Why Houston is NOT a contender

[Im Still Ballin]

1. Reliance on Harden free throws
- We've seen it MULTIPLE times in his career. When the big lights are on and the refs swallow their whistles, James becomes Jenna. Bitch-mode activated. When he's not getting the calls defenses can play him tighter and expose him for his lack of elite athleticism. He might have a couple good games getting hot from 3 but when the going gets tough, James becomes Jenna. James becomes Jenna. James Becomes Jenna. JAMES BECOMES JENNA.

2. Average point differential
- Pretty much every NBA champion from the last 20 years have had a points differential higher than 5. Houston's is +3.6. Stinky. Cleveland is similar yet they were 19-20 at one point. LMAO. The evidence suggests that Houston is not an elite team and I agree. Memphis plays a slower pace so their differential is understandable. Houston are known for shooting 3s on the break, and firing early in the shot clock. No long twos as they say.

3. They have Josh Smith. Dwight Howard. James Harden
- All career losers. These guys are not winners. They're the Charles Barkley types. Never amount to really anything... Sure they might win a DPOY or an MVP but never the big one. Good luck trying to beat the elite teams when you got these guys free reign to jack up bricks all night long. The drive or 3 no long 2's game-plan might work in the regular season against bottom feeders, but we've seen what happens when they play the elite teams (Remember the GSW games? LMAO). When the refs swallow their whistles, someones going to try and be the hero. Brick after brick after brick. Cancers.

[Im Still Ballin]

1. Reliance on Harden free throws
- We've seen it MULTIPLE times in his career. When the big lights are on and the refs swallow their whistles, James becomes Jenna. Bitch-mode activated. When he's not getting the calls defenses can play him tighter and expose him for his lack of elite athleticism. He might have a couple good games getting hot from 3 but when the going gets tough, James becomes Jenna. James becomes Jenna. James Becomes Jenna. JAMES BECOMES JENNA.

2. Average point differential
- Pretty much every NBA champion from the last 20 years have had a points differential higher than 5. Houston's is +3.6. Stinky. Cleveland is similar yet they were 19-20 at one point. LMAO. The evidence suggests that Houston is not an elite team and I agree. Memphis plays a slower pace so their differential is understandable. Houston are known for shooting 3s on the break, and firing early in the shot clock. No long twos as they say.

3. They have Josh Smith. Dwight Howard. James Harden
- All career losers. These guys are not winners. They're the Charles Barkley types. Never amount to really anything... Sure they might win a DPOY or an MVP but never the big one. Good luck trying to beat the elite teams when you got these guys free reign to jack up bricks all night long. The drive or 3 no long 2's game-plan might work in the regular season against bottom feeders, but we've seen what happens when they play the elite teams (Remember the GSW games? LMAO). When the refs swallow their whistles, someones going to try and be the hero. Brick after brick after brick. Cancers.
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[Cocaine80s]

Its been interesting watching the months go by while OP's sanity fades...


Why you so weird now brah? :biggums:

[Im Still Ballin]

Get your saggy pancake ass in here YGS

The King wants your malnourished poo hole to feed to the python

[warriorfan]

im still ballin stop doing so much adderall before you come on ISH

[nba_55]

Its been interesting watching the months go by while OP's sanity fades...


Why you so weird now brah? :biggums:

He's actually one of the very few good posters on this board.

[Im Still Ballin]

The King **** doesn't deal with little guys like warriorfan and cocaine80's

[Prime_Shaq]

Not the same Howard no more. If it was Orlando Howard then they might have a chance.

[Akrazotile]

OP is jamz nayschmidt


So is warriorfan

[Biggyd81]

Cool story bro:rolleyes:

[Sakkreth]

Josh Smith is their backup. Just sayin..

[Im Still Ballin]

And still routinely has 20 shot attempt games

La-may-oh.

[UK2K]

And still routinely has 20 shot attempt games

La-may-oh.
Cause he averages 11 FGA per game since joining the Rockets, and that's including the 20 or so games without Dwight.

So... Not only are you a liar, but you're a **** as well.

Congrats.

[el_locoteee]

1. Reliance on Harden free throws
- We've seen it MULTIPLE times in his career. When the big lights are on and the refs swallow their whistles, James becomes Jenna. Bitch-mode activated. When he's not getting the calls defenses can play him tighter and expose him for his lack of elite athleticism. He might have a couple good games getting hot from 3 but when the going gets tough, James becomes Jenna. James becomes Jenna. James Becomes Jenna. JAMES BECOMES JENNA.

James Harden
2013 Playoff 11FTA Regular season 10.9
2014 Playoff 8.3FTA Regular Season 9.9

Yep you are right :rolleyes:

[Spurs m8]

1. Reliance on Harden free throws
- We've seen it MULTIPLE times in his career. When the big lights are on and the refs swallow their whistles, James becomes Jenna. Bitch-mode activated. When he's not getting the calls defenses can play him tighter and expose him for his lack of elite athleticism. He might have a couple good games getting hot from 3 but when the going gets tough, James becomes Jenna. James becomes Jenna. James Becomes Jenna. JAMES BECOMES JENNA.

2. Average point differential
- Pretty much every NBA champion from the last 20 years have had a points differential higher than 5. Houston's is +3.6. Stinky. Cleveland is similar yet they were 19-20 at one point. LMAO. The evidence suggests that Houston is not an elite team and I agree. Memphis plays a slower pace so their differential is understandable. Houston are known for shooting 3s on the break, and firing early in the shot clock. No long twos as they say.

3. They have Josh Smith. Dwight Howard. James Harden
- All career losers. These guys are not winners. They're the Charles Barkley types. Never amount to really anything... Sure they might win a DPOY or an MVP but never the big one. Good luck trying to beat the elite teams when you got these guys free reign to jack up bricks all night long. The drive or 3 no long 2's game-plan might work in the regular season against bottom feeders, but we've seen what happens when they play the elite teams (Remember the GSW games? LMAO). When the refs swallow their whistles, someones going to try and be the hero. Brick after brick after brick. Cancers.

Word

[Im Still Ballin]

The King **** has seemingly made Houston fans furious

Free throws in relation to context matter. The gunslinger approach does not work in the playoffs. Houston learnt that last year and they will learn it again.

[Magic731]

I thought it was common knowledge that he Rockets weren't contenders. They are simply not good enough.

[JohnFreeman]

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https://photo.tinhte.vn/store/2015/01/2785311_gif.gif

[UK2K]

I thought it was common knowledge that he Rockets weren't contenders. They are simply not good enough.
It is to everybody but Milbuck

[Mr Exlax]

Actually you could just mention who our head coach is and that is reason enough why we aren't legitimate contenders. All that other shit is dumb anyway.

[NZStreetBaller]

Career losers?? Haha isnt everybody considered a career loser untill they win a championship?

[Im Still Ballin]

The King **** knows best. houston are pretenders

[Sakkreth]

Career losers?? Haha isnt everybody considered a career loser untill they win a championship?

Yeah by his definition Westbrook, Durant, Curry are also career losers, therefore the only contenders are Cavs, Spurs, Mavericks.

[trabash]

Who is even saying the Roxx are contenders? If you do you have to call the Wizards and Bucks contenders too.

[KungFuJoe]

Rockets will never be contenders with Morey and McHale running things.

[kenny817]

I'm Still Ballin wit da ether facts


:applause: :applause: :applause:













:applause:

[oarabbus]

Houston are contenders... to make the WCF.

I'll tell you who isn't a contender tho, the Mavs. They are garbage.

[kenny817]

Houston are contenders... to make the WCF.

I'll tell you who isn't a contender tho, the Mavs. They are garbage.

Good luck against OKC :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[oarabbus]

Good luck against OKC :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:


You just came off two big losses to playoff teams and made it a close game against the Lakers :kobe:

[Smook A.]

So Houston can't make playoff noise because of those 3 things you listed? Harden's struggles in the playoffs didn't come from free throw shooting. In the 2014 playoffs, Harden attempted .8 free throws less compared to his 2014 regular season average. Not much of a difference. In the 2013 playoffs it was a little different. Harden was averaging 1 MORE free throw as compared to his regular season average... so free throws aren't the problem. His terrible performances in his last couple of playoff series all came from bad shot selection. That's why his FG% was so bad. He was attempting almost TEN 3 pointers in the series against Portland. That's not good at all. I will never know why he was taking all those shots... it was just careless and stupid of him to do so. All he needs to do is play smarter in this year's playoffs. At the end of the day, he is the leader of the team and it's on him to take us far in the playoffs.

Addressing your 3rd point: Let's be real here. You're always going to be a career loser if you haven't won a championship yet. Dwight, James, and Smith are all good players. Sure Smith was absolute dog shit in Detroit, but he's been playing surprisingly well in Houston. Smith just comes off the bench and does his job. He plays excellent defense, passes the ball well, rebounds, grabs a steal or two from time to time, and gets some buckets. He's been a huge plus overall. Houston's bench in total has been actually really good. Corey Brewer is another good spark. It's amazing how well Houston has played WITHOUT Dwight. We've been having defensive problems in the paint without him, but we're still managing to win a respectable amount of games. Once he comes back, he'll fix that problem.

I feel like Houston can make a nice run in the playoffs. I don't see them as pretenders, tbh.

[kenny817]

You just came off two big losses to playoff teams and made it a close game against the Lakers :kobe:

Didn't yall lose the Pacers and Jazz?

[el_locoteee]

So Houston can't make playoff noise because of those 3 things you listed? Harden's struggles in the playoffs didn't come from free throw shooting. In the 2014 playoffs, Harden attempted .8 free throws less compared to his 2014 regular season average. Not much of a difference. In the 2013 playoffs it was a little different. Harden was averaging 1 MORE free throw as compared to his regular season average... so free throws aren't the problem. His terrible performances in his last couple of playoff series all came from bad shot selection. That's why his FG% was so bad. He was attempting almost TEN 3 pointers in the series against Portland. That's not good at all. I will never know why he was taking all those shots... it was just careless and stupid of him to do so. All he needs to do is play smarter in this year's playoffs. At the end of the day, he is the leader of the team and it's on him to take us far in the playoffs.

Addressing your 3rd point: Let's be real here. You're always going to be a career loser if you haven't won a championship yet. Dwight, James, and Smith are all good players. Sure Smith was absolute dog shit in Detroit, but he's been playing surprisingly well in Houston. Smith just comes off the bench and does his job. He plays excellent defense, passes the ball well, rebounds, grabs a steal or two from time to time, and gets some buckets. He's been a huge plus overall. Houston's bench in total has been actually really good. Corey Brewer is another good spark. It's amazing how well Houston has played WITHOUT Dwight. We've been having defensive problems in the paint without him, but we're still managing to win a respectable amount of games. Once he comes back, he'll fix that problem.

I feel like Houston can make a nice run in the playoffs. I don't see them as pretenders, tbh.

JET and Ariza are not carrer losers. :D
Also Dwight and Harden have been in the finals.
Sooo contenders are those who can contend for a championship. So 4 of our guys have contended for the championship before and 2 won it. soooo....

[KungFuJoe]

The players aren't the problem. Houston is STACKED. They do have some holes, such as lack of playmaking and driving to the hoop other than Harden, but this team is solid from top to bottom and Harden is having an MVP like year.

Look...I watched this team with a magnifying glass for the two years Lin was there and I still have paid attention this year (though not as much).

There's a reason why they start out hot and fade in the end. They are PREDICTABLE. And it's Morey's (and to some extent, McHale's) fault.

For example.

Morey loves the three ball and inside the paint. His reasoning? High percentage (in the paint) and better bang for the buck (3 pointers). It makes sense. On paper. But, in reality, it makes your offense easy to game plan against because opposing teams only have to worry about staying up on their man when they're outside the 3. No worrying about someone running to the top of the key or even a high post. It's either on the block or a three. Harden is the only real enigma on the team as he has the green light to do whatever he wants, but teams just basically dare him to beat them by himself. Which is why he's getting stats like crazy, but Houston isn't really doing all that better than they did last year.

I know some people will point to injuries and DH being out for so many games, but I don't even know if DH makes this team (as it is) any better. He has NO role on offense and just looks lost.

Morey thinks the midrange shot is dead, but it's not. It's there to keep defenses honest and the offense versatile. You gotta attack from everywhere.

Moneyball might work in baseball, where most of the action is really one on one (batter vs pitcher) but in basketball, there are too many intangibles...too many factors that make putting so much focus on pure stats illogical.