the guys in that division? Yeah, in the past we were able to say if you want to win a championship, you just have to win the Texas state title. Memphis is in that conversation and the Pelicans are above .500. You could argue we're one of the best divisions that's been put on a NBA floor. Pelicans easily a playoff team in the East. It is tough but all we can do is keep playing and keep battling. Internal expectations? Our internal expectations was home court in the playoffs and advance deep and that hasn't changed. We're on pace for those right now. Home-court changes day by day but advancing in the playoffs, that's our number one goal. MIT Sloan Sports Conference, how has it grown? It's not a conference until you show up. It's February 27th-28th. Some great panels. Commissioner Silver is coming again, Shane Battier is finally fulfilling his destiny and coming to the conference now that he's not winning NBA championships. Great lineup again.
Real key question here was about the pressure put on James, and the need for a PG. Morey tried his best to seem neutral about a move, but its pretty obvious and he's not going to flat out deny it. When Morey gives the ole "We are going to be aggressive" statement, you can pretty much bank on him having something in the works. I'm not feeling real hopeful for a big game changing move like a Dragic or Lawson move, but you have to feel from this being such an obvious point of weakness that even Sekou Smith and Vince Gillini are mentioning it that Morey is smart enough to know he's gotta do something this year to help Harden create on the perimeter.
That's how I took it too. Morey is certainly not opposed to making a move for a PG. He has to say "we feel good about our team right now" because obviously he wouldn't want to create controversy and say he is looking to make a trade. But it's obvious he'd like to make a trade if he can get what he's looking for.
Morey looked like he had a beef and bean burrito or something and is having a bad case of indigestion in that video.
...or he's gonna need that dreaded 'M' surgery. Spoiler M Mi Mic Micr Micro Microf Microfr Microfra Microfrac Microfract Microfractu Microfractur Microfracture MICROFRACTURE SURGERY!
Morey looks so worn-out. Only going to get worst till the Dwight situation clears up and the trade deadline passes.
Although it's probably the headset that messed up his do, he looks tired. He looks like someone just woke him up and said we're on in 10,9,8,7.. Did he really need to say they're looking at non surgical approaches?
I wish we could just find out once and for all what howards real diagnosis is and whether we can actually expect him during the stretch run in the playoffs.
Wow Morey looks completely stressed out. Sounds like this is definitely the start of the end for Dwight and the Rockets and him know it. I think we've reached a situation where the deterioration is happening at Dwyane Wade rates
