+Tyler Zeller's 24 points and 14 rebounds led the +Boston Celtics to a 113-96 win over the +Los Angeles Lakers. 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: Lakers vs. Celtics, December 5th
+Tyler Zeller's 24 points and 14 rebounds led the +Boston Celtics to a 113-96 win over the +Los Angeles Lakers. 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 NBA Recap: Nuggets vs, Wizards December 5th
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Cavaliers vs. Raptors December 5th
+LeBron James powered in 24 points, with 13 assists, and 7 rebounds to lead the +Cleveland Cavaliers past the +Toronto Raptors, 105-91. 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: Heat vs. Bucks, December 5th
Kendall Marshall scored 20 points off the bench as the +Milwaukee Bucks defeated the +Miami HEAT 109-85 at home. 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!
Friday, December 5, 2014
SDH Presents Euroleague Basketball Regular Season Round 8: Friday Preview
Five Friday games of great significance for all ten teams bring Round 8 of the Regular Season to a close as the Turkish Airlines Euroleague moves ever closer to the Top 16! Make sure you visit www.euroleague.livebasketball.tv to access live games with much more videos and do not forget to check on +Slap Dog Hoops for all the scores, recaps and highlights in +EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 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 Euroleague Basketball Regular Season Round 8: Thursday Recap
A number of teams booked their places in the Top 16 but some challengers saw their hopes die as Round 8 of the Regular Season roared into life on Wednesday and Thursday. Make sure you visit www.euroleague.livebasketball.tv to access live games with much more videos and do not forget to check on +Slap Dog Hoops for all the scores, recaps and highlights in +EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 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 Euroleague Basketball Highlights: Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv v ALBA Berlin
Reigning Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion +Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv fought hard to hold off +ALBA Berlin 95-89 on Thursday and claim a place in the Top 16. Devin Smith scored 26 points and Brian Randle had 21 in a victory that gave Maccabi a season sweep of the Berliners, and improved it to 5-3 record in Group B. Jamel McLean had 16 points and 9 rebounds for the visitors, who are now 3-5. Make sure you visit www.euroleague.livebasketball.tv to access live games with much more videos and do not forget to check on +Slap Dog Hoops for all the scores, recaps and highlights in +EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 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 Euroleague Basketball Highlights: Zalgiris Kaunas v Anadolu Efes Istanbul
In an intense, defensive showdown that set a new Euroleague regular season record, +Anadolu Efes Istanbul sealed its ticket to the Top 16 from Group A by edging +BC Žalgiris 57-66 on the road on Thursday. Dontaye Draper led the winners with 14 points. Stratos Perperoglou added 13 and 8 rebounds for Efes, which allowed 2 points in the first quarter, a new regular season defensive record for visiting teams. It is also a record for fewest points allowed in a first quarter in Euroleague history. 2014/2015 Season, basketball, Euro League, highlights, scores/recaps, video, Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, Italy, Unics Kazan, Russia,
SDH Presents Euroleague Basketball Highlights: Limoges CSP v Unicaja Malaga
+LIMOGES CSP came back from a 20-point deficit to beat +Unicaja Baloncesto 67-64, snap a five-game losing streak and stay alive in the race to reach the Top 16. Limoges improved to 2-6 in Group B, while Unicaja dropped its fourth game in the last five to move to 4-4. Jamar Smith nailed 4 three-pointers to score 18 points to lead Limoges, while JP Batista had 14 points, Nobel Boungou-Colo added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, and Adrien Moerman collected 9 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Make sure you visit www.euroleague.livebasketball.tv to access live games with much more videos and do not forget to check on +Slap Dog Hoops for all the scores, recaps and highlights in +EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 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 Euroleague Basketball Highlights: Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul v Panathinaikos Athens
SDH Presents Euroleague Basketball Highlights: Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari v Unics Kazan
Unics Kazan hung on for dear life to beat +SASSARI Dinamo Basket Banco di Sardegna 68-72 on the road Thursday and move resolutely into Top 16 contention in Group A with its third consecutive victory under new head coach Evgeny Pashutin. Unics improved to 4-4 and is now tied for third place in Group A with +BC Žalgiris. Make sure you visit www.euroleague.livebasketball.tv to access live games with much more videos and do not forget to check on +Slap Dog Hoops for all the scores, recaps and highlights in +EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. 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's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 7. Chicago Bulls
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Overall Win/Loss Record : 48-34, second place Central Division
2014/2015 Projection: 52-30, second place Central Division, second
place Eastern Conference
Preseason Rank
7
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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 Impacts:
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Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impacts:
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It is time once again for every Chicago Bulls fans to fall into their delusions of grandeur that their team has what it takes to be a championship contender and for sports commentators and media pundits to start force feeding that fantasy to an already pathetic populace hoping that their delirium holds true. Unfortunately, Windy City hoops fans will once again fall prey to their own distorted expectations as the fail to realize that no matter how much they over-inflate the perceptions of their home team, the reality is simply that the Bulls have never been a true contender to an NBA tile since 2011. Three years since then the Bulls have been at best average as they have always had to scratch and claw through every game thanks to its shameful inability to but the ball into the basket, then reach the post season as a middle of the pack team only to be eliminated by the first or second rounds. Nonetheless, despite the facts proving the contrary, Bulls fans and the Chicago media media continue to reiterate their misplaced and misguided faith that their team is still a viable championship contender and continually give excuses to why it has yet to come to pass. Their favorite excuse, of course, is the fact that their MVP and crowned franchise savior, Derrick Rose, has been sidelined with injuries over the past couple of seasons and with him back healthy in the lineup, their Bulls can once again rise up to the NBA's elite; however, this sch-peel has been constantly regurgitated time and time again to the point where it has become a complete joke.
Derrick Rose had his best year in 2011 when he not only earned the league's MVP posting the best numbers in his career, but also led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Championship series against the +Miami HEAT; however, since then, he has failed to recreate that magical performance and with his history of injuries, may never be able to do so again. Last season was an absolute embarrassment for not only him, but those who had put so much stock in his return to the court as he looked absolutely terrible in the ten games than he played averaging career lows in points (15.9) and assists (4.3) while shooting a even more woeful .354 from the field before he was forced to pack it in once again for the rest of the 2014 campaign. Now, after a rather less than stellar performance at last summer's +2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup where he was essentially selected over a slew of far more qualified players simply because of his name being a more recognized brand, Bulls fans expect him to return with the same magic that enchanted them four years ago; however, it is sad to say, but it looks as if both the magic and time has run out for both Rose and his team. Rose would have been as good as gone if it had not been for his ridiculous contract that will pay him up to 60$ million over the next three years while both his value and abilities have deteriorated to a point where he has become less of a franchise foundation to a salary cap albatross. And it is not just Rose, but the entire roster of players who who have also had their value so over-inflated to the point of being ludicrous by not only the organization, but also by its fans, and the media that covers them. One of the most notorious examples of such over inflation is that of Joakim Noah; a players that has virtually no skills in the paint, no post moves, or any real ability to score, yet has been virtually put on a pedestal by not only his peers, but fans, and the media as one of the best big men in the league. His greatest assets that give him such a high rating in the hearts and minds of people is his defense and rebounding--two things that a good NBA center should be doing already--along with his innate ability to pass in the paint; however, despite all of his accolades on his defensive intensity and effort on the board--again, two things that should be expected from him anyways--he is practically useless on the offensive end. He does not draw double teams because his defenders already know that he can neither put the ball on the fall or create his own shot and only gets his points on the off chance that his defenders happen to miss him because they were too busy ignoring him. Yet ask anybody in Chicago or those who follow basketball about Joakim Noah, and they would place him among the league's greatest big men which to them should certainly be considered an insult because simply mentioning Noah among them diminishes their own greatness. Two other player whom Bulls fans drool over, but who would not otherwise start on an NBA team let alone be major impact players are Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson and if anyone were to ask a Chicago Bulls fan, he would have them playing on the Eastern Conference All Star team. At best, Jimmy Butler would be considered a solid rotation player coming off the bench, but last season he was the Bulls' primary scorer averaging a whopping 13 points per game and shot a scintillating .397 from the field while playing a whopping 38.7 minutes per game. His player efficiency rating was probably on of the worst in the league accounting for the minutes he played, the missed shots he had taken, plus the time that he has spent relatively idle from a statistical perspective. The other mediocre member of this highly illustrious duo is Taj Gibson--a player who plays power forward but does not have the size, strength or the ability to post up or score in the paint; however, most Bulls fans would have him starting for an All Star team despite him playing mostly off the bench for a bulk of his career. Gibson came of a career performance last season as he came off the bench to contribute a solid 13 points and seven boards per game compared to the four previous years in his career where he just averaged 8 points and 5 boards per game. With such a sad crew of Noah, Butler, and Gibson, it is little wonder how the Bulls ranked near the bottom in the league in scoring and field goal percentage while barely beat their opponents by a mere differential of just 1.9 points--which otherwise means that Chicago was less than a field goal away from being a lottery team instead of a mediocre playoff team. Credit the Bulls physical style of play and defensive pressure from allowing their opponents to otherwise overrun them; however, despite ranking as one of the league best defensive teams, the team's horrid offensive execution proved to be their downfall. Even though people will continually and mind numbing-ly reiterate the tired mantra that "defense wins championships," the fact remains that if a team cannot capitalize on their defensive effort on the offensive end, then all that energy on the defensive end is essentially wasted. The great defensive teams of the NBA were not only able to stop their opponents from scoring, but also turned their missed shots and turnover into easy baskets on the other end; however, looking at last season's numbers, Chicago was completely incapable of doing that. In fact, with all their reputed defensive intensity, they still could not get the ball on the other side of the floor, let alone put it in the basket, and even turned the ball over more than the teams that they were defending. And this is a team that many predicted to finish second in the Eastern Conference behind a +Cleveland Cavaliers team who sports three superstar players in +LeBron James, +Kevin Love and +Kyrie Irving? There is no way that any team that was barely able to put up 95 points on a scoreboard last season as the Bulls be able to to hold back such an offensive juggernaut where only three players who are fully capable of putting up almost as much as the entire Chicago roster. The Bulls will probably even find themselves struggling to keep in pace with second tier Eastern Conference teams such as the +Washington Wizards, +New York Knicks, +Charlotte Hornets and +Brooklyn Nets; yet some of the brightest sports minds still have Chicago racing neck and neck with the Cavs upon the end of the regular season. What's even more puzzling is that the offseason where they praised the Bulls for amnestying aging and over the hill former All Star big man +Carlos Boozer and replacing him with another aging, over the hill former All Star in Pau Gasol. Last season was by far Gasol's worst as he came off an injury plagued 2014 campaign to lead the +Los Angeles Lakers to its worst record in franchise history and even though it looks as if his best basketball years are behind him, fans and media alike applauded the Bulls signing the 34 year old veteran to a two year contract at 20$ million. Unfortunately, it is not even worth trying to argue with a Chicago Bulls fan about the merits of Pau Gasol's signing or the fact that his or her team's window for a championship title has all but sealed up tight as an oil drum because the delusion that he or she clings to are just simply too strong. Bulls fans want to believe that Derrick Rose will come back, be fully healthy, and return his 2011 MVP form; they also want to believe that Joakim Noah is one of the league's greatest big men depite his inability to score a basket in the paint; and most pathetically, they want to believe that the team that the three years that their team floundered in the post season were just aberrations and not a sign of their team's decline. The local, national, and international media do not help the situation as it continually feeds these poor souls' delusions with their outlandish predictions despite having their forecasts prove to be as out of touch with reality as the fans that readily consume this drivel as fact only to have the hopes shattered come May. Although it is almost a certainty that the Bulls will return to the post season, neither the regular season or the playoffs will not be a cake walk that both the team's fans as well as the media foresee because the Eastern Conference is far better than it has ever been and the Bulls are simply not as good as many have them to be. So prepare for another not so thrilling ride of a team that have proven time and time again that they are not championship material with their fans constantly chanting "don't worry, we'll get them this time!" |
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
SDH Presents the Top 10 NBA Plays: December 3rd
Count down the top plays from Wednesday night's action in the NBA. 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: 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: Raptors vs. Jazz, December 3rd
Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 39 points leading the +Toronto Raptors s to a 123-104 win over the +Utah Jazz. 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: 76ers vs. Timberwolves, December 3rd
+Michael Carter-Williams (20 points, 9 rebounds) led the +Philadelphia 76ers to an 85-77 win 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 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!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Magic vs. Clippers, December 3rd
+Chris Paul scored 19 points and dished out 10 assists as the +Los Angeles Clippers blew out the +Orlando Magic 114-86. 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: Hawks vs. Heat, December 3rd
Jeff Teague scored 27 points and dished out 6 assist as the +Atlanta Hawks defeated the +Miami HEAT 112-102. 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 Kyle Lowry Scoring Season High 39-Points in Victory
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Bulls vs. Hornets, December 3rd
+Pau Gasol scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the +Chicago Bulls defeated the +Charlotte Hornets 102-95. 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: Lakers vs. Wizards, December 3rd
+Bradley Beal`s 27 points and 7 assists helped lead the +Washington Wizards to a 111-95 win over the +Los Angeles Lakers. 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: Pistons vs. Celtics, December 3rd
Jeff Green scored 32 points, including 6 3-pointers as the +Boston Celtics won in overtime beating the +Detroit Pistons 109-102. 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 LaMarcus Aldridge's 39 Points that Led Blazers Over Nuggets
+LaMarcus Aldridge dropped 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the +Portland Trail Blazers over the +Denver Nuggets. 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: Pacers vs. Suns, December 2nd
+Goran Dragic scores 34 points, +Eric Bledsoe adds 27 points and seven assists as the +Phoenix Suns defeat the +Indiana Pacers. 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!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets, December 2nd
+LaMarcus Aldridge scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the +Portland Trail Blazers defeated the +Denver Nuggets 105-103. 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 Kevin Durant's Season Debut
+Kevin Durant put in a solid performance in his 2014-2015 season debut as the +Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the +New Orleans Pelicans. 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 The Starters –December 2nd
+The Starters cover a lot in today’s episode: whether +Kevin Durant’s return means playoffs for OKC, who the best player, coach, and rookie have been over the first month, and how awesome the 2015 All-Star jerseys look. 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
|
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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