Why are the Rockets a top 3 seed while the Lakers barely made the PO with Howard?

[Splits]

The 2013 Lakers and the 2014 Rockets have a very similar cast of characters. Why are the Rockets cruising to HCA in the 1st round when the Lakers had to go to game 82 to reach the playoffs, only to feel The Sweep?

The teams are very similar.

Horrible coaching: _'Antoni vs. McFail

PG by committee: Nashy/Blake vs. Rin/Beverly

Otherwise-dominant big who can't co-exist with Howard: MVPau vs. Asik

Chucking volume scorer sidekick at the 2: Kirby vs. Harden

Is Harden that much better than Kirby that the Rockets have 43 wins with 20 games remaining whereas the Lakers won 45 games total?

[Chris16]

1. Houston is a lot younger and more athletic.

2. Dwight is more motivated than he was last year.

3. Dwight is playing in a system similar to his Orlando days.

[Baseline]

Because K. Bryant is completely overrated, and Howard knows it. So he left. Looks like the sharpest knife in the drawer right about now.

[Splits]

1. Houston is a lot younger and more athletic.

2. Dwight is more motivated than he was last year.

3. Dwight is playing in a system similar to his Orlando days.

Drivel. None of that is tangible.

[Chris16]

Drivel. None of that is tangible.

:lol

Alrite smart guy.

[Thread]

Unless they win the last game come June, they'll be next to us and 27 others, shinin' shoes.

That's rule number 1.

Rule number 2? Obey all rules.

[Rogue]

Lockets are a top 3 seed? I think they're supposed to be the #2 seed tbh.

[Sybok]

Unless they win the last game come June, they'll be next to us and 27 others, shinin' shoes.

That's rule number 1.

Rule number 2? Obey all rules.

Yet you lodge "Pau never won a playoff game till..." all the time here.

[Clipper Nation]

Unless they win the last game come June, they'll be next to us and 27 others, shinin' shoes.

That's rule number 1.

Rule number 2? Obey all rules.
Your Kirby has already started shinin' my shoes to the tune of 48.

[Thread]

Yet you lodge "Pau never won a playoff game till..." all the time here.

Thank you.

[Thread]

Your Kirby has already started shinin' my shoes to the tune of 48.

& in the bitter end he'll have 28 joining him, guaranteed.

Stings, don't it?

[Clipper Nation]

& in the bitter end he'll have 28 joining him, guaranteed.

Stings, don't it?
But, 48 trumps it.

[Sybok]

Yet you lodge "Pau never won a playoff game till..." all the time here.


Thank you.

And here you are discounting playoff success outside of a ring.

[Jodelo]

Sybok going in hard on Thread! :lmao

[jimbo]

Unless they win the last game come June, they'll be next to us and 27 others, shinin' shoes.

That's rule number 1.

Rule number 2? Obey all rules.

You're old as shit Dale, you haven't learned yet to enjoy the journey not just the destination?

You've got 20 years left, you'd better enjoy that shit--not just your grave.

[Killakobe81]

Dwight is healthier this year he has said so himself. He is playing well cannot deny it. His day will come though and the Rox are not legit title contenders, late season Indy Pacers tbh.
trendy team will go down hard, me thinks.

[rascal]

The 2013 Lakers and the 2014 Rockets have a very similar cast of characters. Why are the Rockets cruising to HCA in the 1st round when the Lakers had to go to game 82 to reach the playoffs, only to feel The Sweep?

The teams are very similar.

Horrible coaching: _'Antoni vs. McFail

PG by committee: Nashy/Blake vs. Rin/Beverly

Otherwise-dominant big who can't co-exist with Howard: MVPau vs. Asik

Chucking volume scorer sidekick at the 2: Kirby vs. Harden

Is Harden that much better than Kirby that the Rockets have 43 wins with 20 games remaining whereas the Lakers won 45 games total?

Lakers had a lot of injuries, lost Bryant, Nash and Gasol for big chunks of the season.

[Roxsfan]

Dwight is healthier this year he has said so himself. He is playing well cannot deny it. His day will come though and the Rox are not legit title contenders, late season Indy Pacers tbh.
trendy team will go down hard, me thinks.

Don't confuse "what you THINK will happen" with "what you WANT to happen".

[Killakobe81]

Don't confuse "what you THINK will happen" with "what you WANT to happen".

No question what I want to happen. Nothing against the Rox but wanna see Howard fail ...
But I am calling Rox recent streak fool's gold much like the one yall had a few years back where you won 20+ games ...

[sook]

because kirby.

[Killakobe81]

that is my honest opinion ... I am not buying it. And dont give two shits for being called salty ... I still believe it.
Besides what I would "want" to happen would be much worse ... LOL

[CitizenDwayne]

Hmm...OP actually raises a great question, and all the ":cry Dwight's better this year" shit doesn't change anything.

Last years' Lakers are the biggest disappointment in NBA history. Lakerfan will just have to live with that.

But yeah Rockets are fool's gold. No question of that.

[Double-Up]

that is my honest opinion ... I am not buying it. And dont give two shits for being called salty ... I still believe it.
Besides what I would "want" to happen would be much worse ... LOL

Nigga you are salty...T-Mac quit on us but fuck it, not gonna wish death upon him or anything.

[Thread]

You're old as shit Dale, you haven't learned yet to enjoy the journey not just the destination?

You've got 20 years left, you'd better enjoy that shit--not just your grave.

Uh, uh, none of that fuckin' marlarkey. "You" struck this template. I just retrieved it after 9 June 1985 (after you tried hiding it) and have been fostering it nigh on 30 years.

[UZER]

Dwight is healthier this year he has said so himself. He is playing well cannot deny it. His day will come though and the Rox are not legit title contenders, late season Indy Pacers tbh.
trendy team will go down hard, me thinks.

Oh, noooow he was hurt. Laker fan wanted no part of that excuse last year when they piled on about his play.

[jimbo]

Uh, uh, none of that fuckin' marlarkey. "You" struck this template. I just retrieved it after 9 June 1985 (after you tried hiding it) and have been fostering it nigh on 30 years.

You probably should have let go on June 10th 1985. Don't put your problems on me. I ain't got nothing to do with that.

[Roxsfan]

Well, short of injury or a horrible matchup- they gon get freaky in the playoffs







Me hopes

[Thread]

You probably should have let go on June 10th 1985. Don't put your problems on me. I ain't got nothing to do with that.

None of that lettin' go shit. You'll ring, or, you'll shine shoes with us & 27 others.

And that's just the way it's gonna be.

[jimbo]

None of that lettin' go shit. You'll ring, or, you'll shine shoes with us & 27 others.

And that's just the way it's gonna be.

For you, not for me. I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

[Thread]

For you, not for me. I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

Not here you ain't.

You don't ring? You get a can of Kiwi & a brush.
http://collections.yadvashem.org/photosarchive/s637-328/10610534760255905672.jpg

[GuerillaBlack]

No question what I want to happen. Nothing against the Rox but wanna see Howard fail ...
But I am calling Rox recent streak fool's gold much like the one yall had a few years back where you won 20+ games ...

Brah, the Rockets have only gotten better as the season has gone on. This isn't some fluke 22 win streak like in 2008.