I'm glad the trade happened as well. It will be complete if we land a decent PG and a bakcup C. I just think we gambled... and I hope we won.
I don't really know what the point is of throwing dirt at someone who lived with you for a long time and just left your house.
I understand your feelings, DaDakota ... appreciate your giddy response, after wanting a change for so long, and yes, I'm excited about the trade too. But Steve, Cat and Cato have feelings as well, which they demonstrated time and again, celebrating the joy of being a Houston Rocket. I've had feelings of pride as a Houston Rocket fan, and for years, Steve was the face of my team. I'm proud or him, and will follow him wherever he goes in the future, and hope he does amazing, so I can be proud of an exRocket, sortof like I do Sam Cassell or Robert Horry. They or other players will probably read this board, as well as their familes and friends, and I just think they deserve better, than kicking them on the way out. DavidS, I hope we can always debate ALL the issues and points of view, regardless of how unknowledgeable people like myself can be. We ARE in a public forum, and represent Houston and its diversity of opinion. But, we can also give each other a little poke in the ribs, like we would a brother, when we're getting out of line.
Of course. Why the confusion?? And words like "back problems" and "tendonitus" and "retirement" have been thrown around in articles, and even his own interviews, pertaining to our newly acquired 25 year old. This is his 8th year in the league... the average player lasts 5.
Well, before last season, he did lead his team to 3 straight playoffs. Granted, its was in the east, and 3 early exits ain't nothing spectacular, but can you even name another player that was on his team that helped him out significantly in those 3 years. It took Francis AND mobley to get the pre-yao rockets 40+ wins. Sorry, still not seeeing this as a big gamble if all we want to do is match last year. The only gamble I see is whether we will win championships and have a dynasty, but that was never a garauntee with Cat, Fra, and Cato anyway. I like our chances now better.
One note. If there is any thing that I agree on is this. Yes, it's DANGEROUS for us fans to get "giddy" before we win anything. That IS TRUE. And I don't want that. But I feel we are in a better position for a great TEAM than ever before. And like you said before...yes, I do feel that Orlando will get earlier success than we will. But don't be fooled. Orlando's future lies in Dwight Howard. Its his team. So, they have temporary success until Howard develops (1st round exits). The Rockets. We have a 1-3 year windows to gel as a team; make some fine tuning, and then start building chemistry. If Nachbar doesn't start shooting better we may have to get another SF that can. If Barry doesn't work out we need to get a younger PG. We need a rebounder/defender PF and backup center. There's a lot of fine-tuning we need to do. I also feel that there will be those that say, "See, I told you it was a bad trade" if we start out slowly. But I'm not worried. In the long run we are better off. WE have McGrady and Yao. And that's all that matter as far as the core talent.
So, your saying that a 25 year old scoring champ is just as risky as a 40 year old scoring champ? Injuries are another story. That can happen to anyone. Why make any trade then? For anyone?
I'm so sick of the haters. Fan to me means supporting everyone on the team, and by that definition there are plenty of self-professed Rockets fans on this BBS who haven't been for the last year +. Maybe now we'll have some harmony here, at least until the first time T-Mac doesn't pass it to Yao. Classy thread.
I understand the point of criticizing someone as long as they are family...you want them to improve...but to shout "Good riddance" after they leave - why? Just out of spite?
Sometimes I feel that if we get used to winning (lets say that in 4-5 years when Yao and McGrady in in their late 20's) that this site becomes a litany of one liners of critical perfection... Most of the time this BBS would be like this: rox_man: Great win! Mac_zilla: Oh man we crushed them! tmac_for_prez: Yeah we did! Not much to talk about...until we loose a winning streak... rox_man: Oh man! Our 8 game winning streek is over! Bastards! Mac_zilla: Yeah, we should trade Barry for making 2 turnovers last night! tmac_for_prez: And did you see that shot Yao missed in the 4th. How dare he miss a shot! Higher standards for the fans. Maybe a little spoiled.
I don't get it either SJC... and so, now I begin my scrutiny of the T-Mac era. btw all- check out Dr of Dunk's post in this thread... http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=1424170#post1424170 ...finally some perspective. A third eye always helps when you're too close to the project.
Dr of Dunk post is about concern for McGrady's back. Which is understandable. Also about results! Wins is all that matters.
I loved those guys and wish them absolutely nothing but the best. I wish we could've done more with them while they were here, but we couldn't so we move on. And we got GREAT return for them in trade. I'm excited about T-Mac and everything else that is going on with the team. But, I'd rather not be like Orlando's GM who rips his players after they leave. I'd rather be like JVG, CD, Les and Yao and just say that I'll miss those guys and I appreciate what they did for the team.
