I think saying the Grizzlies will win the West is entirely more reasonable than saying the Rockets will be better than the Grizzlies since the Grizzlies were only 4 games behind the best record in the West last year.
Given your assessment of various NBA players' abilities excuse me while I laugh my ass off at your post...
Of course they have a chance. They won 56 games last year. The team with 60 won the West. I don't think they are favorites, but it's not a crazy statement.
they don't understand this point at all. they also don't understand that their team is thin with all the talent gutting to retain Harden and Dwight, but they think that the rockets are going to be the 2nd or 3rd seed in the west. O' Rielly? We'll see.
That's a ridiculous rationale trying to explain why you think the grizz are going to be better than the Thunder and Spurs next year...in fact it's not an explanation at all...it's just saying "well, I really can't say why I think they'll win, but it's more plausable then saying they'll be worse than the Rockets." Wow, mindblowing...
Not saying the Rockets will get to the 2nd or 3rd seed (I have them getting the 4 spot this season if healthy), but what talent gutting are you talking about? Players lost while getting Dwight: - Thomas Robinson (Rarely played) - Carlos Delfino (Bench shooter. No scrub, but easily replacable) - Tim Olbrecht (Never played) - James Anderson (Never Played) Unless I'm forgetting somebody, that's just a highly strange thing to say. Please explain yourself on that one so I can understand what you mean by "talent gutting".
It's an understandable perspective since Carlos Delfino would instantly be one of the best shooters on the Grizzlies.
He is talking about Marcus Morris, "everything" Morey gave up for James Harden, Patrick Patterson, Toney Douglas, & Cole Aldrich. No, seriously. Spoiler
You are forgetting somebody: And I guess you forgot all the players you gave up to get Thomas Robinson and the players (and draft picks) you gave up for James Harden and the Morris deal for a second round pick. That's not gutting a team?
Depends on what you think of each teams. The NBA among all major sports easily has the least amount of "upsets" during the playoffs. And it's nearly negligible without injuries or incredible matchup advantages. If he thinks that Memphis is not a top 4 seed, then technically they have to win 4 straight Bo7s where they are the underdog/severe-underdog to win the title. The odds of that is very small. Like near zero. Houston did it one time as the 6th seed because that wasn't a legit 6th seed. Memphis doesn't have a Hakeem to beast in the playoffs.
Anyone remember what saying Josh Howard could be a 20 ppg scorer? Or Jan Vesely will be a very good player?
Randolph was only thing special about Grizz and as you admit he's declining. Window is closing or closed already. Sorry.
Guys, Memphis isn't some roll over team stop being homers and accept the fact that they can go farther than us next year in the west. Lets not forget this team was in the WCF last year and outside of Hollins they have kept the same team intact. Yeah we got better in the offseason but lets not get ahead of ourselves yet.
I've actually said a lot of good things about the rockets. First off, the rockets can't do much until lin and/or asik is off the books. So, a more realistic goal for the rockets will be two years from now when morey can start to build around dwight/harden and parsons. plus harden is going to have to adjust to playing with dwight. next year might be a disappointment is all i'm saying.