well to be fair we had a Drexler and a Dream. This year we something like Drexler , but NOTHING like THE DREAM. and a worse supporting class
We are 2-8 over the last ten games, the WORST in the NBA! I am a die hard fan, but even I am wondering if it's too late to make a move.
I hate demands for tanking! So selfish. "Bread and Circuses!" and thumb down for your gladiators fighting out there. Just stop watching if it bothers you that much.. By watching is how you're paying them, by not watching is how you're reducing their salary. That's all you can do. Playing with their hands tied, so you could have your draftpick-dreams alive, is not what they are gonna do for you.
They don't have to purposely "tank" the season because it's happening just fine on its own. This team is completely outmanned and as things now stand, will continue to be so for the forseeable future. As for playing our younger players, Head & Swift are getting significant minutes (that's about it for our "younger" players). Plus DaD, it's our three key younger players (Alston, Yao & TMac) who have been hurt the most this year. The two oldest players, Deke & Barry, have also been hurt but their injuries have been somewhat inconsequential in the big scheme of things. JVG was right when he said that this team got "old" really fast. At this point, it's best to chalk this up as another lost season. Folks who are still talking playoffs are being completely unrealistic. It's going on the middle of January and this team has managed only 12 wins in 3+ months. That simply doesn't register as a playoff team to me.
I half agree and half disagree. When you only have nine players — and two of those are Ryan Bowen and Moochie Norris and two more are rookies (Head and Lucas), you don't have to lose on purpose. The Rockets have been outmanned all year through one combination of injuries or another. That's why the record is so bad. But that doesn't mean the post-season is out of reach. The people talking about playoff are envisioning a team with Yao and McGrady, plus a healthy supporting cast. That team isn't 12-21. That team has barely been together since opening night. If everyone gets healthy by late January, this is still one of the best collections of talent in the Western Conference. If not, then "tanking" will take care of itself.
The worst thing that happen to Rockets is to try to salvage the season by rushing Tmac and Yao back from injuries, lose them again for games for the rest of the season, then barely miss the playoff and end up with a 1st round pick after 10. I'd rather to have Tmac/Yao/Sura rest the season, first to make sure they really recover, second to secure a high pick. People keep talking about Tmac being in the league for 8+ years. Why not give him extra few months to recharge? Yao is not likely to get much rest this summer considering it is world tournament time again. I don't want him to be bothered with a bad toe for the rest of his career. Let's take care of that now when we can.
Gay is not that good. If u've actaulyl seen any uconn games you'd realize that drafting gay is not gonna turn around this rockets franchise. gay has upside, that's it right now. out of all the draftable players, i think morrison would be a great addition to this team. he's an underrated athlete, and jvg could turn him into a decent defender. the guy can get his shot off any time he wants. we could plug him in at the 3, and have t-mac move over to the 2. then head/rafer can split time at the point.
Isn't it strange our role players are suddenly making their shots, now that T-Mac and Yao are out? I think the explanation is a combination of two factors: 1. Rafer is back and very motivated. 2. With T-Mac and especially with Yao out, JVG has removed his mind control caps from all the players and is allowing them a lot more freedom on offence.
We don't need a hall of famer, just a reasonable 4 and 2. The more we lose this season, the better our odds in the draft. Right now I'm undecided on the tank job, but if we lose the next few games in a row, we will have little choice. By the way, I wouldn't be surprised if the Knicks were deliberately tanking the season; they have more than enough talent to win many more games than they have so far.
Hey Roswell we're you a valedictorian...because you sure sound smart. Seriously I'm glad you wrote this....I was beginning to think I was living my very own Groundhod Day!
I agree with both of the factors that you mention...especially about JVG letting the players have more freedom with the offense...with both are Generals on the DL we really don't have an offensive scheme perse...I think the role player have their "If it's going to be it's up to me" mentality since neither Tmac or Yao are their as a security blanket.
I too believe this team's season is, more or less, done...I dont see TMac returning until another 4-5 games, Yao's out 2-3 more weeks, and who knows whassup with DA...by then, it will be too late...I love how we play 100% every night and with pride but this team, at this point, just does not have the talent to compete for a playoff spot...I feel that if we're somehow at .500 by the 44-game mark, then we do have a shot...but that means we have to go 10-1 to get there, and I just dont see it
We are playing hard now, and seem to be doing a pretty good job of losing, so why do we need to tank it. Play harder
Not rushing Tmac and Yao back makes a lot of sense. Using promising new players like LH and JL3rd extensively to figure out whether they're keepers or folders also make a lot of sense to me. In doing so, we will lose games, and will get a high draft pick; that's not tanking the season as far as I'm concerned. Also, it'd be nice to land a TD, but we don't need a TD and won't be able to afford a TD after his rookie contract expires. We need someone who is good at outside d and can hit open 3s. That's not asking too much from the next draft I hope?
