It’s amazing how people here haven’t figured out that Mike D’Antoni gets out coached in the playoffs. Phoenix didn’t lose cause Horry bumped Steve Nash. It was because Pop was a much better coach than him
I have a bit of a bias as I did not have regular access to regular season games as I did in the Harden era, I was a bit younger and often had to listen to the games on the radio with jim and gene. I would have to prioritize getting my homework done etc over watching a Rockets game. I would mostly be able to watch playoff games and some regular season games. With streaming services the Harden era was just more accessible to me, so it was something that I had greater commitment to personally. I am sure if the technology was there, and I was old enough to remember every moment, dream would have been more exciting for me, but so far it has been Harden as far as excitement and looking forward to watching every game. The most incredible thing was his durability and the fact that we could rely on him to play nearly every game. The Yao and T-Mac era had me developing superstitious rituals before every playoff game and legitimately praying to god for their health each night.
Nothing hurt more than when Yao retired. You just couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy who gave it his all and his body repeatedly failed him.
Yes I'm sure losing Stoudemire had no impact...? Silly false choice fallacy. Pop is a better coach but Dantoni got screwed twice. And Bowen and Ginobili got away with murder constantly for Pop. Overall Mike got outclassed most years but a few times he was good enough to get there and face some serious misfortune. No shame in admitting that.
If I had to choose between D'Antoni and Pop to coach any team, Rockets, Spurs, Suns I'd pick Pop 10 out of 10 times How many times has Mike been fired or 'not renewed'? What about Pop?
What could have been ... I'm sure even Jimmy regrets this opportunity. The Heat will never be the top team in the East. But this team could have won it all, several times.
I think you completely forgot what Morey offered Thibs for Butler. Which he refused simply because he did not want to strengthen a team in the West, or that was his publicly stated explanation. Dumbass got fired for that stupidity.
Wonder if Tilly hires Sampson as Rockets HC if he takes the Cougars all the way. Hated losing him 1st time around.
It was the only time in my Rockets fandom that I felt the team truly had an unfair advantage... it was like, "how can any other team survive without a guy 7 1/2 feet who does what he does?" What a shame he suffered from XXXL man feet, like Walton, ASabonis, Smits, etc.
