Kind of weird how we're back where we were 2-3 seasons ago...

We simply don't have time to build the "right way" with Harden when he can leave in free agency after next season. I can't wait to see how the free agency unfolds.

 

Well we might as well sign Parsons back lol

 

I just don't think free agency can be enough. We don't have much value to make trades. Our reputation as an organization has suffered. And we made a very poor coaching hire.

I just don't see how we get back to contending status unless we start doing things very differently; and trading Harden next year should not be off the table if we fail in free agency.

 

Not really, I don't find it weird, the minute we extended Mchale after the Portland series you could tell this organization has no clue how to win. Harden-Dwight combo was never going to work out till you get a real coach who knows how to implement both of them on the court and This Organization has failed to address this problem for 3 straight ****ing years.

 

We better get it done in FA, because we're certainly not going to get better using the draft.

The thing is, Les, the teams that are tops now had to go through a period of suck to draft good players and add on to that with FA until they got to where they are now.

During that time, we stoked the mediocre fire hoping to catch fire in FA, which we did, but it's a mixed bag and you don't always end up with the right mix.

 

You put Harden in the top 5, which is debatable but the gap between Lebron and Harden is pretty wide. You put Lebron on the Rockets team last year and we win at least 50 games.

 

Yeah, "top 5" could be misleading if the gaps between #1, #2, and #3 are very wide.

 

I do not think Harden can go speedster, get back on Defense, run and catch block Iggy.

 

We're not back where we were 2-3 years ago, far worse. I remember in 07-08 where Morey managed to find good players behind our stars. So far, he has drafted Capela who forced himself onto the team, Ariza and not much else. The lack of good veterans, players who can actually shoot three pointers and or free throws is just mind boggling. Stop chasing stars who are long gone when you get to them, just get some role players you know can play consistent defense and not only shoot well every once in a while.

 

BWHAHAHA already

 

Willing to bet you were not saying that last season

 

Who needs role players when you can have SUPERSTARS- Les Alexansder Jerry Jones

 

Which is why you we use the draft too. DMo and TJones never being the same after their injuries are out of control but they were needed to be a big part of the roster from

Maybe, maybe not. It's not like MDA has never had success.

Very differently? Like doing what Philly did? Or being mediocre to bad for about 15 years like the Twolves?

All paths lead to acquiring talented enough players, building around the players, and retaining talented players.

 

It's mind numbing people are r****ded and forget just a season ago we were arguing about who was better TJones v DMo and how we would be able to keep them or only one.

You do realize if TJones and DMo averaged 16 and 7, like they pretty much did during the best respective season, they would be getting max contract this off season?

You realize we drafted players who couldn't stay healthy and cost themselves a max? People sure have short memories or simply become emotional after a terrible season.

 

Totally agree with your insightful post. Concerning the Rockets, it's been a version of Groundhog Day ever since those championship years. And that's due solely to team ownership and management. They haven't been smart about talent evaluation or placed enough value on acquiring players through the draft. As an example, just look at all of those years they were a lotto team under Carroll Dawson and how they managed to land only Yao Ming. Dawson's constant churning of the roster was been continued by Morey and the end result is that this team lacks stability on the roster, team chemistry and leadership. It's also created this environment and attitude where team management is constantly trying to hit the proverbial home run by landing a marquee player in free agency or picking through the NBA refuse bin in an endless quest for bargains. And when that falls short, they kick the can down the road one more year and hope for the best.

Just look at what's coming up for next year: with the hiring of MDA, the team is once again hitting the reset button (this time with the head coach) which will in turn impact team philosophy and personnel decisions because their (actually Les') choice of head coach dictates said changes to implement his system. While MDA's system has known success, that success was years ago and MDA's coaching record since then leaves a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, his system requires a specific type of player who is not currently on the team. So these players will need to be acquired and then there will need to be a period of time to elapse before we see any results from MDA's system. I don't see that happening by the time the season starts so we are looking at at least a two, possibly three year period to know if MDA was the right hire. And if Les' choice of MDA fails (as many here expect) and because Les wants exciting, marketable basketball to sell to the masses, they will then start the entire process all over once more only this time with a different coach and GM.

This approach forever places this team and organization at a disadvantage against teams that have a winning system in place first, pick the head coach to implement that system and finds players who can fit into and can execute the style of basketball required by that system. I've watched the Spurs win 5 NBA titles doing this while watching the Rockets continue to ignore what it takes to produce a contending team. They are forever looking for the shortcut or gimmick and that is why they fail.

 

I don't see the Rockets ever loading the roster with D'Antoni's type of players because I don't see him being the coach for very long. He's 65 years old. He's already been through miserable stops in New York and LA. No way is he gonna go through the painful grind of a rebuilding process here in what is likely to be his final head coaching gig.

If Harden is gone in a year or two as I suspect he will be(assuming he's about winning and not just the paycheck which is debatable at this point), this will be a surefire lottery team. At that point, D'Antoni will likely start negotiating a buyout with Les rather than suffer through the full 3 years of his contract.