[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Coming into the season both teams were on the short list of teams that could potentially represent their conference in the finals. Now both appear poised to miss the playoffs entirely.

Which of these teams has been the biggest disappointment this season in your mind? And which can right the ship and get back into contention quicker and how?

 

[high floorParticipant]

Both have sunk well below expectations, but if I have to pick one I’ll go with the Rockets as the bigger letdown. Houston reached the WCF last year, and Harden is dead-smack in the middle of his prime. to go from a 50+ win season last year in the brutal Western Conference, and then fall to .500 the next year without significant injury to their top 3 players (i.e Ariza, Howard, Harden) then you have to look at this year as a colossal disappointment. The Ty Lawson signing was originally met with a lot of optomism.. and we know how that turned out.

The Bulls brought in a rookie head coach, dealt with a slew of injuries to Jimmy Butler & J Noah, and Pau Gasol (although he put up some good stats this year) is 35yo and on the downslope of his career. Especially on defense. In hidsight their season is a little easier to swallow. So my vote is the Rockets by a nose.

  

[high floorParticipant]

Both have sunk well below expectations, but if I have to pick one I’ll go with the Rockets as the bigger letdown. Houston reached the WCF last year, and Harden is dead-smack in the middle of his prime. to go from a 50+ win season last year in the brutal Western Conference, and then fall to .500 the next year without significant injury to their top 3 players (i.e Ariza, Howard, Harden) then you have to look at this year as a colossal disappointment. The Ty Lawson signing was originally met with a lot of optomism.. and we know how that turned out.

The Bulls brought in a rookie head coach, dealt with a slew of injuries to Jimmy Butler & J Noah, and Pau Gasol (although he put up some good stats this year) is 35yo and on the downslope of his career. Especially on defense. In hidsight their season is a little easier to swallow. So my vote is the Rockets by a nose.

  

[ChewyParticipant]

 First, you have the firing of top 5 coach Tibs. If you are going that far, then you better be sure the next guy you get will be worth it. So far this season Hoiberg has been fine, but I don’t see the transendent movement and offense that he was supposed to bring with him.

Second, they are old. There was no more room for error with this team after DRose and Noah’s constant injuries. Jimmy Butler’s improvements looked to extend their championship hopes by 2 or 3 years, but year one of those extra years and they are out of the playoffs.

Team needs to be blown up and built around Mirotic and Butler (if no amazing trade offers appear). If DRose wants to stay at a fraction of his current contract then great he can stay too.

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 First, you have the firing of top 5 coach Tibs. If you are going that far, then you better be sure the next guy you get will be worth it. So far this season Hoiberg has been fine, but I don’t see the transendent movement and offense that he was supposed to bring with him.

Second, they are old. There was no more room for error with this team after DRose and Noah’s constant injuries. Jimmy Butler’s improvements looked to extend their championship hopes by 2 or 3 years, but year one of those extra years and they are out of the playoffs.

Team needs to be blown up and built around Mirotic and Butler (if no amazing trade offers appear). If DRose wants to stay at a fraction of his current contract then great he can stay too.

 

 

[I am an idiotParticipant]

I don’t watch the Rockets much, but the couple of games i saw it seemed that they just didn’t give a sh*t.

 Totally inexcusable for "professionals". Bulls have external reasons, like injuries. The Rockets have nothing to hide behind.

[I am an idiotParticipant]

I don’t watch the Rockets much, but the couple of games i saw it seemed that they just didn’t give a sh*t.

 Totally inexcusable for "professionals". Bulls have external reasons, like injuries. The Rockets have nothing to hide behind.

[dazeoneParticipant]

 The Rockets had the pieces,however, they gotta get rid of Dwight Howard…addition by subtraction.  The Bulls had injuries gotta get rid of Rose because they can’t count on him and Noah and Gasol were hurt along with a new coach. The East is weak in comparison to the west but those are hard variables to overcome.Houston had a better team then the Jazz, Dallas, and Portland.  

[dazeoneParticipant]

 The Rockets had the pieces,however, they gotta get rid of Dwight Howard…addition by subtraction.  The Bulls had injuries gotta get rid of Rose because they can’t count on him and Noah and Gasol were hurt along with a new coach. The East is weak in comparison to the west but those are hard variables to overcome.Houston had a better team then the Jazz, Dallas, and Portland.  

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 1. They dont play in the Western Conference, as much as the East has improved, they still pale in comparison to the West, only the Cavs have a legitimate shot at the Championship and thats only because you cant count out Lebron James…Bulls have a solid roster albeit Old and Injury prone…

2. They fired a winning coach for Fred Hoiberg??? They were doomed to take major step back…Now they look like a team that HAS to blow it up…

My 1st suggestion, trade Jimmy Butler for Noel or Okafor plus a Top 5 Protected pick in 17′ or 18′

 

 

 

 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 1. They dont play in the Western Conference, as much as the East has improved, they still pale in comparison to the West, only the Cavs have a legitimate shot at the Championship and thats only because you cant count out Lebron James…Bulls have a solid roster albeit Old and Injury prone…

2. They fired a winning coach for Fred Hoiberg??? They were doomed to take major step back…Now they look like a team that HAS to blow it up…

My 1st suggestion, trade Jimmy Butler for Noel or Okafor plus a Top 5 Protected pick in 17′ or 18′

 

 

 

 

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

The Rockets! Bulls has some injuries and for me at least, all I heard last season and the beginning of this season was how Harden got robbed of the NBA MVP last season and how the Rockets were going to beat the World Champs Dubs this season. Well just a season after all that, we truly see why Stephen Curry was crowed the NBA MVP and not NO D James Harden, right? The Rockets are currently a hot, hot, hot mess!

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

The Rockets! Bulls has some injuries and for me at least, all I heard last season and the beginning of this season was how Harden got robbed of the NBA MVP last season and how the Rockets were going to beat the World Champs Dubs this season. Well just a season after all that, we truly see why Stephen Curry was crowed the NBA MVP and not NO D James Harden, right? The Rockets are currently a hot, hot, hot mess!

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

The Bulls season is a problem because they tried to change who they were as a team without changing their personnel. In many ways, Indiana did as well and they are only slightly better off, but they were more flexible in adapting to Paul George not liking having to guard real power forwards.  The Bulls’ injuries certainly did not help matters, but they fell into the trap of thinking the Golden State model is how to operate when they had players who played better in a defense first style. In as much as Niko Mirotic and Doug McDermott are legitimate NBA players, you do not alter a style that is working to cater to them. The bigger picture issue is that they brought in Hoiberg to play a certain way, but that style did not work for them. Can Paxson and Foreman go to ownership, admit to screwing up when asking to change coaches again, and keep their jobs. 

Houston has had injuries as well, and the Ty Lawson acquisition was a disaster, but their failure comes down to that they were incredibly effective at pushing the pace and being better at play high-tempo-high-scoring basketball than most other teams. Much of their defensive success last year came from lesser teams trying to chase points and making poor decisions. When a team has poor defensive fundamentals, and are not playing with the lead, you get this kind of season. 

I think it would be easier for Houston to recover simply because they did not change who they were, they simply were not as good at it. With Butler and a healthy Rose, the Bulls can bounce back, but they have issues about their collective identity that need to be addressed.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

The Bulls season is a problem because they tried to change who they were as a team without changing their personnel. In many ways, Indiana did as well and they are only slightly better off, but they were more flexible in adapting to Paul George not liking having to guard real power forwards.  The Bulls’ injuries certainly did not help matters, but they fell into the trap of thinking the Golden State model is how to operate when they had players who played better in a defense first style. In as much as Niko Mirotic and Doug McDermott are legitimate NBA players, you do not alter a style that is working to cater to them. The bigger picture issue is that they brought in Hoiberg to play a certain way, but that style did not work for them. Can Paxson and Foreman go to ownership, admit to screwing up when asking to change coaches again, and keep their jobs. 

Houston has had injuries as well, and the Ty Lawson acquisition was a disaster, but their failure comes down to that they were incredibly effective at pushing the pace and being better at play high-tempo-high-scoring basketball than most other teams. Much of their defensive success last year came from lesser teams trying to chase points and making poor decisions. When a team has poor defensive fundamentals, and are not playing with the lead, you get this kind of season. 

I think it would be easier for Houston to recover simply because they did not change who they were, they simply were not as good at it. With Butler and a healthy Rose, the Bulls can bounce back, but they have issues about their collective identity that need to be addressed.

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 Id say the Bulls have it worse, because with hoiberg on a 4 year contract, they’re stuck with him. Rockets have loads of assets and could even hire another coach in the summer – and linking the two…HOW MUCH FUN WOULD IT BE TO SEE COACH THIBS GO TO HOUSTON AND HAVE TO TEACH JAMES HARDEN TO PLAY DEFENSE. he’d end up having a heart attack!

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 Id say the Bulls have it worse, because with hoiberg on a 4 year contract, they’re stuck with him. Rockets have loads of assets and could even hire another coach in the summer – and linking the two…HOW MUCH FUN WOULD IT BE TO SEE COACH THIBS GO TO HOUSTON AND HAVE TO TEACH JAMES HARDEN TO PLAY DEFENSE. he’d end up having a heart attack!

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I’m more disappointed with the Rockets but the Bulls are in a much worse situation moving forward.

Im not surprised at all by the Bulls season. They are an injury prone sqaud who’s most charismatic leaders have egotistical battles and cannot cooperate. On top of that Hoiberg had to step in for Thibs and quite honestly he has done a fine job given the circumstances and constant injuries. Rumours have surfaced stating Jimmy Buckets wants out, it seems as if Rose will never be the same after his major injuries his historically elite athletisism is gone and his game is struggling without it, Gasol isn’t getting any younger and on top of that everyone’s always injured. Futures not looking good.

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I’m more disappointed with the Rockets but the Bulls are in a much worse situation moving forward.

Im not surprised at all by the Bulls season. They are an injury prone sqaud who’s most charismatic leaders have egotistical battles and cannot cooperate. On top of that Hoiberg had to step in for Thibs and quite honestly he has done a fine job given the circumstances and constant injuries. Rumours have surfaced stating Jimmy Buckets wants out, it seems as if Rose will never be the same after his major injuries his historically elite athletisism is gone and his game is struggling without it, Gasol isn’t getting any younger and on top of that everyone’s always injured. Futures not looking good.

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 I’d say the Rockets have been a bigger disappointment given they have a legit franchise player at his peak in Harden so if the restb of the roster can play with any consistency they should be a solid play off team especially as the amount of wins needed to reach the play offs out West has fallen this season.

The Bulls have had more injuries with Butler, Rose and especially Noah missing chunks of the season. The Bulls of course to really get back into contention needed D-Rose to get back to something near his MVP form. Despite playing more games this season than in the last 3 seasons combined, D-Rose has never got on a real role scoringwise. He’s playing okay but has had nagging injuries and seems to miss a lot of odd games because of them and to be fair to him has played through the pain in several games.

I now wonder if we will ever see the old D-Rose again and for someone who relied on his explosivness, this might be effectively the watered down version. D-Rose hasn’t been able to refine his game maybe becoming more a creative PG and looking to improve his 3 point range etc.

If he is picking up all these injuries I just wonder if he may be one of those players who may have to or decide to retire relatively young. If this was likely to happen, I’d love him to look to get on a roster where he could get a real shot at a title when he hits FA next summer. He’s had a top rookie deal, a big 2nd contract so could probably afford to take less than he may like.

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 I’d say the Rockets have been a bigger disappointment given they have a legit franchise player at his peak in Harden so if the restb of the roster can play with any consistency they should be a solid play off team especially as the amount of wins needed to reach the play offs out West has fallen this season.

The Bulls have had more injuries with Butler, Rose and especially Noah missing chunks of the season. The Bulls of course to really get back into contention needed D-Rose to get back to something near his MVP form. Despite playing more games this season than in the last 3 seasons combined, D-Rose has never got on a real role scoringwise. He’s playing okay but has had nagging injuries and seems to miss a lot of odd games because of them and to be fair to him has played through the pain in several games.

I now wonder if we will ever see the old D-Rose again and for someone who relied on his explosivness, this might be effectively the watered down version. D-Rose hasn’t been able to refine his game maybe becoming more a creative PG and looking to improve his 3 point range etc.

If he is picking up all these injuries I just wonder if he may be one of those players who may have to or decide to retire relatively young. If this was likely to happen, I’d love him to look to get on a roster where he could get a real shot at a title when he hits FA next summer. He’s had a top rookie deal, a big 2nd contract so could probably afford to take less than he may like.

 

 

 

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Well I read all the comments, maybe I am the only one who thinks it’s a tie since both teams have let down so much that it shouldn’t even matter. But if you want an actually technically correct answer, just find out what each team’s odds was to win the Chip by Vegas standards. Whoever had the better odds was the bigger disappointment.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Well I read all the comments, maybe I am the only one who thinks it’s a tie since both teams have let down so much that it shouldn’t even matter. But if you want an actually technically correct answer, just find out what each team’s odds was to win the Chip by Vegas standards. Whoever had the better odds was the bigger disappointment.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Just found the preseason odds, Bull were 25 to 1 while Houston was 13 to 1.

FYI, Philly was 350 to 1. so there is your answer.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

Just found the preseason odds, Bull were 25 to 1 while Houston was 13 to 1.

FYI, Philly was 350 to 1. so there is your answer.

[Hype Machine]

 As a Jazz fan, you’ve totally jinxed me with this thread.

The Rockets aren’t done yet! Theyre only 1 game behind the Jazz and own the H2H

Jamal Crawford just killed the Jazz with a gamewinner in OT.

Damn.

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 As a Jazz fan, you’ve totally jinxed me with this thread.

The Rockets aren’t done yet! Theyre only 1 game behind the Jazz and own the H2H

Jamal Crawford just killed the Jazz with a gamewinner in OT.

Damn.

 

 

 

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