The Rockets terrible losses

If you erase all them close games and declare them as wins for them contenders.

The standings would look bonkers.

 

Yup, the focus just isn't there and that also shows in the effort level.

From the first game of the season, the sense of urgency has been gone.

There were a few spurts early to prevent the season from being lost, but that is about it.

 

because our defense is bad this year
i don't think Ariza can fix it either
i think the rest of the league caught up and play Moreyball and they are better at it

 

How to beat the Rockets:

2017-18: Pick till you get one of their bigs switched onto a quicker player outside, and abuse him.

2018-19: Pick till you get one of their guards switched onto a bigger player inside, and abuse him.

 

At some point they can't be considered terrible losses and should just be considered a reality that this team isn't very good and can be beat by virtually any team in the league. The effort is horrible, but we're 60 games in. The team is what it is.

People need to get last year out of their head. The 2018-2019 Rockets are not in the same realm as last year's team. Last year, these losses would be considered horrible because they would happen so infrequently. This year, though? These losses, at this point, should be expected as a very normal outcome. The Rockets *shouldn't* blow leads as often as they do, but at this point, how can you *possibly* expect anything to change?

 

damn, I had forgotten all about that Washington L

 

That's not really how it goes.. I'm sure other teams had similar "terrible losses". That being said, I think we could be at least the 3rd or even 2nd seed if we didn't have those stupid blackouts every other game. It's infuriating and we should be very concerned. Come playoffs time, we gotta be able to close games.

 

'18 WCF Games 6 and 7

 

The culture and tendency now among the players is to rely on James Harden to bail them out.

There were so much more team-wise spark last year and it was absolutely fascinating.

 

Sucks coming so close last year, that is going to effect you mentally.

 

This too. Part of it is on Harden, being the leader. I think this streak is great and all but I’ve always thought Harden is most dangerous averaging like 26 pts and 12 assits.... however that’s hard when your supporting class is building the border wall brick by brick.

 

It's hard to imagine that in Harden's first year here, the Rockets were the fastest team in the league and a huge percentage of their points came in transition. Of course, they were also the youngest team in the league as well, I think. Still, my, how things have changed.

 

They also have wins they perhaps shouldn't have.

Based on just watching more of those losses than wins, but you can't just add 9 games and be like "here's where they should be".

They've been injured

 

Me too. Maybe they have 2 or 3. All I'm saying is you can't just say we would be first seed if we had won all those games. You gotta do that for all teams... maybe we would be 2nd seed, or 3rd. Of course we are the champions of embarassing losses.

 

Defensive effort. You can tell when the Rockets “lock in” defensively. They usually win.

Yesterday was full of defensive miscues leading to Wolves wide open 3s. Then there was that pass by KAT for the wide open layup in crunch time.

Players who’ve regressed from last year: Paul, Gordon, Green, Tucker, Nene.

Players who’ve improved: Harden and Capela.

I have hope that they’re just waltzing to the playoffs and will lock in at the end and get the 3 seed. But my hope is fading fast.

 

Title contenders don't have good records when you remove their bad losses, title contenders simply have fewer bad losses.