FanPost

2019 Rockets have a little 2014 Spurs in them

June 15th, 2014 the Spurs completed a gentleman's sweep of the back to back defending champions. The Miami Heat looked overmatched the entire series as a Spurs team motivated from their epic collapse the season before seeked revenge.

Lebron James while playing pretty well (28.2p, 7.8r, 4.0a on 57.1% FG and 51.9% 3FG) did not seem engaged in that series. The writing was on the wall. Dwyane Wade wasn’t surprised, Pat Riley was hurt, but it was evident Lebron knew that would be his final season in Miami. Lebron was headed home and he knew that all season long.

In basketball having members disengaged is very problematic no matter how talented the team is. Sometimes, an ancillary part being disengaged can be overcome but when the leader is checked out, that spells trouble.

Why is this being mentioned now you might ask. That is because the same scenario is unfolding before our eyes. Kevin Durant is not engaged and he knows this season will be his last in Golden State. Durant, dating back to final game of the regular season has been disqualified in 3 consecutive contests. The lack of focus is apparent and his willingness to let Patrick Beverley affect him isn’t a good look.

The Warriors even coming off blowing the largest lead in postseason history have more than enough talent to dispatch the Clippers. The Heat in 2014 had the talent to get by in the first 3 rounds until they met those Spurs.

So the question is who are the Spurs of this season that will threaten the disengaged Warriors. Enter the Houston Rockets. Just like those Spurs, the Rockets lost a heartbreaking 7 game series where they firmly believe they should’ve won. The Rockets being up 3 games to 2, lost Chris Paul and blew back to back halftime leads due to poor shooting. The Rockets this season started off slow but since have looked eerily similar to the juggernaut that won a league best 65 games last season.

Fast forward to now and Houston can claim they’re playing at the highest level of anyone in the playoffs. Houston went a league best 20-4 after the all star break. In their first 2 games against the Jazz they’ve easily dispatched them by an average of 26 points. The Jazz had the 3rd best record since the all star break, won 50 games, and had the league’s best defense. So what’s happening? James Harden, it’s as simple as that.

James Harden a year after winning the MVP award has upped his game to another level being the first player since Michael Jordan to average north of 36 points per game. Utah head coach Quin Snyder has went as far as saying he’s the best player in the game. Whether you believe he’s the best or the MVP, there’s no denying he is an unstoppable offensive force.

His ability to score, or pick apart the defense with his precise lobs and kick out passes has left the league’s best defense helpless. At the conclusion of this series they’ll likely get those same Warriors. This time one team is locked in firing on all cylinders while the other is dealing with injuries, impending free agency, and a lack of focus. For basketball fans I’m sorry to tell you, you won’t get that same exciting 7 game series. This time around the Rockets will annihilate the Warriors.

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