Spoiler: Team Chemistry is everything. Nothing to take lightly on an April Fools game night. Let's get it, either with Harden and CP3 playing or without. Either way works to develop more team chemistry going to the playoffs. PS. Gee Louise, it's a 530am game for my timezone. So 6 hours away from ignition of ready, set and fire! Finally feeling good to have a game on! Unfortunately, if I have work I may miss the game. Like I was away for the Suns game. Spoiler: Time to have a beard talk after we win the game.
Serious question. Do we want to actually win this game? The Spurs are only a game up on the 8th place Pelicans. I'd rather face New Orleans than San Antonio in Round 1. Same goes for the OKC game next Saturday BTW.
If nothing else, would like to see Harden's shooting turn around. "Rest" yadda, yadda.....but the team also need to maintain their sharpness. Keep that edge. Don't let bad habits creep in. And quite frankly, sweeping the Spurs would be delightful. F' them.
I was thinking the same thing brother. Yes, yes, win every game, what happens with the standings will play itself out. But I too want to keep the Spurs in that 4/5 spot and get the Thunder to the 7th, or at best the 6th seed. I think they can (they've shown it) give the Warriors a run for their money. GS doesn't deserve Twolves/Pelicans --> Blazers --> Rockets while we potentially have a Jazz --> Spurs/Thunder --> Warriors route. You'd think we were the worse seed if that's how it ends up. With a single game separating seeds 4-8, insane, all of this changes daily but I'd like to think we can swing things in our favor since our homecourt, 65+ win season is locked.
It's so weird having to play 6 more games this regular season. None of them matter whatsoever. I'd like Harden to rest all of them, but then he'd have 2 weeks off after shooting poorly and could be rusty in the first round. He will probably play today and one or two more, sitting out 3-4 games
I don't see Harden sitting out 3-4 games. He likely only sits out 1 more. My guess is the SAC game with him playing in his hometown LA game. Harden will play most of the games the same way LeBron will play his games. CP is the one player they probably will be the most cautious with.
At this point in the season, I would like to see Harden only play the first quarter to start the game to keep himself sharp, then let the bench takeover and see if they can squeeze out a win against these playoff teams. If the game is close in the late 4th with under 6 minutes to play, then you put Harden back in there and let him work his magic with the goal of simulating late-game playoff intensity.
I have grown to seriously dislike the Spurs. I want the Rockets to send a message that there is NO CHANCE that they challenge us in the playoffs.
Maybe you shouldn't look to blame. For all we know, MDA has ordered them to tank and lose this game on purpose, as seed manipulation. Definitely not a game for the wise bettor to play with.
They would never do that. They wouldn't allow that "cool down gap" to occur. That's how players get injured. If they play Harden, they will keep things consistent. They want his stamina to be there and his rhythm.
If the Rockets win today it will mark the first time in franchise history they sweep both the Spurs and Mavericks in the same season.
