That can be the only explanation for this series of pathetic performances. Let's recap: The Rockets started last week by blowing a 17 point lead against the Knicks. They followed that tank masterpiece with a 28 point bashing by the former worst team in the league, Chicago Bulls. They then were forced to endure a close game against the Wizards. They managed to give the crowd an exciting loss, by allowing Jordan to take over down the stretch. After that, the Rockets hit the road to face the Wolves. They managed to put up an incredible 97 points in a solid losing effort. They hid their tanking ways excellently by pretending to play hard during the third and fourth quarters. Now they've started the new week with a thrashing by the Stackhouse-less Pistons. It doesn't seem to bother them when they play without their best player. By the time Francis comes back, the Rockets will probably be forced to win a few games. By then, they will have cemented thier place in the bottom three of the league, so the wins won't hurt them. What a season!
Why the hell would we tank if we can't even keep our pick? Or is the pick we owe them, lottery protected?
I would think that this is tanking if it weren't for the fact that their best players are either on the injured list or playing with injuries. I don't think the Rockets have sustained this many injuries as long as I've watched them. Golden State last year might be comparble. They have already lost 5 of their 15. Two more and they will be down to the league minimum of 8. It's just pathetic.
I don't care how many players are injured. They should at least TRY to win out there. The Pistons were without their best player, and they still won by over 30! THAT is pathetic.
Forget Dunleavy or Marcus. The Rockets are playing like they want Yao Ming, Jason Williams, or Amare Stoudamire.
Williams is vastly overrated, and he will not be a Rocket, unless we trade Francis or Mobley. Ming is too much of a project for my liking. Stoudamire might be a decent pick, but I want a guy who isn't younger than I am.
I wouldn't mind Ming, if he is the real deal. But otherwise, if we have a high draft pick, I would prefer to just trade it for a GOOD center (emphasized to show my opinion of Kelvin Cato). If we had a center that could average 10 rebs a game and maybe get 2-3 blocks a game, that would allow our damn guards to release on the break rather than going for the rebounds (and injuring their damn ankles). It would allow the team to really explode offensively.
I think the smartest thing this team could do if we get a good lottery pick is to go after Lonny Baxter. This year has been a really unfair year for all Rockets fans. There is a really good chance that we may end up with one of the top picks in the lottery. We will need to add some more scorers to this teams as well as players willing to defend. For now, we should keep the players we have, but nonetheless make some adjustments over the summer. We will undoubtedly add Taylor to our lineup, we should be able to swing a trade for Marc Jackson to help out down low. Then we will have the chance to pick up a really awesome player in the draft. I feel that it is really important for us to get a worthwhile pick because we *will* be back next season and with the addition of a young talent we will be even better. As for collegiates out there, who is the consensus? I think Houston to ought to really take a look at Lonny Baxter. One thing we really need is a decent small forward because we dont know how long Rice is going to be able to hold up.
The U-Md-to-Houston pipeline continues? The Terrapins are like the Rockets' AAA team. Not that nbadraft.net is the most dependable source of draft scouting, but they're currently projecting LB at #46 (to Indiana). I think that's a bit low, but I don't think he'll be a lottery pick... he's a little undersized at 6'8, with a Danny Fortson-type body ( but with more offensive skill). Either a textbook 'tweener or a poor man's Elton. Either way, he'll make an established team better but not, to my estimation, worthy of a top ten pick.
Rockets are not tanking. The rockets actually want to win, they will do anything they can to win but you know what the problem is, they cant win. we are secretly trying to win but it wont work so you think we are tanking. My Dream Starting Lineup Griffin Mo Torres Francis Jason Williams Cuttino off the bench
Hey ZRB the Pistons might be missing their best player, but we are missing are best player, our third best player, and two other starters. Mobley is the only person left from last year. What do you expect from em?
My thoughts exactly. What the hell else can any of us possible expect??!!?!?!?!? That, and you didn't even mention that our second best player is playing injured. We're not tanking, we're just simply out of options in every aspect of the game.
This is the most optimistic outlook I've ever seen. The rockets are playing hurt, and they need their stars/starters in the game. Take away the #1 option for ANY team, and they'll suffer. Portland doesn't really have a #1 option, so they don't really count, and Sacramento played 'pretty good' without Webber. But I can't imagine the T-Wolves without KG, or the Heat without Mourning, or the Raptors without Vince Carter. The top guys carry the team, and Stevie is hurt...
