I always felt like the general consensus from the talking heads was the Warriors would finish somewhere in the 3-5 range, and the Rockets would be somewhere in the 5-8 range. I agree that both seem to have outplayed expectations thus far.
G.S. was forecasted to be the 3 seed here, us the 8th: http://www.ibtimes.com/nba-predicti...cavs-bulls-lakers-knicks-spurs-finish-1715069 Here GS is 3-5, we're at 6-9: http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/28/pbt-predicts-2014-15-nba-playoffs-champion/ THese guys also think highly of the warriors but not the Rockets http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/10/28/7082707/nba-predictions-2014-15-mvp ANd WOJ and Spears both predicted the W's to be WC Champs! http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2014-15-nba-season-predictions-232529067.html After losing Asik, Lin and Parsons people thought we might miss the playoffs - certainly we were expected to be closer to an 8th seed than 3rd.
I think the Rockets have won a lot of close games, and have been particularly impressive in avoiding losses with a lot of injuries throughout the season. But the Rockets haven't been a dominant team, by any stretch. By point differential, they are just "OK", which gives me less confidence in their post-season prospects. The Warriors, in contrast, are having an historically great season. Honestly, I think their play has been the bigger surprise this year.
Considering some people were picking the Warriors to win the WC and nearly everyone picked them in their top 4 it's hard to say it's a huge surprise they are where they are. They are immensely talented throughout their line-up and were considered to deeply underperform last year. The Rockets may not have been dominant but they as you said are one bad call away from having the 3rd best record in the NBA and no one predicted that, especially if you said Howard would be injured half the season. Who would have predicted that with Howard being injured that long? Heck a lot of people would say we'd be a lottery team. You have to hand it to Harden.
Who/When? In the summer, ESPN's forecast panel had both the Warriors and the Rockets winning 49 games. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11334331/2014-summer-forecast-west-standings
WOJ for one. I shared the link in an earlier post. Fact is there were pundits picking the Warriors to win it all. No one predicted the Rockets to be a contender.
No ****. Thinking that there was ever a consensus that the Warriors were going to finish first in the west is some serious homer revisionist history. Post them up, then. Give us some links to all of these pundits that picked the Warriors to win it all. I found a whole bunch of them that didn't, so don't give me your one or two unknowns and act like it is representative of people's expectations as a whole. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24771352/projected-2014-15-records-for-every-nba-team http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/ken-berger/24770692/nba-predictions-all-in-with-the-clippers http://www.si.com/nba/2014/10/27/nba-crystal-ball-predictions-2014-15-finals-mvp-awards-preview http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/week/-1 http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2014-2015-nba-season-predictions-132618438.html If you want to say that the Rockets are exceeding expectations, fine. I can agree with that. Don't be such a homer, though, that you can't acknowledge the fact that the Warriors are exceeding expectations at least as much as the Rockets are, though I'd say it is probably much more.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2014-15...232529067.html I think it's hilarious you are calling me a homer. Because no one who knows me on this BBS would ever say that. It's easy to through that kind of garbage out there. I remember this article before the season and a lot of talk about the warriors. Not everyone was surprised they are doing so well. A lot of people thought they could be great. The only reason they are a surprise is because most of these pundits don't know jack about basketball. I thought the Rockets would suck this year - I am shocked they are as good as they are. A lot of that has to do with Josh Smith and Brewer though. And Harden stepping up his game.
The Warriors aren't just "great," they're historically great. Their point differential puts them among one of the best 8 teams in the history of the league. NOBODY predicted that. Their jump has been remarkable. And as the best player on that team, he deserves a lot of the credit (as the best player also will get the blame if his team struggles). Harden has made a huge jump this year, and deservedly is in the MVP conversation and will finish no lower than 2. But Curry deserves his MVP this year. Based on how the media votes in the past, and how the Warriors are blowing out the "tough" West (6.5 games at this time of year and probably will be more as Memphis is losing games), you have to give it to him. I don't know why people keep arguing. Unless the Warriors go on a losing streak, the MVP is Curry's.
Care to share any functional links? I love this backpedaling, though. On the one hand we have this: Presented, presumably, in an attempt to say that everyone was picking the Warriors, therefor their success this season should come as no surprise. Then we have this: Where apparently the pundits don't know jack about basketball. Are the pundits supposed to be helping or hurting your case, here? It is really quite confusing. You saying that someone else doesn't know jack about basketball seems like quite the pot/kettle situation.
You know, I think Steve Kerr is the reason they are so historically good. The coaching has been amazing on both ends of the floor. He really deserves the credit here. Harden is a legit MVP candidate. So is Curry. But Curry has a better cast of characters and a better coach around him. And that's the only point I am trying to make. Harden doesn't have a Klay Thomson or Greene to open up the floor for him. Imagine if he had those guys. Geez.
Just to clarify, these two lone pundits that you've plucked from the rest of the NBA world are valid resources (because they fit your flawed narrative), and do not fit the statement you made that: Do I have this correct? Quality stuff.
His stats would drop? Do you not see the shots he gives other players? His PPG MAY take a slight hit... Meanwhile his assist numbers would be near leading the league.
So we should take away MVPs of Jordans and Hakeems and players who played alongside other great players? That's a terrible argument. Statistically, is Harden that far and away better than Curry? No. And add to the fact that Curry is the Warriors' best player, who's ahead of the Rockets by 9 games. What's the argument here? There's none. Curry is going to win the MVP. I still don't see a reason that Harden is going to finish ahead of Curry.
