“Some of these players do not like James Harden” -Brian Windhorst

I can tell you that the Rockets front office was not happy with his comments singling them out concerning their efforts campaigning for Harden during his first MVP run (where he finished second). That in particularly pissed them off.

There have been others including his comments during the second MVP run (where he finished second).

Since then Lowe has tried to buddy buddy up with the Rockets and it hasn’t gotten him anywhere.

 

You're speaking as if you have some insider information here. Do you actually know something, or are you just making guesses?

I mean, yes, the Rockets were overly preoccupied with Harden winning an MVP that year he finished second to Westbrook. It was obvious to everyone. Him stating the obvious is not going to piss them off. He's invited every year to participate in the Sloan conference and appears to be on good terms with Daryl Morey.

 

Dead last in assists over the last 3 years would be news to me. 2017 we were 3rd lol

 

If it was my opinion, I would have said it was my opinion. Less than a year ago the Rockets front office was still not over it because he singled them out.

If you think the Rockets were overly preoccupied with Harden winning the MVP as compared to the Thunder, then we have nothing to discuss because the Rockets were not anymore so than the Thunder.

You can view the Rockets front office as thin skinned if you want but they have believed that Harden in particularly hasn’t been treated fairly.

Has something changed recently? That I don’t know. Maybe amends have been made but I highly doubt it.

 

Where has he actually rooted for the Warriors to win a game versus any team, much less the Rockets?

If all you're going on is that he's extremely complimentary on how they play -- well, no ****. They are possibly the greatest team ever.

 

Yes, like TM said the Rockets are thin skinned and defensive of Harden and his treatment by the media. The front office is aware of who has and has not slighted them and James.

 

Does it work against Harden that if he wins it, Nike will have gone 2 seasons without the MVP?

 

Is it fair to call them thin skinned though? In your opinion?

 

Like are we too sensitive or do they disrespect us more than others, which is it? Cause it seems like whenever someone wants to defend themselves they get called sensitive. But if its other way, then Tim has a point.

 

Honestly, I am not even sure it is *thin skinned* as much as it is *knowing how the media game is played.* They are hyper aware during these digital times.

They understand how *influencers* can direct a narrative. How the narrative can push how things are viewed. There are marketing dollars at stake. There are ripple effects.

 

When you really feel that you have not been treated fairly for a period of time, are you thin skinned if you get upset about it? I don’t think so but maybe it is in the eye of the beholder.

 

I'm not focused on the Thunder. I'm focused on the Rockets, and they have been too focused on Harden winning MVP, and had a history in general of campaigning for individual awards. It's something they do very consciously to keep their players happy and attract other players to come here -- which as a Rockets fan I understand and appreciate. But for anyone who cares about the process by which these individual awards are handed out, brazen campaigning from organizations is annoying. I sympathize completely with Lowe on this point.

I highly doubt Morey has any real problems with Lowe, or that he thinks that Lowe has some anti-Rockets bias.

 

This.

Also let’s not forget that this has been going on for years and there are jobs, reputations and money at stake.

 

You are entitled to your opinion and no one is telling you who to read or listen to.

I simply said what I know about how the Rockets front office views Zach Lowe’s comments.

You decide how much it matters to you what value you give it.

 

these bloated media whores parroting the uber ridiculous notion that nba refs love harden too much need to be slapped on air

 

Good read, thanks for that J.R.

I feel like Tim McMahon was the truest of the 3, no agenda, just being as real and as candid as possible. This is something that is hardly seen on the various ESPN segments.

 

MacMahon covers the Rockets for ESPN so he is the only person at ESPN that has the ability to defend them against the narratives. And he is a Dallas native.

 

I think the Rockets are very enthusiastic about publicly supporting their players, and pointing out facts in defense of them is absolutely fine. I don't consider that thin-skinned at all. And some criticisms really are off-base and indicate an obvious bias, like the way the TNT crew talked about the Rockets a few years ago. I'm happy with the Rockets calling a spade and spade, in that case. Personally, I think all the MVP hype can become counter-productive, but I understand why they do it.

However, I'd say holding grudges against reporters who express displeasure with how the Rockets conduct their business, or with some stylistic aspects of how they play, is thin-skinned. I'm not aware that they've held such grudges, but then I don't have access to inside info.

 

BW: This reminds me of the 2015 Finals. Love was out, Kyrie got hurt game one. LeBron played preposterous hero ball for the last 5 games. He was putting up numbers Harden is. He was going like 12-37.

LeBron's TS% was 49% during the 2015 Finals; Harden's TS% during this 31-game 30+ point streak is 62%

 

Wow, thanks for typing that out. Fun read.

Others: please like J.R.'s post for services rendered to the board.