DaDakota, did you see this from this morning's Houston Chronicle? The recent injuries to Drew and Rogers might have opened a spot for Massenburg to get some time before the end of the season. But when he reinjured his pulled groin in January, separating the muscle from the bone, the injury was so severe that he would not be ready to test it until the middle of the offseason. You could, of course, still be right about Massenburg. Then either (1) the Rockets pulled the wool over the Chronicle's eyes or (2) the Chronicle is doing a piece of whitewash for the Rockets' tanking (recently confounded by beating three playoff teams). It is interesting the way it is phrased, though: "The recent injuries... might have opened a spot..." suggesting that the only reason he had been on the IR was that there were no available spots on the active roster for him. However, the description of the injury and the recovery timetable is explicit enough about him being completely out for the season due to injury. You claim to have some sort of inside knowledge on the subject and if you feel that it is more reliable than the paper (which is completely possible) then go on believing it. I for one -- and please take no offense -- am going to put my faith in the newspaper over an unidentified second-hand source on this issue. ------------------
DaDakota had been claiming (repeatedly, to be sure that EVERYONE heard -- apparently it didn't work) that Massenburg has been healthy and ready to go since January. He says that Rudy decided to not play him because he was an already developed veteran who was not going to be with the team beyond this season, so it would not help next season to give him minutes this season (and taking minutes from K. Thomas). He went on to say that having TMass on the IR was one manifestation of Rudy tanking the season to get a higher draft pick (other examples being small-ball lineups, not playing Anderson at the end of games, etc.). DaDakota, I hope I have not misrepresented you. This is my understanding of your understanding of the subject. ------------------ Sorry partner. It is in the Rockets Notebook http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/518073 . It is in the subsection "Roster Room Available." [This message has been edited by JuanValdez (edited April 11, 2000).]
I am sorry ,man,but I just don't get it. " ... that having TMass on the IR was one manifestation of Rudy tanking the season ... " What could Tony Massenburg possibly do that would be so positive and so advantageous to our team, that by Not playing him, anyone in their right ever-loving mind could interpret it as "tanking"? If we truly wanted to tank this season we would have played his fragile butt at the first (or any) opportunity. His "injury-illness" was the result of initially coming to camp in poor condition, and then staying that way throughout his injured reserve (IR) tenure "recovering" from the "pressures" of multiple practice injuries. Lowback, Abdominal Muscle Strain, Mid back, Groin, Aggravated Lowback again, Knee(Mild), Stomach Muscles(aggravation), Groin again ... this guy has bankrupted the Rockets HMO. If he were a horse he would have been shot in November, just to put him out of his misery! IMHO ... He has no place on this team now or after his contract expires in a month or so. It would most definitely have no positive team results by putting him on the court with this young, athletic, in-shape roster now. ------------------
Sorry I was away in SanFran for our launch party. (Buy Starlancer ) Juan, you are partially correct. I have it on pretty good authority that Tmass was healthy in January, and Rudy had decided not to play him in order to get the young guys some work. I can say that the press will print whatever you tell them, so from what I know, I would doubt the validity of the story. If you think that TMass and his inside presence and post game would not have helped this team, then I do not know what to say. He clearly would have stabilized the front court, but he was not needed if you are building for the future. Now. As for tanking, what I said, was that they were not tanking on purpose, but that Rudy was not doing everything in his power to win each and every game. He basically was letting the young guys learn from their mistakes. Clutch called me on it, and said that what I meant was not really called tanking. I stick by my original statement, I think you should do your utmost to win every game. I am very pleased with the chemistry of the team of late, and I think we are going in the right direction. I really look forward to the offseason. Juan, I rarely take offense at anything anyone says in a public forum. It is a free country..heheh DaDakota "Buy Starlancer" ------------------
PS. Perhaps the Rockets brass read the posts here at Clutch City, and decided to cover their arses. I would not put it past them. I am sure they look here, because we are the true source of knowledge concerning the Rockets. DaDakota Buy Starlancer !! ------------------
