It’s been almost two weeks since Christopher Paul was dealt to the Rockets in one of the most lopsided trades in terms of number players switching sides ever. The trade confused many as the Houston Rockets had seemed to have found a point guard in James Harden after switching him from shooting guard. Harden relished in the role, recording a career year in 2016-2017 under new coach Mike Mike D'Antoni. Bringing in another ball dominate point guard seemed odd. The Rockets now process two of the top seven players in terms of usage percentage. The only reasonable explanation for this is maybe to give Harden a rest at times as he slowed down during the playoffs. Teams won’t be able to key in on Harden as much, he can play off the ball at times now. Harden will finally have a true point guard on his team to get him the ball as he comes off those down screens similar to what the Warriors do with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Houston incorporates sabermetrics in to their playing style more than anybody else in the league, three pointers will be reigning down from every spot on the floor with this addition of Paul. The get his distributing abilities and his shooting abilities is sort of like having two James Harden point guards on your team. It just seems odd that’s all. Another thing that’s odd is how many players Houston gave up, and how many players they have on their roster now. The Rockets have about seven players on their roster right now who will actually get playing time this upcoming season. As opposed to the Clippers who have more then 20 players on their roster currently. New Clippers “General Manager” Jerry West needs to just dismiss Doc Rivers and his disobedient son. They seem to be a big part of the problem for the Clippers. It’s time for a new era of Clippers basketball, the Rivers family don’t need to be a part of that. But if they get rid of Austin Rivers will he still be able to get a job in the league? Jerry West should just bring in other former Laker Phil Jackson to coach, just kidding nobody wants to run the triangle. Now to continue with the players that were actually traded. The Clips have already replaced Paul, with two different players. This seems to be a Billy “Moneyball” Beane type of approach to things. They replaced Paul’s defense with Patrick Beverly and Paul’s lob city ability with Serbian sensation Milos Teodosic. Lou Williams goes back to LA; in fact, he seems to want to forget about Houston all together. He was a perfect fit for the Rockets twice the offense and no defense scheme but he now slides in to the Jamal Crawford sixth man spot that was recently vacated in his trade to the Hawks. Speaking of that trade I love Crawford because he’s a Seattle guy and he’s very genuine but he would have nights where he exploded or he would have nights where he was the worst player on the court. It was time for a change of scenery for him, maybe he single handedly brings back the Sonics? That trade included Diamond Stone as well, I thought he was supposed to be good? Maybe he should have stay in college awhile longer. Either way his name was as close to a ring the Clippers are ever going to get. Continuing with who the Clippers acquired, Sam Decker is the SF they’ve been looking for for a while. They finally fill that gapping hole they been trying to cover with the small washcloth that is Luc Mbah a Moute. In fact, the Clippers added another SF with Danilo Gallinari going back to the previously mentioned trade of Jamal Crawford in which Gallinari was included in. If the Clips want to keep Lou Will in that sixth man role they are probably going to have to start the man that took South Carolina to the Final Four this past March, rookie Sindarius Thornwell. If you like to throw lobs in 2k then new Clipper Montrezl Harrell is the guy for you. He hasn’t had much of a chance to shine in Houston but playing the backup role to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan he should have many opportunities for dunks off Teodosic lobs. Finally, LA received Kyle Wiltjer, the stretch four who like Lou Will seemed to fit perfectly with the Rockets shoot a three-every time system. Wiltjer brings to the Clippers something they haven’t had in the Griffin and Jordan era, a true stretch four. The Clippers also received former Cleveland Cavilers great Deandre Liggins and Darrun Hilliard but I’m not concerned about them being factors for the Clips next season. Clippers Rotation next season: Starters: PG: Milos Teodosic SG: Sindarius Thornwell SF: Danilo Gallinari PF: Bah-Law-Kay Griffin C: DeAndre Jordan 6th Man: Looooouuuu Will Role players: Patrick Beverly Sam Decker Jawun Evans (Rookie) Kyle Wiltjer Marreese Speights Brice Johnson Montrezl Harrell Closing statements: James Harden and Chris Paul together is weird. The Rockets need to add depth. Clippers should get rid of the Rivers Family. Lob City is still in tact in Los Angeles. The Clippers might actually be better now? The Rockets over paid for Chris Paul. Neither of these teams are good enough to over take the Warriors so this is all irrelevant.
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