Does CF think the Rockets are building for playoff success?

Spoiler

tl;dr: No I don't think they're "building" for playoff success or that it's a priority. No, I don't think they'll win a championship with Harden (or with Tilman or with Mike).
As long as they win MVPs, win scoring titles, get triple doubles, roll out the pregame red carpet with the DJ, all is well #swagchamps

No.

They are building to be another "fun", regular season team that wins 50 games.

And no. For all the reasons you mentioned.
It's for all the reasons that don't matter. Profits, regular season MVPs, regular season scoring titles, triple doubles ... who the **** cares?
Daily ****ing threads ... Oh no! Stephen A. said this! Max said this! Did you hear what Nick Wright said? Cowherd doesn't have him first for MVP! NBA listed him third on the Kia MVP ladder! Oh no!

All your regular season glory are belong to us!

Mike is not a championship caliber coach. Mike's just along for the ride.
Oh, he wants a 2-3 year extension while also saying James has a great 2-3 years left? No kidding! ("But there’s no reason James isn’t like this for another two, three years.”)

Tilman is not a championship owner.
I've come to @Asian Sensation & @JayZ750 side ... I don't believe James is a championship caliber lead player. And Westbrook sure as hell ain't.
Regular season MVP and postseason something less than that.
Regular season MVP and then in the postseason, cries of "not enough help! not enough help". Funny, I don't hear about not enough help during the season (when he's dropping 30/40/50/60 and double-doubles and triple-doubles.)

No one wants to hear it but T-Mac is right, Kobe's right. The James Harden solo act isn't going anywhere in the postseason.

And that's just it. They run everything through one guy and jack up a bunch of threes. Backup plan? Like non.
Threes don't fall? 0-27? Just keep on shooting!
James has an off night (aka he's drunk, he's concussed, he went to the club, etc.), you're screwed.
Yeah tell me Kawhi & Steph can't do what he does. They also don't need everything ran through them, ball in their hands all the time or otherwise be pretty much useless.

Sorry if I don't buy into postseason James Harden. Where/what's his playoff moment? List of "blunders" is long though.

Losing by 39 to the Spurs WITHOUT Kawhi and Tony?
Damian Lillard .9?
Getting benched & watching Josh Smith/Corey Brewer bring the team back?
Setting a playoff record for most turnovers in a game?
Lost to Durant/Cousin-less Warriors team in G5(Durant exits with 2 minutes left in the 3rd; Harden takes one shot in the final 7 minutes)
G6 no Durant, no Cousins, Curry/Green in foul trouble, Curry scoreless at half; up 89-82 before Steph goes nuclear & wins the game

This guy has the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
When he's on, damn he's on! He's MVP! He's best player in the league!
When he's off, damn is he off! Just beyond awful, like what the **** are you doing? Get him outta there ASAP.
What other star runs as hot & cold as Harden?
What other star .. "Is AD concussed?" "Did KD go to the club?" "Is LeBron sober?" "Did Kawhi quit?" "Does Doncic have money on this game?" "Is Kyrie trying to throw the game?"

He has no incentive to change. He's 2nd in line behind Tilman (or 2B to Daryl). He's a regular season baller, gets headlines for dropping 40/50/60. Has Adidas #swagchamp. He made it.

Like I laugh at 'Hire a real coach! Hire a coach who will hold him accountable!' Yeah, that coach won't be hired in the first place. You bench him or try to hold him accountable, you'll be gone. (see McHale, Kevin; Paul, Chris)

 

all great arguments, I was tempted to give in and say, hes right, BUT, but something told me, how come, despite being so intelligent observer and having a sharp eye for detail, and being able to put such a constructive criticism, he still forgot to mention adam silver robbed harden of 2 championships and no other star has to deal with this?


Are you gonna sit there and blame Harden Tilman and Dantoni for not beating the refs when no other coach owner and star player has to put up with this bs?

 

If Tilman was serious about getting that chip, he'll fire MDA and immediately hire JVG. Whether Harden or Russ like it or not, it's what's needed especially for close game situations and decision making, regardless of the quarter.

Additionally, this system has almost reached its peak where we see the double comes with Harden closer to the halfcourt line than the 3, and the only option they talk about is Harden dumping it to Russ or a shooter at the 3 line, where the player still has to make a new play and recovering is too easy. Just imagine any other star player that's been doubled: they've almost always found a way to make the other team instantly regret it. Whatever we're doing, it's not scaring anyone away from doubling him. Classic case of play harder and not think smarter.

 

With our small ass starting lineup I doubt it.

 

Whenever I see 13 fading back to mid-court when Russ is running the half court set I am wholly unconvinced that 13 will do whatever is required of him to win.
Someone -anyone- show me footage of Magic/Bird/MJ/Kobe/Curry/Klay/Kawhi playing like that- just checking out of the play altogether.

Something interesting, and telling- 13 is my wife's favorite player, hands-down; she works as a realtor.
This gave me additional thought, and bear with me here- in her work she's on a team of agents under a broker. The success of her team is of concern to her, but only insofar as it relates to her long-term viability in the industry. In other words, she's all about her own individual performance, ethical/legal compliance and compensation. She may provide help/guidance to her less-experienced team members, but only up to a point - there are no team awards for a 1099 worker.
She values individual performance. James Harden is her favorite player. Some things make sense when cast in a particular light.

This team is still one quality Westbrook-mentality piece away from coming out of the West. We are at Russ's ceiling and starting to see the paint peel up there- that's a shame. I think we are at 13's ceiling unless he decides to add something like that Kawhi running-and-fading-towards-the-baseline 15-footer to his arsenal instead of that insipid corner fade-off-one-foot 3 silliness that constituted his off-season "improvement". Try something that works in a game.

 

Right now, the management ppl are clearly half-arsing. We'll see after the trade deadline.

I guess there is some chemistry between WB and Harden as childhood friends, but in reality, they are 2 high usage superstars, put together, they are only 1+0.50= 1.5 at best and not 2 or 3.

Harden still keeps this team afloat and WB has his fair share of useful games, and fair share of useless games.

You can only improve with above average role players I guess with 2 of those 38-40 million contracts.

Praying that Ego can score 19 ppg efficiently again.

 

Damn this robot has emotions and thoughts. He is evolving. Must destroy before end of humanity.

 

Is Tilman spending money for playoff success?

 

Please don't remind me how terrible the calls were in any series vs GSW, gives me PTSD. I really hate the blame the refs line but I go to it vs Dallas with T-Mac, those games were fixed. The GSW series may have not been fixed but there was something not right, completely one sided.

 

i actually believe that we gonna play a lot better in this year's playoffs than regular season, if everyone's healthy.

 

I have complete confidence that this team is going nowhere in the playoffs. As a result, perversely, I'm enjoying the season more. There's no glory to choke away. We're fun to watch, and that's about it. Pass the chips.

 

More than half the team is minimum contracts.

Minimum contracts=Minimum Value

You get what you pay for.

 

Rockets are building for success. They are in PRIME position to raise that Luxury Tax Savings banner for a 2nd straight year. I don't see why there would be complaints.

 

The team traded for a historically inefficient playoff performer in Westbrook and penny pinched for role players and depth.

Playoffs cannot possibly be their top priority based on the moves they made.

 

We went ALL IN with CP3 and failed when his hamstring gave out. its hard to recover from that.

 

Agreed. Instead check out my sig.

 

i remain concerned about our length and defense in a best of 7 series against teams like the Lakers and Clips, but if Morey can find a way to add an impact front court player, that could be enough. We're still a work in progress, but we are only a month in and baring injury we'll be a scary team come playoff time.

 

we are 11 n 5