They weren't going to "wake up" with ownership that was engaged in nothing but trying to sell. I'm with you on the Les part. That's the part that scares me. He isn't going anywhere.
Well Llull isn't even a Rocket yet, we just own his rights. So you are delegated to following minor league players to get some satisfaction in following the team, that's great, whatever tickles your fancy.
I'll be following both. I'll be watching Rockets and Astros. It's not an either/or proposition. I'll be watching/hoping that both are developing young talent that will make a difference in their respective leagues. I don't have to crap on Altuve to like Royce White.
I get the feeling you like/follow the Astros more than the Rockets though. I wasn't really crapping on Altuve or the current Astros, I guess the word that describe it is apathy. I just find the youth movement of the Rockets more interesting than the Astros, but I do have high hopes for Luhnow, I think he'll turn the Astros around.
I get your frustrated by the lack of success, but I honestly can't tell how much of it is directed at the Rockets organization. I'm frustrated too, but mine is more existential in nature. Kind of like "God, why do you foresake my Rockets." I just cannot find much over the past 15 years to second-guess the organization on as far as moves. That's pretty much all a team can control. The big giant 10,000 pound elephant in the room as far as the Rockets past 15 years is concerned are the Yao and Tracy injuries. I have no problem taking that into consideration. The other actual moves the Rockets have made, whether right or wrong, are pretty miniscule in comparison.
Getting rid of JVG for a lateral move to Adelman... and then ulitmately to an awful move with McHale were bad Rockets management decisions.
The Rockets chose their bed of mediocrity when they decided to pretend Yao Ming would ever be healthy for an entire season again. Whether that was a marketing choice or just plain naievity (sp?) I don't know. But we all knew the Porcelain Dynasty would break again.
Agree with McHale. My main issue is with the 15 years comment. I will not argue very much about the moves of the past two years. I think those are valid complaints. Though I would have like to keep JVG, if the signing of the Adelman is one of the worst moves, I'd say the team has a pretty good track record.
Don't get offended by the 15 year comment. Its a fact. They've been mediocre for 15 years. Not a sniff of being in contention... only the Warriors (in the Western Conference) have failed to make it past the 2nd round of the playoffs since then. Sure, they've had some injuries... so has every team. Hell there have been teams who were bad, got good, were bad again, and then are now good again during that entire time-span. The Lakers and Spurs have each had dynasties and such prolonged success that nobody even remembers they were "mediocre" the last time a Rockets team was considered a real contender. You can pin all of this on Yao/T-mac's health... Orlando probably would like to do the same to the Grant Hill/T-mac era (but they got bad enough to get Dwight Howard and eventually get to the finals again).
The Astros and the Rockets are incredibly similar. Aging, injured stars, trying to plug holes with vets, just to try to stay competitive. To me, at least, it looks like that philosophy has changed for both franchises (start over with as many young pieces as you can and build for the future), changed for the better I would say. Easier to do a quick turnaround in the NBA of course, but we'll see.
We're just not going to agree on this. How can it be a fact when absolutely no one was calling the Rockets mediocre from about 2004 through 2008 season?
It's odd that they're both in the same stage at the same time. Finally deciding to start over again a few years after their stars (Yao, Biggio) retire. The difference is that the Rockets only decided to do it because they have no other options at this point. I'm still not convinced they really get it, though. I can totally see them trading for some veteran mid season next year to help them get that coveted 8th playoff spot.
You are right, we were slightly above mediocre in 2005, 2007-2009, we were slightly better than mediocre, but still not real title contenders. Those years are balanced by the less than mediocre 2000, 2002, 2006. When you take it as a whole, it has been a very mediocre time. Consider if this was the MLB, the Rockets would not have made the playoffs for the last 15 seasons. This is the 3rd longest playoff drought in Astros history (7 seasons). Looks like we will reach the 2nd longest (10 seasons).
They say they want to make the playoffs, but only if it is because the young guys exceed expectations. If an all-star becomes available, I do think they make the move, which unless it comes cheap I won't like. You need Durant/Howard/LeBron/Wade/Dirk type of talent to win a title. Anything less and we are back to the McGrady years.
Actually, if he buys Hamilton a couple of beers, they can both make out with first ugly woman that strolls by in men's room...
Oh really? Then how would YOU describe the period between 1995 and 2012? And I find your definition of "stud" to be strange considering that during the past decade+ the Rockets have drafted the likes of Serge Zwikker, Mirsad Turkcan, Eddie Griffin, Bostjan Nachbar, Malick Badiane, Luis Flores, etc.
