No..... again nuance. We don't have the same team that produced top ranked offenses.... You keep wanting a different team to act like our team from a few years ago....
All we are saying is diversify your attack, not start shooting a bunch of mid rangers or even many of them. The vast majority of the time mid ranges are not good shots, but we are so dogmatic about it we end up taking more contested 3s or drives.
Nobody will like to hear this. But another major difference between this year and last year, is Russell Westbrook. I get it. He has his flaws: poor shooter and low basketball IQ. But together, Russ and Harden were one of the highest scoring duos in history. They complimented each other better than people remember. Harden would find him in transition, for lobs, etc. It was damn fun to watch. There were also so many games last year where Harden would have a bad shooting night, and Russ would drop a line like 35/11/7 and carry us. Especially during that MVP-like stretch he had in Jan-Feb. We just don’t have that anymore, John Wall isn’t that guy. I thought his bb IQ and natural point guard instincts would make up for it, but it hasn’t. And despite those instincts, he’s somehow a worse fit next to Harden than Russ.
It also took a significant trade and time to integrate WB. I think if WB was fully healthy, we'd still lose to the Lakers but it would have been competitive. I'm not sure if the time and willingness is there this time.
I'm in the camp of I just don't know. Diversification sounds nice, and I'm not completely against it. Do you think our team can hit those shots at above average percentage? As in are they good at it? Do the guys have it their bag? (so to speak) Take floaters for example, where shorter guys sometimes use against taller defenders. Apt for our team. Harden has it, but he usually don't need it. Maybe Sterling? But he doesn't get too much playing time. Do our guys have that in their game. Shots like that is a low efficient shot, hard to master. If our guys are unicorns and can bust them out with success, I don't think anyone would be against it. But realistically... I just don't think the team has it. If a current Rocket player is hiding an unstoppable skyhook or deadly mid range jumper, please show us. Team has positive qualities, so this is not to poo poo on them. It may be just being practical on what is achievable and can be maximized.
Harden should be the main/only person taking mid ranges on this current team, and they should be very infrequent. I just view it as an offensive tool in the toolbox, not the toolbox which is based off of 3s and drives. I don't see why Harden (who is a great FT shooter) can't have an elbow jumper in his toolbox to add some unpredictability to his overall game. Even if he isn't Kawhi or CP3 elite level at it, I think it's worthwhile to have/use in rare instances.
Agreed. But, it’s important to note that Russ was putting up those MVP numbers in late December and early January too. I’m too lazy to post the games and numbers, but Russ was dominating well before Capela was traded.
I have no bias. Why would you think that? I just want whats better for the Rockets. Harden leading the way is better obviously, he is our best player and we always have a chance to win WHEN HE IS PLAYING GOOD! Most nights he does last game he didn't. It's ok to acknowledge it. It's going to be ok. Harden will drop big numbers again. We win together, we lose together. Usually we follow the hot hand Harden has to get hot though.
We have to develop on the fly (with new coaches, new players) because MDA never did it. Morey stopped getting young players because they weren't being used. We could have been grooming guys to be ready if MDA was a real coach and could implement young players beyond his 7 man rotation especially in playoffs. You want to tire your guys out during the season? Fine! Not the playoffs though.... While Hartenstein is showing the NBA some here else everything he learned in Rio G Valley. ****'s crazy stupid.
Chemistry and adaptation is right now the most important part and like it or not, you need time for it.
that offensive foul at 4:10 is classic Harden... it's almost like he wanted to throw away a perfectly winnable game on purpose
