Unless it's the Rockets 90s championships, in which case everyone must discuss Michael Jordan for eternity.
The Warriors have been low key crappy outside of Durant, Curry, and Thompson. green has really regressed and that may not be totally real, but probably isn’t all coasting either. They aren’t the team that blows out everyone by 3rd quarter and every starter rest in the 4th like before. It’s no wonder they’re resting everyone because their role players aren’t as good as the Rockets and need their stars at 100% or they’re not winning
The injuries the warriors have had are only one aspect for their recent woes. First, and with all due respect, the Warriors look fatigued. They were looked fresher and played better at the beginning of the season. However, all teams play 82 games and guys have the summer to rest up. Second, the Warriors are older and not as dynamic or athletic. They are not as talented as they were a few years ago. Father time as taken a toll on guys like Andre Iguodala who is 34. Third, they gave up a lot of depth when they shed assets to acquire Kevin Durant. In addition, they gave up a lot of flexibility when they finally paid him maket value. This prevented them from acquiring another Andre Iguodala, who they were able to acquire because Steph's salary was so cheap. Fourth, teams like the have closed to the gap on the Warriors. Teams like the Rockets, Portland, Oklahoma, Toronto and Boston are better than they have been in years. Also, a younger generation of players have added new talent and blood into the NBA. Guys like Anthony Davis, Karl Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic. While I don't think teams like Utah or Denver could beat the Warriors, they would give them a run for the money.
I would have never thought that the Rockets would finish with the number 1 seed or 65+ win at the beginning of the season - IF HEALTHY. I figured 55-60 wins with this team - IF HEALTHY. This team went through a bunch of little injuries to many players and is on pace to not only be the number one seed, but win 65 games. One could argue that the Warriors - had they been healthy, may still have won their typical 67 wins but man, this is still a big deal.
Good points in hindsight. It's funny how last off-season teams in the east were waving the white flag and writers were saying they were justified in giving up. Then Chris Paul engineers a trade here for that very reason... "if we're not playing to win it all, what are we playing for?" Big difference between a winning mindset and a losing mindset.
Harden and Paul are better than Durant and Curry Capela is a huge asset. More effective than Klay My doubts on Paul were age. Never chemistry You have the best two point guards on the same team. Capela doesn't get in their way. Neither does Gordon or Ariza
Only reason Warriors caught the Rockets was because of injuries to Luc, CP3, Capela and Harden. Rockets would have been up 5 games going into this recent stretch of Warriors injuries.
