1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Not A Contender

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Le$$, Jul 12, 2026 at 7:20 AM.

?

Are the Rockets A Contender?

  1. YES

    8 vote(s)
    13.3%
  2. NO

    52 vote(s)
    86.7%
  1. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    LOL this is way too low. Behind Raptors? Pacers???

    This is a joke
     
  2. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    11,588
    Likes Received:
    13,016
  3. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    We were missing 100M in salary and we didnt get nearly swept we lost in 6 games.

    Rockets may not be contenders but you are also over exaggerating how bad this team is. A core group of 23 yr olds arent contenders boo hoo cry more smh
     
  4. ashleyem

    ashleyem STONE NEEDS TO GO!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Messages:
    7,103
    Likes Received:
    9,928
    Stone is ruining my enjoyment of being a Rockets fans. I hate him. Everytime I browse Clutchfans it makes me angry.
     
  5. Tfor3

    Tfor3 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2007
    Messages:
    23,421
    Likes Received:
    30,264
    Contender? We’re not even a pro team. We’re ‘HS State Quarterfinalists’ at best.

    Light the fuse




    (blow it up)
     
    RB713 likes this.
  6. ashleyem

    ashleyem STONE NEEDS TO GO!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Messages:
    7,103
    Likes Received:
    9,928
    VanVleet and Adams were not going to magically solve our offense. This is a roster that doesn't fit and does not generate good shot. They haven't made any move to address that.

    KD is going to force a trade soon and we will be forced to trade him for peanuts. The Suns and Nets draft picks are looking very mid. We have no hope.
     
  7. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    108,588
    Likes Received:
    55,801
    Always convenient to throw that term around......

    Contender status tiers
    Tier 1: OKC, Spurs, Knicks
    Tier 2........
    Tier 3.....
    Pretenders......
     
  8. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    If you ignore all the additions the team made of course the team hasnt done anything to address their needs.

    Wasnt the main issue last year KD getting double teamed and nobody else can dribble and bring the ball up under pressure? What you think FVV does? Oh but he doesnt count.

    Adams does help the offense, the offense literally tanked when he went down. Oh but he doesnt count.

    Our bench sucked ass last year, just Reed Okogie, Holiday and Tari. Now the bench is Adams, Smart, Bogi, Reed, Tari and Thornton. Oh but all these guys dont count.

    You are right the Rockets didnt do anything.
     
  9. ashleyem

    ashleyem STONE NEEDS TO GO!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Messages:
    7,103
    Likes Received:
    9,928
    What addition? Am I supposed to believe Smart and Bogdonovic are keys to the championship formula?
     
  10. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    So you are moving the goal posts now? Gotta win a ring otherwise the Rockets didnt do anything at all amirite?
     
  11. amaru

    amaru Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    Messages:
    19,135
    Likes Received:
    12,640
    What’s worse is that we have no realistic path to get there. We’re firmly on the mediocrity treadmill
     
  12. amaru

    amaru Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    Messages:
    19,135
    Likes Received:
    12,640
    I’d settle for Stone and Patrick picking a direction.
     
  13. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    Why do we need to pick a direction? The core group are 24 yr olds this is the stage where they are good enough to be in the playoffs but not good enough to be a contender.
     
  14. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    50 win seasons are mediocrity now? lol

    There is no way to build a roster on paper better than OKC and SAS. The only path Rockets have is be consistently good for multiple years and sneak one in when other teams get injured like what Dallas did before.
     
  15. ashleyem

    ashleyem STONE NEEDS TO GO!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Messages:
    7,103
    Likes Received:
    9,928
    It would be nice to have a full-time point guard, but I am sorry, FVV coming off an ACL injury is not going to magically get us over the hump. His production already dropped in the 24-25 season, and I have no reason to believe he is going to go back to his old self in Toronto.

    The reason KD keeps getting double-teamed is that half of our team is atrocious at shooting, specifically Amen and Sengun don't fit together. One of them has got to go. Again, Stone is scared to make a decision, but this is an inevitable choice he has to make in the future and I personally think he should pick a direction and make it now.

    Adams is old and injury-prone. Bogdanovic fell out of the rotation with the Clippers last year. I like Smart, but he is not someone who can get you over the hump. I hate Tari as a player; he is overrated. Thornton is a rookie.

    If we are banking on the health of FVV and Adams, as well as end-of-bench players like Smart and Bogdanovic, to win the championship, we are cooked.
     
  16. amaru

    amaru Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    Messages:
    19,135
    Likes Received:
    12,640
    Because we should either be maximizing the growth of our “untouchable” player or maximizing his trade value.

    Honestly, I think they are punting this season and waiting for next offseason to make a decision.
     
  17. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    So again you moved your goal post to winning the championship?

    That wasnt what you are complaining about you said the Rockets lost to Lakers Gleague and didnt do anything to address their weaknesses.
     
  18. roslolian

    roslolian Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    32,831
    Likes Received:
    22,875
    You can both punt and have a good season like what the Celtics did with Brown and Tatum.
     
  19. ashleyem

    ashleyem STONE NEEDS TO GO!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Messages:
    7,103
    Likes Received:
    9,928
    And the NBA champions this year is the New York Knicks. They didn't give up. They swung for the fences for Towns. They got Mikal Bridges. They made a deadline move to bring in Alvarado. They did not wave the white flag mid season and say "this is not our year" or "there is no way to build a roster on paper better than OKC and SAS". They gave their best shot and sometimes it could be enough. But I did not see that fight from our GM. I didn't see any ambition or aggressiveness from him.
     
  20. amaru

    amaru Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    Messages:
    19,135
    Likes Received:
    12,640
    Back to back first round exits is mediocrity. 50 plus regular season wins is nice but when you lose a series to a geriatric LBJ and Lakers spare parts, you’re mediocre.

    You’re saying the same thing I am. The Rockets need to pick a direction. Right now, they haven’t fully committed to any direction.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now