[WSJ] The Houston Rockets Have a Warriors Hangover

I’ve heard this a couple times, and maybe it’s true for Harden & CP3, but I still think Morey and his inability to keep the team’s defensive 3&D identity intact is the root cause.

 

No we don't. We don't have Ariza and Luc

 

Worriers have a minor hangover themselves.

 

Great article. We don't have the mental fortitude of Spurs when they lost dramatically vs the heat and regrouped to win it next year.

It's part mental, but it's not only that. CP3 is declining faster than we expected and we lost talent we never recouped.

 

I buy some of this. Seems logical after the season they had last year, and the tragic way it ended. Nothing we can do about Trev and Luc being gone. Team chemistry was nearly perfect last year. Now they don’t seem to be playing for each other. Key players missing, injuries, lack of effort and intensity, lack of defense and rebounding, lack of shooting ect along with this “hangover” may all be the perfect storm for this sort of historical decline.

If this teams funk can be attributed to last seasons horrific ending, then Morey has to trade a key piece in order to bring in some fresh and hungry blood. The fresh blood also needs to be able shoot, rebound, defend, have have IQ and heart. Tall task.

I believe that whatever decision(s) Morey makes from here will define his legacy. He can try to fix it, tank, or just ride this out. Super star talents are not easy to come by as Morey well knows. If we tank and waste Harden’s prime by hoping some random rookie will develop fast enough to help us win a championship is quite a risk.

I personally think EG is gone. He has to be this year’s “Otis Thorpe “ in order for this window of opportunity to have any chance of being salvaged. If not we will be back in basketball purgatory for the next decade while we search for the next star who wants to come to Houston.

I would rather he throw a Hail Mary and go for it now.

 

Article speaks the truth and it's evident in their play this season. Any team with Harden, CP3 (even a declining CP3), Capela, Gordon and Tucker should not be below .500.

 

except if they have tanked to raise the value of picks for the dagger trade

 

we peaked too fast

 

We will still be a top 3 seed.

 

I can’t disagree, but I still am happy we went for it last year, even if this is the consequence.

 

I think there is some merit to this.
1. I think it is not WE ALMOST HAD IT . . .but more THEY STOLE IT FROM US . . . f*Cking REFS ... . . .so what's the point? They climbing out of it
2. We lost SOME talent - but I think we lost more experience and cohesiveness
Integrating the new parts has not been smooth . .. nor should we have expected it to be
3. CP3 and EGO are slumping a bit
4. Over extending Tuck and Capela in minutes
5. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT rules affecting our defense (some how I feel this was made specifically for the Rockets . . .. )

Rocket River

 

Amen, especially on #5.

 

6. The West is currently broken. Teams 1-14 are separated by 5 games in the loss column.

 

never seen the word “tragicomic” used in a sentence before...u see something new every day

anyways, yeah, I fully believe that this team knows that last year was special and their shot to win it all...the team has gotten worse and now the passion and fight is gone

 

na they just know the NBA doesnt want the rox to win so why even try

 

We could also say that Ariza is the embodiment of the "Warriors Hangover", so he left for easier pastures, and there was nothing Morey was able to do about it.

Reports are indeed that Ariza really took the loss hard. Maybe more than anyone else.

 

Absolutely this! I am sure they have to be feeling this way. Hell, just as a fan I've been checked out this season because my distrust of the NBA front office and the refs has me feeling like "what's the point?"

 

Totally agreed! Losing Ariza while resigning Capela, CP3 cost this team 30 wins!

 

YES- even after CP went down the league STILL had to step in and assist the Worriers in winning the WCF. It is sad.

Another contributing factor is the cowardly GMs/owners/coaches that would rather sit back and let the Worriers dominance play out, rather than actually try to dethrone them. They would rather the Worriers win AGAIN than to suffer the jealousy of another team doing what they could not.

When you have GMs / coaches / teams that are too afraid to trade with the Rockets for fear of making the Rockets better it tells you all you need to know about this league.

What's the next best thing to the Worriers collapsing? Watching/helping their only serious threat (Rockets) come unglued.

When the league has to step in and assist the Worriers in taking down the cp3-less rockets- that tells you all you need to know about this rigged/sissy league.