Clutchfans: With the moves, are the Rockets a better team than the Blazers?

[Natebishop3]

I think it's foolish for all of you to think the Rockets haven't improved tremendously this off season.

I don't think they improved in the offseason. I think they lost a lot of depth in the offseason with Lin, Asik, Parsons going out and only Ariza/Terry coming in. Picking up Brewer and Smith for nothing makes a huge difference though. I'm not sure if they're necessarily better than they were last season, but they've at least made up for the losses they sustained in the offseason.

Smith is a great pickup for the price.

Brewer is exactly the kind of guy you want coming off your bench. High energy, plays defense, and creates havoc.

Ariza might not be as good as Parsons offensively, but he's an upgrade defensively.

I guess we'll see how it works out. The Rockets shoot a lot of threes and Smith is not a shooter. He thinks he's a shooter, but he's not a shooter in any way, shape, or form.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

LOL both our stars respond well to being disrespected. I bet Matthews does too.

he was snubbed from 3 point contest last year and now he's best 3 point shooter in nba, id say it works.

 

[andalusian]

No point in ignoring how dangerous the Rockets are. When Harden and Howard are on their game, with the defensive upgrade they got - they are going to be a tough team for anyone.

However, any Rockets fan that ignores how dangerous the Blazers are is in for a surprise. Like the Rockets, the Blazers have improved defensively quite a bit - and unlike the Rockets, they actually improved their bench.

I suspect if this series will happen again, it will be a long, hard fought one.

 

[Mediocre Man]

They did until they made moves this mid-season.

Adding Brewer and Smith for nothing is an improvement.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't think they improved in the offseason. I think they lost a lot of depth in the offseason with Lin, Asik, Parsons going out and only Ariza/Terry coming in. Picking up Brewer and Smith for nothing makes a huge difference though. I'm not sure if they're necessarily better than they were last season, but they've at least made up for the losses they sustained in the offseason.

Smith is a great pickup for the price.

Brewer is exactly the kind of guy you want coming off your bench. High energy, plays defense, and creates havoc.

Ariza might not be as good as Parsons offensively, but he's an upgrade defensively.

I guess we'll see how it works out. The Rockets shoot a lot of threes and Smith is not a shooter. He thinks he's a shooter, but he's not a shooter in any way, shape, or form.

Yes, off season was a poor choice of words. From their last game until now, they have improved. Especially defensively, which is how playoffs are won

 

[magnifier661]

Adding Brewer and Smith for nothing is an improvement.

That's not an off-season move

 

[riverman]

The Rockets have a lot of talent but in my view, a poor coach. They are not going to be easy to beat but the Blazers can beat them. Stan Van Gundy is a good coach and I'd respect his choice to dump Smith. If anyone wanted Howard to fail, it's SVG..

 

[PDXFonz]

I ****ing hate refs .. Can't wait for the day the game is refed by computers

Computers kill harden to make job easier

 

[magnifier661]

I think the brewer pick up was great. Smith still a major question

 

[Blazersfan161]

Check their board today after their loss haha