(This is an editorial based on the writer's point of view, and not pelicularly the view of the Real Sports AZ or their followers)
It happened again. The Houston Rockets lost and are out of the playoffs by the team that has done this to them like a recurring theme, the Golden State Warriors. This is something that has become nauseating for a Rockets fan, considering that at times this Houston team could have been the team that would end the Warriors' dynasty. There have been issues that have caused the Rockets to believe that the league has favored the Warriors over them in certain games. But I'm getting ahead of myself on that.
GM Daryl Morey eats, sleeps and breathes analytics. The moves he has made during his tenure with the Rockets has to do with analytics. The trade for James Harden in 2012 was analytic based. The lopsided trade for Chris Paul in 2017 had to do with analytics. The drafting of Clint Capela and the various acquisitions had something to do with analytics. Hell, the hiring of coach Mike D'Antoni probably had analytics written all over it. Hey, I'm not knocking this type of strategy, because stats don't lie. In 2017-2018, the Rockets had the best record in the NBA with a 67-15 record and had the #1 seed in the Western Conference. We all know what happened next. With a comfortable 3-2 lead in the WCF against said Warriors, Paul had to miss the next two games due to injury and the Warriors won both games to reach the Finals, leaving Houston to think what might have been.
This leaves us to the Rockets and their otherwise weird fascination with the Warriors. It seems like Houston's goal going into this season was to humiliate Golden State, which is fine since the Warriors are the top dog in the NBA. But it comes off as that's the only team they set their sights, considering there are 28 other teams in the NBA. Morey even made comments that most of the moves he made during the off-season was so they could beat the Warriors. After this season's elimination, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta proclaimed that their time is coming and that his team should stomped on the Warriors' throat when they had the chance. I mean, I like the guy's intensity about wanting his team to win, but it looked like he wasn't sure it can happen. Then there is the organization saying that they audited Game 7 of last year's WCF and claimed that officials missed 81 calls or violations in that cost the Rockets 19 points. I do have sympathy to that considering me being a Kings fan and thinking of Game 6 of the 2002 WCF against the Lakers and....we know what happened. Anyway, this reminds me of the NFC Championship with the terrible pass interference non-call. The Saints thought that cost them the game, yet people tend to forget that Drew Brees threw an interception in overtime that lost them that game. Same situation, the Rockets missed 27 straight three-pointers to close the game, also going 7-44 from 3-point range. This from a team that broke the NBA record for most three-pointers made by a team. Two seasons in a row I might add.
So right now, the Rockets are one of the top teams in the NBA and still have a window of opportunity for a championship. Unfortunately, if the NBA was the 90s movie Single White Female, the Rockets are Jennifer Jason Leigh and the Warriors are Bridget Fonda.
(P.S. This won't be the last I talk about the Rockets)
(Sources: ESPN, NBA.com, Houston Chronicle, USA Today)
(For more content, check out our Facebook page and our website @www.realsportsaz.com)