First of all, please leave all delusions of competing and wet dreams of sneaking into the playoffs out of this thread. It should be clear enough that we're a long way away. Now, as a fan base we've been spoiled. We've been among the winningest teams in the last decade and one of the absolute best for the last few years. As such, many here are struggling with the Rockets through this tough time. Well let me show you guys that supporting a team going through a tank doesn't have to be doom and gloom. It can be fun even, you just need a change in perspective. I for one have been on team tank since the Harden trade and at the same time have watched every single Rockets game since, most even wire to wire. So here are a few steps to get yourself into that mindset. 1. Accept reality. We're gonna lose. A lot. And it's simply cause the team is bad. So if we want to not be bad, we have to get good players. 2. Get individually invested in our young players. The team isn't all bad. I absolutely love Wood and have grown really fond of Tate. When I watch a game I'm watching my guys. Win or lose, if those guys play well and show growth over the course of the season I'm happy. 3. Watch A LOT of draft prospect videos. Now here's the key part. We need the ray of hope, the light at the end of the tower. We need to see what we're going through all this suffering for. In the previous years, come draft season I'd always feel a bit left out because even if we were good, we'd have no chance of getting these amazing young dudes like Tatum or Luka or Jah that I slowly came to become a fan of. Now when Oladipo misses Wood wide open to throw up a brick, think "Cade woulda made that pass for sure" When Cousins and his stone fret blow a rotation, think "Mobley woulda sent that to the 3rd row" When House drags a steaming pile of dog **** onto the court, think "Hey Jalen Green doesn't suck" These guys can actually be Rockets. We just have to bite the bullet for a while and it can happen. And if you're afraid that the tank might go on for years and years, then let warm, sweet thoughts of Saint Emoni Bates keep you company at night. Good luck guys, hang in there. It'll all be worth it.
4. See those guys I've shown highlights of? Yeah, now remember, the NBA is an entirely different beast and most top 5 players do not turn into franchise players. So, be prepared to do this on repeat until you find that franchise player. That could take 1 year, could take 8, enjoy it!
It’s easy. Objective real fans understand when you lose a great player you’re going to suck for a long time so losing a ton of games is going to come along with it for years to come. Tank or suck doesn’t even matter what you call it. You’re going to lose a ton of games
This has been me all season with Christian Wood and Tate, and also watching vipers games during the day while I'm "working from home" with Martin Jr and Porter. Don't worry too much about the result of the game, just watch your guys and root for them to do well.
The players aren’t tanking. I’m not frustrated or upset. It is what it is. All teams have down times. I’m looking forward to the draft. I’m looking forward to baseball season.
So just keep ramming a mediocre team into playoffs and believe in anything can happen and we pull of the cinderella underdog story, eek in w/ our team and win a ring? That could take 1 year, or it could never happen again At least with the tanking strat, I could see it being a better percentage play than your cinderella dream. Note that the lowest-seeded team to win an NBA was 6th, what u r proposing is our team try their best, avoid tanking, somehow get a 6th (lowest seeded to ever win) and hope for the best in playoffs? U dislike odds of finding a franchise player via tanking, but u rather we try an even shttier odds trying to win a ring by competing with a flawed team? where's the logic.
This just sucks, the whole situation. All of it. The franchise has been absolutely crippled so quickly.
What I'm saying is be cautious hyping these guys up. Also, people really underrate that a lot of great players come in the lottery period. All-time greats at that too. You don't need a top 5 pick to build a championship team.
We'll need those guys too.... we are going to have lots of bites at the apple. But we need to get high draft picks for the talent or for the asset.
It seems as if no one on this board remembers when we traded our best player, league MVP to the 76er's in a sign and trade. His name was Moses Malone and he joined Dr. J, Mo Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Bobby Jones, Clint Richardson, and Marc Iavaroni and won a Chip for Philly. We eventually selected Rodnet McCray, Ralph Sampson and Dream after a number of losing seasons which believe it or not, we survived.
You have about a 33% chance of drafting a multiple time all star in the top 4 from year to year.... some drafts are better than others but the next couple of drafts are considered really strong at the top. The Rockets also are likely to be in the lottery next year as well, regardless of who they draft this season. I agree with you though, skill and luck are needed when it comes to the draft. Personally if the Rockets got the number one pick, at this point I would take Evan Mobley and extend Christian Wood for another year. Mobley is 7’1” with a 7’5” wingspan and has exceptional lateral quickness and can play inside and out on both sides of the floor... Starting Mobley at the 5 with a 7’5” wingspan and Wood at the 4 with a 7’3” wingspan would be devastating and Mobley is a very good defender.
