Houston Rockets Daily Social: Draft, Finals and Harden Buzz

Reaction to James Harden’s unwanted award kept the Houston Rockets social buzz active.

Focus on the NBA Finals was getting plenty of action, especially Draymond Green who finally spoke up regarding his suspension.

Game 6 tips off tonight in what could potentially be the end of the season with the Warriors winning back to back titles.  With that, here’s the daily social media buzz on the Rockets and NBA from June 15th.

Rockets Players

A day after James Harden took the embarrassing MVP for Shaqtin A Fool Award this odd tweet had a few wondering if it’s the strangest NBA player item ever to be sold!

Weirdest piece of mail I've ever received: James Harden Beard Hair Basketball Hoop pic.twitter.com/flwQOKwvez

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 15, 2016

And with the aforementioned Shaqtin MVP there was plenty of input from media and players alike:

Shaquille O'Neal clowns #Rockets' James Harden with MVP 'award' https://t.co/tluBrnEaW2 via @houstonchron

— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) June 15, 2016

Patrick Beverley is AC to Harden's OJ. Says him gettin 41-41 #Rockets to playoffs should make him #MVP … Seriously #ShaqtinAFool

— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) June 15, 2016

Also of note, Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle also noted upon learning Harden received the Shaqtin MVP that Beverley responded with “No Man, Why?”

“No, man, why? He should be the MVP, period, this year, I think, with all the stuff he had to do this year to get this team into the playoffs. I definitely don’t think he should be the Shaqtin’ a Fool MVP.”

And sticking with Harden speculation on why he has opted out of the Olympics continues. In my opinion he’s taking the offseason seriously and is fed up with getting bashed. If you recall the season he got lambasted for his defense (2013-14) he returned to play much better on both ends leading an injury riddled Rockets squad to second in the Western Conference. I think he’s taking all these shots seriously and wants to prove that next season with his improvements. Here Darren Yuvan of the the Dream Shake offers their input on the the situation:

James Harden is sitting out the Olympics this year, should we be worried? https://t.co/2WPH1nrosN pic.twitter.com/kLKwvQIaxy

— The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) June 15, 2016

Rockets Team Related

Perhaps the most important tweet of the day comes from Nate Duncan who noted if the Rockets could shed just a little more salary (assumption is Howard won’t be signed) they could sign two max free agents:

Dunc'd On Pod: @HoustonRockets offseason preview, @DBender03 scouting report, plus news w/ @DannyLeroux https://t.co/8eZ2GLz521

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) June 15, 2016

As @NateDuncanNBA pointed out on the podcast. The Rockets aware the only team that can offer an existing star with KD AND another max slot.

— Paul MD's Intellect (@RocketIntellect) June 15, 2016

For those interesting this interview today could offer some interesting insight:

New Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni joins #PGS Thursday at 8:30am. @SportsTalk790

— Matt Thomas (@SportsMT) June 15, 2016

Next round of Rockets Power Dancer audition prep classes occurs today:

Don't miss @OfficialRPD's next prep class on Thursday, June 16th!

Prep class info » https://t.co/NoTgNEeM9Xhttps://t.co/ADB6I5mfwN

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) June 15, 2016

Remember Houston Rockets first round draft pick (16th) Royce White? Despite Morey and White never being able to find common ground it would be nice to see him back in the game. Alex Kennedy interviewed him and reports the Knicks had him in for a free agent mini camp work out.

Royce White (@Highway_30) is only 25 years old. And in college, he was a beast: 13.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 5 APG, 1.2 SPG. https://t.co/zNgYup0vkL

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 15, 2016

Top NBA Tweets

This tweet is just so cute and Paul George naming the dog about Kobe is also news worthy:

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/743097008286617600

Following an amazing performance in the post season while taking arguably the hardest shot of the post season and living to tell about it Steven Adams legend continues to grow in Oklahoma City:

VIDEO: Steven Adams is becoming an Oklahoma City Thunder local legend! https://t.co/KexCs27vOL pic.twitter.com/XG5P8jQ5sV

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

Proving the point that is sucks to get older Zo has to explain to a youngster who he is!

VIDEO: Alonzo Mourning has to tell a kid who he is. https://t.co/MAVplaehId pic.twitter.com/JL0OgFkQur

— theScore (@theScore) June 16, 2016

In what can only fall under the strange but true category, Stephen Jackson informed Rachel Nichols that Metta World Peace is actually friends now with the guy who threw the cup at the then Ron Artest causing the “Malace at the Palace”

VIDEO: Metta World Peace 'speaks daily' with 'Malice at the Palace' cup thrower. https://t.co/KQVK3SOzzy pic.twitter.com/nK9oOr4rPP

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

Just one more reason why I believe Brandon Ingram should be top draft selection (but will likely fall to second given the reported relationship with Ben Simmons and the Colangelo’s):

Brandon freaking Ingram! (via @dukeblueplanet) https://t.co/xuh8Zng76J

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 15, 2016

As for the Rockets they may have Jermaine Taylor on their Summer League Team this year.

Jermaine Taylor (UCF, Rockets, Kings) may play Summer League this year as he attempts NBA comeback. My interview with him posts on Thursday.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 15, 2016

NBA Finals

Though the picture looks funny it stems from a terrible incident in which Andrew Bogut ended up hurting his knee:

TFW you realize Game 6 of the #NBAFinals is still one sleep away! https://t.co/xIqDQVrYGM pic.twitter.com/lWet7TKrpH

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

As for Bogut the injury will keep him out of the remainder of the NBA Finals:

Andrew Bogut will reportedly miss the remainder of the #NBAFinals. https://t.co/CoqsvCZ7kJ pic.twitter.com/q0RsfrsNMW

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

Another image which drew lots of sarcasm was of Kevin Love who as The Score points out has yet to hit a flow in the series (on either end):

5 games into the #NBAFinals, Kevin Love is still seeking his rhythm. https://t.co/hHiHgIN45o pic.twitter.com/2ZDz1cC4H6

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

It’s hard for Love who did get a concussion and has to weather the storm of LeBron James calling him out publicly to play better. The reality was he barely touched the ball (though his shooting may have merited it). But now to add insult to injury a Cav’s fan has started a GoFundMe Campaign in an effort to keep Love off the court in Game 6 … OUCH

A Cavs fan has started a GoFundMe campaign to pay for 'bum' Kevin Love to sit out Game 6. https://t.co/ptpqykgYcn pic.twitter.com/mnuFkZHF9q

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

In what might be the feel good story of the year side line reporter Craig Sager who continues to fight acute myeloid leukemia will work his first NBA Finals in his three decade career.

Craig Sager to work NBA Finals sideline for 1st time in Game 6. https://t.co/xQbjaYFzln pic.twitter.com/1ceeckhdoc

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

Draymond Green finally broke his silence regarding his suspension showing contrition for letting his team down, but he still remained true to his character. NOTE: given how much the Warriors seemed off defensively Green has a pretty strong argument:

Draymond Green thinks things would have gone a little different in Game 5 had he played. https://t.co/gBL9BNTZsB pic.twitter.com/0B5WTfwGg1

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

Draymond Green is back for Game 6 & believes in a different outcome of Game 5 if he would've played #NBAFinalshttps://t.co/OtFwPVsfy7

— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) June 15, 2016

If you ever wondered how many Steph Curry’s it takes to make up a blue whale (I kid you not) there’s this:

Look: How NBA players stack up against famous landmarks, animals https://t.co/72ek9jI5ta pic.twitter.com/d4EcfZfvo5

— theScore NBA (@theScoreNBA) June 15, 2016

I can’t be sure, but I’d bet the reason the following occurred has something to do with a certain player saying they “ALWAYS take the high road”, but apparently get miffed at the tamest of all trash talk:

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/743171411045289984

In one of the tightest NBA Finals MVP races in recent years, my hope is Draymond Green has a huge Game 6 as it would be hard to not give him the hardware should the Warriors win at the Q tonight. In fact, it might not take much more than a win for the Bill Russell Award to end up in Green’s hands given his plus 27.4 on court rating and how poorly the Warriors played specifically on defense in Game 6.

And for those saying Steph Curry hasn’t had a break out game I’m just curious how many more points (38 in Game 4) he has to score for them to say he made an impact!

Ranking the #NBAFinals MVP contenders. https://t.co/Cx7w2xlx16 pic.twitter.com/zVlTC0MnBo

— theScore (@theScore) June 15, 2016

So darn cute, gotta love Jimmy Kimmel:

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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