I believe Gordon was part of the CP trade. He was a rook with the Clips as I understand it, or maybe 2nd year? I had forgotten that Ariza played with CP in New Orleans UNCANNY the former New Orleans players that we have. LOL
Completely. Might want to hedge on first round exit, but there will definitely be an "exit." Six players were sent packing. Six! I am a believer in familiarity, team chemistry, continuity. I have played on a team with "talent" but no chemistry. There is no comparison to a team that knows each other and plays as one. The NBA is different, but the same principles apply.
No, you don't get to hedge now after telling us to "mark it down". Tip jar bet for $1000 on 1st round exit? Loser who doesn't pay up gets banned or username changed to "asseater69"? BTW there will be an "exit" for 29 teams so thanks for informing us Nostradamus. BTW2 there were actually seven players sent packing, Seven! Can you even name them? Half of them were never even on this team LOL. Only two players, Beverley and Williams, were in the playoff rotation(two!), and Lou underperformed his whole time here besides a few games. Gonna miss Beverley, he was my favorite player on the team, liked him more than Harden. Got a HOFer for him though, so K THX BYE.
Yawn. Lebron joins the Cavs and they totally gut the entire roster and they win a championship. Yawn. Lebron and Bosh join a totally gutted Heat team and they win championships. Yawn. Rockets went to the WCF 3 years ago and were the 3 seed just last year. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN. Rockets are currently set to return 4 of the 5 starters from that 3rd seed plus their 6th man and backup center. Can't even bother to yawn again.
BOS gutted for KG and Ray. Oh, and... GS with the BEST RECORD IN NBA HISTORY gutted their championship and back to back finals team for KD. And just won another championship. I mean GS actually got rid of two starters and bench players like Barbosa, and again that team had the best record in HISTORY. Meanwhile we can't beat the Spurs without their best player and this guy is crying about chemistry so we shouldn't try to add HOFers??? YAWN YAWN YAWN.
Jonathan FeigenVerified account @Jonathan_Feigen 7m7 minutes ago Morey: "We really like our eight right now. Coach doesn't play more than that, anyway. Our rotation ... I'll put that group up against any." I get that MDA only uses 7 or 8 in his rotation, and i do like the additions of Tucker and Paul. No doubt we are a better team than last year, right now. But honestly, i still don't think this rotation legitimately contends with the Warriors. We need another piece or two. Morey is just posturing, right? they don't actually believe that they are going to win a championship with this rotation, right? Paul Harden/Gordon Ariza/Tucker Anderson Capela/Nene
Just me, but I'd like to see the rest of roster with younger players. Of the NG contracts, both Uthoff and Long showed well in late season callups from the G League. Uthoff similar in style to Dekker and Long more of a post player.
Actually, no, the same principles do not apply. Not even close. Miami, Boston,Cleveland, and Golden State can all attest to the fact that chemistry means very little when you've got STAR POWER. The evidence is overwhelmingly against you here. The Rockets are SIGNIFICANTLY better today than they were at the end of last season.
We will see. You don't want a bet like that, neither do I. I still think I am right though. I like young talented teams that grow together. The Rockets are instantly OLD.
Yes, I do. You don't because you know you'd lose, easily. Which is why I proposed the bet to begin with, because we both know your prediction was silly. You have every right to like young talented teams, who doesn't? And the Rockets are indeed older, and if they get Carmelo, even older. Problem is young superstars aren't readily available or grow on trees. Do you want to contend while Harden is still in his prime? Like legitimately contend? Then you have to take the superstars that are available - the old ones. Otherwise, give up and watch Harden walk to LA.
On what we have....better guard and center rotations than GSW. Harden, CP3 and Gordon are better than Steph, Thompson and Livingston. Capela and Nene are better than whatever GSW throws out there. Where they obviously have us beat is at forward....Melo would help "shrink that gap".
The Rockets have taken major strides in building a small ball lineup that can compete with the Warriors on both ends of the floor and added a second superstar to the team in CP3. They also have a solid eight man rotation with Nene, Gordon and Tucker on the bench. To truly compete with Golden State, they need to have James Harden commit to giving better defensive effort, and move Ryan Anderson for a versatile wing that can play a stretch four or 5 role versus the Warriors small ball lineup of death(Melo is the obvious choice).
i wouldnt say the GSW boys are better scorers because Harden is an Elite scorer and can get buckets in a million ways - drives, slashes, pull ups, isos, threes. Better shooters for sure.
