Barkley would be right. There is no excuse not to blow them out. We need to maintain playing at the highest level of focus to expect winning it all this year, especially against a team "resting" their best players.
I hope we can contain parker and leonard, blow them away early and rest our starters, bomb away with threes with our bench and win by 50.
Absolutely selfish- selfish about the Rockets winning. Your outlook is great for people who care about things other than winning (along with winning), like being entertained. I've gone to at least 1 home game every year since 2001. You know what's most entertaining? Having the Rockets win. Not losing to Seattle at the end of the game (Steve Francis era), or to Utah b/c Tracy McGrady leaves at halftime. Watching us kick the **** out of Portland by 30 points? Oh, yeah, that was the most entertaining. Of course, it doesn't surprise me that some fans, in our celebrity-obsessed culture, want more than that. Power to them. Not me. I want a win, whether against a full team or one depleted by injuries, coaches' decisions, etc. I've been on the other end as a Rockets fan way too many times. But that's just me. A selfish outlook in which one only cares about seeing the Houston Rockets team win in person is quite healthy, IMO.
Now I can understand that logic- sure, you want to beat the best. I'd certainly not prefer to go up against the Cavs in the Finals and have Lebron injuried and out in the 1st game (like what happened to LA with Magic in the 1989 Finals). But when most of what you're measured by is wins- which is what the media and the fans ultimately measures you by, anything that helps to get a win is good (even if you dont' wish things like injuries on anybody).
Even without the Spurs' starters, this will still be a tough one. The Spurs still play good basketball when resting their guys. Rockets need to play the same as if everyone was playing. If we do that, we shouldn't have any problems.
I can't lie, every time Popvich does this stuff now I love him more. It's patently ridiculous of course, but he gets paid to win titles, not entertain Toyota Center fans. Anyways, this just became an automatic trap game. Rockets REALLY need to be sharp tonight, because San Antonio's bench is better than most of the starting fives we've beaten so far.
I rather get a W against a depleted spurs team than a L against a loaded one this early in the season. I am sure Pop knows that they will be in for another dog fight against the Rockets - maybe he realizes they just dont match up well so why give this team the added boost both internally and externally that they beat the defending champs? The Rockets better not lose this one and continue the great level of play on both ends they've shown to start the season
Parker / Joseph Green Leonard / Anderson Diaw / Bonner Baynes / Ayres That's still a very dangerous team. No way am I taking them lightly. Also, part of this is rest related (look how well it served them in the playoffs), but the other part is they get to test out different lineups against a playoff competitor. I'm convinced the Spurs were toying with us by going 0-4 in the regular season. They knew they had problems with Harden when he was on the Thunder, so they used the regular season as a test lab. Maybe I'm overly suspicious, but everything they do has a purpose.
It's going to be more difficult now and please Papa at starting PF, no more D-mo as a starter!! Popovich is just doing this for the thrills and attention, you're not going to convince me it makes sense he lets them play all these games and especially against the Hawks last night vs. the Rockets. We all know that A) this is national televised game B) against a division rival and C) against a team that's tougher to beat than the Hawks..
Well they will be getting fined again. They got fined for pulling this stunt last year after their 1st game against the Heat. You have fans paying their hard earned money to see these type of games. And plus the League make a nice amount of change from the ratings. That is why this game was selected to be on TNT.
No Pop always picks these nationally televised games to rest his star players. Time to humiliate his bench -- he asked for it after all.
This one is on the league. They can better schedule nationally televised games if they want to avoid this. Pop is under no obligation to run his old team into the ground. People can say it's only game 3 but back to backs wear down players no matter what point in the season it comes and even more so for aging players like Duncan and Manu.
their interior defense is non-existent now. we need to drive the ball, pass it into the paint, and ram the ball down their flopping throats.
No matter what this a Win Win situation for the Spurs Win or Lose tonight. I hate that Pop pulls stuff like this but he has the right to do as he pleases. I hope the Rockets don't take the Spurs likely and just come out focus and blow out the Spurs tonight.
All out: Belinelli (injured last night) Ginobli (Pop move. not surprised) Duncan(Pop move. not surprised) Splitter (old news) Mills (really old news) Can we blow them out by 20+ in the 3rd and get our youngins some burn tonight? Capela, Black, Daniels, Canaan...hell, let Garcia knock some dust off...
Man we are 6 games into the season, so how in the world is this running players in the ground. Those aging players need to retire if they can't handle the brutal schedule of the NBA. Plus they get paid big time for this job. LOL
