This gets said at least once per game thread. Harden is 25 years old. If he feels good to go, he's good to go. If he needs to sit out, he'll sit out. No need to just sit him out for no reason, though. The Rockets most certainly have a chance to win this game.
Because this week is this season's version of Hell Week. Last year's was almost the same time of year when we faced Portland at home, and then went to OKC, to Chicago, and to Miami. For the record, we won only one of those and that was that miracle comeback against the Blazers to steal one in OT. The Bulls game was where the team never showed up from the opening tip. Long story less long, we need Harden as fresh as possible. He wore himself out yesterday in eeking one out against the Cavs, so let's make sure he's got energy for the Grizzlies and then the Pistons and Nuggets since those are in the midst of a 4 game in 5 nights stretch. There's so sense in forcing him to expend energy against the Hawks when the Rockets will be longshots at best anyway.
So what happens when you sit Harden just expecting to lose so he can be fresh for Memphis and then lose to Memphis? You try to win every game throughout the season. Secondly, the only problem I really have with your statement was that you write this off as an automatic loss. Like no matter how well the Rockets play we just simply cannot beat them. That mentality is just dumb and I hate ***literally hate*** when people say "no way in hell we win this game" and still proclaim themselves as fans.
Precisely. If there's no reason to sit out, you don't sit out. I'm sure Harden's enough of a competitor to where he doesn't want to sit out anyways.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>James Harden added to the Rockets injury report with a bruised left shoulder. He's probable for Tuesday, well, at least with the shoulder.</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/572474181742407680">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Harden could be suspended for the lebron nut kick.. i hope hes not suspended on wednesday.. i'm going to that game!!
Last time we played the Hawks, we lost but kept it close: 104-97 Granted we had Howard, but we also had Kostas-Terry-Johnson-Black as our bench unit. eww. We don't have Howard, but now we have TJ back and we've added Brewer & Smith. Korver won't get shot practice with the added wing defense help. TJ & Smith will help keep their bigs in line too.
Look, I'd love for the Rockets to beat the Hawks tomorrow night. But that team after starting 7-6 has gone 40-6 since. And only 2 of those losses have come at home(oddly both were blowouts to the Bucks and Raptors). Can they win? Sure. Will they? The odds are not in their favor. And if Harden's nursing a sore shoulder and sprained his ankle just 5 days ago, I don't think a day off is the worst idea in the world. Especially with 3 more games left over the next 4 days, all of which are far more winnable(yes, even Memphis) than tomorrow night's game at Atlanta.
This seems suggestive that he is hurting. I want him to give another encore against the Hawks, but if he needs to sit out this one, I am ok with it. Get healthy quickly James.
Just sit him already with all those little injuries. He's been coming up limping for a few times lately and with Memphis, you need a full James! Just start Brewer on Korver and play Papa / KJ.
Agreed, I would (if I had to pick ONLY one option), to win the season series with a divisional opponent 3-1. And that potential tiebreaker with MEM would go a long way in trying to get the #2 seed.
Hawks are very similar to the Clippers in many ways. If the Rox can't stay glued to Crawford, Reddick, and occasionally Barnes, there's certainly almost no chance to stay glued to Korver on a consistently basis.
Hawks have won 4 in a row. I hope the team is taking them more seriously than some of the posters here.
