Parsons can run an offense at times, and he can get hot. Chris Bosh averages 15 points per game this postseason. Ibaka is not a legit 3rd option offensively. You never run plays for him. He's valuable for his defense, and timely open jumpshots off the pick and roll. Manu is a legit 3rd option, but he's not as consistent as Parsons. Did you not see how he sucked in the 2nd round. And the Spurs didn't miss a beat. It's ridiculous you don't think Parsons is a 3rd option. The guy put up 19 points and 7 boards in the postseason and that's just "solid." WTH.
And yet he let Lillard get open with less than a second left. He has regressed defensively every year. The only difference between him and Harden is that Harden is an elites scorer. Ibaka is a much better third option because he impacts the game on the defensive end so much. What Parsons does well doesn't even come close to the impact that a player like Ibaka, Bosh, and heck even Deandre Jordan bring.
Chris Bosh plays with Wade and Lebron. When Chris Bosh played by himself he still carried a team to the playoffs. BTW something not even Kevin Love can do with a all-time great coach and players like Pekovic and Rubio and Martin. Ibaka isn't a 3rd option offensively, but he's WAY better than Parsons is all around. Just look at how much of a impact his absence made on the team. Remember I said player...nothing about offense or defense. Just the impact a player has on the team. Parsons 19 points were good, too bad though it seemed like 15 of those points came in the first half though. Why are we talking about stats? Straight up, would you take Parsons over Ibaka or Chris Bosh? Would you take Parsons over Rondo? We talking about building a championship team here, you need 3 REALLY good players or one of your guys has to be playing on a MVP level to do it. Parsons is another really good role player. I'm not sure if he's better than Battier was when Battier was in his prime.
Yes, he let Lillard get open because Parsons is not fast enough to catch a full speed Lillard. Come on man, there are physical limitations here. That being said, I was not a huge fan of Parsons disappearing after the first half each and every game.
Look, Lebron is a better first option than Durant? But I won't take Durant? Durant is a better first option than CP3, but I won't take CP3? So what if Bosh/Ibaka/Manu are better 3rd options than Parsons. That's a handful. Parsons is still a legit 3rd option. I don't know what we are arguing about. Houston lost to Portland not b/c of Parsons. It's b/c of Harden sucking balls. The first option sucked balls. Even if you considered Harden a 2nd option, he sucked balls for a 2nd option. Parsons did enough as a 3rd option. If my 3rd option gave me 19/7, I say great job man. You did your job. He didn't lost Houston the series. Harden did.
Please look at the totality of the series, not a play. Parsons did his job for the Rockets. We can't expect him to drop 25 points to compensate for Harden's disappearing act. Parsons still has rooms to grow, on both ends. And he will get better. And he wants to get better.
LOL. It's like saying Harden and Howard (and everybody on the Rockets for that matter) played the same in this year's playoffs because they lost in the same series. Great logic.
I'd say letting LMA put up Jordan numbers lost them the series, but that's me. So what? Everyone can put up numbers in a vacuum man, Evan Turner was putting up numbers on a bad team. So what? Harden put up 25ppg...why we talking about stats again? Anyone watching that series knows Parsons was vastly outplayed by Batum...just like anyone watching that series knows Harden didn't really have a 26ppg impact on the series. That's why he metnioned Deandre Jordan. A true 3rd best player on a team that impacts the game. Parsons just does not.
No, I'm saying that even though Westbrook played well that series his team still lost. Thus has accomplished nothing. Just like Harden. He was trying to make a point by saying Westbrook has accomplished more. In what I do not know.
Harden shot 37% taking 22 shots a game. That's where the series was lost. LMA didn't cost Houston the series. Harden sucked ball in games 1 and 2 and both games were for the Rockets to win, had Harden just play like he normally does in the regular season. But oh, it's the playoffs. Wow, no wonder Parsons get underrated so much.
Actually McHale failing to adjust defensive assignments on LMA cost us the series. Regardless of Harden stinking it up, LMA was on another level. We had no answer for him those first 2 games.
Wait, so LMA putting up Jordan numbers winning the first two games on the road as the team attempted to make NO adjustments to that had no impact on the series? Parsons was outplayed by Batum in every game. What makes it worse is that he ran his mouth about it too.
Lets not pretend Westbrook didn't have a terrible first round series as well. Pretty sure he shot like 35% in round 1. But guys like Reggie Jackson stepped up and saved their season.
That contributed to Houston's demise. But 37% on 22 shots was the primary factor my friend. Look, the drop off from Harden during the regular season to the Portland's series was HUUUUUGE. How can you even blame it on any other factor? You can nitpick everything else and say it contributed, but the best player on the team and top 5 MVP candidate didn't play anywhere like that. And the series was as close as you can get. And that's where you need your stars, in close games and series. Houston needed Harden desperately in that series. Batum had a great all-around series. Parsons just couldn't bring his great play over to the 2nd half most games. But that matchup didn't decide the series. Ultimately, if Harden played like his normal self, that series ends in 5. Howard and Parsons did their part.
If Parsons was that legitimate third option like you claim then we win that series. But he's not so that's that.
Parsons dropped more than 19/7/3 on 43% shooting v. Portland. What did you expect him to put up then for a 3rd option?
