If tanking means conceding the season, it is still too early. Admittedly, the Rocket's playoff chances don't look good. If the team doesn't come together by mid-February, and they lose the majority of games until then, well, it is probably over. At that point they should give major time to the young players and develop them. At all times, they will continue to try and win every game. Overall, this year's acquistions have been very disappointing. I blame the Rocket's coach and management for not getting the right talent around Ming and TMac. They tried to patch up the team with "old" and "cheap." True, we haven't seen them play together at the same time, but individually they have been very inconsistent.
Just for the sake of argument -- Rox lose another few in a row (they already need to go about 33 - 17 finish for p/o...which is 66% wins...a pace currently enjoyed by only four teams BTW) -- so, just for the sake of argument the Good Guys are doomed to LottoHell do they go to TMac and say, 'want a trade to an immediate contender?'...and if he says 'Yes', bad back and all, what do the Good Guys get back: Artest and Foster? Jamison and Daniels? RJ+? And no, I don't want TMac anywhere but here and no, this is not a Trade Thread -- just 'for the sake of argument' is this.
A losing record also prompted Tracy's desire to leave Orlando. I don't see Tracy sacrificing a season for the sake of next season. That's what a loser does, and neither Tracy or Yao are losers. If we want to keep Tracy happy, something needs to happen to start generating W's.
I think Tracy would be the first to admit that this season has been under extraordinary circumstances. His gripe with Orlando was that year after year they surrounded him with CBA talent and were interested in nothing more than selling tickets off his back, and he still gave them four years to do something and they didn't, when he saw that was the direction the franchise was going in, he wanted out so that he can win, not be a perennial loser; that much tells me he puts a high priority on winning. Coming into this season, McGrady was gushing with comments about how 'great' this franchise is because management are ALWAYS trying to improve the team to win it all, but injuries happened and the rest -- as they say -- is history. I don't think McGrady will be frustrated with the franchise in a similar manner that he did in Orlando. He knows that if nothing else, a healthy him and a healthy 7'6" stud by the name of Yao freakin' Ming (whom half his superstar peers would die to play with) is always here and locked for the next 7 years or so, and as long as they both are healthy and ready to go they can wreck havoc on this league. True, the pieces around them will determine how far they go, but they understand that the foundation is there, and the pieces are interchangeable and they come and go. As long as there is hope for something better that keeps you driven and focused, you can't get down on yourself too much, you will eventually realize there is hope and tomorrow is a better day.
I hope you are right. In business however, it doesn't matter what's right or what's fair, it's results that count. Just like if JVG is fired for a losing season this year (as some "pro" sports writers are predicting), it doesn't mean he was a bad coach, it's just business. When you're dealing with millions of dollars, immediate results are expected regardless of fairness or bad luck.
If you want the Rockets to tank, DD, who do you think they will pick in the draft to help this team out?
Damn DD, I wouldn't expect a thread like this from you. Let me guess.....you want the Rockets to tank and select Daniel Gibson?
I don't know. When I say tank, I don't mean lose on purpose, just let the young guys play, and see if they are going to be contributers to the future of this team. We are already without TMac and Yao.....don't play Howard so much...play Swift & Baxter....don't play Wesley, play Head and Rafer and Lucas......don't play Bowen & DA, play Stephen Graham (after we resign him).... Let's find out if we have some pieces for next years puzzle......BEFORE we go into the lottery.....and if we get a high pick because of it....and get to add a VERY good player in the draft....great. The Spurs did ok with resting David Robinson, and we did the same when we got Hakeem. Play the young guys...don't tank on purpose...but..... DD
It is becoming clear that we are not going to get away with this old roster. As long as we stay this way, we will be constantly bothered with injuries. Therefore, we must add young talents. Let's tank the season, get a top 3 pick, get a good cheap 3rd option to help Yao and Tmac. Let's play Swift and Head more so they will be ready next season. It is time to think ahead. We want a trophy and if tanking the season helps to make it happen so be it.
I dont keep up with college ball, but I have heard that this is going to be one of the weakest drafts next year because of the age limit now..
Really??? Hey, I have a better idea. Why don't we rest Yao and TMac for the next 5 years. Then, they'll have fresh legs for the 2012 season! I mean, we wouldn't want them to get hurt or anything.
True. Even the top guys in college right now don't strike me as future NBA stars - more like 4th options. Lamarcus Aldridge looks like he could be a tough 4. Rudy Gay should be a strong 3 like Battier, but not an All-Star. JJ Redick is a absolutely sick shooter, but he's 6-4 with weak handles and has backup written all over him. Adam Morrison is awesome all-around game, but he's pretty slow and might not be able to handle the quickness of the NBA. Not a lot of size out there, and not many that look like they'll be anything beyond fringe starters. To be fair, it almost always seems like that. On the other hand, see the 2000 draft. Evan
Question is, short of the top 3 picks, do you trust Rockets management to make the right draft choice? Pardon me, but I'm not that confident.
While LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay (I'd never buy his jersey) or Adam Morrison would all look good in a Rockets uni next year, I would prefer a story of this year's team getting healthy and going on a run in the second half ... getting the sixth seed ... dispatching the northwest winner in the first round and then defeating the pacific winner in the second round ... setting up a matchup with the spurms in the conference finals and letting the chips fall where they may. Now that's an overcoming adversity story (in sports) if I ever heard one. emjohn, Rudy Gay is NOTHING like Battier. Not even close. Rudy's game is closer to T-Mac's than it will ever be to Battier's. Reddick is probably late lottery material at best, we could probably get him in a similar draft spot as Head. He will be a good player off the bench.
(Trying not to get preachy...) Rest our stars/veterans and let our young guys get playing time what young guys? Excluding Yao and Tmac, we have two players that are less than 30 years old: Head (24 yrs) and Swift (26 yrs). And it's not like those guys are spending the whole game on the bench. They're getting a lot of minutes. We should try to get a good draft pick What draft pick is out there that's worth tanking more than half the season? Give our players a chance to heal and start next season healthy. We started this season with only Sura unhealthy. For all we know, the next season could go the same way.
