Nice read: http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9241237/oklahoma-city-thunder-get-houston-rockets Click link for full article. [rquoter] HOUSTON -- The Oklahoma City Thunder are done at last with the team that talked them into trading James Harden, knocked Russell Westbrook out of the playoffs and threatened to come all the way back from a 3-0 series deficit to take their dignity on top of it all. Finally. Only temporarily, though. The Houston Rockets obviously aren't all the way out of OKC's lives, given how intertwined these franchises will be for the foreseeable future after the late October blockbuster deal that made Harden a Rocket and the sideline rush from Houston's Patrick Beverley that left Westbrook with a season-ending knee injury. The Thunder were nonetheless thrilled late Friday night to finally get away from them, at least for the next few months, by scrapping to a 103-94 triumph at Toyota Center that ended a costly, agonizing series in six games. "I was starting to hate those guys," Kevin Durant admitted at the post-game podium, paying tribute to the Rockets' stubborn resilience but also revealing a measure of the tension that has built up over the past two weeks and, really, these last six months. "I was starting to hate every one of them guys on their team. That's what happens in a series ... I'm sure they felt the same way about us." ... [/rquoter]
That was a great read. I'm really thrilled with how the season went. Sure, I'd have loved to push it to 7 games. And I'd have loved it even more if we stole the series from the Thunder. But I feel pretty great about 6 games against the 1 seed. I feel even better about two more wins than the Lakers got! Hahahahaha. This is going to be a really exciting offseason!
It's not a real rivalry until we beat them in a playoff series hopefully it happens last year. I'm sick of this team being the hard working blue collar team that fights hard gets the moral victory but loses overall. Hopefully next year we can overcome that I believe we are on the right track.
We were never expected to take this series from OKC anyways, but to not bag it in after game 3 made me appreciate this Rockets team even more! We gave them a hell of a fightback, and that's really all I can ask for from the youngest team in the NBA and a team that has been put together last August!
The Rockets did well enough after the Westbrook injury-- and the Lakers did badly enough being swept by the Spurs-- for Dwight Howard to consider leaving LA for Houston. This is probably the most significant aspect of this year's playoffs for the Houston Rockets.
I would say the Rockets are past being a blue collar team now. More like, cool dudes who wear an open collar shirt and jacket. Kinda GQ. Chandler !
Let's not forget that game 2 and 3 were coinflips, we could've taken this series in 5. Even last night we had a 10 point lead in the 3rd.
Not only that, even CP3 might consider leaving LAC. They didn't even get past the first round this time. By itself, I don't think a move to Houston is too high on CP3's list, but if we can swing both a D12 + CP3 deal, I think he would be much more interested (and salary cap-wise, this is technically possible, though will require a few player moves). CP3 is a greater competitor than Howard in that he values winning more. I wonder how much...
This is the next great Rockets rivalry. OKC isn't going anywhere. We aren't going anywhere. Both teams are young and filled with talent.
That's why we had so much hope for this team despite being the 8th seed. One lucky bounce or one less turnover in each of those games and they advance to the second round.
I agree. And to pick on an old sore - the reason I think the Trob trade was made was because even if he doesn't work out, the rockets free up the necessary cap space to make an offer to Dwight by trading Trob since they could trade his salary easily for an early second rounder late first rounder, if not more.
Howard plus CP3 is nigh on impossible unless they take less than max. But its a nice dream... CP3 Harden Parsons T-Jones Howard
Nah, they can take their max and we can still do it relatively easily, if you count easily as move TRob, Lin and Asik for free. We MIGHT have to then move one of DMo or TJones for 2 players that make the same amount (i.e., two players who make $750k each), but it comes down to how high the salary cap goes. If it reaches say $62 or $63M, then we wouldn't even have to do that, only move Lin/Asik/TRob for picks. That isn't so crazy, and interestingly enough, I think getting BOTH D12 and CP3 together is a higher chance than getting either one independently.
I'm just not sure I see the value, outside of name recognition, for the current Dwight over Asik. Dwight definitely has better hands but I think their offensive games around the basket are close enough that it wouldn't be justified. I think unloading Asik would prove easy enough, but Lin and Trob's contracts would be harder imo. That said, I would love to see that trio together.
Did nto want to start new thread, but did anyone see the video of what Skip Bayless? I'm curious to see what all he said. Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless 38m That was beneath KD to call Rockets "cheaters" in ABC interview, even tho quoted coach from closed-door talk w/ team. Better than that, KD.
