Lawful Metal

I'm drinking the Deshaun Watson Kool-Aid. Just imagine last years Texans defense + JJ Watt + merely competent QB play. If we get anything above competent it's gravy.

wow Deshaun Watson. Oh my god please be good!

Except his numbers don't even come close to Harden and Westbrook. And individual defense typically means way less than individual offense, especially if you can get your teammates involved. Plus, I mean, the Spurs are loaded. Sure, Parker and Manu are old, but they are still champions. LaMarcus Aldridge is a perennial All Star and so is Gasol, and I'd argue they have the best role players to complement them, and the best coach. If you subscribe to the argument that Russ did more with less, you have to see that Kawhi did less with more.

I have no clue with this draft. I could see all three QBs gone by the Texans pick at 25 or all three still there. My gut says the Texans go with Mahomes, I'll only really hate it if we go with Kizer, but my dream scenario is all three QBs are gone and we "settle" for Reuben Foster ILB, Alabama.

Tonight: Let's Go Bucks! Let's Go Grizz! I want Game 7s!!!!

I'm not mad at Russ anymore. Yes, his numbers were great, but the only real difference between Westbrook's numbers and Harden's numbers was 2 manufactured rebounds. Westbrook had more points, but Harden had more assists. Harden was first to score 2000 points AND assist on 2000 more points AND he scored and assisted to the tune of almost 57 points per game, better than Westbrook. Harden is much more efficient and takes way less shots to get the numbers too. Oh and he led his team of non-all star role players to 8 more wins than Westbrook. I think once you calm down about the triple double stuff (which is a little arbitrary) you see the numbers are a lot closer than you think, and you should give the benefit of a doubt to the player who made his team better. And sure, the narrative of Durant leaving and Russ is on a revenge tour (despite getting wrecked by KD and the Warriors every time they played) is intriguing, but let's not forget that Dwight Howard left the Rockets too and only left them with one All Star on the roster, and the only real roster moves the Rockets made were to sign two one dimensional off-injured shooters who play no defense and hired a coach who failed spectacularly in his last two jobs and was known for his lack of coaching defense. and the Rockets won the series not on the back of their 3 point shooting, but on defense and hustle (and Westbrook's horrid shooting in the 4th quarter, or as they say, in the clutch). (and Patrick Beverley should be an All Star)

Who was the last League MVP who lost in the first round? Dirk?

Why do I have the delusional belief that the Utah Jazz are a bad matchup for the Warriors? I mean, they don't really have a shot. Other than Cleveland I don't think anyone has a real chance in a seven game series (Lot of contingencies have to go right for the Rockets to beat them - 3 point shooting, lock down D on Durant and Steph and Klay, someone literally murdering Draymond ...). but I have this odd feeling that Utah and / or Memphis would somehow be a harder matchup for the Warriors. I guess we'll see soon, since the Clips have already given up.

So OKC. This season gets a pass because obviously they were still built around Durant being their main superstar. But if they want to focus on Westbrook and want him to put up Harden-like MVP numbers, they need shooters and spacing and a sure-handed pick and roll big man. So, basically, they need to get rid of everyone. But imagine a world where an unselfish Westbrook driving the lane and kicking it out to 4 solid shooters on the perimeter, or running a pick and roll with lobs into alley oops. Unstoppable. I don't know if it's ever gonna happen in OKC, but maybe when Westbrook and Paul George end up in LA.

Earlier this year I said that the Rockets would get swept without Harden, but the Thunder would get swept WITH Westbrook. I was wrong. it was a gentleman's sweep. (And if Harden hit that 3 at the end of game 3 it would've been a sweep).

Shoulda traded Westbrook instead of Harden. A core of KD, Ibaka with Harden running the point woulda been unstoppable.

Playoff Nene is real! Considering Harden and most of the Rockets played like hot garbage, this has got to hurt for OKC to lose like this. but Russ got his triple double so the loss really didn't happen.

I missed the 2nd half last night but I'm 100% fine with Harden's last shot. Im wondering if we're going to have a decent start to a game any time soon.

Westbrook and the Thunder were projected to finish with more wins than Harden and the Rockets. The Rockets were supposed to barely make the playoffs. Harden and Westbrook have the same number of all stars on their roster: ZERO. Other than two more rebounds per game for Westbrook, Harden and he have essentially the same stats, only Harden takes far fewer shots and is way more efficient. And, one does all he can to make his role players better, while the other is a glorified stat-padder who demands his bigs lays off rebounds so he can get his numbers.

I'm pretty sure that since Russ got his 50 point triple double, ESPN will count it as a win for the Thunder. But scoreboard. Westbrook absolutely lost it for the Thunder with all his ill-advised chucking. He was what, 4 of 18 in the 4th? It's a traveshamockery he's winning the MVP.

That feeling when you get convicted for murdering a guy because he was gonna snitch on a murder you were gonna get acquitted for anyway

Considering the Rockets barely hit any 3s and still won by 30+, OKC should be terrified. And Pat Beverley got knocked into next week and still outplayed your MVP.

Wingdings

Haha clippers

Let's go Rockets, blazers, grizzlies, jazz, bucks, bulls, pacers, wizards!

I have to admit I was dead wrong about D'Antoni. 55 wins in the west is no joke. The move to point guard for Harden was genius, and even the defense improved from last year. I didn't think much of signing Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon, but that was the right move for D'Antoni's system. And, uh, Harden = MVP

Giannis is awesome.