Houston Rockets Daily Social Buzz features Olympic Withdrawals, Durant News and Legends

Houston Rockets Daily social media buzz from June 10th offered news regarding Harden withdrawing from consideration for the Rio Olympics, ample Game 4 NBA Finals action and fittingly 2 legends occupy the Twitterverse.

Social media news for June 10th falls into four categories: Houston Rockets players news, Rockets general news, NBA Finals Game 4 and the final sub category focuses appropriately on two sports legends with one being laid to rest and another who passed today.

Rockets Players

Two major stories of note regarding Harden appeared on Twitter the first surrounding Harden and Durant hanging out having no impact on Durant’s impending free agency. In fact, Marc Stein says the Rockets won’t factor into Durant’s plans. The second regarding Harden (as well as his buddy Westbrook) both pulling out of consideration for the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA.

Durant:

Kevin Durant and James Harden have indeed been hanging out this week, but league sources say the visits will have no impact on free agency.

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 10, 2016

The Rockets, league sources say, are not a team Kevin Durant plans to consider in free agency, despite Houston's well-known fondness for him

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 10, 2016

Link to the @espn latest surrounding this week's Kevin Durant-alongside-James Harden sighting: https://t.co/176UHzR5U8

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 10, 2016

Kevin Durant and the short-term contract: "It's no sure thing" https://t.co/HdJGgdKuYi

— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) June 2, 2016

Jet not done yet:

And in the midst of the Harden and Durant news, the Jet says he isn’t ready to retire and insists he wants to play for a contender:

Jason Terry is not planning to retire, wants to join contender. https://t.co/T7JMVJoFiu pic.twitter.com/Yo1N0DCBAn

— theScore (@theScore) June 10, 2016

Ariza chills with Odom:

Trevor Ariza was spotted out with Lamar Odom enjoying a Copa America game:

Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza take in #CopaAmerica game. https://t.co/t6DFlPFGFh pic.twitter.com/0HGQl4PCT1

— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2016

Olympic News:

Guessing "workload" is a primary concern. Harden's sprained ankle in the 2015 offseason had very real consequences. https://t.co/hWda4hFzlD

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) June 11, 2016

It's odd to see the "will Harden show up in shape?" comments, seeing as how him playing basketball (bad ankle sprain) CAUSED it a year ago.

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) June 11, 2016

Then again The Score in Canada is suggesting the Zika Virus may be part of the reason athletes are pulling out:

James Harden the latest NBA star to bail on Rio Olympics. https://t.co/mcx8f8EfTq pic.twitter.com/tDwirwfbH9

— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2016

James Harden withdraws from playing for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/QgsBHrEBVw

— Rockets Insider (@Rockets_Insider) June 11, 2016

James Harden:

"…I've notified Jerry Colangelo and Team USA that I will not be competing at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Brazil."

— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) June 11, 2016

Dwight Howard is the other Rocket left on the team. No word if he's pulling out or not. He has been in training since the season ended.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) June 11, 2016

Russell Westbrook statement on withdrawing from 2016 Olympics. pic.twitter.com/eMTg9GvVBY

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 10, 2016

Add James Harden to the growing list of NBA stars who won't be going to the Rio Olympics: https://t.co/pisSuhAulM pic.twitter.com/48tahXzGmW

— ESPN (@espn) June 11, 2016

Rockets Related

Draft prospects continue to work out with news of one such prospect having spent time in Houston:

Kansas' @WayneSeldenJr has done draft workouts with the Knicks, Lakers, Rockets, Spurs, Bulls and Bucks.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 10, 2016

Clutch the Bear offered thanks for a worthy cause:

Taylor's Gift, thanks for helping organ donor families in need (both recipient families and especially those… https://t.co/LDY73unSgF

— Clutch the Bear (@clutchthebear) June 10, 2016

.@ProducerEric + @clutchthebear = the best golf partners!

The 1st Audition prep class is tomorrow, 6/11!! Registration at 9AM! More info at https://t.co/jWrsFKKFyn Let's go!! pic.twitter.com/prPG8v1Zow

— RocketsPowerDancers (@OfficialRPD) June 10, 2016

In one of the more bizarre story lines of this year’s NBA Finals the fact O.J. Simpson’s car chase occurred during the Knicks vs Rockets finals game now has an even bigger twist as Jeff Van Gundy tells of how Simpson had Cowlings drive slow so he could hear how the game was going,

To clarify: Via Van Gundy, AC Cowlings told Pat Riley that OJ made him drive slow during Bronco chase so he could listen to NYK-Hou on radio

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) June 11, 2016

NBA Finals

Perhaps the biggest buzz on Twitter during Game 4 of the NBA Finals had to do with an attendee rather than a player (um channeling Cisco much Andrew?):

Andrew Bynum's 28 years old, averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds in 2011-12 and was an All-Star that same season. pic.twitter.com/zNHG0SDQwN

— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) June 11, 2016

To imagine the Splash Brothers would never get rolling was naive and they finally both put together a solid game in Game 4 leading to yet another record breaking stat:

Warriors set #NBAFinals record for most 3-pointers in a game (17). https://t.co/0eJWufRNde pic.twitter.com/AoJzYpEdn4

— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2016

Of course the speculation on LeBron James and his expiration date in Cleveland has already begun:

Down 3-1? LeBron James makes his getaway. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/zSu0G2joVY

— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2016

In the fourth quarter as the Dubs began to distance themselves I tweeted the expected play from the Cavaliers would be to try to goad Draymond Green into a Tech or Flagrant Foul.

Notably Tristan Thompson who had been huge on the glass in the first half (6 rebounds) grabbed only one in the second half, which was why Green’s play was huge for the Dubs.

No sooner had I tweeted out to watch for this occurrence then LeBron James was involved in what looked like a foul on Draymond. Green ended up on the ground and James walked OVER top him. Post game James was calling for the NBA to look at the play saying Draymond Green hit him in the nether regions.

VIDEO: Things got a little chippy between LeBron and Draymond late in Game 4. #NBAFinals https://t.co/zjm7tLpKja pic.twitter.com/ZfuRbwDwO8

— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2016

My problem with this is James didn’t pick up a foul on the play (which is fine, though it was one) and further by walking over top DG when he could have avoided him, James was looking to goad him into action. As Charles Barkley said post game players only do that (walk over top you) when they are trying to punk you.

If the NBA does suspend Green it will wreck of special treatment for James who also got in Curry’s face later in the game.

You traded Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love? pic.twitter.com/HM6UJ0pH3e

— Armando in Miami (@LakersCanes305) June 11, 2016

Fans know I’m not fond of James double standards, so it’s no surprise which side of the argument I fall on here. Yes, Green should have been suspended for what he did to Steven Adams, but this incident was created by James and James alone, and is no where near as egregious as the Adams shot.

In what could easily be deemed the coolest Splash Brothers video EVER I offer this tweet from Alex Kennedy via NBA TV:

This is a cool Splash Bros video. (via @NBATV) https://t.co/TiX70M4IIY

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 11, 2016

Also another cool NBA Finals twitter addition is the emojis that were designed for various players:

Stephen Curry:

Get the FREE Curry emoji right now to support the Warriors in game 4 of the #NBAFinals https://t.co/IaaQJJnlVLhttps://t.co/ss5BRyYuFX

— Bruh Report™ (@BroReports) June 11, 2016

LeBron James:

The @NBA announced the launch of the NBAmoji App. It's free in App Store or Google Play. The LeBron James one: pic.twitter.com/1fLh5noCYv

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 10, 2016

Draymond Green:

Here's the Draymond Green emoji (via NBAmoji App). #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/S91UzhDtmy

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 10, 2016

Klay Thompson:

Here's the Klay Thompson emoji (via NBAmoji App). #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/PgrmMWNRc8

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 10, 2016

Kyrie Irving:

The Kyrie Irving emoji is pretty cool (via NBAmoji App). pic.twitter.com/7hvDgbBcsv

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 10, 2016

Kevin Love:

The NBAmoji app's emoji of future Blazer @kevinlove is pretty great. pic.twitter.com/4Dk0icsNjQ

— Ryan Fernandez (@RTFern) June 10, 2016

LEGENDS

Although Muhammad Ali and Gordie Howe were athletes who were part of other major sports (boxing and NHL hockey respectively) I’d be remiss to not include them in today’s social media buzz.

Gordie Howe better known as Mr. Hockey retired at age 52 playing in 5 different decades – just consider that fact alone. His passing today was met with sadness and many tributes both in Canada and the U.S. of the player who was beloved by generations of NHL players.

Barack Obama

Garth Brooks dons No. 9 sweater for show in Gordie Howe's home province. https://t.co/quVS8viuVH pic.twitter.com/qgPJDNLaF3

— theScore (@theScore) June 11, 2016

A young Wayne Gretzky meets Mr. Hockey. Best picture ever. #RIPGordieHowe pic.twitter.com/InwXlhbUaV

— NHL EXPERT PICKS (@NHLexpertpicks) June 10, 2016

For Muhammad Ali, his passing last Friday was a hard day personally for me as he embodied so much more in his years after he finished boxing. His funeral today was attended by all types of celebrities, politicians, athletes and various religious leaders. Perhaps the best tribute to Ali was the eulogy delivered by Billy Crystal who offered humor and touching words in his time at the pulpit:

Beautiful Ali tribute from Billy Crystal https://t.co/52kVhXoWK7

— Gary Sharp (@GarySharp1620) June 10, 2016

The line from Crystal’s eulogy I personally enjoyed the most was: “Ali forced us to take a look at ourselves. This brash young man who thrilled us, angered us, confused and challenged us ultimately became a silent messenger of peace who taught us that life is best when you build bridges between people not walls”

Make sure you check out the current Space City Scoop series including the rest of our year end player analysis, draft prospects worthy of Rockets picking or trading for, our best of reader/fan posts  and our end of season Rockets Round Table:

Next: Complete list of 2016 -2017 Free Agents

Next: Rockets Fans Speak - the Series

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