Fact is that DM has put a team together after having his "superstars" breakdown on him...Yao left exactly 2 years ago...The fans in Houston are really spoiled...We will get back to being a playoff team...but DMorey is trying to build a contender without tanking. THis is the first time a team has probably ever done this. His preference is to tank...but Les made clear he wants otherwise. DM has done a fine job...my only issue is that he didnt make a smart decision in letting go of a coach with a proven track record of winning for someone that really doesnt. my only qualm with the guy. People around the league know that DM is a brilliant statistician...if he got fired today...he would be picked up the next day...he is that good...
I guess that depends upon whether those things said are idiotic, or are simply different opinions, and you can't change their mind so you lash out and call them an idiot to escalate the argument. DD
-------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree 100% with this... Last year we got messed up with the broken trades/FA-signings. I could understand signing 'Dally' as a potential 'good fit' until we could get better. The contract was smart and gave us some room to work. But this year, by the time we got to the 12 pick, it was clear that we were picking for ourselves -- go take a chance on a big man, or two. I like Boston's picks better than our 16/18 -- Sully & Melo. Why did they not consider PJ3 as a stash-n-grow/heal? With this year's draft I started believing that the Cybermetrics (or whatever this evaluation system is called) is biased against Centers. Now, if we are going to go for a fast-athletic-defensive Center style of play then why look at Asik? There were better fits for that system in the draft. So now we don't really have an athletic Center, are looking to sign a defensive space-eater rather than an athletic type... I CAN'T TELL IF THERE IS A SYSTEM TO THIS MADNESS!
Ok you do realize he blew basically all that money on buying 2nd round picks? I mean you come of as if you are equating Les to Donald Sterling in terms of just not spending a dime on the team. Les has consistently stepped up and allowed Morey to buy second round picks. I'm just gonna guess Les has spent at least $10 million buying second round picks. Also, do you blame Morey for hanging on to our only 2 star players too long or do you blame Les? Or is it some combo of both?
I'd say my opinion of Morey has changed slowly and not over any particular incident. It's just the repeated blows of each big trade or acquisition failing. But, of all of the little failures, I suppose the one that stands a little higher than the rest was the way he handled the McGrady injury. That's when it was quite clear (to me, since most people seem to disagree) that he put more value on trying to contend that season than he did on the long-term viability of his franchise players. I think it reflected his primary weakness as a GM, dealing with people. I've wondered recently if we might be better off with McHale as the titular GM, negotiator and face of the front office; Morey the assistant GM and brains behind the operation; and someone else as the coach. But, I'm a reasonable person. I'm still in Morey's corner until February 2013.
Yeah, we've had so much success here. We're so spoiled. The last 10 years of Rockets basketball has been a dream ride.
No, he did not blow all of that money, he made 75% of their salaries for 2 years in insurance money which amounted to more than $30 million total. And stepping up to buy 2nd round picks, really? How many contending teams are there because they got 2nd round picks? I do agree with you, it is Les and Morey, they are both at fault. DD
When the Rockets don't have a superstar, why would you not pick the best talent out there? role players come and go, stars don't. We can find a center, we obviously cannot find a star, so we draft the highest talent available.
This site started in what? '96-'97, and since that time there has been very little to actually get excited about.....especially in the playoffs. That is weird....and now teams like the Clippers, Thunder and Nyets have passed us by....even the Hornets and TWolves have brighter futures... WTF Is going on here? DD
one playoff series win. one series win. everyone makes the playoffs in the NBA. we won a playoff series once. we might be defining excellent differently.
Spoiled with what, exactly? The Rockets have won 1 playoff series since the 90's. The Texans got to the playoffs for the 1st time after 10 years of obscurity. The Astros are finally rebuilding after being in nowhere land for the last 7 years. I guess you could say the Dymano have spoiled us with 4 championship game appearances and 2 titles.
Let's divert a little here and look at a theory called Gambler's Fallacy Gambler's fallacy 1) Type I - when individuals believe that a certain outcome is "due" after a long streak of another outcome We can say this is either a) we keep stocking up on assets and one day we'll land a superstar, or b) we tank bad enough eventually we will land that future superstar via draft 2) Type II - when a gambler underestimates how many observations are needed to detect a favorable outcome With regards to Type I, we can pretty much all agree that Morey isn't allowed to tank, and that he would if we could, but in any case, he believes he can still build a contender over time without tanking. He never made excuses here. But whether it is tanking or stocking assets, many posters here assume it can be done in 3 years (Type II), and if not, it is an EPIC FAIL, when the reality is tanking for success will most certainly take longer than 3 years (unless it is because you had a superstar injured for a season and picked up another one like David Robinson + Tim Duncan). Combining TYPE I and TYPE II ... let's say we give Morey a bit more time before we judge. So with regards to Morey, I'm glad that he is working with the parameters he's given and sticking to it, instead of changing course mid-way through (some would call it back-pedalling or sitting on a rocking horse here). And he's done a pretty good job at least, without being able to hit that home run, whether it is via draft, incremental trades, salary cap management for future flexibility, or asset acquisition. Yes, Morey's not had much luck with regards to the big moves (up draft, or getting a superstar), but I'd rather he rely on some luck in order to make the moves, as opposed to rely on luck to get out of a bad situation by throwing bad contract around (like Atlanta with that crazy Joe Johnson contract).
Better than say...the Bobcats, Toronto...Sacramento...etc etc etc...Houston has at least been a playoff/caliber team for a while now...at least they are in the hunt...How long has it been since we have had to wear paper bags...think about that...For Les...the measure of success is sales...and the Rockets have done ok in sales... Secondly...for all of these so called fans...why are the stadiums..empty..cooperate offices buy up seats...but the stadium is completely empty...home crowd??? really?...There isnt a difference for a road team playing here...bc they dont have pressure...they can play basketball...why are places like UTAH so hard to play in...bc of their fans...OKC...fans...these are really small market teams...yet...Houston...being the "4th largest city" in the nation cant have a decent crowd...because the NBA isnt a big deal in Houston...not as much as football...
I still like Morey, but his handling of the Dragic/Lowry situation (all too similar to the Brooks/Lowry situation) and this last draft and its final selection pisses me off. While we are still in the Howard discussion, I think right now it is a long shot and I think if we had drafted a Fab Melo or Jones III, to act as functional trade bait because of their potential, that wouldn't be the case. Jones perfectly good player and will probably be a solid role player, but that doesn't equate to making him a great trade piece and on a team where Lowry and Martin are our best trade pieces, you need that. Otherwise, we will end up trading for Howard but at the same time, lose all the good pieces we were going to surround him with. As deep as we were last year, we will pretty much have to hollow that group out to get Howard and filler, which leaves the question how did that improve our lot when he leaves for greener shores and we continue to eat whatever trash was part of that deal I like Morey, but hopefully, he has a plan B that includes actually improving the team and not just trying to land a big man and think that everything else is fine. We have log jams at SF and PF, plus FAs that want more cash because he made it clear that he wanted them on the roster more then the current starters before the season was done. If he can flip this trash into a playoff run, he deserves his job, but if he can't...
That Rockets team would be one of the 2 or 3 best teams in the league right now and perennial contenders. Circumstances kicked us in the balls with how strong the west/league was, but it was still an excellent product, despite no playoff success.
