[SI] Why aren't the Rockets being taken more seriously as a contender?

Why is anyone here surprised by this anymore? Harden is an up and coming commodity and Howard has a terrible public image (regardless of if he's earned it or not). When both of those franchise players are placed in the media your team may not be given the due respect they deserve. Also look at Harden's game, he shoots a lot of free throws so any non-Houston fans will most likely not enjoy watching him play. Then you have Howard who gets to the FT line often but can't make his free throws so that does little to not drag the game on.

Someone's once mentioned us in the same breath as the Grizzlies. They did some damage a few years ago in the playoffs but no one in the media seems to respect them either. They also have a pretty good PG in Conley and a darn good C in Gasol.

The Clippers are only big in the media now because they have a big market and the Lakers are on the huge decline.

I'd rather us be underdogs versus expected to win. It gives us less expectations to win.

 

It is indeed. Which is why it’s unreasonable. Because the line for top teams have traditionally been way too high (and vice versa i.e. Sixers being over in both of their last two seasons).

 

Based on what exactly? That would be either a massive disappointment or an injury ravaged season.

 

I work in the media. Trust me: Win a championship, and they will be ready to apply their lips to your posterior. Until then, just accept that you're going to be ignored. Pundits and reporters suck at prediction. They're great at rationalizing, after the fact, why you were so great all along. That's just as true in politics and business as it is in sports.

 

The Rockets win the Championship and the big story will be what is wrong with the NBA. Rockets still won't get respect. Not that I care.

 

One of the big reasons for the lack of respect is the fact that we have no "big" name players outside of Howard and Harden.

Beverley, DMo, Jones, and even Brewer are not recognizable names for a lot of b-ball fans. McDaniels, Capela will be seen as young and unproven, not cogs to a championship team.

Ariza is probably known and respected, but not really a big name.

Terry is at the end of his career. Thornton and especially Lawson are big question marks.

So we fans may believe our team to be deep, but to the casual fans and many in the media, they will look at our roster and not be so impressed.

But once Houston starts to prove people wrong, you'll hear a lot of people saying, "Who the heck are these guys?"

 

Just win a 'ship and shut them up. You know that teams from Cali get the love. Screw them. Just win.

In closing,

Win.

 

Not only that , CP3 & Griffin are fairly injury prone .... & CP3 is getting up there in age. You might need that popcorn cause that roster is full of trouble and hey .... Hacka Smith & Jordan ... they'll be the leagues worst FT% team.

Westbrook has missed time in multiple seasons. This is Durant's first real injury but its a tough one for an athlete to return from , he may never be the same. Their big three are good if they are healthy but the rest of the roster is made up of one trick pony's.

Some day .... eventually .... Father time has to catch up to the Spurs. Will it be this year. Aldridge & Kawhi Leonard are a handful even if the others regress.

Memphis is a tough team and they got better outside , could be a darkhorse. Might finish with a top 3 seed if they can stay healthy.

New Orleans could be a tough out but I don't see them going far in the post season.


Dallas - Nope , not even close.

PHX - LoL.

Sacramento - Interesting squad with a whole lot of talent that just doesn't seem to fit. Cousins is legit , crazy or not. 8 seed ?!

Utah - Young team with a bunch of really good players , made some noise at the end of last season but injuries already taking their toll. Still may find a way to be in the top 8.

Portland - Lotto bound.

The Rockets .... Biggest question is health. How many games will Dwert sit out and can Capela pick up the slack ? Nights Dwert plays they have the best frontline rotation in the league.
FT shooting should be better - No Josh Smith or Dorsey , just Dwert to much it up ... and Brewer on occasion.
Turnovers .... that still appears to be an issue even with Lawson , at least from what I've seen so far in the preseason. Got to protect the ball.
Probably the deepest team in the NBA , 2-3 deep with quality everywhere.

Rockets & Warriors 1 & 2.
Spurs , OKC & Memphis 3-5
LAC & New Orleans 6-7
Utah & Sacramento in a dogfight for #8.


Fakers .... Dead Last!

 

No one reapects us because no one knows how healthy Dwight and Dmo will be in the playoffs. No one knows who Clint Capella is and he's a Rookie/sophmore at this point. No one is also afraid Of being defended by Tjones, especially by teams like the Spurs and Memphis with their proven front court. This team will just have to continue doing what they do best and that is exceed expectations.

 

How you have 10 green bars of rep while posting this garbage consistently is beyond.

 

Rockets are going to be scary good this season. The rest of the league and media will find out when we're sitting in 1st place blowing teams out by December 25 games in. The team is looking good in preseason I like the ball movement. James looks great in his last two preseason games before banging knees. The bench is crazy deep with quality all over the court. Good players arnt going to play that's always a good thing.

Let the hate pile up and we can crap in their face and tell them they were wrong from the jump.

To the poster that said the rockets get no love because of the last 20 years then why the hell are the clippers getting love? They haven't been past the 2nd round in their entire existence. Lol

 

Simple: his "reps" contains hundreds of anon insults.

It's the only rational explanation.

 

I was listening to the Bill Simmons podcast and I got so pissed when Simmons said "who on the Rockets was injured in the playoffs again? Beverley..that's it right?"
His guest Joe House "yeah..that was it"

D-Mo was probably the Rockets 3rd best player last year and they couldn't even remember that.

 

Although I agree with what you said a ring would change it, the perennial loser Clippers didn't have to win it all before the narrative changes around.

One question here for you guys. Wade was widely criticized by many for going to the foul line too often in the year Miami won the championship. What changed his image eventually over the years? Was that the additional chips or it's just time?

 

Wow that was a really well written and thoughtful article. Good job Seth partnow.

 

Yeah that bothered me too. But people are being forced to look at Houston differently this year. If you read and listen to media people recently, many of then are slowly acknowledging that Houston is legit. Whether they do so begrudgingly or not depends on the writer/reporter.

Gonna be a good year!

 

We have not 1, but TWO big-time household names in the current NBA and that's not enough? Most of the teams would love the luxury of having just one bonafide house-hold star, but Houston has 2.

As far as star appeal and luster, the Rockets as a team/organization definitely do not lack that.

 

Actually, I still don't really get it. I kinda know about Howard, but don't understand why people would bear a grudge. I understand the resentment of Morey and that's probably the primary driver. I totally don't get what people have against Harden.

And, I don't know why people are pencilling in OKC. Yeah, Durant, ok. But, they've been snakebit for 2 years. Why would we assume this year will be different?

 

We have possibly two of the most recognizable NBA players in the league.

Regardless if you know their name or not, I think the average public will recognize that Harden is that basketball player with the beard and even Dwight.

Hell, my mom who doesn't even watch basketball knew who Dwight Howard was when we first got him.

 

I surprisingly thought this was a pretty fair and well-written article. This was the best part:

It's undeniable that the Rockets have questions and concerns. None of them bigger than Ty Lawson. Will he be able to overcome his offcourt issues? How will playing two ball-dominant, mediocre or average defensive but elite offensive guards (Lawson and Harden) at the court at the same time mesh together. How will McHale manage the rotations with our newfound embarrassment of riches and depth?

But just like this article says, there are legitimate questions for every team, even the Warriors.