Clutchfans: With the moves, are the Rockets a better team than the Blazers?

Was just browsing the Clutchfans site and noticed this thread asking whether, with the recent additions of Ariza, Brewer and J. Smith, the Rockets would be able to beat the Blazers in a playoff series this year.

I'll be honest, I have yet to find a more delusional fan base in all of sports than Rockets fans. The vast majority believe that the Rockets were the better team last year, despite the loss in six games. Lots claim that the Rockets got robbed by the refs and Harden didn't get any calls! Harden shot an average of 8.3 FTs per game while Howard shot a whopping 10.7 per game.

I love these gems:

It got me thinking, however ... if these teams do matchup in the playoffs this year, would the result be the same as last year? Or does Houston now have the edge due to the added depth and perimeter defenders?

 

With a decent coach and Harden shooting over 4 percent they win last year. Subtract Aldridge going crazy and it would be worse.

Lillard improvement this year may change the entire balance. Who knows?

 

Who are these clowns? Nobody in the league can guard aldridge. Sure you may be able to give him a tough time. But take anyone in the NBA last year and stick them on aldridge in game 1/2 and he goes for maybe 5 less points. The only person in the NBA who stands a chance at actually shutting LA down is DAVIS, and even then he has his hands full.

 

The reason "clank fans" think they got jobbed by the refs because they were used to Harden getting every breath on him a foul during the regular season. That all changes in the playoffs. They allow teams to play more physical and the game becomes more defensive oriented.

The true teams are the ones with players that overcome physical play and can still be a factor in games. That's why Memphis is normally a good playoff team because that's how they role.

Teams are extremely physical on the Blazers all season long, as they are bumping and clawing Aldridge and Lillard throughout the season. They are used to being physical. That isn't the case for the Rockets most the time, so it catches them by surprise.

But they are also delusional about only Lillard's growth as the only addition. Kaman, Blake and the more experienced youth add a much better dimension. Our defense is much improved from last season, while Stotts has become a hugely underrated X's and O's coach.

I welcome a first, second or WCF match up with that team. They are the only team I'm not worried about.

 

...

 

Hahahahaahaha

 

What it comes down to is that Kevin McHale is a horrible coach.

 

The true rub is Houston is a better team without Howard. They are more fluid, better defensively (traps and helter Skeltor), and seem to let the game come to them.

With Howard, it's like they force the inside out game and take out Harden's true ability

 

This is the truth! Repped!

 

It will be interesting. You have two different strategies/ideologies in play here. I think Neil Olshey is following the Spur plan as close as is possible. With all the recent moves you haven't seen him flinch. He believes in what he is doing.Morey on the other hand is following Trader Bob's way of doing business to the T. Have we ever seen this strategy ever work? Few other teams have tried to win this way in the past and they failed.

I personally think the chemistry on this team will continue to simmer and they will better in the end because of it. The Blazers have the edge on the Rockets. And you give this team another four months. I think they have a shot to be really good. Barring injuries.

I say no. Rockets do not have the ingredients to beat the Blazers

 

I'm glad they think only Lillard improved. It'll make kicking their butt even better in the playoffs if somebody else doesn't do it first. They also aren't resting their starters much at all this season. We beat them when our only bench scorer was injured throughout the series last time. This time we're a much, much deeper and much, much better defensive team. Josh Smith couldn't keep his starting job in Detroit..see how long he keeps it up in Houston. I hope Smith shoots a ton of jumpers that Hardin usually shoots.

 

The Rockets could very well become the Brooklyn Nets of the West..Garnett, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson...looks good on paper doesn't it?

 

Yeah I still believe they will implode. There are way too many volatile personalities in the bunch. Wait for when the first sign of trouble to see what they are truly made of.

 

Asik was the only guy that did a good job on Aldridge last year and he's gone. So that means they'd have to use Howard as a stopper on him. So that's a plus. Still, they as a team have improved on defense similar to the way we have overall. Smith is better than Jones. Ariza a better fit I think than parsons. It'd be another tight series I think.

 

Wait until Smith starts taking the offense away from Hardin..that's the clincher for a meltdown

 

Clutch fans lol

/blazerwookee

 

Clutch City is the official nickname of Lillard.

After he shat on HOU he took it on principle.

 

Two words choke fans:

POINT NINE!

/thread

BNM

 

"Asik and Howard will shut down Aldridge."