This season is on Morey. How did we know these free agent signings sucked and he didn't?

The 14-15 season was ravaged by injuries. Only five players played more than 60 games: Harden, Ariza, DMo, Terry, and freaking Joey Dorsey. But we won 56 games and went to the WCF.

 

Right, but...

On EG, for example, for one his 3P % has been declining for years now. I think this is the 4th straight year of decline. So it isn't a "COMPLETE" shock to me. Especially because its partly because in year 3 of doing the same thing, defenses are more ready for it. But even more so because of the Melo thing. EG is a guy that gets rattled when his role changes. When Lou joined the team in the first year, EG got worse. When he was forced to start in the playoffs against the Spurs, he was less effective. All the Melo drama and potential trade drama impacted him. Melo coming off the bench before him impacted him. And the team as a whole not being as good at spacing the floor hurts him. These all have tangential ties to DM's moves or non-moves.

Regarding defense, I've said many times, I don't mind losing Ariza or Luc. They were getting worse, and old, and injured. But you clearly take a step back when you replace them with Ennis. He's just not as good a defender, not as long or versatile. You CLEARLY take a step back when you add Melo. You CLEARLY take steps back when you are playing guys like Hartenstein, MCW minutes.

It is about the players. Morey is responsible for getting them.

 

We were supposed to "run it back" and "the worst we would do was great." But this team looks nothing like last season's team. I'm confused too.

 

glad there are people like you that are "woke" lol. So you try to tell me DeAndre Jordan makes more money for the league than James Harden? Finney Smith is more valuable than Capela? Bro just stop it, the reason there are fans that are crying like little girls is the reason Eric Gordon throws his tantrum every bad play and our team instead of shutting the hell up and play like men are looking for calls. Anybody who played that sport at any level know that once the whole team starts b****ing to the officials they wont get favor calls and our team is top3 in b****ing right now, refs must hate us and they are only human

 

It's almost like effort matters

 

Rockets just have to weathered the storm. This dark cloud become so frightening because it is basically a new bench and effort on defense is not what it used to be. Remember we were so fond of Bzedelik, we got him since his return (0-3). Players have to play and perform, if they don't it makes management look bad. Morey is only to blame if he doesn't fix it this season with roster fixes. He didn't foreshadow CP3 injured again and lack of offense from the bench. If CP3 leaves, Morey is to blame. If we keep CP3 for years, Morey is to blame. I rather have storms early in the season than late. Remember the Raptors finished #1 in the Eastern Conference last year, 0-4 to Cavs when it mattered most.

 

I seem to remember Morey being very cautiously optimistic this summer. He even said at one point “Well Mike thinks we’re better” and he kept putting it off on mike and trying to sound optimistic. I’m pretty sure morey knew we had a worse roster.

I have no idea why we made the off-season moves that we did. Maybe it’s tillman, mike, or morey - I won’t try to guess because I have no idea. I don’t even disagree with all of them. But to answer the question in the thread title, I’m pretty sure morey knew we were worse than last year.

 

"Change" was not an issue for the Rockets. The problem is "the right change." Morey bet on some players and they didn't come through. Now he needs to bet on some new players that hopefully will come through.

 

PG: Shelvin Mack - league minimum MEM
C: Nerlens Noel - league minimum OKC
PF: Noah Vonleh - league minimum NYK
C: Ed Davis - 1yr 4.4M BKN
PF: Jeff Green - league minimum WAS
C: Brook Lopez - 1yr 3.3M MIL

 

Problem is he's limited in what he can do until Dec. 15, and by then the hole may be too deep.

 

No doubt.

 

Please speak for yourself. Anybody who watches basketball and UNDERSTANDS what they're watching knew Ariza/Luc/PJ would be a more than solid wing rotation. Plenty of us reacted positively to those signings last summer. Similarly, anybody who watches basketball and understands what they're watching questioned the addition of guys like MCW, Melo & Chriss. It didn't take a brilliant basketball mind to predict those guys would be terrible fits (and in the case of MCW and Chriss, exactly who they've been their whole careers to this point). Let's be real. Morey saw the poor fit and deficiencies and decided to gamble anyway, hoping this system would suddenly transform these guys into something they are not and have never been. He lost.

 

I don't think he's bad. I think he, like a few other guys on the roster, could be very good in a more limited role. He'd be a great energy guy off the bench. IMO, we are relying very heavily on guys who are best suited to limited roles to play significant, high-leverage minutes.

 

Exactly. I even used that team as an example in another thread. They were 8th in defense that year just by competing on that end.

 

He is still INJ.

 

Ennis isn't bad. He's just very very mediocre and undersized at the 3. He is Corey Brewer but we need a Trevor Ariza.

 

The idea that anyone on this forum is 100 percent sure that they UNDERSTAND basketball better than Morey is hugely arrogant and ridiculous.

Yes Morey gambled . It's nothing different that what he's done his entire tenure here .

He had to gamble . He wasn't going to be able to bring back Luc and Trevor due to budgetary constraints.

He also took a risk on Ennis . That's working out pretty well so far .

Also 95% of the board liked the Anderson trade .

Really the only questionable pickup has been MCW ... and the majority of the board loved that move after preseason .

I won't argue that his moves have worked out ... because they haven't so far . But the idea that they were awful moves that could never worked out is a bit severe .

 

Who do you think is not playing with effort ?

CP3 , PJ , Ennis , Clint , James ?

I think the rough road so far this year has more to do with a philosophy taken to the extreme , without the best pieces , and a league that has adapted .

Personally I think harden is even better than he has been in past years . His effort defensively is looking great . He's not an elite defender , but he's average to above average ... and frankly elite in the post .

Where I think we are having the biggest problem is finding our style and imposing our will . That and ****ing rebounding . The rebounding doesn't even make sense . Is Ariza THAT much better a rebounder than Ennis . Luc was obviously very solid . But it seems like our ability to finish defensive possessions has evaporated .