What I also like most about this team is what you don't see on paper. This group has character, are unselfish and because they are so young, you can push them beyond what they think they can do individually and collectively. The sky really is the limit.
You can't really blame them. We've all probably been at least a little guilty of this thinking. It's the product of being a perennial middling/loser team. Winning teams have the season to look forward to, while losers have the draft to look forward to. We've just had all our draft potential taken away in one swoop. Now it's time to look forward to seasonal success, the way winners do.
I think we gave up way to much for Harden.. Harden is a good player but not a damn superstar. I hope be breaks out even more this year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>LeBron & Wade said today they were stunned by Harden trade. But Wade says OKC still best in West.</p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/262616996489863169" data-datetime="2012-10-28T18:09:05+00:00">October 28, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Summarizing Wade, he said Harden got what he wanted with money & being featured guy but that he'll have to live up to bigger expectations</p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/262619047731011584" data-datetime="2012-10-28T18:17:14+00:00">October 28, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Wade on Harden: "He wanted his worth & wanted to be featured. He’s a pretty good player. He can live up to billing but the grind is tough."</p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/262619495422627840" data-datetime="2012-10-28T18:19:01+00:00">October 28, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>LeBron on Harden: "Everybody makes sacrifices, either financially or game or whatever. James made sacrifices. He came off the bench."</p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/262620013779902465" data-datetime="2012-10-28T18:21:05+00:00">October 28, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>LeBron on Harden con't: "I was surprised with the season about to start. He’s a big-time player, Houston got a good one."</p>— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/262620343934521344" data-datetime="2012-10-28T18:22:23+00:00">October 28, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
(Preface- I hope, hope, hope I am wrong). This seems like an Alexander driven move to not be bad....and not risk a lot of empty seats. With an upside of we have a marketable Asian (or at least of Asian descent) player and a marketable African-American player. So Yay...the Toyota Center has a few more really quiet butts in the seats and we might be the ninth best team in the west. ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!
I honestly have no idea how good this makes the Rockets. Some think this will keep us crappy, others say it will make us middle-of-the-pack again, and some others say we'll now be a top 3-5 team. Oh, internet.
He does have a melancholy demeanor. To be expected - maybe still in a state of denial. Let's hope he gets over it sooner than later.
I think likely we'll have about the same record we would have had with Martin playing nearly the full season. Glad we held on to our draft pick at least. Obviously we are in much better position going forward with a 23 year old Harden
It amazes me how some think we gave up too much. How many late lottery picks and late 1st rounders do people want to draft? We don't need more Chase Budinger, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Chandler Parsons, etc. They are decent in their own right, but come on. Morey stockpiled all these picks in order to trade them for proven commodities, not to have 3 or more rookie projects on the squad every year. Lamb will be missed, but he has a ways to go before he is on Harden's level. He needs to develop better handles and passing ability to create offense for himself and others before they are even in the same conversation.
It's odd, lebron gave up salary to join a championship caliber org and won a title. Harden demanded a max salary from a championship caliber team with full knowledge that this was probably not feasible for OKC, and left instead for a max salary. It's ironic: Harden got what he wanted financially but doesn't seem for the moment, all that thrilled. 4 years for $53 - $54 mil on a team on the brink of a world title would seem very enticing for most people. But I suppose the thought of leaving a potential $6-7 mil on the table could not be ignored.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Just got word that the @<a href="https://twitter.com/jharden13">jharden13</a> press conference tomorrow at 1:30 is open to the public. Will be like the Artest rally in 2008.</p>— ClutchFans.net (@clutchfans) <a href="https://twitter.com/clutchfans/status/262626728655077377" data-datetime="2012-10-28T18:47:46+00:00">October 28, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Harden will be 28 when his contract expires here. He will be able to chase a championship after that time as he will be in his prime.
I love how Lebron was killed for chasing a ring in Miami, and the media said he should do it on his own. Now, James Harden is going to be the #1 guy and they're killing him for that too.
