Just because we exceeded expectation doesn't mean we can go backwards or give half-effort. If you've shown what you're capable of then there's no going back.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Parsons: "This is a bad loss. We did this to ourselves and the frustration is all on us." <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RedNation">#RedNation</a></p>— Howard Chen (@ho_chenCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ho_chenCSN/status/324032408372539393">April 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Parsons echoes Lin that theres no excuse, it's on everybody as a team, & "We made Wednesday nite a lot more xciting, thats 4sure" <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RedNation">#RedNation</a></p>— Howard Chen (@ho_chenCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ho_chenCSN/status/324032983264817154">April 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Parsons: "We really didnt do anything to deserve to win the game & we really put ourselves in this situation." <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RedNation">#RedNation</a></p>— Howard Chen (@ho_chenCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ho_chenCSN/status/324033377810395136">April 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This loss is totally on the coaching staff. Period. Harden has a bad night, but that is OK. The problem is why do you still play him so much?
If the Rockets were a lottery team with no chance of making the playoffs and just straight up tanked to get a higher pick I would be pissed... Goran, Luis, Tucker, those guys don't give up even with nothing on the line. I'm frustrated with the loss but you have to give it to them.
How was the officiating tonight? I watched the boxscore and it seems like we were down the entire game. If we got close and tied it the Suns would retake a 7-8 point advantage.
Great analysis !!! Unfortunately don't see the wheels blazing against the Lakers. Sure hope you are right though. Very disappointed as we blew a gift wrapped opportunity to go out and take care of business tonight and keep pace with GSW and make sure we aren't 8th seed.
Not sure either scenario will make a huge difference with free agents. Having said that, if you want the Spurs then they just have to beat the Kobe-less Lakers in game 82.
They won't have a shot against San Antonio with a healthy Harden, he won't make a difference. The Spurs are the better team, have a better coach, and will have the best player in that series by a long shot. Against Denver, Harden will be limited by Iggy anyways. That series will be more about how will Lin/Parsons/Asik play. The Rockets looked fine without Harden against the Magic (no Parsons either) and Clippers. You'd be an enormously stupid person to believe the Rockets wouldn't be better off facing the Nuggets without Gallo, and a hampered Faried and Lawson. If you had watched the Spurs series you would have realized that the key to OKC winning was completely Durant and Westbrook (plus some weak Manu games win the Spurs really needed him to play like an all-star). I guess you didn't watch that series.
Harden went 6-11 from the FT line and 0-7 from three. Everyone turned the ball over, but we shot well from three unlike the Suns. 11 steals vs 5 steals, advantage Suns.
Denver's home court advantage makes the difference. It would be all but impossible to beat them at home.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Harden seemed to struggle with r. knee after collision with Scola. Made 1 of 12 shots rest of way. Was unavailable for comment after game.</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/324034466798522368">April 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Harden, however, did not receive any treatment and showed no sign of any injury as he left. McHale said Harden said he was fine.</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/324034589880381440">April 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
