its this simple MemphisX. The Rockets won 45 games last season and made the playoffs WHILE being the youngest team in the NBA. So the only difference between last season and this season is the youngest team in the NBA gains one year of experience and adds at worst a 18 and 12 big man. Hmmm I think Rocket fans should be optimistic. MemphisX is James Harden the MVP of the league? Because according to you he should be. Either the Rockets have little to no talent/depth outside of Harden and Harden is a MVP caliber player who can lead the youngest team in the league to a Western Conference playoff spot or James Harden is a borderline superstar or really good all-star with a talented young team around him.
Hold on a sec...I can't stop shuddering in fear over the additions of Kosta Koufos and Mike Miller! The West runs clearly runs through Memphis now! And if you think the Dwight's situation with the Lakers is the same as his situation with the Rockets, then you're just being silly.
Mike miller probably won't even play a third of the games, yet this solves their black holed offense...haha
You know why the Grizzlies will regress? It has nothing to do with the Rockets. The grizzlies are older and did little to improve while every other team around them did. That window has closed, their core of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph has not proven they could get past the West superteams yet and until they do they are just playoff fodder for teams that actually have superstar players and actually have a shot at winning the championship.
I was about to defend you and question why we have this thread bashing Grizzlies fans. Then I read your post..
I think most people including myself like the grizzlies, it's just what that makes people hate his team. He's like a LOF makin people fed up with Lin.
Harden doesn't really have trouble with Allen unless he steps on Paul George's foot the game before and sprains his ankle. In the west, the Iguodala matchup concerns me a hell of a lot more than Allen.
I think 'basketball supporters' like memphis because they know they are a good team and a playoff team, however they are no threat to the title.. Much like how the the warriors/ Rox were supported last year and still the Warriors will be perceived this year.. Once a team enters contention, the hate generally follows, in saying that there are so exceptions to the rule, sadly memphis is not one of them.
I personally have no problems with the Griz. A model franchise for small market teams (but far inferior to the Spurs as are we all). They turned Z-bow around. No small task. And if they ever reach the finals I will be rooting for them to crush the Heat. What is not to like, except of course when they play the Rockets and then I will wish them hell and damnation.
This is so funny. Every team is older. Do you want to research if age/experience is a detriment to NBA success or not? I think you will be shocked by the answer especially when two of the oldest teams were in the NBA finals. WCF teams have a smaller need to improve than 1st round fodder. That is a fact. We have increased our advantage on the rest of the league by having the best frontline in the league bar none. Starters and bench. Oh it is not sexy as MAXing out a declining big with back problems but we will take adding Kosta Kufos and his 17.2 PER at the age of 23 to let Gasol get more rest next season and in turn be more effective. My reasoning for having the Grizzlies at the top of the West has to do with Okc (Westbrook injury/losing KMart), San Antonio(Parker will not duplicate his MVP level performance), Denver (lost Kufos and Iggy), and the Clippers (not improving their frontline at all and losing Bledsoe to protect against a CP3 injury). Now I admit the Rockets should be better if the old Dwight Howard(MVP level of play) shows up. However, if the Dwight Howard from last season shows up then the Rockets will not be much different IMO. Even so, the Rockets will have to play a little differently than what made them successful.
You're right - with an insane coach, an old and injured roster, and no depth, they won just 9 games less than the Grizzlies. Now we take the top rebounder in the league OFF that team, put him on a youthful, deep team, which had no post presence, but also won just 9 games less than the grizzlies, and let's see what happens eh? I assume you took the bet with the OP if you're so confident?
Every team is older...but if you're team is old and has not proved much then it's hard to just come out and say "Yep! This is the year we are doing to do it!" Why? What did you add or change to come to that conclusion? Spurs have been adding tweaking Name a team that has won the championship without a all-star player...now name the teams that have won the championship with two all-star players. Kosta Koufas is a nice player...but basketball is a star driven sport. Westbrook will be back? Kmart as Rocket fans know is just a guy that puts up shots and doesn't really affect the game. They might actually get better without him. Parker will likely still be a top 5 PG...not sure why anyone would think otherwise. Denver got worse...but GSW got better... They lost Bledsoe, added a great coach (while their old coach was literally holding the team back) added Collison a back up PG and Reddick. The thing is the old Dwight is just the Dwight of a year ago...it's not like we are trying to bring the old Tmac back here or the old Brooks. Dwight's play improved as the year went on and even while hurt he was one of the best centers in the league with a bad back.
How is it delusional when Dwight is arguably the best Center in the NBA paired with arguably the best shooting guard in the NBA? To say we have no shot is sort of ridiculous.
T-mac and Yao didn't workout mainly because of the players around them. Harden and Howard supporting cast is better than T-mac and Yao. By the time T-mac and Yao got a pretty good supporting cast they both were injury prone.
I would never count out the San Antonio Spurs. Prior to last season, everybody and their mothers were saying 'Oh, the Spurs are going to drop off' and heck every season before that, people predict the Spurs will drop off. I look forward to both Manu's regression and Leonard and Splitter's emergence as the new Big three for SA.
If you are going to present an argument atleast back up your claims with facts. At this point you are simply throwing out a statement with out support. Do you want us to validate your opinion for you? Are you that lazy? Kosta Kufous and his 17.2 per was sure a factor against Golden State. And your so called elite front line was exposed against a good defensive team Vs. San Antonio. Let's recall, Zach Randolph was 1-8 in GAME ONE with a grand total of 2 points. In game two they switched spots and gasol went 4-12 with 12 points. In game four, a closeout game, Gasol went 5-12 with a grand total of FIVE rebounds and randolph went 4-13. These "elite" big men couldn't get it done against a spurs frontline that only had one aging Tim Duncan who was a legitimate defensive threat. You seriously have the Grizzlies at the top?!??!?! WOW you are delusional! The two teams who are arguably at the top can only be the SPURS of the THUNDER. Not the grizzlies! This is the definition of delusional. All of these teams except denver have either gotten better or stayed the same, which is GOOD. The clippers lost bledsoe but added ELITE shooting in Reddick and Dudley not to mention the fact that Dudley is a STUD defender. And how on earth can you say that parker won't replicate his play? Do you know something that we don't? All indications point to Parker, a player who couldn't even be stopped by the heat, will come back better than ever! This is a reasonable statement. Perhaps the only reasonable thing you have said all day.
Obviously when you say the grizzlies haven't proved anything, this is where I tune you out. Nothing else needs to be said.
WHat helped Memphis the most against superior teams is what hurt them the most overall? Rudy Gay, but not necessarily Rudy Gay. Rudy Gay was pretty talented wing who create his own shot, give instant offense, and use his athletic ability/versatility on offense and defense, though he could play out of the team offensive rhythm at times and could go cold. I still believe with Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies would've repeated their performance from this year, and actually put up a better fight than they did against the Spurs (not win, though). In the NBA, you need talent in the playoffs to win or a very deep roster with above average players. Memphis remains to be a very top heavy team (all of their talent is in their starting lineup on the front line). I feel like they really still need to replace Rudy Gay to truly challenge for a championship. They will not beat a team, like the Spurs, Heat, or etc. in a series with an inferior backcourt. The Grizzlies have an outstanding front court, but Gasol and Randolph can only do so much.
