Now I don't mean lose on purpose, but put in Eddie Griffin, and TMO, and maybe throw Langhi in the mix. Let the young guys get their feet wet, see if they are part of the future or maybe not good enough to seriously contribute. Forget putting Rice or Williams in the games, give them the DNP coach's decisions. Let's find out about our youngest players. This season is lost, there is no coming back for a playoff run as far back as we are, I think it is time to let the young guns run. DaDakota
I'm all for that. I think there is a big difference in tanking and playing for the future of the franchise. Let Rice heal those knees and feet by playing him sparingly the rest of the season. Walt isn't going to be here next year, so lets see if Morris or Langhi have what it takes now instead of later when it might matter. Same thing for Griff, does anyone think that Willis has a future here? It's just my opinion, but I don't think you get chances to evaluate talent like this very often. Why waste it.
The Rockets should set a goal of 41-41. It would involve going 34-23 the rest of the season. I think that is a reasonable expectation, once Steve comes back. No tanking please. Play Griffin, play Langhi, and play Morris, but don't try to lose.
Play the young guys more I say and don't worry about the wins and losses. It is to our benefit to get the young-uns experience, especially now. If you call this "tanking", so be it.
TANK AWAY! We are not going to make the playoffs no matter what. When Francis comes back we should start Griffin and Oscar and let the chemistry develp between, Francis, Griff, Oscar and Mobley. I know we wont tank completely. I just want Griffin and Oscar to develop sooner rather then later.
DaDakota, Have you looked at the standings lately? We're only 5 1/2 games behind the 8th seed, with 57 games to go. If Francis comes back by the first of January, we can still make a run at the playoffs. With the emergence of Torres at the SF position, we should make a strong run at it. I agree that Walt should be put at the end of the bench with Kelvin "Oops, I did it again" Cato & Rice should be the 6th man off the bench. Even if Rice isn't hitting the 3's, he still has a pretty good post up game & his defense isn't nearly as bad as some posters have claimed. At the center position, I'd start Willis & bring Griffin off the bench with significant minutes, until he takes the starting position away from Willis. A 9-10 man rotation of: C: Willis/Griffin & Collier if he'll ever get healed up. PF: KT/Griffin SF: Torres/Rice/T-Mo or Langhi SG: Mobley/Torres PG: Francis/Moochie By the end of the year, this group should have some pretty good chemistry together.
With the first pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets draft Yao Ming........ If this happens, I will be very angry(but happy)!
What he said. That Hottoddie guy. Never too late. That kinda stuff... You Tankers - you're just Evil. Bad. Baaaad. Evil. Evilmofos. We can still make the playoffs.
It's still too early to quit the season. Let's look at the standing: 1. LAL 18-3 2. SAS 17-4 3. Minn 16-6 4. Sac 18-7 5. Dal 15-9 6. Pho 14-11 7. LAC 13-11 8. Port 11-11 13. Hou 7-18 The playoffs are definitely a possibility. Tough? Yes, very. But it's not like mission impossible. Last season we started to catch up after the All-Star break and eventually came up 2 games short. Hopefully this year we don't start catching up too late. I'm still very hopeful. Rockets fire never dies!
Making the playoffs should not be our goal. Winning a championship is the goal. If we have to "tank" this year to get closer to winning a championship in the future, do it.
I will be pissed off if this happens because Yao is just gonna get injured and keep us in mediocrity, and then probably retire early.
Trade our veterans for more draft picks and young players. That will tank the season for us without us trying. Adding more draft picks to get more chances to choose a star or move up in the draft.
DD, why did you have to showboat and start your own tanking thread? The fact that you started it 10 years ago is no excuse.
He had to go back in time to start this thread, because he doesn't have thread starting privileges in this time/space.
