If they tried to tear down the idea of the Rockets marketing, it says two things. 1) They know he's leaning toward the Rockets 2) They feel extremely threatened by the Rockets.
I think it's still 50/50. I might even give a slight edge to the Lakers. They are selling him on being remembered as one of the all-time greats. If the GARM has taught us anything, it's that Hakeem doesn't get the widespread recognition he deserves which is a result of playing for a team that had no real winning history before he got there. Houston is obviously not LA. We are so lucky LA is such a mess. Kobe and Nash are old and past their prime. The best thing LA has is that it is LA and free agents come there. Colin whatever his last name is made a really good point. Who was the last good player to leave the Lakers? Not retire, not get traded but flat out leave via free agency? Ariza but that is not saying a lot. We have our share of pickups though. Pippen is probably the most high profile (at the time.)
I remenber cyber x saying something of the lines.... the longer he takes make a decision, it favors the rocket's
maybe everybody telling him Houston is the worst city in America and doesn't want to come here now lol
That's exactly IT thought. Guys like Colin Cowherd (i.e. radio personalities who have too broad of a view) don't understand that right now, all the Lakers can pitch is HISTORY. "NOBODY LEAVES THE LAKERS!" Yeah, well, when was the last time the Lakers were in this much disarray?? Why would the best center in the NBA CURRENTLY want to attach himself to THAT? If anything, he would foot the blame as to why such a historic franchise came crumbling down. Why would he want to be a part of that?? Houston gives him a fresh start, a young, promising roster chock full of stars and potential, and the ability to focus on the one thing he needs to get back to: WINNING BASKETBALL GAMES. So while that Luca Brasi guy on LG might be talking about how the Lakers eviscerated the Rockets in terms of marketing, I'm willing to bet dollars to dimes that the Rockets eviscerated the Lakers in something MUCH more important: THE FUTURE.
LA trashing Houston's marketing? If this CSN Houston blackout thing has any affect on Dwight's decision there might be a riot.
My thought is this: the Lakers' pitch to make Howard a star off the court clearly indicates that they realize their immediate shortcomings as an actual team on the court. If Dwight is bright, he will see through the transparency of a pitch that appears to be as shallow as any of the plastic fairweather Laker fans on Rodeo Drive. If his ultimate goal is to win (which, as we've seen with LeBron James, can change perceptions quickly) then he has to come to Houston...maybe even Golden State. But if he sticks with the Lakers then we will realize that Howard is insincere (shocker) and really hasn't changed at all. I want to believe Dwight Howard's smart enough to know what's best for him and will make the brave choice.
LA could not even get Howard an endorsement that is larger than Chuck Hayes' Chinese shoe deal. Numbers cannot lie here.
If the Lakers/Los Angeles have all this to offer Dwight...why hasn't some of this already have come his way? The man HAS been there for a whole year now.
Well, to be fair, that's committing a LOT of resources and dollars to one person. Dwight had made it clear from the very beginning that he was going to test free agency, so from the Lakers' perspective, they probably didn't want to commit long-term money to a guy who might bolt after a year.
Howard's barber https://twitter.com/vincethebarber/following just followed Rockets barber Derek Rivera!
Because no one wants to put your face on their product if you are a loser. Again and again and again, Durant is the biggest star in the NBA outside of Lebron of course...that comes with success and winning. If Dwight stays in Hollywood land and the lakers continue to suck all he'll be doing is ensure that he's one of the most hated Lakers of all time.
