What overwhelming factor drives your happiness as a fan personally?

Effort!!!

Teams aren't always going to have great players, or even a winning record. But there is no excuse for not giving full effort every single game. Players getting payed millions to play a game never have an excuse for not hustling or quitting on their team. When a team doesn't give full effort, I think changes need to be made.

 

Sustained improvement.

 

Contending for a championship. It's also nice to have superstar players, but it's a small consolation if the team isn't contending.

I disagree with the premise that contention was even plausible during the Yao/Tmac years. I gave up any real hope of that happening after Tmac's first season here.

 

Staying out of the game threads.

:grin:

 

For me, winning isn't everything. I'll never sell my soul for a championship.

I figure the season is 82 games long, meanwhile the playoffs may only last 6 or 7 games; and so what matters for me is what happens over the 82, not so much in the playoffs.

When guys play as a team, get along, and exceed expectations--for me that's more enjoyable that rooting for an overpaid, overhyped group of guys who don't get along and/or trust each other, tons of ISO ball, and where games are won by talent alone.

With few exceptions, I actually liked watching last year's team, and the year before that, and the year before that, better than this year's team.

 

I'm happy watching a rocket team that plays hard with passion and plays smart. Wins are the bonus.

 

nice post OP

I'm happiest when the guys on the court are having fun playing the game they play best. The Yao Mac years when both were healthy and working, and that incredible stretch where TMac put the team on his back. The beginning of last season when everyone believed in the Rocket's backcourt, saying JLin and Harden were the best in the league, and the beginning of this season when the twin towers experiment was working are my recent favorites. Love to see more of that. I'm sure the optimism will creep back in as soon as the trade hammer falls.

 

Play the smart basketball. First, play the dammit defense, and secondly stop shoot too many stupid three when you have the best center in NBA. Is this too much to ask for?

 

lol I think you mean:
"I enjoy when my team plays tight defense and is able to adapt around their best offensive threats. This is all I ask for." #BeWell

 

winning games
favorite player plays well

 

"Life's a journey, not a destination".

I enjoy watching basketball being played on a high level. Beautiful stuff. While the goal should always be a title I don't consider it a failure if you fall short. That being said if you constantly underachieve and lose it's quite disheartening.

And winning is nice.

 

I don't have super high expectations. I want to feel like my team will make noise in the playoffs - a top-six seed and I'm happy. Top-three and I'm thrilled. I also want to feel like it's not a fluke, and they'll be just as good next year.

 

I got so upset about the way they were playing in the first quarter I turned off the game and never came back. Unfortunately, I missed a comeback and win which I regret, BUT they looked so disinterested in the first quarter I felt like kicking them all in the butt. How can you come out like that against the division leader. It is a BIG game. I am still ticked at this team (like they care) and DEMAND that they beat the Mavs tonight for full restoration (which may be only temporary). As a fan I have my rights!

 

3 pages in and no one dares to tell the truth?

"Jeremy". So help me God .

 

I loved the JVG era. Great defense. Nothing is better than the 24 second shot clock going off. My favorite team to watch besides the Rockets is the Bobcats. They have a sick defense. That was a great hiring for head coach.