I know this might not seem like a popular concept right about now, and it may be nerve wracking and stressful... But this Rockets team DOES NEED to lose some games in the playoffs. I've been saying this to people all season long. This team has some major new players, specifically, CP3, Tucker, Bah Moute, Green, and JJohnson. This is the 1st season for this team with this lineup. Pat Riley had a pretty good quote many years ago. "You have to lose in the playoffs, before you can win in the playoffs." That's probably because more is learned from losses and failures. Almost all of the championship teams in the past have had at least a few years to gel and grow together. The Warriors have had the same nucleus for at least 4 or 5 years. They can pretty much read each others minds on the court, and they know their offensive sets and defensive covers like the backs of their hands. This Rockets team has not been through those playoff wars and battles yet. Even though many of the players have playoff experience, that's not the same as having "experience together", and knowing each other instinctively. I've been warning that the biggest edge the Warriors have over the Rockets, is their years of experience together. That counts for a lot, more than most people realize. So in some ways, this Rockets team NEEDS to experience some playoff losses, some adversity, and some hard lessons. That's the only way that they will REALLY learn, and get better. And they have to get better too, if they hope to challenge for a championship.
Yes, experience in terms of what the team needs in face of adversity. GSW Donkey kicking nuts and getting the team ready.
I am not terribly worried, CP3 has been brought in to tell Harden in off days to toughen it up in the next games (following a loss) and CP knows he needs to play better himself too. I do think Ariza or Tucker needs to be brought off the bench though and not starting.
He's right, we needed this loss. I think this is a wake up call for us. We've been playing poorly on offense so I hope this wakes us up! Go Rockets!
There is only 1 championship team plus or minus the reigning champ, others are contenders and pretenders.
A "championship" team has won already... so they've already proven that they know how to play together to their fullest potential... So they may need to be woken up by a playoff loss sometimes. But if you're referring to the Rockets as a "championship" team... uuhh... not yet bro. A contender... yes. And like I said, they are a contender with only 1 season of experience together. They don't need a "wake up call", because they are still learning how to play together. They are still figuring things out, and they're still in the process of trying to become a championship team. So it's not really about wake up calls, per se... it's really more about learning from these playoff battles, learning what their weaknesses and strengths are, getting better, and refining everything.
Back in 2014 the spurs had a hard time against the mavs in the first round. Went to 7 games. After that they just crushed everyone. Especially the heat in the finals.
Good thread. Anyone else remember the painful losses in the playoffs the first two years before the championships. Overcoming some adversity might be just what this team needs to start toughening up for the continuing march through the playoffs.
If Luc is healthy, I think starting him over Ariza could be a decent idea, but highly unlikely. The thing is, I feel more strongly about putting Anderson back in the starting 5. Having PJ and Luc coming off the bench gives us insane defense against inferior players typically. In the playoffs (when teams tighten up their rotations) we might want to play one of them with starters and have one come off the bench. Similar to staggering Harden and CP3 to have 48 minutes of "HOF point guard play" -- we can also have 48 minutes of elite versatile defenders. Essentially, I think Luc starting over Ariza might be a good idea. The overall minutes played doesn't have to change much or at all. This has all been discussed before but the playoffs present different challenges. Might be time to change the rotation a little bit. I don't think it changes our standard game plan either.
With the way we're playing, that miraculous loss is the best gift the rockets can get. They should be woke from their sleep now.
