The Rockets should trade James Harden, his brother Carlton Harden and Tanya Harding for Carmelo Anthony and ex Astro Eric Anthony.
Uptempo style of play affects players' ability to play defense effectively. They put so much effort in out-hustling the other team on the offensive end that they have to use the defensive end to recover. It's an effective style of play if your team is much more conditioned than other teams or the other team doesn't put in the effort. But I don't think the Rockets are conditioned to the point where their style of play doesn't affect their defense. I think that's why the Rockets can never hold a lead. When they put all their energy into the game, they out-run and play more intensely than the other team. But that can only last for so long before they start to get tired and lazy. Then the other team makes a run.
Pace is a factor. But, as you said, conditioning and other factors also have a big impact. The Warriors, for example, play at essentially the same pace as the Rockets, but are a good defensive team. Dwight Howard plays on the same team as Harden and Parsons and expends energy in long minutes on many aspects of the game and still plays high level defense. Shawn Marion was a part of a run and gun PHX team and did a ton for them, and played great defense. But if Harden and Parsons, in their 5th and 3rd year in the NBA respectively, do not have the conditioning that other team's good players have, then it's a factor in evaluating how valuable they are.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Confirmed that Kevin Love, who told Globe in Feb he didn't know much about Boston, is visiting city this weekend (<a href="http://t.co/DIweF0mPMw">http://t.co/DIweF0mPMw</a>)</p>— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/statuses/472780191513595905">May 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> _________________________________ Summer of waiting, maybe trading, for Wolves and Love
He's been having a blast all day. Entire town seemed primed for his arrival. No biggie. Kevin Love just getting a feel for what it would like to be a mega star in Boston. Eating lunch as the Cask. Going to Fenway. Hanging with Rondo and figuring out what it would be like to play for the most storied franchise in sports. To live in a city where athletes are treated like royalty. Houston better get to work if they're serious about this guy. Boston's got a fever and the only prescription is Kevin Love wearing a Celtics uniform
If Love wants to play with Rondo, would you do what it takes to get them both to Houston? HOU sends Harden, Asik, 25th pick to BOS HOU sends Jones to MIN BOS sends Rondo to HOU, Bass (salary filler) to MIN BOS sends 6th pick to MIN MIN sends Love to HOU
I don't know if Boston is going to take Jones+#6. Gotta imagine they will get better offers. I am pretty bullish on James but you have to give the guy another year.
Kevin Love is ~6'8 without shoes I believe. And believe it or not, Rondo apparently grew 3 inches and is now 6'4.
It almost feels like Flip has told Love that if he wants to get traded that Flip is sending him to Boston so he'd better make sure he likes it there because that's where he is going unless some other team comes up with a better offer.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Yo <a href="https://twitter.com/kevinlove">@kevinlove</a> if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CityOfChamps&src=hash">#CityOfChamps</a></p>— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidortiz/statuses/473239792537575424">June 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Houston is the #cityoflosers.
