RonArtest15 Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Howard is not the problem. He wasn't the problem on the Lakers (which is painfully evident now) and he's certainly not the problem in Houston's two playoff losses. James Harden is MIA on both sides of the floor. Howard will get as much blame as Harden if they get bounced. Fair or not, it goes with the territory of being arguably the best at his position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozymandias Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I told my friend who's a rockets fan that Aldridge would dominates them, but even I didn't envision this. Good god. I like harden, but he's doing a major choke job in the playoffs. This is the poorest start to a series I can remember for a guy that average 25+ ppg. I wanted to see a hou-okc rematch but looks like it may not happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lombardi's_kid_brother Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 The halftime argument between Shaq and Barkley was epic. Shaq was praising Dwight for dominating. Barkley was saying that the Rockets were going to lose with Dwight dominating because "That's not their offense." I've watched a lot of the Rockets this year and they have done more standing around in the past two games than they have done in any two month stretch. I think this style of pay can work in the playoffs, but it gets harder to do and the Rockets may just be a fundamentally lazy team. Also, Aldridge is playing out of his mind, but he's getting a million fantastic looks. Any above average forward would be scoring 35 a game against the Rockets D right now. Aldridge is a level above that right now obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TradeTheBeal! Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMFV7WFtHm0#t=240 Ruthless and relentless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCranon21 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Is McHale trying to really find his way out of Houston? No matter who he has on Aldridge, he scores. And like some already said, Harden is pulling his usual Houdini act. Disappear at the wrong moment once again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 (edited) 80 percent of Harden's game is predicated on running straight into people who are trying not to foul and drawing a zillion fouls anyway. When the refs are letting defenses hold their ground (like they do in the playoffs most of the time), that tactic becomes useless. Edited April 24, 2014 by Predicto 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticksboi05 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 The halftime argument between Shaq and Barkley was epic. Shaq was praising Dwight for dominating. Barkley was saying that the Rockets were going to lose with Dwight dominating because "That's not their offense." I've watched a lot of the Rockets this year and they have done more standing around in the past two games than they have done in any two month stretch. I think this style of pay can work in the playoffs, but it gets harder to do and the Rockets may just be a fundamentally lazy team. Also, Aldridge is playing out of his mind, but he's getting a million fantastic looks. Any above average forward would be scoring 35 a game against the Rockets D right now. Aldridge is a level above that right now obviously. When your best player can't play defense, it doesn't bode well in the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 When your best player can't play defense, it doesn't bode well in the playoffs. I don't know if he Harden can't play defense. He just doesn't seem to bother. There are a lot of players who are not natural defenders but at least make themselves adequate by working hard and moving their feet. Klay Thompson is a perfect example. He doesn't have Lebron/Tony Allen defensive skills, but he just works at it. Harden is just waiting to leak out on the break. That's all he seems to care about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Also, Aldridge is playing out of his mind, but he's getting a million fantastic looks. Any above average forward would be scoring 35 a game against the Rockets D right now. Aldridge is a level above that right now obviously. Aldridge is giving a vintage Dirk/Bird performance right now. Houston has actually been guarding him and contesting his shots. He's making these fall away moon shots from 18-20 feet that you can't successfully guard. The rim is a hula hoop for him right now. Not much of his scoring is coming off of defensive breakdowns like pick and rolls and easy stuff in the lane. He's just giving a superstar performance so spectacular that it's better than Dwight's superstar performance. He's also taking a big old crap on stat nerd cliches like long 2s are the worst shots in basketball. Not for him. I don't know if he Harden can't play defense. He just doesn't seem to bother. There are a lot of players who are not natural defenders but at least make themselves adequate by working hard and moving their feet. Klay Thompson is a perfect example. He doesn't have Lebron/Tony Allen defensive skills, but he just works at it. Harden is just waiting to leak out on the break. That's all he seems to care about. His reputation for D in OKC was actually (inaccurately) good. He's never been a good defender IMO, but he wasn't this bad. I honestly think he doesn't really care about playing good basketball any more. Part of his competitive spirit and basketball IQ died when Presti traded him and he's disillusioned. All he cares about now is scoring a ton of points and superficially making Presti look dumb for trading him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 The fifth seeds went up 2-0. They were picked as big underdogs going in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosher Ham Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Now the Bullets are actually 3 point favorites going home. They were still 5 point dogs in game 2. What a difference a 2 wins make and going home. I think they should be 6.5 point favorites at home to get the action, but clearly Vegas still thinks the Bulls are going to make it close or win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Indy's offense looks worse than Chicago's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TradeTheBeal! Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Lemme just put this out there... Jeff teague is a top 3 PG right now. And, This years playoffs are wide open. The title is up for grabs. Why not, Wiz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Eh. Both Atlanta and Indy look like crap to me. I don't think the title is truly wide open, I still think Miami, OKC, LAC, and SA are heavy favorites. But I like your idea. Wizards went 44-38 in 1977-1978 too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TradeTheBeal! Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I agree with Steve, Miami is going to cruise to the finals. The pacers were the only team with much of a shot against them and something's happened in that locker room that they just can't come back from. In the west it's going to be the Clippers/Thunder. I think the Spurs window may be closed though something about them doesn't look right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 The Mavs are kind of out-Spursing the Spurs. But if San Antonio gets past them, they're going to have a tough series against Portland or Houston. And then another one against whoever comes from the bottom of the bracket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozymandias Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) You know a lot of people complain about Harden getting a lot of BS whistles for him, but Durant gets that same treatment, if not more so. And as I typed this, he got another touch foul call lol OMG Courtney lee just made Durant fall, and Durant is actually hobbling Edited April 25, 2014 by Ozymandias Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozymandias Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Wow Westbrook with he four point play after a bad turnover on the previous play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Memphis has had so many chances to completely take control of the series but they just keep choking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TradeTheBeal! Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Was gonna come in and bash Westbrook, but then he went nuts. I'll wait until next time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DM72 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Got tell it like it is. I like Durant (he's a Redskins and Pacquiao fan), but he's gotta take some heat for this loss. If Westbrook had missed this many 3's, he would get crucified for it. And the second game in a row that OKC lost in OT. Plain and simple, Brooks is being outcoached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocountyskins Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Had to share this 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiCkSoULjA Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Hilarious and I am a huge Westbrook fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Do Itch Big Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Griffin has been dominant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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