H2tObes wrote:Guerilla713 wrote:H2tObes wrote:I feel like the Rockets are in the same tier of teams as we are, how we perform in this game will be really interesting.
Harden will probably go off, but I also see a Ellis and BJ having one of those game where they both put up like 20 points and 5 assist on ok efficiency.
For some reason I'm sure Lin is going to suck ass tonight, he can't shoot and Larry will punish him if he tries to drive down the lane.
Bucks 107
Rockets 98
I'd say the Rockets are in a tier above (tier below the Thunder/Heat/Clippers). Especially since the Rockets play in the west. Houston feasts on Eastern Conference teams.
They can't hang with the playoff teams in the West. 6-12 in conference, they are too inconsistent. One night they will beat OKC, next game they will lay an egg against Portland. If Harden isn't scoring, they don't have the firepower to to make up for it on most nights.
I do agree they are a better team, but they're close in range I'd say.
Okay, but five of those twelve losses have all came versus the Thunder/Spurs. And both Thunder games, the Rockets were on the back end of back to backs (the first game came after the team flew to Minnesota from Houston that morning for McHale's daughter's funeral and the second game came on the fourth game in five nights....the Thunder had at least a day of rest both times). The second Spurs game, the Rockets were without Harden and they took it to OT. The third Spurs game, Harden got a touch foul on a jump ball (that he was jumping for) and had five before the fourth.
Both Portland games came in early November and both came in OT. The Rockets just made the Harden trade before the season and had no time to implement anything before it started, so everything was being done in season. I highly doubt the Rockets lose two games to Portland in OT (or if those games even get to OT) if the Rockets played them now. The Rockets have been much more consistent since Thanksgiving now. Lin is playing well, Harden has had 10 straight games with 25+ points now and is averaging over 5 assists also, Beardsanity actually works as a backcourt when people thought it could not, and role players like Parsons, Greg Smith, Marcus Morris, and of course Delfino have been playing well.
The Rockets blow out a lot of teams, including ones that are suppose to be great defensively (the Knicks twice, Hawks, Chicago, Memphis) and they rarely get blown out (probably about two blowout losses all season, both to the Thunder). You'll see after tonight's game that the Rockets and Bucks are not in the same tier. The Bucks are below them. Remember the Rockets are 13-2 against the East right now. What is the Bucks record against the East? If the Bucks were in the West, they would be around 9 or 10. If the Rockets were in the East, they would be 2 or 3.
Maxtradamus
