For you relatively new posters, and possibly new fans, it is quite clear that some of us more "veteran" posters are at times a bit more cynical regarding the decisions and moves of Rocket's ownership and management. Why? Since Les Alexander has owned the team it "appears" that he is particularly inclined to hyperbole, spin, and exageration, which, in a way, are all the same thing. IMO, he has often preferred style over substance, to wit, the Stevie Franchise era. I love Yao Ming, but is he here mainly because of the marketing opportunities in China he represents, or because he is actually better that Amare S. who was in the same draft. No doubt the NBA is driven by "star power," but the Spurs keep winning championships. A well designed and constructed team has proven superior to collections of "celebrity" players. The league is of course looking for the next M.J., but only D.Wade has produced a championship, so far, a one shot deal. My favorite team in the "Les" era was the 2005 Rockets. They proved to be a "one trick pony," but they were very entertaining and really excited the fans until they were blown out in seven games by the Mavs. The problem with the team was that they consisted of several players having their last best year: Sura, Barry, Mutombo, et al. The win now, we hate rookies, and who cares about the future approach seems to be L.A.'s game plan. My question, and it is a legitimate one, does Les Alexander really want to win championships or simply sell tickets and market products. Is he about basketball or business? They are not mutually exclusive, but he has yet to put together the talent to compete with the Elites of the West. So when, the Rocket's organization makes statements like, "the greatest team ever assembled," "the best starting lineup in the league," "a 60 win team," ad infinitum, some us wonder about the sanity of the owner and management. Do they really think the fans are a bunch of valley girls looking for glitz and glamor. Personally, I would like a well constructed team of talented players who can in reality give the Spurs a run for their money. Or is it just about money?
the comment regarding the 60 wins and 'best starting lineup' were both made based on statistical evidence, not opinion. as far as the rest of your post, i'm not sure i understand what you mean. you're evidence doesn't seem to support your premise.
Ok the Rockets like to spin a lot of "hyperbole" but that's just marketing. I'm not sure it has anything to do with Les. I will say this...the team is much better with Les as the owner than Charlie Thomas. At least under Les the team isn't afraid to make bold moves. Not all of them have panned out, (the Cassel and Horry for that fat b*stard Barkley comes to mind), but the Rox never made any big moves under Thomas. Maybe if old man Maloof hadn't died, maybe his now grown sons ran the team instead of the Kings, we might be better off. But I like the fact that the Rockets seem to make a big move ecery other year. When Les took over we won back to back titles, traded for Drexler, Barkley, Pippen, (yuck), Francis and even McGrady. That's more big trades then the team did their entire existance before Les came on board. The REALITY is - this is a very hard league to win in, and at least the Rox seem to be trying.
I am confused. Do you not think that Les wants to win? Style over Substance? Lets start by acknowledging the fact that Les is a very rich man. (1.2B NW) He probably did not amass his wealth by slanging rock or confidence scams; he put in the work. He came out of school with a Bachelor's from NYU, and while working on Wall Street, went to Law School at night. To me, this doesn't sound like a guy who cares at all about style. It would seem that he cares about the finished product. Now I know we are talking about his team, not him; but without the background we can't have the discussion. That said, the Spurs model is indeed a winner. But I think the "non-celebrity" status you give to their players is only a reflection of the San Antonio market. If the Celts get Duncan in that draft, he becomes a MEGA STAR. I agree that a well designed and constructed team is indeed the way to go, and I like you think that the Barry / Sura / Wesley team of a couple of years ago was our best. The fact that we always seem to be making moves tells me that Les has total confidence in his front office to make the team better. So, the real question I think you are asking is, what is Les's motivation? Fill seats or win? I think realistically most owners would tell you they want to win, but running a successful business by filling the arena is priority numero uno. Can we blame Les for wanting to fill seats? No. All we can do is trust him to hire quality basketball people to make basketball decisions. I believe he wants to win, because winning is good for business.
I agree. Do they think we are fools? Look at the playoff intro vid. Do they actually expect us to believe rafer alston has teleportation/invisibility skills, and tmac dunks in a ball of fire? I am offended, but am not tricked, by this ploy of theirs. They should stick to telling it like it is and not try to build excitement. That's the last thing the NBA needs; excitement.
I don't think marketing had anythng to do with Yao over Amare... otherwise, what explains Jason Williams, Dunleavy, Gooden, Skita, Dajuan Wagoner, and Chris Wilcox over Amare?
But generally, I agree that Les Alexander seems to suffer from the "Splash!" syndrome: Focused on getting the big names who no doubt contributed to varying degrees but lacked the attention to detail on the rest of the rosters, which lack of attention eventually lead them to fall short. Hopefully, Morey and his spread sheets can have an effect on that. Battier was a good step. I hope he doesn't get sacrifieced to make a "splash"
I think were answering your question for you. A businessman (Les) only makes a profit if his customers (us) are happy. Bringing in stars doesn't necessarily "fill the seats." Thats been proven by our lack of sell outs in the last few years. The customers want to see a winning franchise so why would Les go for "style over substance" if its not what we want. After all we are the people paying him! To put it straight We want a Winning Team so Les Wants a Winning Team. Thats how he will make his biggest profits. P.S. As for Yao over Amare, i dont think management got that to wrong. Amare would not be nearly as good in our structure and without nash. Yao was the right pick both productively and economically.
The team is built around two very fragile players, both physically and mentally. They are no doubt talented, but lack toughness. Surrounding them with "low-end" budget role players doesn't tell me that the Rockets are serious about a deep playoff run. The M.J. disaster, finally reversed, is a step in the right direction, but MUCH more needs to be done. It is all about talent, not spin.
Solid:This is you best ever post- It said everything that many of us wanted to say but never had the nerve to put it into print. I hope the management reads it and takes it to heart.
I do completely understand your argument and share your cynicism of Les Alexander. He seems prefer getting the big name players that stretches the cap and doesn't seem to put people in mangement, GM, or coach that are good at developing a team or building up young players. He likes quick fixes and the gloss over re-paint. However, I would argue blame for this also goes to C. Dawson over the past few years. Honestly, we really don't know how much influence Les has on all the decisions, espcially the minor player pick ups and everything, It could be big, but we get most our information from hear say, rumours, and from 2nd 3rd, or even 4th hand sources (remember that game telephone, further the source the worse the message). I am not putting all the blame on Dawson, but scouting the draft, free agent market and trades has not been all that great. Basically while I am skeptical of the organization and Alexander, you can't put all the blame on him.
Jeff Van Gundy. Is that you? If it isn't, you really must have enjoyed watching the ROX last year if "the last thing the NBA needs is excitement"
I appreciate your remarks, and, just for the record, you have always been one of my favorite posters. It is interesting and I guess predictable that after a few years on this board, you start looking for certain names while scanning the threads. By mid-summer, we will know if the "new" Rocket's management team is smart enough and determined enough to make the necessary changes. Their quick-temporary fix approach has not progressed the team to elite status, IF that is their goal.
Francis was acquired for 4 spare parts. He was the #2 overall pick in the draft and was considered a future star. Looking back at it now, yeah, it didn't work out. But it was "substance" at the time. It was going out and acquiring what could have been the centerpiece star of the team for 10 years. Again, revisionist history. If anyone else was going to be taken, it was Jay Williams - those were the two clear cut top two picks in the draft. Amare was somewhere around 9. Would you rather have Jay Wiliams? Huh? Tim Duncan and Shaq have combined for most of the past 10 championships. How is that different from the Rockets trying to get a dominant (and sorta boring) big man in Yao? Because it hasn't worked out yet, it was a bad move? Really? Is that why we traded for Francis and built a youth movement around him, Mobley, Cato, Anderson, Taylor, etc? The Rockets tried a youth movement and it failed miserably because those players never really improved. They were in the "play for the future" move for about 4 or 5 years. Then they actually got a star that didn't fail, and they got a MVP-type player in McGrady. Should they endlessly play for the future? Perhaps be like the Clippers? At some point you have to start playing for now or you lose your fanbase. They decided that time was these last few years. If he just wanted to do marketing and ticket sales, why on earth did he hire JVG? Neither have about 25 other teams. What does that have to do with whether he's about business or basketball? The best thing for business is winning. Are you suggesting he's too stupid to know that?
Solid, Give me a break. When you came out with the Yao and Amare comparsion I know you are way overboard trying to justify the owner is greedy. If everybody has 20/20 vision today, then sure Amare may have been the better pick. But man these things happen. Yao has the height, the shot the country and did I mention he was huge. Last time I checked, you can't teach height and he was #1 pick material. Amare was not. If he was, he would not have gone where? I hate it when people try to re-write history. Like the other guy said. It was Jay Williams or Yao Ming as #1. I am sure glad we didn't get Jay Williams. Boy was that a great pick for Chicago! And soft and not ready may be Yao's tag for now. But he is still imrpoving and unless you were blind, you did see some of that fire beginnig to emerge. So beat up on Les all you want but don't be hitting on Yao. Got his back
I as I recall reports from around the league, not everyone was sold on Yao on draft day. I absolutely love Yao as a person, but Amare is clearly more athletic, aggressive, and dominating. The Suns appeared to have targeted Amare from the beginning. Nevertheless, that is not my point which is that Les seems inclined to "star power" rather than a piece by piece approach to constructing a solid contender. More implusive than methodical. Try this, now try this, now try this, get the picture. I don't think this is revisionism, but what has actually happened. Trial and error did not build the Spurs.
