So how many of the people here talking about "i hate tanking" and "being a 6th/7th/8th" seed in the playoffs is better than being in the lottery were (and still are) horribly pissed that we won an extra game or two that cost us Brandon Roy in the draft just a few years ago?
The situation is completely different. It was the end of the season. The Rockets didn't play that season to "tank." Van Gundy winning that game cost us an All Star player that would have made a huge difference for this team. One game. Not a season. Yes, I hate tanking. Let's see if we can win some ****ing games..
good thread OP. the experience of competing in the playoffs will only solidify the young talent we have. when yao comes back, we'll be better off.
Talking about tanking in July is purely insane. It is too early to shoot down the chances of the team. The team may have lost valuable pieces but the team has learned how to play without them. Its a matter of getting additional pieces to help propel this team to new heights. Anything is still possible.
A lot of talk in every thread about the merits of making the Playoffs vs tanking for a top pick. I philosophically oppose tanking. It's just really bad karma, even though it sometimes works. It's funny, because I'm not an optimist by nature. Until the past few years, I was downright pessimistic about the Rockets, but the past 2 years have made me a pretty solid believer in our squad. They've had so many curve balls thrown at them and been counted out so often. Every time, they've squared their shoulders, banded together, given the world a big middle finger, and flat out overachieved. Even without the big 3, I just can't see this team falling completely off the map with the players, coaches, front office, and owner they have. 47 wins made the playoffs last year in the West and 41 was the low bar in 2006. It took 49 wins to make the dance in the ultra-competitive 2007, but I don't see the West being as stacked as that season. Just looking at the other teams, I think it's easy to see 7 teams we could finish above in the West. Clearly, every team could still majorly shake things up, and Morey still has a lot of work to do to address the 5. Do you really think any of the 6 Cellar Dwellers I listed in the OP are going to rise up and make the Playoffs? Do you think it's likely that the Suns, Hornets, and Jazz all turn their fortunes around? Every season has a team that wins more games than they should because they play smart and hard and as a team. That is the Rockets' signature right now, and I fully expect them to win a lot more games than they should on hustle. Granted, those teams usually get bounced in the first round when they face an opponent that can take 2 weeks to learn their every move. Whether or not, you think it's in the long term best interests of the Rockets, unless Morey starts blowing this team up, the Rockets will be in the Playoffs.
We do need to rebuild, but the playoffs are most definitely not a fantasy. The TMac\Yao championship window is over, but do you really expect this team to win less than 25 games next year?
Enough doom and gloom. Our youngsters don't know they suck. They're going to go out there, run everyone off the court, and shock the world.
No he is saying that it would take winning only 25 games to get us a top pick in the lotto. We would likely end up with a low lotto pick, which isn't that much better than making the playoffs and getting a pick between 16-20
Ok...I thought the whole point behind the thread was to discuss whether the Rockets made the playoffs or not...."believe it" and all that. Truthfully, I don't think they make the playoffs. I'm ok with that.
I'm looking forward to watching this "scrappy" team. There will be no superstars, just good hustling players. Most experts say you need 2 or 3 big names to win a championship, but could a team of just good players get a ring? I would love to see it, especially with players like Scola, Battier & Brooks. We do need some form a center, but I'm sure Morey has something in the works. We won't tank, just not our style.
HayesFan is my official spokesperson. 25 wins is also kind of a barometer mark. To people that think this team has no shot in hell at the playoffs, that means the Rockets will have to be pretty bad. Like 25 win bad. If you think the 35 - 47 range is feasable, then you have to at least think they have a chance. I think of 25-30 win teams as the true dregs of the league, and I just don't see this team slipping into that territory.
there's a HUGE difference between a 35 win team and a 47 win team. huge. those ranges you're alluding to are so large they're virtually meaningless.
The whole point of this thread is to debate whether the Rockets will make the dance next year. I understand there's a lot of anxiety about the long-term future of the Rockets, and there of course is rampant tanking speculation permeating GARM. I'm hoping to keep that talk out of this thread, but it's a bit like getting rid of blackberry weeds. They just keep cropping up....
Agreed that this team will remain competitive and be right in the mix of things. I have a hard time imagining this team going through some Grizzles type 25-win season. In which case, Adelman deserves some sort of statue created in his honor. My guess is we'll be right in the mix of things but kind of on the borderline in the 7-9 range. We'll remain competitive before withering and dying due to our lack of a low post presence. We lost in the playoffs the past two years because of this reason. I expect a full season without Yao to be no different.
Its a toss up. I expect us to be around the 15-30 range. We are throwing our role players with no superstar (at least for 30 games) to the dogs. This team has pulled miracles before but its not happening this time. The only players, who can create their own shot on this team are Brooks, Scola and Jermaine Taylor I guess. Maybe we can get chemistry flowing and crack 30+ but I hope not. Looking at next year's draft, I have never been more excited to rebuild and lose some damn games. Donatas Motiejunas please.
Before I read your analysis I thought the prospect of making the playoffs was ridiculous. I was really unhappy about Yao being out because next year is my first year as a season ticket holder and I was dreading going to so many games only to come home upset about a loss. But I completely see your point. I think with the Mavs off-season moves they could actually be top 4 (especially if they manage to swing Marion). Even though the Hornets were terrible last year, they'll make the playoffs. I can't see Utah imploding again either. However, we should certainly be able to beat out Phoenix. Plus if McGrady comes back for the second half of the season I can see us picking up momentum after all-star break (seeing as its a contract year, he has something to play for). So while I didn't believe it to even be a realistic probablity before - I'm on board now.
You're missing the point though. We will certainly not be an elite Western team. We will certainly not be as competitve as last year. However, while the top 4 or 5 teams in the West have only seemed to improve, the overall quality of the West has decreased. Two years ago all 8 playoff teams were fantastic - you couldn't say that this year and you can't say it next year. If we are just playing for the 8th seed (which is worst case scenario) you have to beat out Phoenix (if they trade Amare this won't even be a question), Sacremento (unless you consider Kevin Martin a star - they have the same problem and our roleplayers are much better), Golden State (unless they GET Amare this won't be a question), the Clippers (Blake isn't going to turn around that franchise in one year), Oklahoma (they have potential, but it is hard to see them having a winning record this year), Minnesota (with Rubio deciding to stay in Europe their slim chance went to none) and Memphis (AI isn't going to make them winners - IF they get him). So realistically we have to beat out Phoenix, Sacremento and maybe Golden State - I like our chances.
