The Golden State Warriors have unquestionably left an indelible imprint on the NBA in recent years. They have however changed the direction of multiple clubs’ championship hopes. The Houston Rockets, headed by none other than James Harden, have been one of the most visible victims of the Warriors’ supremacy. A 32-year-old seasoned NBA player made some fascinating statements regarding Harden’s Rockets.
He expressed how they would have been NBA champions if it hadn’t been for the Warriors in a recent interview with Michael Scotto of Hoopshype. However, on the Oddball podcast, Amin Elhassan slammed his opinions and gave a very humorous answer.
Amin Elhassan nullifies the Bulls center’s opinion
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Houston Rockets supporters and NBA fans alike recall the “Clutch City” period when James Harden was the chief center of the team’s blazing attack. The Rockets won 65 games in the 2017-2018 season, and Harden put up MVP-caliber stats. He averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game on 44% shooting. However, despite their great regular-season record, the Rockets faced a strong opponent on their way to championship glory, the Golden State Warriors.
Derrick Favors, the Chicago Bulls center, commented about the Rockets’ problems against the Warriors. He said, “Houston had James Harden at the time, winning 65 games. I think some of it was matchups, going against two historically great offensive teams. We couldn?t match up with them, but who could in the league? If it wasn?t for Golden State, Houston probably would?ve won championships. If it wasn?t for those two teams, we (Utah) could?ve won a championship.”
This opinion of favors was not appreciated by Amin Elhassan, who spoke about it on his podcast, Oddball. He said, “What are you talking about? This is like saying if it weren’t for Jay Z I would be married to Beyonce. If it weren’t for Jay Z & A$AP Rocky, I would be married to Beyonce & Rihanna at the same time”. But keeping the humor aside, is there any credibility in Favours’ what-if situation?
Is Derick Favors taking sides or does he actually have a point?
Derrick Favors’ comments regarding the Rockets’ problems against the Warriors raise legitimate concerns. The Warriors have historically excellent offensive teams, with an abundance of talent including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the game-changing arrival of Kevin Durant. These elements made them a formidable opponent for any team in the league.
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Although the Rockets were a formidable opponent, they could not match the Warriors’ star-studded squad. Favors’ remarks shed insight on the enticing “what-if” scenario that has affected Houston and its supporters.
What if the Rockets had faced a different opponent in the playoffs during their prime years, rather than the Warriors? Could they have won more than one championship? The Rockets came incredibly close to upsetting the Warriors, especially in their first year with Chris Paul.
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However, due to Chris Paul’s unexpected injury, their dreams were crushed. This begs the issue of whether the Rockets would have made the NBA Finals and maybe won the title under a different circumstance. It may seem like Favors is taking sides and hating on Curry and the Warriors, but some points that he made might actually make sense. What do you think? Does Favors know what he is talking about or is he just being biased toward the Rockets? Let us know in the comments below.
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