No. As early as the playoff series against Portland 2 years ago, some of us noticed that there was no chemistry between Howard and Harden. Neither made the game easier for each other or for their teammates. Harden had a monster year last year, so that and the fact that Dwight was out half the season made many forget this. But this team basically ride consistent great performances by a solo Harden and occasional great solo performances by other players to a 55 win season. But the team game never really came together - with the exception of the beautiful pnr plays between Smith and Howard against the Mavs and the brilliant comeback led by Smith and Brewer against the Clippers. Everything else was iso ball. Our Harden-led teams have been bounced in the first round 3 out of 4 years. So I think viewing this team as first round fodder is a lot more on the money than believing they have the capability to repeat 2014-2015.
To this point, here's Greg Popovich talking about how the Spurs build a team. Pretty much the opposite of how the Rockets are built. Start watching at 1:50. At 6:25 it's like he's talking to Morey directly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZTPtENQCY
Morey the GM was tasked with finding coaches for Les to approve. Narrative crew here resorting to dishonesty again.
So basically we have been a mediocre team under Morey that either gets the 14th pick or loses in the first round, with an outlier of advancing to the WCF one year. That is NOT a great record - time to fire Morey. He can't pick a coach or a roster - and turns it over far too much to ever build up chemistry. DD
There will always be those that buy into the propaganda and drink the kool aid. Maury has developed a cult like following of blind supporters who even have monikers based on his name. There's not much you can do about these people, but 10 years of general failure should be enough for most fans. I couldn't imagine tolerating another decade of Daryl Maury led failure.
Not only that, Pop cites him and RC being at odds as one of the biggest reasons for their success. You need that opposition from Coach and GM, they bring the best out of each other. And while Adelman and Morey didn't always agree with each other they made a good duo. Going back to the people aspect, him asking Adelman to train his replacement is just something you don't do. Calling Dallas asking if they'd trade Dirk is something you don't do. Saying coaching doesn't matter is something you don't do. Calling predictable collapses towards the end of games a "coin flip" ...is something you don't do. He's out of touch.
DM has a cult of personality, but it is time for him to take that cult elsewhere. He is the GENERAL MANAGER. He hires coaches, he brings in the players this is his roster and team - usually GMs get fired for years like this. 9 years is enough, he has not proven to be anything more than mediocre. DD
Yep.. 10 straight years of above 500 seasons transitioning from the Yao/McGrady era to the Harden. That is NOT a great record... Christ.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBZTPtENQCY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> THIS IS AMAZING - and he is talking about us at 6:25, but also us at 1:50....this man gets it. Morey hires the coaches, builds the rosters, he doesn't get it, Captain Calculator is mediocre. DD
Team was so bad that I honestly wouldn't flinch if he got fired. The embarrassment is a reflection on the GM since he put it all together.
Yup, I have one of them on ignore but I can see that he's constantly spamming this thread and trolling while nobody is giving him attention. Its sad and pathetic really...
Yep, this is his fault, and I am sure he would say that too, sometimes getting fired is good for your growth in your career. Morey needs to be fired so he can become a better GM. This was his coach, his roster, his failure. A General Manager is responsible - they run the organization - this failure is 100% on him. Ditto can't give his cult of personality fans the time of day - we all know Morey is responsible. DD
I really do believe that the effects of the 2014 offseason weren't felt til this year and that's why everything went to sh-t so quickly. First of all, this organization learned nothing from that Portland loss. For Morey to say it came down to "coin flips" is one of the most insultingly idiotic things I've ever heard from a GM. Coin flips didn't cause McHale to yank Dwight from Game 1 in the 4th quarter after Stotts resorted to "Hack a" which then allowed the Blazers to go on a run to tie the game. Coin flips weren't the reason McHale made no adjustments in the first 2 games when Aldridge was looking like Wilt against us. Coin flips weren't the reason no one called a time out when Lin got that rebound late in Game 4 with the Rockets up 2. And coin flips didn't allow Lillard to get wide open for that series ending 3-pointer. Instead of taking some time to reflect on that defeat which was largely due to awful coaching by McHale(especially compared to Stotts), Morey and Les immediately picked up the 4th year option. And then they added insult to injury by handing him a 3-year extension a month and a half into the following season. They also tried to swing for the fences by wining and dining Melo and Bosh and missed out on someone they really could've used at a much cheaper price in Lowry. When they missed out completely on Bosh and allowed Parsons out of his 4th year which opened the door for Cuban to pry him away, we were left with Ariza and eventually Brewer and Smith(thanks to Detroit buying him out) to fill those holes. It all worked out last season despite all the injuries we suffered. But that WCF appearance was fool's gold. It took luck on the final day of the season to get the 2nd seed(remember, the Rockets lost 2 key games to the Spurs late in the year) and then a complete collapse by the Clippers along with Paul being hobbled in the first few games in order to get that far. This season, it caught up with us. McHale confirmed he was worthless as a coach when he lost the locker room within the first month. Ariza proved he was a decent player, but not a starting 3. Brewer reverted to the guy who was on those crappy T'Wolves teams. And Smith(once he was reacquired) showed that there was a reason Detroit paid him to leave. Add to that everyone else having a down year, and the end result was a .500 season and a first round asswhooping. What remains to be seen is if Les and Morey(assuming he isn't fired) have learned anything from this year. They deluded themselves after the first round loss to Portland. Will they do the same thing this time?
i didn't really mean playing chemistry / playing fit. i meant the players generally get along and play hard. i don't remember anyone thinking we got 56 wins last year by not playing hard.
i love that argument. literally the most stable offseason we've had resulted in our most underperforming year in his tenure. we had incredible churn during the 9th seed seasons and everyone loved those teams for how they played hard and played together.
He has transitioned Yao/McGrady era into consistently building a very solid and consistent treadmill team. That should be neither vilified or glorified.
