The Rocks finished second in the West with numerous games (I've lost count) during the season missed by several players, including our superstar center, and fought our way to the WC Finals with a roster down 2 starters. I consider us a contending team. I would not have said that had we been bounced in the 1st round again, but we were not. Far from it. Instead, we had the best season since 1997. Some luck with the "i" word and we have a bright future. A contending future. With a starting quality point guard added to this team (Bev doesn't fit that description, in my humble opinion, and I really like the guy) who can take a significant load off Harden by creating for others, a cat who can play some D, drive to the basket and either score or kick it out, shoot around 40% from behind the arc, and either a healthy, more fully developed Donuts manning the 4, or a bit of an upgrade there (not anything earth shaking really needed, in my opinion), I like our chances against anyone. Anyone. If some our other young players make the kind of step forward Donatas made this past season, it's gravy.
The Rockets were a contender this season. Not really an argument to the contrary. Still the Rockets need to strengthen their team, especially PF and PG. The team could also stand to be a little tougher.
Your narrative. Since there will only be one Parade I can still feel satisfied with this Season's outcome. Very competitive; a lot of heart.
In my opinion, the Warriors weren't contenders until they made it to the Finals. If they had folded against us, then there would have been a ton of questions about them this off season and what they needed to do to go to the next level (as there will be if they lose to Lebron and the role players). When they blitzed through the WEST to the Finals...they proved they were a championship contender....win or lose. I suppose your question about how far the Rockets would have gone had DMo and Bev been healthy could never be answered definitely. Opinions will vary for eternity on that point. My opinion is while we would probably have been more competitive I don't think we were good enough. As for Atlanta...no way were they a championship contender...even if Kyle were healthy. They weren't going to beat Cleveland, who was without their 3rd best player (Love) and their second best player is injured. On that note..................................here's what you should be looking at and concerned with going forward. IF Cleveland wins this Finals with both Love and Irving out, THEN you have to consider championship contenders in that light. If Cleveland is that good without 2 of their top 3 players....then how good are they going to be when they are healthy. Now I realize that most posters here think that this Finals is already over with the injury to Kyrie. Don't count me in that group. I still think Cleveland can win this thing. I think GS could sweep this series and I think Cleveland could win it in as 5 games. Unless Lebron gets injured (and he's basically Indestructo Man) then Cleveland is coming out of the East for at least the next 3 to 5 years. If Cleveland wins this Finals when they are depleted so...then there really are/was only 1 championship contender this season. And every team that expects to be a championship contender had better put a lot of thought into how they are going to build a team to beat Cleveland over the next 3 to 5 years. I'm not saying it is definitely going to happen. But I am saying Lebron is that good. He could do it...all by himself...surrounded by role players. He's the one player that could do it. When you consider how good he is....better think long and hard before we start labeling teams championship contenders. And that will go for GS most definitely if they lose this Finals Series.
AS OF NOW STOP REPLYING TO THIS GUY. If you love yourself then stop replying this this guy. Apparently a team can go 82-0 in the regular season and 11-0 straight in the playoffs, but if they end up finishing 11-4 and get eliminated in the conference finals then they're no longer considered contenders. Stop the violence.
I suppose you would have considered the Warriors championship contenders if they had lost to a depleted Rockets team????????????????
Yes, because the definition of contender means "one that contends; especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor" It was the western conference finals. They made it that far meaning they were contending for the championship. They were competing to make it to the finals. They won two series already. Before that they won 67 games to clinch the first seed and best overall record. In what world are they not contenders? If we're going by your metric then there are only two contenders and they are only crowned once each conference finals ends. That means we aren't allowed to say team X is a contender by the all star break because it's not the conference finals yet. That means that at the beginning of next season the Warriors will be as much of a contender as the New York Knicks will but up until the conference finals. Your logic is flawed. The Hawks were contenders. We were contenders. The Warriors are contenders. Stop being ignorant. Stop having terrible hot takes. Stop **** posting. Our conversation ends here.
You're kidding me? After posting the definition of contender you're going to claim any team besides GS and CLE are contenders?????? LOL
BBholic, do you have a dog? A cat, perhaps? You really should be making your argument to him or her, if you have a critter of some sort, because we've heard it here about 200 times and I, for one, do not agree with your "definition" of a contender, and you aren't changing my mind. I think you've made your point and then some. Consider giving it a rest, OK? Many of us here simply do not agree with you, and reading the same damn thing, over and over and over again from you is getting, frankly, rather boring. -
I disagree...Rockets didn't need 'luck' to get where they were. We won 3 straight against a fully healthy Clips team, and were within 1-3 possessions of winning 3 of the 4 GSW losses. All this WITHOUT our starting 1 & 4. I still don't think we win the WCF fully healthy but being in a position to make it to the Finals doesn't elevate us to contender status?
I have a 90 gallon aquarium with about 70 fish, most of them in 3 separate schools. Very, very relaxing to watch. It's in my study, where I have my PC and a ton of books parked on several shelves. I spend a lot of time hanging out in my sanctuary. No gerbil, though. Gotta a Labradoodle. Much more entertaining than a gerbil, I assure you. -
I agree with this. Anybody watching this game right now needs to realize we're going to have to get a lot better than just competing with Golden State. Lebron is a total monster. It's gonna take 4 superstars and then some to catch him.
I already have, and will again later tonight. They get hungry! It's a semi-aggressive tank. Just a midnight murder now and again. Nothing serious.
After watching this game tonight with Cleveland winning anyone would realize that Houstons defense, the poor rebounding outside of Howard and the rockets lack of valuing possessions (Harden) have to be addressed.
