[Stein] Rockets emerging as serious threat to sign Chris Paul

Id take CP3 and Ibaka if it meant keeping Bev, Lou, and EG.

 

Na.. I dont think Clint is on his way out.... we dont have a replacement.

 

Gee whiz, Chris Paul can get 205 M
for 5 years with the Clippers. I didn't
realize that. That is a mind blowing number.

The Clippers will almost certainly try to trade Griffin, in order to retain Chris if he demands it. But if Griffin chooses to sign as a FA, then our Rockets have a chance, provided if
someone takes Anderson off their hands.

 

I really kind of hate this mentality which is par for the course for Houston sports fans. We did the best we have in years! We're having good seasons!

I'm in this for championships and dynasties and demand nothing less. I spend $x per year on league pass and $y a year on going to games and $z per year on extras and a time per year watching. Am I entertained? Absolutely. Do I demand ultimate success? You bet.

I'm not mocking or hating on moves as they happen. I'm just pointing out, they don't always end up what was anticipated.

I know when Dwight signed I wasn't hoping they'd blow a first round series in incredibly heartbreaking fashion, he'd be often injured, but they'd nonetheless get to and win WCF game, that'd he'd never click with Harden, that his game and attitude would deteriorate, that he'd be part of getting his coach fired and that he'd ultimately leave the team for absolutely nothing. Some good seasons in there sure but I'd say they definitely underachieved my expectations.

 

Ibaka is same as any other free agent. If you assume we bring in Paul, to get anyone else for more than room MLE we are moving those names out that you listed. Bev or Lou has to go out just to get Paul if he's taking the max. Let's say you move Bev and Anderson and sign Paul.

At that point to add any other significant salary piece you have to either send out Gordon+small contract OR Lou and Ariza combined.

We aren't going to add Paul + a 2nd significant piece AND keep our depth together. We have to hope to hold ONE of them.

 

That's a ridiculous expectation. If anything less than championships and dynasties is a failure to you, there's almost a zero percent chance of you ever having any long term satisfaction.

 

I also hate revisionist theories...Arguably one of the greatest PGs in the game, but has yet to get into the conference finals.
The following are the teams they lost to in the playoffs since CP3 has been in the league:

1. 2007-2008 (other top teammates - Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovich, David West) 12 total games - lost in Semi finals 7 game series to San Antonio (after being up 3-2 and having home court)
2. 2008-2009 (same cast as before) 5 games total - lost to Denver in 1st round...blown out in game 4 by like 58 points
3. 2010-2011 (worst team he had in the postseason) 6 games total - lost to Lakers in 1st round
4. 2011-2012 (1st year as a Clipper) 11 games total - swept by San Antonio in 2nd round; also to note - lost game 6 at home up 3-2 to Memphis in round 1
5. 2012-2013 (Same cast) 6 games total - up 2-0 then lose next 4 games to Memphis in round 1
6. 2013-2014 (same cast) 12 games total - ***of note:beat Warriors(run by Mark Jackson) in 7 games; lose in 6 to OKC
7. 2014-2015 (same cast) 14 games total - ***Great 7 game series against Spurs - win; epic choke job against Rockets being up 3-1
8. 2015-2016 (same cast) 6 games total - lose to Blazers in 6 games after being up 2-0 in the series
9. 2016-2017 (same cast) 7 games total - lose to Utah in 7 games - lost at home 3 of 4 times...​

I measure his entire career. He has had moments of individual brilliance and yes the Clippers-Spurs series was his best performance, but Chris Paul led teams struggle to close out teams...

 

My bad.

Correction: you're an actively proud hater.

 

Right, because a roster of only 4 players would obviously get its ass kicked every game.

What is Morey thinking?!?

 

just like JH led teams. both need help, that should be obvious by now

 

Ummm... ok....

Look, i take into account the circumstances. If i was a huge 76ers fans the last few years of course I wouldn't expect them to win a championship.

When the Rockets signed Dwight the goal was absolutely championships. I already noted what actually happened. There was some success but they absolutley underachieved and it absolutley wasn't a success overall.

 

I'm at the office and I am still erect. Of course that could be the cute russian chick that started working here last week but I'll choose to believe its still because of this.

 

Chris Paul and James Harden will be the best backcourt duo in the NBA. And hopefully the Rockets get rid of Ryan Anderson, a pick, and Trevor Ariza. I really don't want my boy Patrick Beverley leave.

 

I still am mystified how James and Chris Paul are going to work together. Kudos to James for wanting another guard instead of being threatened by one, but I still want to know the game plan after we've got two superstars at the guard spots and ???????? everywhere else.

 

Salary cap be damned

 

Paul can play very effectively off the ball. I would imagine D'Antoni would run a staggered system where a lot of the times they AREN'T on the court at the same time, but when they are there is no reason why Paul can't bring the ball up the court and then branch from there. Either it goes to Harden for a pick and roll where Paul sits off the ball waiting for a shot, or Paul tries to create offense.

Regardless, the fact that Harden has pushed so hard to get a SERIOUS point guard multiple years now should completely kill the myth that he is against letting someone else run the point.

 

Harden has already been a true 2-guard in the past. He'd have to change his game (mainly, needs to be more active on the court, move more without the ball) but I don't see why that's not possible.

MDA could also stagger their minutes so one of them is always on the court.

 

I don't want to get rid of Ariza, but I want to retain Beverley instead of him, because of his toughness and as an insurance for injuries to Chris Paul. I do feel that Patrick will demand a trade if CP3 arrives in Houston.

 

That would be ideal, but I just don't think it's going to happen. There's only a few teams that could absorb Ryan Anderson's salary. There's really only one that I think might take him. We're at the Kings mercy on this.

Losing Gordon/Bev/Lou/Ariza for CP3 is not something I'd feel super great about at all.

 

Yeah, I would be ecstatic if we could keep Beverly. He's the type of player you love to root for and he's the type of player that championship teams need.