With the way these backups like Dmo are playing, when the starters get healthy and come back is there a real NEED for a trade then? Every position except maybe SG will have depth and when you have James Harden as your SG having a good backup is not that serious since he will get a lot of minutes.
The team mayu be very good, like 55 wins good, but it likely needs trade to be a true titile contender. Every team can benefit from extra talent.
I think DMo is doing a lot of the things that he did before.. Except now looks like he has balance. Idk if it was all nerves or what, but he seems like he has slowed it all down and doing great things. Good job DMo. Keep up the work!
A trade may happen at the deadline for an extremely discounted player. But no, the Rockets don't need to trade for anyone. They are looking like a complete team and I feel sure that Morey is licking his chops anticipating the trade deadline. The only weak links on the Rockets roster will be at the end of the bench when the injured players return.
D-Mo's great play of late create problems for Morey. You better believe GMs are asking for D-Mo to be involved in any trade talks.
Yes sir, DMOs improvement and the way T. Jones came out of the gate at the beginning of the season was a huge boost to the franchise. Confidence is a wonderful thing.
Isn't that what Indiana did last year before they went into a tailspin? Everybody team has NBA players but every team does not have chemistry.
give him as many minutes as possible. Dude is getting used to NBA pressure and finally finding ways to cope and pull through.
There are many comments about individual defense improvement but not many here realise, that individual defense is just part of the equation. What has improved significantly is team defense which will also help individual defense. Credit have to be given to the defensive coach. We are still holding opponents to less than 100 points on most games. Basketball is a team sport, it doesnt matter if its defense or offense but both needs team effort. That is the difference with this team this year. There is more focus as a team on defense this year which also can be reflected in individual defense. It starts with the team leader which is Harden, when he starts to show the effort on defense, it rubs on other players. Losing to Portland and playing and being a captain for Team USA over the summer have made Harden a much much better player. Also, i believe adding Trevor Ariza into the equation have been a big factor in the improvement on defense, there are many things he does which does not show on the box score. Yes DMo's defense have improved but so did everyone else and it is a team effort.
Spot on, Ariza even tho his shot has been off lately he still impacts the game Imo in a positive way that parsons just never did. He's been a huge addition to the team and given us a real presence on the wing. Harden has just been fantastic his last 7 games he's been the best player in the league on both sides, never thought I would say that. His leadership and defense have been fantastic and I'm so glad we get to each this dude play very game hes special and just starting to realize his greatness.
I think that the main point here is that D-Mo has become a shutdown defender in the paint this season. Half the teams in the NBA do not have that luxury. It is almost impossible to have an elite defense without a serious paint defender. In addition, D-Mo has shown that he can shutdown the best power forwards in the league. The job he did against Blake in the first half was stellar. It has been a long while since the Rockets had a defender who could take on the great power forwards in the league. But, on the other hand, the team commitment to defense has been phenomenal. Kudos to everyone. That obviously has been the biggest difference.
The way Jones got murdered in the playoffs discredited alot of the good things he did during the regular season last year. The way I see it is you ride the hot man and make Jones have to earn his spot back after being injured. DMO paid his dues by not taking any days off in the summer and playing summer league, and in the FIBA games.
Dmo = MoD Harden= HarDen Da list goes on and on... We are witnessning something Very Special ladies n gents
Agreed. There are a TON of top tier point guards in this league, and playing alongside Harden minimizes the pg position to essentially defense and spot-up threes...which is why Terry and Canaan and Bev excel in this system. Dragic's talents would be somewhat wasted here. Also, bigs with DMo's skillset don't come along every day. He keeps playing like he has and for me he's almost untouchable.
You don't think I would love to have Dragic here? In all my years as a Rockets fan, I almost never became too pissed when a favorite player was not retained one way or the other. Like many, I was one mad motherf***** when I heard he was going back to Phoenix. Back on topic, to say D-Mo's play has been a revelation is an understatement and his stats do not tell the whole story. Dude is not just playing really well; he has helped the team with some acts that do not show on the statsheet, like timely d rotations, clogging the paint, all the little things Jones fails to do most of the time. No, D-Mo will not be traded for Dragic.