I love the Lowe claims we're forcing the 'narrative' that Harden is an elite defensive. The video is an answer to the existing narrative that is pervasive right now in NBA journalism. If it all meets in the middle and he gets credit as a decent defender then we've done our job.
I know I'll get hate for this but Lowe is vastly overrated as a basketball mind IMO. He is such a fanboy sometimes he is not rational.
The low point differential does worry me. A low one given our record means we're winning a lot of games with luck, which obviously isn't sustainable.
Our original starting lineup has played 2 games together. I'd be worried about our differential if we had been healthy.
The point differential is indicative of how we are playing right now. It's accurate. But just keep in mind our different was 12+ in the first few games while Dwight and Bev were still healthy (Jones went out too early to count). We will become NASTY when healthy.
Bill Simmons is incapable of speaking about the Rockets except in backhanded or begrudging fashion. It feels like if we win the championship again he would find a way to asterisk it.
Simmons loves Harden thinks the way he plays is boring. Loved Harden as a part of the the Thunder hates talking about Harden if it includes the Rockets.
We tend to bleed points in garbage time, if you adjust that out of the mess, we're probably about another +4 ppg
We were number 1 for the first couple of weeks when we were healthy. Once we get our guys back, I have no doubt that number will go up.
This is pretty much how a lot of people feel oddly enough. Harden was one of the "Young and exciting!" players when he played on the Thunder and so many people loved his "Old man game." Now though, it is popular to just say you hate how he plays but it gets results so meh.
The Rockets ARE the biggest surprise, and, by whatever objective measures you can think of, Harden must be waaaaay ahead of anybody if they're forced to mention him as the frontrunner in the national media.
winning a game regardless of margin should not be considered luck. Does your team close out the game or give it up when it counts. There are so many teams with bad records that have a low point differential.... it's usually because they can't execute in end-of-game situations. That's when stars are born, those that execute when it counts time and time again.
