A little over 12 months ago, Rockets fan's were headed into the 1999/2000 season assuming the starting 5 would be something like:- Hakeem Barkley Pippen Dickerson Mobley Average age 32.4 Since then, we've seen the Francis trade, Pippen trade, and signing of free agents Anderson and Taylor. The starting 5 this year could conceivably contain none of those starters we anticipated early in 1999. Cato (it will happen sometime this year) Taylor Williams Anderson Francis Average Age: 25.8 Stop and think about how amazing this franchise is. ------------------ Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info
We could get temporarily older for $26 mil under the cap next year: NY gets: Cato + Walt Williams + Carlos Rogers. Hou gets: Patrick Ewing. We'd start Ewing and then when we wanted to get younger, put in Dream at the 8 minute mark (he's half a year younger ). Since nearly every FA next year is a Falk client, we'd have the inside scoop: cash. ------------------ I've posted so much that what I say must be true. The latest on Maurice Taylor
What is really impressive is how quickly they have re-built this team, and how they performed this task without any type of tanking. They were able to maintain a positive image with free agents and develop a strong sense of chemistry even though they were in a re-building season. This is something that other re-building teams like the Bulls have not been able to achieve. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
You are so right. Please add the Spurs to that tanking team list. And if not for the tenacious coaching of a former Spur in Doc Rivers, and the intestinal fortitude of at least eight on the Orlando Magic roster(last year), they would surely have been added to that list of tank artists also.
Is it absolutely sure that the Spurs tanked? I mean, I know how bad their record was, but how did the Admiral stand up for it? ------------------
I think Hakeem is going to start because Cato prefers to come off the bench anyway. I wonder what Cato has against starting? Excellents points, MManal. How long will teams like the Clippers, Bulls, and Warriors be rebuilding? They sure are taking their time. Being able to rebuild this quickly gives you an idea of how great Rockets management is. If Patrick Ewing came to the Rockets he would raise the average age of the Rockets a couple hundred years. LOL. We already have an injury prone center in Hakeem, we don't need another. No disrespect to Hakeem, but I expect him to miss games to injury again. He's not getting any younger. If we make the playoffs this year, that means that we have only been rebuilding for several months. Impressive. When was the last time the Celtics made the playoffs? With all the playoff appearances the Rockets have made over the last two decades, one year of rebuilding would not be bad. Not bad at all. As another poster on the BBS once said, the Rocks don't rebuild, they reload. ------------------ [This message has been edited by rock (edited August 30, 2000).] [This message has been edited by rock (edited August 30, 2000).]
Sane, let me rehash the Spurs tanking process. David had been out at the beginning of the season. This was pre-Duncan so they were bound to suck without him. The day he comes back, Popovich fires the coach and appoints himself the coach (Very sleasy!). As soon as Robinson gets injured, Popovich realizes that his only chance is the draft. He does everything in his power to assure the Spurs of a top draft choice. As players became injured, he refused to sign replacements, at times going with an 8-man roster. His reasoning was that it would help build team chemistry. My ass, it helped him get Duncan. This is what sets Rudy and co. apart. They could of refused to bring in back-ups, but they decided that integrity was more important than the long term. When you have integrity, good things will happen for you. When you tank like the Spurs and the Bulls, your Karma will get you in the end. You almost saw it this year with the Spurs, but I guarentee you'll see it when Robinson retires and Duncan's contract is up. Of course by then, Popovich will be unemployed. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
Rocketsauce, The Spurs did end up winning a championship, lest we forget. ------------------ I'm sticking with Charlotte. I can't flip because I don't want to be confused with Peter Vecsey. -- Charles Barkley
I see....but, even though I'm a Rockets fan, I have to ask, how bad were the Rockets to be able to draft Hakeem?(hint: tanked?) ------------------
The summer's not over... ------------------ "There's 1,000 different things we're looking at, but there's not a lot of things there." -- Rudy T., apparently after taking a hit of acid.
you're scaring me consumption. ------------------ I've posted so much that what I say must be true. The latest on Maurice Taylor
