Stephen A. Smith Reacts to Mike D'antoni on James Harden: I just let him play

Isiah is making too much sense in my humble opinion.

 

Isaiah is describing pre-Paul.

We beat Utah last year with Paul's midrange. And this year, Harden weaponized the floater. He's behind times.

 

Isaiah? Behind the times?

NO WAY!

Haha.

But agree with you and this doesn't apply to just IT. Most of the analysts don't actually watch the Rockets anyway, just highlights. You still have analysts talking about the Rockets playing up tempo and that hasn't been true for 2 years. What can you expect with these guys?

 

And yet I do not fear GSW one wit. I believe Houston feels the same.

No team is playing better in the ultra competitive west than the Rockets. Peaking at right time.

 

Another thing that is going unmentioned is the heavy ball-denial defenses that blanket Harden even if he's 35-40' out, and out of the play.

That defense turns the game into a 4 on 4 for Paul. You cannot defend a Paul-run offense that way. That's a losing defense in the playoffs.

Interviewer: "So, Chris Paul, what is your favorite defense to face."
Paul: "Well, I'm really partial to this 4 on 4 defense that teams play against us."​

 

Recap for us non clickers?

 

I don't think either of those guys has watched a single rockets games this season.

 

Ugh. I’m an IU guy and as a kid I loved watching Thomas bring a national title to IU in 81. He obviously won titles with Detroit and we was a great PLAYER. Still, there is a reason he’s failed at everything else basketball since his playing days. I’m not an IT fan at all anymore.

Does Thomas make some sense in that he says there are multiple ways to score the ball and be effective? Sure. Does he watch enough basketball or put in the work to truly see how the Rockets play? Nope, doubtful.

Yes the Rockets want 3’s or anything at the rim first. Doesn’t mean they won’t take the midrange if it’s there. Obviously with James he has the floater and Paul has that curl around the free throw line. The Rockets are more dynamic than what they’re given credit for.

Now all that said, the Rockets still need to prove that they can win the way they play. Last year would have and should have shut everyone up.

I want the Championship more for Harden and D’Antoni just to shut everyone the hell up. Then watch everyone jump in the bandwagon and say see I told you so.

 

GS didn’t win because just because they “use all 5 ways to score”. They won because they have a super team. If Houston’s style is not a good one then we should not even be in the playoff picture. GS uses a ton of analytics. After the first GS championship Gentry famously said that it was D’Antoni who was finally validated.

Why, when healthy, do the Rockets have an all time elite and efficient offense without needing 4 or 5 all stars? This Morey/D’Antoni / Harden/ healthy CP combo is practically unbeatable and the nba world can’t stand it.

There is nothing I want more(basketball wise) then for this group to win it all. These “takes” are becoming unbearable to watch. We have real basketball geniuses In our front office, coaching staff, and on the court.

I hope that the whole organization embraces the hate, and uses all the negativity to fuel them to a title. If the Rockets don’t win it all Harden’s legacy will take the biggest hit. There are not enough truth tellers to swing the narrative in his favor. Lose this year and Harden’s historic year will always be down played as something “anyone could have done”. The truth will be buried forever.

The Rockets don’t have enough fans to sway public perception. It seems like they have a whole army of haters against them in the media. A 2nd Harden mvp won’t change this narrative. Only a championship will.

 

MDA is an innovative coach but he's never won a 'ship with his style
One man wrecking crew won't deliver a 'ship. Unless you're named MJ.
There's 5 ways to score- we only use 3

In the playoffs the other teams will take 1 thing from us leaving us supposedly w/ only 2 ways to score - then we will lose-----especially since GS uses all 5 scoring methods and you have to exert too much energy defending them.

Mental effect on players when FG% drops in the postseason- it has a big mental effect
MK - post scoring- its officiated differently - so post game has little return bc refs swallow whistles - better off shooting a 3
Analytics has never won a championship

 

Well, it's both. They DO score all 5 ways BECAUSE they have a superteam. Durant and Cousins can post up. Klay can as well on occasion. And then you have the 3-point shooting of Durant, Curry, Thompson, and Cousins(and occasionally Green and Iggy). Along with their ability to finish and shoot the midrange. And obviously free throw shooting. Curry is the best of all-time statistically in that category.

 

Good point.

 

At some point, these b****es stopped thinking they could Be Like Mike and submitted to total worship.

 

Isaiah Thomas - 5 ways to score

1) 3 Pointer - Harden, Paul, Gordon, House, Green. Streaky- Rivers, Shumpert
2) Midrange - Chris Paul, James Harden, Nene
3) Postup - Chris Paul, James Harden, Clint Capela, Faried, Nene
4) Layup - James Harden, Capela, Chris Paul, Faried, House, Gordon, Nene
5) Free Throws - James Harden, Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, House, Green

 

Billy Beane was an innovative GM but there's a reason why his style never really won a title.

 

Isaiah Thomas - "Analytics never won a Championship" - Golden State is built on Analytics - GM Bob Myers

San Antonio Spurs uses Analytics

Cardinals, Astros Jeff Luhnow, Red Sox, Cubs - Theo Epstein

New England Patriots

 

The idea that "analytics has never won a championship" is so outrageously stupid.

 

Last time Isaiah Thomas ran a GM job on the Knicks, he ran that team into the ground literally into the Lottery.
Why isn't Max and Stephen not get angry at Isaiah destroying the Knicks for so many years, overpaid for Free Agents, traded for Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis and that team was so bad.

While his former teammate GM Joe Dumars won a Championship with the Pistons.

Joe Dumars deserves a GM job somewhere, so many winning seasons, 1 bad selection was Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh