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

[brooklynballer]

Was just browsing the Clutchfans site and noticed this thread asking whether, with the recent additions of Ariza, Brewer and J. Smith, the Rockets would be able to beat the Blazers in a playoff series this year.

I'll be honest, I have yet to find a more delusional fan base in all of sports than Rockets fans. The vast majority believe that the Rockets were the better team last year, despite the loss in six games. Lots claim that the Rockets got robbed by the refs and Harden didn't get any calls! Harden shot an average of 8.3 FTs per game while Howard shot a whopping 10.7 per game.

I love these gems:

We would beat the blazers. Josh Smith on Aldridge and the rockets as a team playing defense are series game changers. If you look at last year's playoff series every game was close, refs weren't on our sides and Portland hit a lot of lucky shots too. All that won't happen again.

We were better than Blazers last year too, at least talent wise. Now the talent and the new D culture is MUCH better. A lot of teams in West are worried, not just the Blazers.

we would beat them even without the addition of Smith. We are stacked.

We ARE better than them, even in the playoff series last summer, WE were the better team and everyone knows it. Bad breaks and mental breakdowns are what defeated us.

We are not only better than the Blazers. We are better than anyone in the NBA right now!

Count me in the group that 100% believes the Rockets were the better team last year. This year's team is clearly better than last year's so I'd say we would smoke them in a series.

The only improvement I see from Portland is Lillard's growth as a player. Significant but not enough to stop the Rockets.

As far as Aldridge, yes, our defense against him wasn't the best at times in the series but he also hit the zone. It won't ever happen again for him. He just isn't that good of a player. It's like when Bonzi Wells went GOAT against the Spurs in a playoff series way back when and returned to earth immediately never to sniff that level of play for the rest of his days.

We got jobbed last year with how they called the game (tight tight on LMA, "let the boys play" on Harden). This year it won't be close. I really really hope we match up with them again, because they're about to get a whuppin'.

It got me thinking, however ... if these teams do matchup in the playoffs this year, would the result be the same as last year? Or does Houston now have the edge due to the added depth and perimeter defenders?

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

With a decent coach and Harden shooting over 4 percent they win last year. Subtract Aldridge going crazy and it would be worse.

Lillard improvement this year may change the entire balance. Who knows?

 

[PDXFonz]

Who are these clowns? Nobody in the league can guard aldridge. Sure you may be able to give him a tough time. But take anyone in the NBA last year and stick them on aldridge in game 1/2 and he goes for maybe 5 less points. The only person in the NBA who stands a chance at actually shutting LA down is DAVIS, and even then he has his hands full.

 

[magnifier661]

The reason "clank fans" think they got jobbed by the refs because they were used to Harden getting every breath on him a foul during the regular season. That all changes in the playoffs. They allow teams to play more physical and the game becomes more defensive oriented.

The true teams are the ones with players that overcome physical play and can still be a factor in games. That's why Memphis is normally a good playoff team because that's how they role.

Teams are extremely physical on the Blazers all season long, as they are bumping and clawing Aldridge and Lillard throughout the season. They are used to being physical. That isn't the case for the Rockets most the time, so it catches them by surprise.

But they are also delusional about only Lillard's growth as the only addition. Kaman, Blake and the more experienced youth add a much better dimension. Our defense is much improved from last season, while Stotts has become a hugely underrated X's and O's coach.

I welcome a first, second or WCF match up with that team. They are the only team I'm not worried about.

 

[PDXFonz]

Yes the moves makes us better than Portland, Memphis, Dallas and Warriors. It puts us in the same league as the Clippers and Thunders.

...

 

[magnifier661]

...

Hahahahaahaha

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

What it comes down to is that Kevin McHale is a horrible coach.

 

[magnifier661]

The true rub is Houston is a better team without Howard. They are more fluid, better defensively (traps and helter Skeltor), and seem to let the game come to them.

With Howard, it's like they force the inside out game and take out Harden's true ability

 

[riverman]

What it comes down to is that Kevin McHale is a horrible coach.

This is the truth! Repped!

 

[OneLifeToLive]

It will be interesting. You have two different strategies/ideologies in play here. I think Neil Olshey is following the Spur plan as close as is possible. With all the recent moves you haven't seen him flinch. He believes in what he is doing.Morey on the other hand is following Trader Bob's way of doing business to the T. Have we ever seen this strategy ever work? Few other teams have tried to win this way in the past and they failed.

I personally think the chemistry on this team will continue to simmer and they will better in the end because of it. The Blazers have the edge on the Rockets. And you give this team another four months. I think they have a shot to be really good. Barring injuries.

I say no. Rockets do not have the ingredients to beat the Blazers

 

[riverman]

I'm glad they think only Lillard improved. It'll make kicking their butt even better in the playoffs if somebody else doesn't do it first. They also aren't resting their starters much at all this season. We beat them when our only bench scorer was injured throughout the series last time. This time we're a much, much deeper and much, much better defensive team. Josh Smith couldn't keep his starting job in Detroit..see how long he keeps it up in Houston. I hope Smith shoots a ton of jumpers that Hardin usually shoots.

 

[riverman]

The Rockets could very well become the Brooklyn Nets of the West..Garnett, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson...looks good on paper doesn't it?

 

[magnifier661]

The Rockets could very well become the Brooklyn Nets of the West..Garnett, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson...looks good on paper doesn't it?

Yeah I still believe they will implode. There are way too many volatile personalities in the bunch. Wait for when the first sign of trouble to see what they are truly made of.

 

[-Ace-]

I'm finding it difficult to see a team that the Rockets couldn't beat in a seven game series so yes they are better than the Blazers. I think this team could sweep the Blazers, beat the thunder in six and the Clippers in five

 

[RR7]

Asik was the only guy that did a good job on Aldridge last year and he's gone. So that means they'd have to use Howard as a stopper on him. So that's a plus. Still, they as a team have improved on defense similar to the way we have overall. Smith is better than Jones. Ariza a better fit I think than parsons. It'd be another tight series I think.

 

[riverman]

Wait until Smith starts taking the offense away from Hardin..that's the clincher for a meltdown

 

[magnifier661]

Clutch fans lol

/blazerwookee

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Clutch City is the official nickname of Lillard.

After he shat on HOU he took it on principle.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Two words choke fans:

POINT NINE!

/thread

BNM

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

"Asik and Howard will shut down Aldridge."

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Let's think here, the playoffs are what counts, the Rockets wont get their normal fraudulent free throw attempts (cough* Harden cough*). Also, when they DO get to the line in the playoffs they aren't a good FT shooting team now with their rotation... We can foul their frontcourt at the end of the game if we are down like 6-7 with a couple minutes left.

Beverly (.676) / Terry (.810)
Harden (.888)
Ariza (.817) / Brewer (.696)
Smith (.482) / Jones (.750)
Howard (.514) / Motiejunas (.613)

compare that rotation to our likely playoff rotation:

Lillard (.885) / Blake (.765)
Matthews (.701) / Crabbe-McCollum (.889-.727)
Batum (.885)
Aldridge (.850) / Freeland (.824)
Lopez (.804) / Kaman (.667)

Also, how can you not forget our MASSIVE advantage in the coaching aspect of the game? Stotts runs circles around McHale.

 

[Natebishop3]

...

That's true.. they ARE in the same category as the Clippers and Thunder. Both teams suck.

 

[maxiep]

I like my opponents confident. Yep, Houston, you're the best. You were better last year and we just got lucky. You were jobbed by the refs. The Spurs should have an asterik next to their title, because you were just that awesome.

 

[magnifier661]

God I just read through that shit pile thread and there was only one rational fan there.

Not only do I hope we see them in the playoffs, I want to sweep them. That fan base are fucking idiots!

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Im tired of hearing about r*ckets and their shitty fans tbh. I reject the challenge because the r*ckets are no challenge, but id be more than happy to beat up on them some more.

Seriously though someone needs to smash h*rden and b*verlys faces. If those 2 choked on eachothers egos I would prob lol

 

[fumanchu]

I think the Rockets have become the favorites in the West. Unlike the Nets, those guys are all in their prime. The big question with that team is leadership. Harden is a gunner. Beverly is quiet role guy. Dwight Howard isn't that guy. Where does it come from? If they get leadership and chemistry, watch out.

 

[KingSpeed]

The Rockets are awful. First round and out last year. First round and out this year. IF they make the playoffs.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Smith was a good pickup. They got him for nothing and historically he was a pretty good defender. He has the strength and athleticism to at least attempt to defend Aldridge. I also hate Brewew because that guy seems to always have great games against us.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Houston being an awesome place for black millionaires to live > Darryl Morey's Analytics in making basketball decisions.

 

[Blazersfan161]

Rockets fans are full of excuses ..why they lost to us was luck etc they are in denial

One thing they keep forgetting. James harden is a great regular season player but come playoff time he sucks as he has showed the past two years.