We've been rebuilding alright. Rebuilding the patio, driveway, picket fence; everything but the house.
Always looking for a playoff spot then 1st round exit.. - Past 12 plus years have been terribly depressing for me 2011 - Zilch 2010 - Zilch 2009 - 2nd round exit 2008 - 1st round exit 2007 - 1st round exit 2006 - Zilch 2005 - 1st round exit 2004 - 1st round exit 2003 - Zilch 2002 - Zilch 2001 - Zilch 2000 - Zilch 1999 - 1st round exit 1998 - 1st round exit 1997 - Conference Finals 1996 - 2nd round exit 1995 - Last time we won it all
I agree he gets no tactical advantage from declaring a rebuild. But, that doesn't mean we should discount everything that comes out of Morey's mouth. While he has lied about some things (like calling players aseets), he hasn't lied about strategy. And, it'd be foolish to tell customers we're going to try our best next season and then pull the rug out from under them. So, if he's planning on tanking it, he's best off saying nothing or saying something vague. Btw, any negotiating advantage he got by lying about his desire to tank will be lost when he calls Atlanta and asks if they'd be interested in trading a 1st rounder and cap space for Kevin Martin. His true strategy will become apparent to his counterparts when he tries to make deals.
The point is neither guy fits into our long term plans, so why bother bringing them in at all? I'd rather give their minutes to Morris and Patterson and let them learn on the job. Sure, it might be ugly at first, but it could really pay dividends down the road. I don't define this as tanking. I define it as rebuilding.
The problem is that Morey is never coy or hiding much, he is saying exactly what he plans to do and that sucks. I would be happier if he had a history of saying we are going to compete, then we see all the young guys in the starting lineup. Then I would be like....AHHHHH....yes....he gets it...... But, sadly, no....we still get to watch the team try to win while possible developing players rot on the pine. DD
Making a lot of assumptions. You assume that the best we could ever trade for is without a question worse than what we could ever draft. You assume that if/when we do draft a player and begins to grow with our team that he won't eventually leave the team before we get any farther than we are right now. Sorry to tell you that if "the process" is what you are looking for then the man in charge has let you know you are following the wrong team.
I hear you Clutch but I swear that's exactly what they are going to do with the obvious official excuse/spin for not being able to execute whatever obtuse plan they may or may not had in mind. With the Rockets, the more things change, the more they remain the same.
How do you know that's true? He's not going to trade vets for ballboys or cheerleaders. He'll get something significant in return, that'll help on the court. Picks, players, and/or expiring deals. At that point he's got two different options. Use it or not. If he uses them, it'll be hard to field a 20 win team. If he sits on it, then how on earth can he deny, with a straight face, that he's tanking? When Morey speaks too much and goes into details, he's telling the truth. He's got nothing to hide, that's why he answered the question pretty specifically. When he's trying to stay on the safe side, just in case, his answers are vague and cliche.
I wouldn't call that lucky. Was there luck involved? yes. but then I guess they also lucked into Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka? No, they drafted wisely. The Sixers aside (and I guess the jury is still out with Turner), those other teams have accomplished meaningfully more than the Rockets. The Hawks have had 3 straight 2nd round appearances. The Grizzlies are about to make the playoffs for the 5th time in the last nine years - same as the Rockets, but more recent. The Pacers have locked in the 3rd seed in the East, after making the playoffs last year. Nevermind the fact that they will have now made the playoffs in all but 5 of their last 23 seasons. yes, they had 4 bad seasons in a row, during which they used the lottery to build their current squad with the 3rd best record in the east and 5th overall. Those stories prove your point? Look, I get that you are saying these teams might not be championship contenders for real. Certainly nobody would confuse the Hawks with being anything but what they are consistently - 2nd round fodder in the east. But if you're going to be stuck at a level, better to be stuck there than the 14th pick in the draft, no? In a worst case scenario, if they do decide to tank, or even reload, they have better young assets to trade. Yes. Why are the timeframes for the 2 different approaches supposed to be the same?
Actually it was a combination of luck and wisely picking. If not for luck, they would have wound up #1 and taken Oden, or perhaps Portland takes Durant and they wisely take Oden. See how lucky they were?
All projections assume assumptions. I'm frankly making fewer assumptions then you. Smarter men then I have done research on this topic. Those smarter men include Daryl Morey. And those smarter men have noted which process they think makes more sense.
Charlotte sucks right now, nothing to look forward to. NJ screwed themselves trading for Deron. I'd trade the whole Rockets team for Cousins. I'm still meh about John Wall but he could end up being a stud.
But wouldn't change the analysis much. Meaning, picking Oden was more unlucky than someone else getting lucky. The conclusion would still be the same. I can happily point to the Trailblazers of an example of it working, when done smartly. They drafted smart and were on their way. It was unluckiness that did them in. If there was anything to say was lucky, it was that 2007 was a very solid draft. I'm clearly not a draft expert or scout - otherwise I'd be doing that. But when people, myself included, say this is a good year to tank, it's because the consensus is, and my personal opinion is, there might be 4 or 5 all-star franchise changing players in this draft. And next year's draft is already shaping up very solidly.
The cuffs are off of Morey when it comes to trades. I expect major trades this offseason. Your gonna get alot of Morey in that respect.
If you want to play that logic, the rockets have won 2 championships in the last 17 years that's two more than the grizzled and thunder. =/ I'm all for playing our young assets and let them learn on the job like imma suggested. Even that team will be a couple of games over .500 our assets go hard. Considering dalembert will be exiled, too much money for his inconsistent production, along with martin. Just let the natural process take over. It's not like maury is going to go grab Ray allen and other players 34+ The rockets are a freaking young team. I don't know how many times people have to say it. It's like I'm on crazy pills.
Rockets 1982-83 record: 14-68 Rockets 1983-84 record: 29-53 It worked before and it seems to be working for the Thunder now too. How hard is it to comprehend?
My consensus for tanking was: 1. Before Camby, there was no way we were better than last year. We traded Chuck for Dally, lost Battier, and picked up a couple rooks. 2. Therefore, it was a lot closer to the bottom than the top. 3. It was a lockout shortened 66-game season. A lot easier to endure than an 82 game marathon. 4. Odds are better of getting a quality player this year because of the lockout and number of blue chippers who stayed in school an extra year. However, there is still a lot of luck involved in rebuilding by tanking.
