Have the Rockets fluked into a better team

[ambchang]

Getting rid of Parsons and having Ariza as the replacement.

Their defense can be potent once Beverly is back.

The only thing stopping them is McHale.

[RsxPiimp]

Have you checked their opponents for the first 6-7 games?

[hater]

Ariza is definitely and improvement IMO

but that's about it. they are probably getting beat by a Blazer or fill in the blank team in round 1 or 2 imo

[lefty]

1st round exit

[ambchang]

Yeah, their schedule has been soft so far, but they seemed to have shown real improvement on the defensive end.

They can be a 2nd rounder, or a WCFinalist this year, which is an improvement from last year for sure.

I can't see them going to the finals or winning it all yet, but with an improved defense, anchored by D12 and flanked by Ariza and Beverly, they can be a very difficult team to match up against.

[100%duncan]

They are not a deep team and the days of 6-8 men playoff rotation are long gone especially if you wish to beat the Spurs, that is also one of their biggest weaknesses aside from Mcfail.

[djohn2oo8]

Getting rid of Parsons and having Ariza as the replacement.

Their defense can be potent once Beverly is back.

The only thing stopping them is McHale.

I wouldn't say fluked. They consciously let go of Parsons AND Lin. I think losing Lin is addition by subtraction. Idk if they are a better team yet. Asik was leaving no matter what and they haven't found a decent replacement for him. And they have no legit PF. Jones is still developing, and teams like the Clippers and Portland with athletic PFs will give them trouble. They hired a defensive minded assistant coach, I think that can help. Really need bench depth.

[djohn2oo8]

They should go after someone like David West or Paul Millsap.

[RsxPiimp]

2nd rd exit is their ceiling. Ariza's addition isn't going to propel then from a 1st rd team to a WCF. They have the same coach, it remains to be seen if Harden could actually show in the postseason and they still have a thin bench which is important going forward.

GSW, Mavs, Spurs and even A low seed OKC could all spoil Houstons aspirations.

[djohn2oo8]

2nd rd exit is their ceiling. Ariza's addition isn't going to propel then from a 1st rd team to a WCF. They have the same coach, it remains to be seen if Harden could actually show in the postseason and they still have a thin bench which is important going forward.

GSW, Mavs, Spurs and even A low seed OKC could all spoil Houstons aspirations.

Good thing his contract is up at the end of the season, so if they don't get past the first, he won't be back. With McHale's luck, this motherfucker could end up advancing to the second round and getting a five year extension :(

[TDMVPDPOY]

i dont think they can beat a healthy spurs team

all spurs need to do is put green/kawhi on harden contain him, and its over...

[hater]

don't get me wrong. Spurs are 1 likely injury away from a 2nd round exit as well. but still. The Rockets are just not going anywhere unless they make a midseason trade

[Fabbs]

Agree that having the offense being centered around the Bearded Flopper will again not work come playoff time.
Could he, will he learn to distribute the ball and involve a healthy DHoward more? Q is more will McHale insist he does?
Not likely.

[Killakobe81]

Getting rid of Parsons and having Ariza as the replacement.

Their defense can be potent once Beverly is back.

The only thing stopping them is McHale.

I was thinking the same. Bosh would have been a great get ... but by trading Lin developing Terence Jones and getting the upgrade on defense in the Ariza/Parsons swap. I think Arzia + Jones - Bosh - Lin as crazy as it sounds makes the Rox better balanced.

Yes, their schedule is soft especially since Pop punted before Last Thursday's night game ...but as SURE as I was that they were not legit last year ... I am really starting to buy in to their team despite my loathing of Dwight.

Like I said earlier this week give them RC, and I would give them great odds at beating the Mavs and AT LEAST Pushing the Spurs to 7.

[djohn2oo8]

I was thinking the same. Bosh would have been a great get ... but by trading Lin developing Terence Jones and getting the upgrade on defense in the Ariza/Parsons swap. I think Arzia + Jones - Bosh - Lin as crazy as it sounds makes the Rox better balanced.

Yes, their schedule is soft especially since Pop punted before Last Thursday's night game ...but as SURE as I was that they were not legit last year ... I am really starting to buy in to their team despite my loathing of Dwight.

Like I said earlier this week give them RC, and I would give them great odds at beating the Mavs and AT LEAST Pushing the Spurs to 7.

Bosh would have put them on another level. Oh well. I wouldn't turn down 30 extra mil either .

[GuerillaBlack]

Agree that having the offense being centered around the Bearded Flopper will again not work come playoff time.
Could he, will he learn to distribute the ball and involve a healthy DHoward more? Q is more will McHale insist he does?
Not likely.

Harden just had double digit assists last night for the second time. Not sure why people think he doesn't distribute the ball tbh. His problem was defense and right now it's shooting.

[spurraider21]

Harden just had double digit assists last night for the second time. Not sure why people think he doesn't distribute the ball tbh. His problem was defense and right now it's shooting.
nobody said he doesn't distribute the ball

[noob cake]

League fucked. We missing our starting PG and PF for most of this season.

Beverly is a top 5 defensive guard in the league. Jones is 10x better than Motiejunas.

Beverly/Canaan/Daniels
Harden/Terry
Ariza/K-Pap/Garcia
Jones/K-Pap/Motiejunas
Dwight/Black

[benefactor]

League fucked. We missing our starting PG and PF for most of this season.

Beverly is a top 5 defensive guard in the league. Jones is 10x better than Motiejunas.

Beverly/Canaan/Daniels
Harden/Terry
Ariza/K-Pap/Garcia
Jones/K-Pap/Motiejunas
Dwight/Black
But can it get them past McHale when the bright lights are on?

[Chris]

Jones and a healthy Dwight is pretty scary matchup for the Spurs tbh. The Rockets are a better team with Parsons over Ariza, but he's a great substitute. Turtlehead and Garcia are good role players. Rockets are scary for sure

[Holden_Caulfield]

the blazers of last season

[GuerillaBlack]

Agree that having the offense being centered around the Bearded Flopper will again not work come playoff time.
Could he, will he learn to distribute the ball and involve a healthy DHoward more? Q is more will McHale insist he does?
Not likely.


nobody said he doesn't distribute the ball

???

[spurraider21]

^ah. well then he's dumb. Harden has always been a playmaker, not just a one-dimensional scorer

[Indazone]

IF Ariza can keep it up, he may have morphed into giving us our Big Three by complete accident. Add three point shooting specialist JET and do everything Papanikolaou and you have a solid core to do some damage in the post season.

[skut_farkus]

Have they got a new coach, better pg and a pf? Lots a crappy teams they have been padding their record on

[Clipper Nation]

IF Ariza can keep it up, he may have morphed into giving us our Big Three by complete accident. Add three point shooting specialist JET and do everything Papanikolaou and you have a solid core to do some damage in the post season.
If your "Big Three" includes James Harden and Trevor Ariza, you don't really have a Big Three.

[Fabbs]

Harden just had double digit assists last night for the second time. Not sure why people think he doesn't distribute the ball tbh. His problem was defense and right now it's shooting.
Playoffs.
2013 per game ave.
40 min
39% fg
19 shots per game, not counting his food stamps free throws.
4.5 assists

2014
43 min
37% fg 29% treys
22 shots a game
5.8 assists

These are Kirby Bryant type stats.
Do not reflect ball distribution.

[100%duncan]

If your "Big Three" includes James Harden and Trevor Ariza, you don't really have a Big Three.

Pretty much

[Franklin]

replacing Parsons with Ariza seems to have benefited them a bit imho. With that said, Parsons could be the ideal type of stretch 4 playing next to DH but McHale had never figured it out.

[Splits]

replacing Parsons with Ariza seems to have benefited them a bit imho. With that said, Parsons could be the ideal type of stretch 4 playing next to DH but McHale had never figured it out.

Jeezus I don't know who's posts are more boring to read, yours or Sean Cagney

[testies]

Harden is driving and kicking much more this season. When he plays smart like this, its hard not to think of him as a top5 player in the game. Only thing stopping them is McHale and bench

[dirk4mvp]

Harden is driving and kicking much more this season. When he plays smart like this, its hard not to think of him as a top5 player in the game. Only thing stopping them is McHale and bench

Especially factoring in his blistering 39% FG and 31% from 3

[dirk4mvp]

Harden is driving and kicking much more this season. When he plays smart like this, its hard not to think of him as a top5 player in the game. Only thing stopping them is McHale and bench

Especially factoring in his blistering 39% FG and 31% from 3

[100%duncan]

Harden is driving and kicking much more this season. When he plays smart like this, its hard not to think of him as a top5 player in the game. Only thing stopping them is McHale and bench

Lebron, Durant, AD, Westbrook, Griffin, Howard, Curry, Aldridge, Love, Bosh....

Top 5? :lmao

[100%duncan]

Fat Gasol, Dirk, etc etc

[scanry]

Trading Lin fluked them into a better team tbh.

I always got the impression that the Rockets were more concerned about not losing the Chinese fan base tbh. BTW not a good time for the Chinese to switch to the Lakers. They jump back or have they already?

[Robz4000]

Bosh on Inside the NBA:

"How close were you to going to Houston?"

"Uhhh....not really."

[Franklin]

It was Yao's legacy that kept chinese fans on board for them from 09 through 13 imho, but even when Yao was in his prime there were still a hell lot of Lakers fans in China. So I don't think the trade had made any significant difference. Lakers and Lockets have always had the biggest fan bases in China tbh.

[djohn2oo8]

Trading Lin fluked them into a better team tbh.

I always got the impression that the Rockets were more concerned about not losing the Chinese fan base tbh. BTW not a good time for the Chinese to switch to the Lakers. They jump back or have they already?

Exactly. That's pretty much why they still have those commie uniforms.

[djohn2oo8]

replacing Parsons with Ariza seems to have benefited them a bit imho. With that said, Parsons could be the ideal type of stretch 4 playing next to DH but McHale had never figured it out.

Parsons would get bullied in the paint. He doesn't have the frame to guard PFs.

[urunobili]

Peaking at the right time :tu grat's Houston....

[djohn2oo8]

Beverley should be coming back soon. Jones looks to be out a while.

[SPM]

1st round exit

[Brazil]

Jeezus I don't know who's posts are more boring to read, yours or Sean Cagney

:lol

I love the random side of this post :lmao

[SPM]

Are notorious playoff chokers Dwight and Harden still leading the way? First round exit

[ImDaNuts]

Can't even compete vs the 76ers :lol

[PingPong]

The weakest spot on the Rockets is on the Beard and Coward heads. I don't trust in a team wich relies in this duo of shitheads.

[FlAVaK]

The weakest spot on the Rockets is on the Beard and Coward heads. I don't trust in a team wich relies in this duo of shitheads.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuDM2cmi62w

[FlAVaK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w3fRHrKWVg

:lmao

[RsxPiimp]

Rockets are rollin despite of injuries. djohn2oo8 must be one happy dude right now.

[sook]

the rockets are playing well atm, but so were the pacers at this point last yr.

[djohn2oo8]

Rockets are rollin despite of injuries. djohn2oo8 (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=14870) must be one happy dude right now.

Not happy about all these injuries, especially how secretive the organization is being about them. Conspiracy theorist, Dwight isn't playing because of legal trouble.

[Bynumite]

Bin Harden 5-21 from the field, 15 points :lmao

[Double-Up]

Bin Harden 5-21 from the field, 15 points :lmao

Yea he was in a Kobe territory last night...except we won the game. :lol