A look at the Rockets while pickeling my body and mind. And criticism to boot!

OK. I am sitting here fermenting in a sea of significant single malt scotch. Life could be worse. I thought I would address expectations. Yes expectations. The probabilistic and statistical out come of the Rockets current season. And a logical one.

No, the Rockets are not a playoff team. The Vegas over/under is 35 or so wins. So, given that Vegas is the smartest money around, and given an approximate normal distribution the chance of the Rockets making the playoffs (with a projected win total of 35) is ~6%.

No, contrary to current opinion the coaching staff is not stupid. Sorry you are not the Einstein of the NBA. The Rockets coaching staff earns (by my estimation) $2.6 million a year. Morey is not stupid enough to employee idiots. And yes, Finch and Sampson are Morey's employee's.

Yes, the coaching staff understands the dynamics of the Harden and Lin relationship. And yes they understand that playing TD in overtime jeopardizes a win. But do they really care? Hell, I don't know and you do not either. But I would bet that playing TD in overtime gave Morey needed information.

Yes. PF is our weakest position. KL and LA are not available for any price. Pray that D-Mo or Jones rise to the occasion. In the current offense I (ignorant as I am I would want a PF that can drain a 3 and Atlanta does not have one) do not know what free agent best fits the Rockets needs. I just hope that Morey does.

Nothing happens in the Rockets organization that Morey (and by extension Les) is not cognitive of. Morey has made it his Rockets. Do not blame the coaching staff. Blame Morey. Finch and Sampson are Morey's employees, not McHales.

To be honest I hope to never ever see another race based post. They are demeaning to the organization and the fan base. If you think that the coaches project color onto their players you should go and get into a white hooded garment. Burn crosses. Whatever. Just get the **** away from Clutchfans. I grew in the South long ago and I have left those prejudices behind me. So should you.

And above all remember that the Rocket's organization does not care about your post. Do not send messages to Les. He will never ever read them. Morey could care less. We are sort of an approximation of Watson to the ever perspective Holmes. Trying to tease the inner workings of an obscure landscape pictured through a distorted lens. But no matter how hard you try you will never be accurate.

Do not post a player's name and joke in the thread topic. At this level they all are beyond joke. This is a collection of the best BB talent in the world, and I doubt that anyone of you could take on the the end of the bench of any team and not be embarrassed. And yes, they all would rule college.

LOL I blame it on the scotch.

 

A 20 year old Lagavulan (sp? and honestly I am in no shape to wonder into the kitchen to inspect the bottle). I pickle in style!

 

Unfortunately your question, while completely valid, is truly beyond analysis. But NBA team analysts are used to taking into consideration hype and players balling out of their minds. I may be giving them too much credit though.

 

Point taken, but that was 25+ years ago. And by the time Bird had 2 years experience I think that the whole NBA knew who he was.

I hate to admit it, but there is some grain of truth in your question about underlying racial bias. We honestly will never know. But I do hope that in a decade that question will not be relevant. On the other side though, I do not believe that Morey's statistical analysis of players has a radio button for race.

 

That is your opinion and I totally respect it. You certainly could be right. But any large organization will reinforce correct decisions and punish those who make bad decisions. I have been there in the middle of developing billion dollar products, and the organization is not forgiving anything. You do not get sacked for one bad decision, but you get reprimanded in a very organizational critique. Not pleasant. And someone is keeping score.

My point is that the Rockets are currently Morey's organization. For better or for worse. And if I were his employee I would not be venturing far from his spreadsheets. Not if I wanted to keep my job.

 

I certainly agree. Morris, IMHO is going to be around for a long time. He is useful, versicle and completely competent. Despite what we all thought in the pre-season.

 

I agree with you. But the bias can be alleged, but never proven. Short of something like using the N word. So we as fans should not venture there. Sampson, with his native American heritage, can probably speak volumes about the racism that I, as a Wasp, have never seen. He has coached basketball for decades and I believe that he sees nothing but an on court asset any more. Can someone hide who he is for decades in the media spotlight? I tend to believe the answer is no and please do not disillusion me.

 

I have been nothing if not civil. I have no power to ban or kick out anyone on this forum, and I have not mentioned any poster by name. Not because I have not seen the posts alleging racism, but because I view it as a passing, ephemeral event. Hopefully.

And why do I have to either be a subject or a propagator of racism? Why cannot I just be a confused teenage observer? I hope that if I had actually seen physical attacks I would have acted valiantly, but I did not see any.