I have Daryl Morey pegged for what he really is. He’s a guy that’s so smart that he’s actually dumb. Morey is a big believer in analytics but nothing he ever does coincides with that belief. Signing Clint Capela to a $90 million contract is something they regretted immediately and have been trying to move him ever since. Acquiring Carmelo Anthony may have been the dumbest thing he ever did. Anthony got cut pretty quick. Now he’s added Russell Westbrook who is the worst 3-point volume shooter in the league. Everything Morey does goes against his actual belief. It’s like the guy who’s living in poverty but votes republican. He doesn’t get it.
Morey’s delusion has reached levels of epic proportions. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle asked Morey where his team stood in the West after Golden State lost Kevin Durant. Morey’s response was shocking:
“Yes. We’re favorites. But as usual, there is some very tough competition: Clippers, Lakers, Utah. Then I’d say people are probably underrating Golden State still. We have a healthy respect for them. But we go in shooting for the No. 1 seed.”
Favorites? FAVORITES? Daryl Morey has gone from smart guy who’s really dumb to smart guy who lost his mind. This Rockets team isn’t anywhere close to favorites. If the Clippers are a 10-10, the Rockets are a 5 at best. Morey is the guy that partially helped the Clippers put their team together. Nobody, in my opinion, is really touching the Clippers. Forget the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George duo for a second. It’s the supporting cast that puts it over the top. This is a team that just made the playoffs without either of them. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell is the most dangerous pick and pop duo in the league. Add in Landry Shamet’s sniper, Pat Beverley’s defense and grit, and a player like Mo Harkless who’s now coming off the bench? Oh, yeah, the Clips are the favorites.
This Houston experiment doesn’t even have a prayer at working. Russell Westbrook and James Harden are not statically capable of playing together if they keep their current usage rates. Westbrook is the biggest cancer in the NBA today. He’s lost in the first round of the playoffs in 3 straight years despite having the most talented supporting cast. Somebody tell me what Westbrook is going to do when James Harden has the ball? We all know Harden isn’t taking the back seat. Westbrook catch and shoot plays? Oh, this is going to be such a train wreck. I can’t wait. Favorites? If Houston wins a first round series, I’ll be shocked. Their ceiling is probably the 2nd round. Good luck with that.
