[ClutchFans] Podcast: What in the world is wrong with the Houston Rockets?

I always disagreed with that. It's extremely important. But it's also very hard to find it, however when there is disconnect between the players there is a way to try to improve it and that is by adding good character vets. We all know who they are (and the GMs know even more) because things like character in the lockeroom are a part of the scouting reports when trading/signing players.

And now we see Morrey's protege Hinkie doing the same crap.

 

at least we won!!!

Spoiler

and lost the 4th quarter

 

What do we have to do guys to score baskets in the early 4th quarter? This has been a problem for the past few games. 76's had a huge run while Harden was sitting and I think one reason he missed those FTs was he was tired. Our lineup of Bev, Lawson, Brewer, Thorton was just horrible.

Why is Capela not getting more mins? Only 24mins, same as TJ.

 

The main thing to me is Harden. I mean this in the sense that he is the team leader, whether deserved or accepted or not. He came into this year out of shape, reversed his perseverance on defense, and fails to get his teammates involved in the form of trying to do everything himself on offense.

Team chemistry is sometimes as simple as wanting, being motivated, and looking up to the other guys on the team, especially the leader(s).

I think ist no coincidence that last years success was directly tied to Hardens determination to play at least acceptable defense and teammate involvement.

 

I understand what you're saying. Harden is slacking so everybody is lazy. But this is when Harden is on the bench. He always rests the beginning of the 4th and that has been a major problem for us. No baskets FGs at all in the first half of the past few 4th quarters. We need him to play all 48mins?

 

I also blame it on the coaching. Ty Lawson should be the one who should be handling the ball and make the plays not Harden and Harden's ISO's. Last night the offense was horrible with too many Harden's ISO's. Rockets looked horrible and confused offensively. That is all on the coaching foe not making good X's and O's.

 

I believe this team last year overachieved, that's why nobody sees these problems, but when things go sour it really reflects your coach's personality and your star players personality, this team as is will never win anything, we are lacking leadership and discipline, there is a lot work money needs to do if he wants to stay here longer I guess

 

Unfortunately, I would agree with the above. A new system, where defense is priority #1, motion on offense leading to easier baskets and open shots, need to be implemented. New players need to be acquired to make this work.

Keep Harden, Ariza, Capela, D-Mo, and perhaps KJ for his potential. Trade the rest asap. Depending on what we are able to get, the rebuild may not even take long.

 

There's a reason very few teams actually win the title.. You need your best player to be totally obsessed with basketball and winning. Outside of some outliers, think of all the titles of the last 15-20 years. What do all of these guys have in common?

100% effort, committed, professional, takes the game extremely seriously. When your best player is like this, it makes everyone on your team better.

Curry
Lebron
Duncan
Kobe
Garnett
Shaq
Jordan
Hakeem

Harden or Howard don't even come close to these guys. You knew it when Howard couldn't get along with Kobe, but I was hoping he could be a good second fiddle to Harden. Unless Harden changes and focuses more on basketball than his brand, we won't ever win a chip with him.

 

bingo.

its a top-to-down kinda thing. it all starts at the top, with the team leader(s). but people are focusing too much on the likes of tjones or brewer...

 

It applies all through life.

In the office, if your manager is the smartest and most hard working person, you (at least I do) will naturally feel pressure to at least try and be as good as him/her. Especially if it's a person you respect on a personal level. It sucks to let someone like that down...

When he tells you he thinks you could put in more effort or change something (hopefully with why), its credible constructive criticism and not a hypocritical attack. These basketball players are human, their human interactions are largely the same as in any competitive/high pressure team environment.

When they say it's a players league, this is what they mean. The coach and star player usually have a symbiotic leadership relationship. The star player (manager) needs to be an extension of the coaches (VP/Director) culture/philosophy.

Leaders like this in the NBA are very rare, which is why so few teams have won the championship and why rings is often proof of greatness. It's Harden's job lead by example and make his teammates try harder, practice harder, work on their games, strive for greatness. IF those teammates don't follow suit, you get new ones. IF your leader won't become that guy, you get new ones too.

 

I would take Shaq off that list. He was extremely physically gifted but rarely worked hard. Most of his best post moves are offensive fouls in today's game.

 

That's true, Shaq was otherworldly when he was in his prime. I actually don't know who was the leader in that locker room even then, Kobe was already pretty damn good at that point, but then again, they had Phil Jackson.

 

yes, totally agree. great post.

 

I agree those guys were all super competitive and strived for greatness through hard work. Maybe not Shaq tho he was just so physically gifted.

But there was a time particularly after lebrons last 2 years in Cleveland and especially after his first in miami that many didn't think he was a great leader or could Be the guy to win a championship, as crazy as that sounds. Just shows you that maturity takes time and comes in different ways. Lebron needed to be humbled he was seen as the golden child of the league before he got to the NBA.

Not saying Harden is going to become a great leader or not but there's proof that guys get it as the get older. It happened with Hakeem also, dream was not a great leader at all but the season before the 1st championship he changed his approach to life and became a leader of men and the rest is history.

I think harden wants to win he just doesn't know how to lead his guys in the right way. He tries but hasn't fully commited to the process of being the team leader the rockets need. Time will tell but i think he has it in him to overcome this and be the guy the team needs.

 

I agree. Shaq's work ethic was one of the main things Kobe disliked about him. Shaq was a physical monster playing under rules that allowed basically wrestling under the rim.

 

Lol implying harden doesn't work hard enough.

 

No one is implying that harden doesn't work hard. They are saying it.

 

The only thing I question is if Harden is engaged in that mind boggling amount of work few players actually put in. He works hard. You don't get that good without hard work. Hell, it is a lot of work to make the NBA in the first place.

But the key part of what you are mocking is the "enough" part. Compared to the stuff Curry does, is what Harden does enough? Harden apparently doesn't have YouTube video of his workouts from the summer like Curry does, so folks ar elect to speculate based on the on court product. Curry is looking historic....

 

Morey has never said chemistry was overrated.....