X fac·tor noun informal a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome. Harden is not a variable, we knew he was a stud. If D-Mo would have played poorly when Howard went down, this team would have been in very bad shape. When D-mo plays 30 minutes (usually meaning he plays well, and stays out of foul trouble), this team is 28-4. When D-Mo plays less than 30 minutes (usually due to foul trouble, or ineffectiveness) this team is 17-18 If that isn't an X-factor, I don't know what the hell is. I do hate the player cannibalism with a passion though, Jones has been spectacular since his return.
Believe it or not, that might be the most rational Tweet any Lakers fan has ever sent out regarding Dwight, the Rockets, or basketball in general.
Ariza is the x-factor. Guards the other team's best player in ISO situations without double help. When he shoots well from 3, I'm betting it's a blowout.
Crazy stat.... Among all PFs that have taken at least 100 3s this season, DMo has the 6th highest shooting %. In March, DMo is taking 3.2 3-point attempts per game, and converting 48.3% of them. If he can stay above the mid 30s on 3 attempts per game, he's in line for a massive payday in 2016. Also of note, DMo is shooting 48.1% from the free throw line. Yes, you're reading that right. DMo is shooting better from 3 than he is from the charity stripe.
Great game by DMo. His first really good game since the Denver game. Hopefully he can build on it and keep the momentum going this time and string together several more in a row.
You have to give credit where it is due. Dmo is 3rd in minutes, 3rd in points, and 1st in rebounds on a team that is on pace to win 55 games. This is due in large part to the fact that he hasn't missed any games, but he's still done it. That being said, Dmo's future is far from assured. There's no guarantee that he keeps his starting job when Dwight gets back, or that he will have one in the future.
You gotta think whoever the rockets draw in the first round and if your the opposing coach, you foul the day lights out of all the rockets bigs in the paint because Howard, Smith, Jones, Dorsey and DMO are all terrible free throw shooters. Greg Popovich would have a field day sending in people to foul with impunity down low LOL.
That would put the Rockets in the bonus, so any loose ball foul would be free throws. Also, it's a terrible idea to foul guys who shoot 60% from the line. That would be the same as a 120 offensive rating.
I tend to think we will go with a matchup/hot hand type PF rotation. Dwight is your starting center, and Josh Smith is your bench facilitator. DMo and TJones will play more or less minutes depending on the matchup.
It appears the rumors of Terrence Jones' demise are exaggerated. Apparently Jones was late for a team function which is likely why he was benched in Tuesday's game against the Magic, the Houston Chronicle reports. Kuddos to the coaching staff. Make these guys accountable in every way on and off the floor. http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...-jones-benched-from-starting-lineup-vs-magic/ In a slightly unrelated note. The person who has been sucking the most has probably garnered the least amount of attention. Josh Smith! He rose from the dead last night as well. That guy had been consistently terrible for a while after a nice stretch. The only thing that was worse than the way he was playing was his body language on and off the floor.
