+James Harden talked to reporters at the +Toyota Center after scoring 45 points in the +Houston Rockets 110-98 win over the +Indiana Pacers on 1/19/2015. Catch more pre-game, in-game, and post-game coverage of the +Houston Rockets courtesy of +clutchfansDOTnet, as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Showing posts with label Southwest Division. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southwest Division. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
SDH Presents Houston Rockets Post Game: James Harden (1/19/2015)
+James Harden talked to reporters at the +Toyota Center after scoring 45 points in the +Houston Rockets 110-98 win over the +Indiana Pacers on 1/19/2015. Catch more pre-game, in-game, and post-game coverage of the +Houston Rockets courtesy of +clutchfansDOTnet, as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 2. San Antonio Spurs
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Overall Win/Loss Record : 62-20, first place Southwest Division
2014/2015 Projection: 53-29,
first place Southwest Division, first place Western Conference
Preseason Rank
2
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Last season’s Team Statistics and
League Rank
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Returning Individual Statistical
Leaders
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Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact:
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Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact:
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Like a thief in the night, the San Antonio Spurs flew under the radar once again, swept into the playoffs and swiped its fifth NBA Championship trophy--this time they did it against a lethargic +Miami HEAT team who seemed more distracted and disinterested rather than focused and prepared as they have been. That has always been same story with every Spurs championship team--they often happen when their chief rivals are usually worn down or temporarily out of commission and they face rather lackluster or severely over-matched teams. They worn their first in a lockout shortened season against an undersized and severly outmatched +New York Knicks team, then won their second three years later against an equally inferior New Jersey Nets team. Two years would pass and the Spurs would win their third at the hands of a +Detroit Pistons team which proved to be one of the longest, boring and un-watchable NBA Finals series' in recent memory followed by another two year hiatus where they would slip in the Finals once again to beat an inexperienced and unprepared +Cleveland Cavaliers team. Last season was the first time that the Spurs made consecutive Finals appearances one year after the other and after losing the first in one of the most thrilling and action packed seven game series in NBA Finals History, they would win the second in a virtual snore fest. If anything, San Antonio's championship win can be credited more to their opponent's lack of motivation and desire to win rather than the quality of the team's play as the Heat essentially allowed the Spurs to walk all over them. And that is why the Spurs cannot be considered among the great champion dynasties of the past thirty years, because unlike them, they never go out all guns blazing and have never shown neither the courage or consistency to surpass their foes on a level playing field. Instead, they choose to lurk in the shadows and patiently wait for all the other more powerful titans to beat each other down, then silently sweep in, take the crown and claim victory once the dust settles. They resemble that wimpy pro wrestler that nobody likes who essentially stays out of the way during a Battle Royale and once all the main contenders have been thrown out of the ring, he emerges from his little nook, cheap shots the more deserving fighter and claims the win for himself. Thus they should not be allowed to parade themselves as a true champion as they truly do not deserve such recognition; nevertheless, despite how unseemly that have earned their ill-gotten gains, they still should be considered as the team to beat in the Western Conference as they have virtually slithered to the top of the NBA's food chain. For that simple reason, the Spurs have been marked not only for defeat, but literally for assassination as many teams, especially in the Western Conference must find it equally distasteful to watch this pretender sit upon the throne. Teams such as state rivals the +Houston Rockets and +Dallas Mavericks have been forced to watch the Spurs slither through their grasps and to the top of the standings while they and fellow division rival +Memphis Grizzlies beat each other senseless fighting for what few scraps remain. In fact, one can go as far to say that the Spurs represent not only the best, but also the worst in the NBA as they stand among the top teams in a stringent and rather oppressive regime otherwise known as the Western Conference. Over the past fifteen or so years, teams have risen and fallen in the ranks of the Western Conference, yet the Spurs have maintained their same standing in the top five often finishing with home court advantage in the playoffs. One can liken the Spurs' presence to something as horrifically painful as a kidney stone, as dangerous as a blood clot clogging an artery, or a tedious and unpleasant site as a recurring pimple or mole because there is simply no getting rid of them. They have been and probably always will always be factor in the Western Conference thus keeping it in its rather stagnant state for the past decade and teams such as the +Los Angeles Clippers, and +Oklahoma City Thunder stuck with no where else to go. If it were not for the Spurs, the West would be a much more wide open conference with much more variety in the teams appearing come playoff time, but that will never happen as long as the Spurs continue to remain there. That is why the league needs to consider realigning its teams so there can be in fact greater variety in terms of competition and quality of play not allowing teams like the Spurs to maintain their vice like grip on the league. Unfortunately, that is very unlikely to come to pass in the near future and the majority of Western Conference teams will simply have to accept that they will never be able to get past a certain point as long as the Spurs remain in their way and that could be the characteristics that will forever mark their legacy. The Spurs are simply not the titan that they or their fans claim them to be, but resembles more instead a pariah that either blocks or holds the league back from progressing any further or a parasite that continually sucks the life out of its host. Some Spurs fans will certainly take exception to someone calling their team a pariah or parasite, but the majority of them can care less as they know that they are the food that feed the vile beast that continually haunts the NBA. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker will probably never leave the team and keep their team's horrific hold on the league because like vampires, zombies, or any reviled creature of the night, they will never die no matter what Mother Nature or Father Time throw at them. Head Coach Gregg Popovich and GM RC Buford must have made an unholy contract with the Forces of Darkness using the souls of their players as collateral because there is no other way to explain the out of this world longevity of either Duncan or Ginobli as well as the ridiculous consistency that the Spurs have continued to show. In a worst case scenario, if an atom bomb were to explode killing the entire population of the state of Texas, the Spurs would probably survive as well as the AT&T Center remain standing. There are like cockroaches, termites or bed bags--no matter how may time you try to get rid of them, they keep reappearing and infesting their living spaces eventually outliving those who seek to destroy them. Most players and coaches would agree that although they can temporarily silence the Spurs, there is no way to completely snuff them out, because they just keep coming back up for more and once everyone has lost their spirit to fight, that is when San Antonio deals its fatal blow. That is how the Spurs managed to win their five championship tiles--not by imposing their will on those who dared to oppose them, but simply by slipping though the cracks waiting for their time to strike when everyone else are either too weary or too dispirited to even put up a fight. That was certainly the case with the Miami Heat in last year's NBA Finals--after four years of conquering the Eastern Conference, reaching the Finals each season, and winning two of them, they simply did not have the will to muster the energy to put up a respectable title defense. Add the fact that +LeBron James practically had one foot out of the door once he an his teammates arrived to face them, it was just a matter of time until the Spurs took advantage of the Heat's lethargy completely humiliating it in five games. Some may look at such behavior and style of play as somewhat endearing and resilient, but the fact is that the Spurs have neither those qualities but are simply a disgusting, and revolting stain that will never ever be removed. So let us as welcome the season with both wonder and excitement while meeting them with soulless apathy as we will once again have to endure another 82 games of the San Antonio Spurs slithering their way back to the top of the standing only to ruin yet another NBA Finals. Right now, despite the flurry of post season moves, trades and free agent signings, there is no team in the Western Conference that can truly consider itself as a lock for the NBA Finals because some way or another they will eventually have the floor pulled right from under them thanks to the Spurs. Their silver and black colors not only reflect their ominous presence in the league, but also emphasizes their unholy grip on the NBA and the world of professional sports. No matter what happens or whoever finishes on top of the standing in the regular season, the Spurs will somehow seep into picture poisoning all those around them, slither their way past the righteous and claim their ill-gotten gains. |
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Thursday, December 11, 2014
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Rockets vs. Warriors, December 10th
+Stephen Curry scored 20 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists in the +Golden State Warriors 105-93 win over the +Houston Rockets. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Pelicans vs. Mavericks, December 10th
+Monta Ellis scored 13 of his 26 points in the final five minutes as the +Dallas Mavericks outlasted the +New Orleans Pelicans 112-107. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Monday, December 8, 2014
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Pelicans vs. Lakers, December 7th
Anthony Davis scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds as the +New Orleans Pelicans grounded the +Los Angeles Lakers in southern California. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Bucks vs. Mavericks, December 7th
+Chandler Parsons scored 28 points and grabs five rebounds as the +Dallas Mavericks defeated the +Milwaukee Bucks in Dallas. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Heat vs. Grizzlies, December 7th
Jon Leuer recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds, +Mike Conley added 18 points as the +Memphis Grizzlies defeated the +Miami HEAT. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Saturday, December 6, 2014
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Spurs vs. Grizzlies, December 5th
Tim Duncan scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assist as the +San Antonio Spurs defeated the +Memphis Grizzlies 107-101. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Suns vs. Mavericks, December 5th
+Goran Dragic scored 28 points and dished out 13 assists as the +Phoenix Suns defeated the +Dallas Mavericks 118-106. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Rockets vs. Timberwolves, December 5th
+James Harden scored 38 points and dished out six assists in the +Houston Rockets 114-112 overtime victory over the +Minnesota Timberwolves. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents Tim Duncan's 4th Career Triple-Double
Watch highlights from Tim Duncan's big night as he scores 14 points, grabs 10 rebounds and dishes out 10 assist in the +San Antonio Spurs victory over the +Memphis Grizzlies. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Thursday, December 4, 2014
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Spurs vs. Nets, December 3rd
Mirza Teletovic's 26 points, 15 rebounds led the +Brooklyn Nets to a win over the +San Antonio Spurs. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Grizzlies vs. Rockets, December 3rd
+James Harden scored 21 points to lead the +Houston Rockets over the +Memphis Grizzlies 105-96. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Mavericks vs. Bucks, December 3rd
+Monta Ellis scored 23 points including the game winner at the buzzer giving the +Dallas Mavericks the edge over the +Milwaukee Bucks 107-105. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
SDH Presents Monta Ellis' 38 Points to Beat the Bulls in Doube OT
+Monta Ellis dropped 38 points, including 3 clutch free throws to force overtime, and the +Dallas Mavericks beat the +Chicago Bulls. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Mavericks vs. Bulls, December 2nd
+Monta Ellis dropped 38 points and +Dirk Nowitzki added a double-double as the +Dallas Mavericks defeated the +Chicago Bulls in double overtime. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 8. Houston Rockets
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Overall Win/Loss Record: 54-28, second place Southwest Division
2014/2015 Projection: 51-31, second place Northwest Division, third
place Western Conference
Preseason Ranking
8
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Last season’s Team Statistics and
League Rank
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Returning Individual Statistical
Leaders
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Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact:
|
Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact::
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Last season's finish could be marked as the Houston Rockets' best in quite a wheel as it not only posted its first 50 plus win season in more than five years earning home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, but also proved to those who have doubted them that they are back as title contenders. Offensively Houston near dominated the regular season as it was among the league leaders in scoring, field goal percentage and rebounding, however, it is too bad they did not show as much passion on the defensive end as the Rockets ranked near bottom in the league in points allowed and opponents' turnovers. Plus, Houston, despite owning one of the most productive and proficient offenses in the league, also shot itself in the foot with the turnovers it committed as they were among the league's worst in that regard. Sadly, it was such flaws as its poor defense and undisciplined ball control that turned an otherwise story book season into a shattering disappointment as Houston would be quickly eliminated in the playoffs by an equally poor defensive team in the +Portland Trail Blazers. What is even more unfortunate is that this will probably be as far as Houston will possibly ever get for two primary reasons: first, the fact that they play in an extremely tight and unforgiving Western Conference; and second and most importantly, the fact that they still remain a very immature team despite having one of the top superstar duos in the league.
Sure, Houston has the assets and ability to churn out another 50 plus win season and reach the playoffs, but so too do six or seven other teams in the Western Conference as was shown in the previous season's playoffs. Granted, the Rockets can be seen by many as one of the Alpha Males in the conference which can probably grant them at best home court advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs; however, having home court advantage does not guarantee a series win, let alone a championship trophy. With at least four or five teams that are virtually at par with the Rockets in terms of talent and depth of their rosters, there is virtually no way that fans in Houston can say with certainty that their team has the potential to win it all. In fact they never had that kind of faith since the mid 90s where their team won two straight NBA titles in 1994 and 1995; however, after that, the Rockets basically have teetered between finishing average and mediocre over the next 19 or so years. Since winning their last NBA title, the Rockets have reached the playoffs 12 of the last 19 years, but with little success in terms of advancing as they failed to advance past the first round in eight of those twelve post season appearances. As for the other seven years where they did not make the post season, those would be the most bittersweet seasons as five of them occurred when the team finished above .500 resulting in not only a very long summer, but also coming up with very little in terms of draft positioning. If one were to give this team a nickname after taking in the past failures that have followed the Rockets over the past two decades, it would be that of "Playoff Contenders," but "Championship Pretenders." and sadly it looks as if those names will not be going any time soon. To put it bluntly, the Rockets have neither the maturity or the discipline to really give their fans, or anyone for that matter, faith than they can be nothing more than a firecracker where once lit, it spits out and shoots bright sparks into the sky, but once the show is finishes, it just fizzles out into ash. The two top plays who are considered as not only the faces of the franchise, but also foundation for Houston to build its next championship seem less like leaders and more as arrogant, narcissistic ego-maniacs who feel that the world should revolve around them. That was certainly the case with Dwight Howard whose his career has been spent primarily by undercutting his coach, Stan Van Gundy, during his stay with the +Orlando Magic and undermining his former teammate, +Kobe Bryant, in a bid to be the top player in the +Los Angeles Lakers. Although his stints in Orlando and LA have made him look bad enough, what makes Howard even less attractive as a leader is his lack of seriousness on the court, that once seemed as cute earlier in his career, now exposes a severe lack of maturity from a guy who is supposed to carry this team to a championship title. That same immaturity has seeped onto the court as well as he has been known to dog it during games not giving his all and what is worse about that is that his effort sometimes lazes the most when his teammates need him the most. Alongside Howard is the Rockets' other pre-Madonna star player, James Harden, who had previously been an efficient workhorse on both sides of the court, but upon arriving to Houston, has become a shot happy showboat and has turned himself into more of a brand name than an actual star. Despite his increased scoring since arriving from the +Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden's field goal percentage has dropped significantly while has effort on the defensive end has become completely nonexistent, and his off the court manner has also been questioned by both his teammates and the media as well. His reputation took a severe hit when he commented on his team allowing +Chandler Parsons, who was arguably the team's second best player behind Harden over the past couple years, to leave as a restricted frre agent to the +Dallas Mavericks essentially saying that the only players who mattered on the team were him and Dwight and everyone else were just simply role players. Of course, such a comment exploded throughout the media and portrayed him as this arrogant jerk who snobbishly looked down upon his teammates, but both Harden and Howard would get another shot at the reputations--this time by their own teammate. In an interview, Donatas Montiejunas described both Harden and Howard as both aloof who chose not to associate with their teammates; although this was later clarified as poor translation of Lithuanian, however, it still did not help the already sullied reputation of both players. In fact, it was probably due to their poor reputations that swayed numerous marquee free agents, which reportedly included +Carmelo Anthony and +Chris Bosh--both of whom choosing to sign with their previous teams last season. Overall, the off season can be considered by many as a comedy of errors since the Rockets went all out to free up enough cap space to add another max contract by giving away center +Omer Asik for virtually nothing and having to give up a first round round pick to +Los Angeles Lakers to convince them to take the contract of +Jeremy Lin. All the Rockets were able to come up with in free agency was grossly overpaying +Trevor Ariza, a player who they had once signed before, but almost immediately traded him after his first season with the team; and that's pretty sad considering that this is a team that had finished among the top records in th league, has two of its biggest stars, and ridiculous amounts of cap space to go with it. All of this points to a Rockets team that will continue to disappoint a fan base who have languished for so many years waiting and hoping for a return to championship glory only to have their hopes crushed year after year. There is no doubt that Houston will once again return to the playoffs with one of the league's best regular season records, but once the post season arrives, they will most likely fall short once again simply because a team needs more than two big name players to win a title. It requires focus, discipline, and sacrifice--three things that the Rockets are sorely lacking, which mainly has to do with a coaching staff that has thus far coddled its stars instead of holding them accountable and pushing them to lead by example on and off the court. Kevin McHale has essentially been less of a coach and more of facilitator of of both Harden and Howard allowing them to do whatever they want on the offensive end while allowing them to slack off on the defensive side of the floor making the lesser players compensate for their weakness. Unless they find a better coach who will actually lay down the law and force Harden and Howard to be the leaders that they claim to be, then consider this another wasted era where the Rockets will temporarily look like a strong playoff contender only to be exposed for what they really are: a bunch of jokers pretending to be kings. |
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Saturday, November 29, 2014
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Pelicans vs. Hawks, November 28th
Jeff Teague scored 26 points to lead the +Atlanta Hawks past the +New Orleans Pelicans 100-91. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Mavericks vs. Raptors, November 28th
+Monta Ellis scored 30 points in the +Dallas Mavericks 106-102 win over the +Toronto Raptors. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Clippers vs. Rockets, November 28th
+Blake Griffin exploded for 30 points and 10 rebounds as the +Los Angeles Clippers pounded the +Houston Rockets. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
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