lol if they go 5-26 to finish the season, y'all have at it. at least this level of complaint would be appropriate. cuz right now it's very much like uncle les didn't buy the right flavor lollipops for all the rich kids.
What exactly is your point?? If I had told you we were within a few games of the 2nd seed heading into the All-Star Break before the season started, you wouldn't have been happy?? Just because you're happy with where you are doesn't mean you're complacent about where you want to be. This team has played the most road games and B2B's in the NBA, gets on a plane literally every ****ing day, and has played like 5 more games than everybody else......but clearly that's loser talk. It's obvious that James Harden just doesn't care about basketball, and he's only doing this for the women. That's the logical take-away here.
The season is already special, its the best season since Hakeem retired. The rox havent been relevant since forever, and yet if you read posts here instead of being happy people are acting out and raging every loss like we're the worst team in the league. Its like ur son got home saying he found 10k on the street and you berate him for not finding 1M. Chill the **** out. The Rox are not on target to win a ring anyway, not as long as the Rox just have harden whereas opponents have lebron+others, kd+others, kawhi+others. Y'all are just delusional and setting urself up for disappointment. This is a transitional year, we need 1-2 more pieces before we can say the Rox are true contenders
I like the sentiment. Compared to pre-season expectations, we're ahead of where anyone predicted. But if you're willing to measure a team's temperature by a 10 game rolling average, we're cold right now.
Can't really argue with that, but what's crazy is that I don't think it's delusional for me to say that I'd take the Rockets in a 7 game series over anybody outside of the Golden Boys and possibly the LeCavs.
The Rockets have lost 6 of there last 9 games including losses to bottom feeders such as the Heat and the Wolves. You are comparing the Rockets to the Warriors and Cavs. I think you need some perspective. It is obvious the Rockets overachieved and those teams are underachieving. They can easily turn it on come playoff time whereas the Rockets look like they are out of gas, with a broken transmission.
I also agree with this... To use a terrible analogy, the Texans weren't a strong team just because they made the playoffs and beat the Raiders' practice squad. Their defense was phenomenal, but their offense was historically terrible and special teams weren't much better. The Rockets don't want to be one-dimensional like that. Fortunately I have more faith in this team and coaching staff to figure things out. Not necessarily conference finals level, but better than we have been. In December we had a chance to beat any team in any given game. Recently, it's hard to watch our team shoot themselves in the foot over and over.
You're looking at things in a vacuum. Yes, RIGHT NOW, we've lost 6 of 9. But RIGHT NOW, we are also completely gassed, and in the middle of a grueling season that's seen us put more miles on our bodies than any other team in the NBA. In the playoffs, where there are no B2B's, and significant time between travel days, it's a totally different story. Would you have said it was delusional to include the Rockets in the list of elite teams just 3 weeks ago when they had wins over teams like GSW, SAS, Boston, OKC, Toronto, etc?? It's a long season, and having perspective shouldn't always be taken negatively. It's possible to be realistic and optimistic at the same time.
I agree that we can't be sweating the losses like last night. It's a long season, tough schedule, and we've had a couple players in and out of the line up. But I also think our record is fool's gold come playoff time. I do not favor us in a match up versus the Grizzlies or the Thunder right now. The Grizzlies are mentally stronger than us and would beat us in a 7 game series. I actually think they will advance to the second round whether they face us or the Clippers; they just don't want to match up against the Spurs. The Thunder I also can see beating us. I don't know why but it just screams a series where Westbrook outplays Harden and OKC players like Oladipo and Adams shine. If any team is going to allow an opponent's role players shine in the playoffs, its this Rockets' squad and lackluster defense. I don't know what to think of Utah yet. Haven't watched them enough. I actually wouldn't mind the Clippers as much as the others.
If that is your overriding criteria for success then the 76ers are obviously your championship pick as they are on one of the hottest winning streaks in NBA right now. GSW almost lost to Hornets, Raptors lost 5 straight and Cavs are evaporating right before our eyes. Context man, context.
In the history of the NBA Finals, 51 of the winners were first seed during the playoffs. 10 were second seed, 7 were third, 1 was fourth (in 1969), none were fifth and one was sixth- the Rockets in 95. When I was a kid and watched it, I didn't appreciate what an accomplishment and an amazing feat it was.
I love this. This team has NO reason to lose confidence right now. It's January, and we're about to hit the home stretch of the season that sees us with a lighter travel schedule than most other teams in the league. Right now is the time to hold steady, bear down, and wait until after the All Star Break to unleash fury again. It sounds like they have the right perspective.
For real, someone posted in another thread... the regular season is really a time to set yourself up for the playoffs. every time you go on a loosing streak Ian a time for adjustment... which is what Dantoni and the team does. If we don't have breakdowns, we will never get better. This coach is actually trying things on the court much faster than previous coaches! This team has been a marvel to watch.
I'm using context. I said they're "cold right now". Nothing incorrect about that. The 76ers are 'hot right now'. If they keep that up until the playoffs, maybe they should be upgraded to a good squad. I doubt that they will, but who knows.
Harden has flaws. I definitely dont think work ethic is one of them. He plays a lot of minutes every night and through minor injuries that a lot of guys would take rest nights for. I think thats why harden freaked out last night. Because he was trying really hard and things werent going his way. Trying your best and failing is a lot more frustrating than not trying and failing
We've hit a rough patch in the season. Our execution, health, and defense have all suffered. Whining like Lebron isn't going to do much about it. Realistically, the playoffs are going to be tough for us no matter what our regular season record is, so I'm not too worried about games #42-51. I'm just enjoyed a good season so far.
