In life, you always roll with the odds. No one will remember winning no bearing games but possibly getting a star in the draft by losing games that don't matter is a franchise changing situation. Trying to win games late in the season when you're already out of playoff cotention is like winning pre season games. They don't mean anything. Plus you risk having to pick higher in the draft which could haunt you for years. Its this simple.. You tank games to draft higher. You want to draft higher to get good players. You get good players to win. For small market teams/cities like us, you almost have to tank and try to grab the chance to draft higher since most of the superstars are all joining the big market cities. Who are the so called superstars in the league today? Yes, they're all in big market cities now (LA, NY,MIA,CHI). Yes OKC is one small market team that has superstars.. How did they acquire those players again? Yup, from the DRAFT.
Although worth noting that with this particular team, 45 wins would leave us in pretty great shape - ie a bunch of young guys who have already learned how to 'win' in the league. In fact, since we have the Toronto pick, it could be 45 wins, pick 14 AND pick 5. Hmmmmmmmm.
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To all those who voted "Win" in this poll so far, let me give you this scenario... We are out of playoff contention, there's 1 game left in the season and 2 other teams are tied with us. If we win our final game, we will be picking 3rd in the draft. If we tank, we could possibly be picking 1st overall. Now tell us, do you vote win or tank?
I completely agree. I think the main focus should be to play the rookies/sophomores. So, then, if we can reach the playoffs (or come close) with a bunch of young players, it would mean that our young players excelled and are full of potential, and I would be more than happy to keep the team without major improvements from the lottery. If we play the rookies and end up on the bottom end of the table, ok, let's go to lottery. Just don't want to see the older players, or the ones we are not keeping for the future, preventing our rookies from playing major minutes.
I dont think the Rockets will intentionally tank...the record when its all said and done might be really bad...but..I do think McHale will put the best product that he can on the floor... If the Rockets are really bad...expect Martin to be shipped quickly...
Players change teams all the time, but let's look at the last 10 years and see who was in the Finals. Spoiler 2012: Miami: Lebron (#1 overall, 2003), Chris Bosh (#4 overall, 2003), and Dwyane Wade (#5 overall, 2003) OKC: Kevin Durant (#2 overall, 2007), James Harden (#3 overall, 2009), and Russell Westbrook (#4 overall, 2008). 2011: Dallas: Dirk (#9 overall, 1998), Jason Kidd (#2 overall, 1994), Tyson Chandler (#2 overall, 2001) and Shawn Marion (#9 overall, 1999) Miami: Lebron (#1 overall, 2003), Chris Bosh (#4 overall, 2003), and Dwyane Wade (#5 overall, 2003) 2010: Lakers: Kobe (#13 overall, 1996. Drafted lower due to demand to play for LA), Pau (#3 overall, 2001) and Bynum (#10 overall, 2005). Boston: Paul Pierce (#10 overall, 1998), Ray Allen (#5 overall, 1996), Rajon Rondo (#21 overall, 2006) and KG (#5 overall, 1995) 2009: Lakers: Kobe (#13 overall, 1996. Drafted lower due to demand to play for LA), Pau (#3 overall, 2001) and Bynum (#10 overall, 2005). Orlando: Dwight (#1 overall, 2004) Rashard Lewis (32nd overall, 1998), Jameer Nelson (#20 overall, 2004) 2008: Boston: Paul Pierce (#10 overall, 1998), Ray Allen (#5 overall, 1996), Rajon Rondo (#21 overall, 2006) and KG (#5 overall, 1995) Lakers: Kobe (#13 overall, 1996. Drafted lower due to demand to play for LA), Pau (#3 overall, 2001) and Bynum (#10 overall, 2005). 2007: Spurs: Tim Duncan (#1 overall, 1997), Tony Parker (#28 overall, 2001), Manu Ginobili (#57 overall, 1999) Clevelanc: Lebron (#1 overall, 2003) 2006: Miami: Shaq (#1 overall, 1992), Dwyane Wade (#5 overall, 2003), Alonzo Mourning (#2 overall, 1992) 2005: San Antonio 2004: Detroit: Chauncey (#3 overall, 1997), Rasheed (#4 overall, 1995), Rip (#7 overall, 1997) 2003: San Antonio 2002: Lakers: Shaq (#1 overall, 1992), Kobe (#13 overall, 1996) You need top draft picks to get superstars, and you need superstars to win championships.
One question then: If Rockets are designated to play Rookies, how do you explain the signing of Carlos Delfino?
Lamb #12 overall Patterson #14 overall White #16 overall (drafted lower due to demand to ride a bus) That should be enough for a ship.
Three all star caliber players, who were all top 10 picks. Detroit is the only team in recent memory to win without a true franchise player. Are you willing to roll the dice and hope the Rockets can somehow accomplish what Detroit did? I like how you singled out Detroit and ignored everything else, lol.
I didn't say the Rockets are designated to play Rookies. I did say that my opinion is that we should play them. Also in my opinion, Delfino was not a signing we should have made. Since he is already here, I think we should keep him on the bench, as a sort of "mentor" to the young forwards, . and put Lamb to playThe issue is that Delfino would not be the best one to do that..
Perhaps you're right. We can indeed lose a lot of games with our youngsters. However, there is a difference between tanking intentionally (playing to lose), or end up on the bottom of the table as a consequence of playing our rookies (but playing to win, even if they don't). I think that what bothers me about playing to lose is that it can make us not develop a winning attitude as a team. I'm much more into creating an environment where winning is sought after. Even if we end up losing.
