You're kinda stupid aren't you... let me spell it out for you in simple words Gater. 1. Yao will not be traded. Les will keep the guy until he retires but Yao is his cash cow. The Rockets make money because we got an international icon who brings in shoe deals as well for the rest of the team. He is our franchise player for better or worse so take him out of the picture. 2. Deals aren't exactly pouring into the FO for TMac right now and if one does, it has to be one good enough for the FO to gamble to risk of giving away TMac who may come back 70-80% healthy. 3. We beat the Blazers in 6 and they are a great team. We destroyed Cleveland and Magic a few times. We beat the Spurs as well. Rockets on 3 legs can beat playoff teams. If you can't see that well then you are like the Scarecrow from Oz. If only you had a brain. 4. We signed Artest because it was such a no brainer deal. Tell me what was hard about accepting a trade where we send an unproven rookie, Bobby Jackson, and some other scrub for one of the premier dual threats? We got rid of Rafer because we have been trying to dump him for 4 seasons. Again, no surprises, just following a plan. 5. Wafer was just someone who worked out. We did not bring him in to not stand pat. We brought the guy it to try to provide competition for DJ Strawberry. As Morey had said, we didn't even think he would make the team. He is just something that happened to work out. 6. What other FA is out there for 2009? At this point in time we have no choice but to sign Artest. 7. The way you talk, I don't understand how you can even call yourself a Rockets fan. The Rockets are consistently a top 10 team and you are acting like we are a collection of scrubs.
1, 2, 4, 6 - I don't have a problem with. 3, 5, 7 are a different matter. 3) Blazers are a GOOD team, not Great team...at least not yet. 5) Who cares how we got Wafer? Bottom line is he can play and can light it up at a seconds notice. This team needs him BADLY! 7) To call out Gator for not being a Rox fan is just juvenile. Let alone calling him stupid is just silly! Please keep your emotions in check. After all he does have the same "rep" as you do.
3) I'll give you that 5) I was merely pointing out to Gator that we did not get him for any specific reason other than to provide competition. 7) Anyone who tries to insult me will get slight retaliation. I don't really take offense but it's fun watching people get pissed because they cannot take what they dish. Anyone that thinks the Rockets cannot hang with the best right now is NOT a Rockets fan. I just call it as I see it.
No offense intended - we're ALL Rox fans here. We can hang with anyone, but can we beat them? I think we're just a back-up center and another "microwave" away. Assuming we keep our lineup.
I keep my opinions on Tmac, you would never know Wafer is way overated , he often easily got caught by ref because of his hot head, he is like Spanish bull, which get killed more than kill you're better bringing other cases other tha Magic, here is important, how long can yao wait AB to be a "AB you wish for"? If yao is skilled like today in 2005, with TMAC , we will be in final right time. And look at Tmac now.... Make no mistake, Magic won 2 big games without DH, and at times they played better with DH. Plus, if you watched today game 1, that prove something again. If you want more, DH is more PF to me if comparing old day C.
A role player draws double team even without the ball, a role player as the defensive focal point of the opponent team, a role player created so many open shots for the teammates? If you cannot think nnormally like a Human Being, just shut up and stop posting these garbage.
Welcome to the ignore list. But I have favorited this thread so we can all see where the REAL studity resides. Take off the Red-colored "we were one game away" glasses...that's the whole basis of your sophomoric logic....
I don't think we are that far away, we are not a perfect team, but as the playoffs progress, you can see the Rockets are right there with the top 3 or 4 teams even without McGrady. Do we have flaws? Of course, but every team has them.... The Rockets should continue to try to get better, but they are not in need of a massive change, just some minor chemistry tweaks, and filling in some gaps.... Like... 1. Backup center 2. Penetrating Wing 3. Health from Yao This team is not that far away. DD
Live with "things you dislike"....really....you're pretty supid aren't you? The punk that made the comment is also in Austin...he can name the time and place and I'll be there waiting to see if he has the guts to call me stupid to my face.
Gater, relax and don't worry about snap reactions from new posters. We are in a very interesting off-season and I'm pretty sure that Deep Blue shares your thoughts that we can not stand pat. Go back to your old school posting of scenario's you would project and have some fun again. I know you are still sceptical of Morey, but he's proven to be a much better GM than CD, and chances are some of your dream scenario's may be right in line with his.
LOL go ahead and add me to your ignore. From your insults on your posts, the way you carry yourself through your posts, and how you think the only way to get better is to tear down everything and rebuild... yeah I think your an idiot. I can meet you anywhere on campus any day. I got the balls to call you an idiot for being one. You got the balls to debate and not throw a hissy fit and not resort to violence? Very mature of you!
Come on, do not use the words like stupid, idiot. I did not see he used such kind of words in his post. You start with a good thread, now it turns into some bad arguments. I have nothing with this, but just a good suggestion, if you do not like it, just ignore it.
Ouch....Gater is not an idiot, he is a passionate fan who has a single minded belief in how to build a team. DD
Actually he called me and any poster sharing my views as "drop-dead foolish" and sipping on the 22 win streak and first round victory koolaid. I took what was dished and dished it back, which makes me punk apparently. Point taken. I can't see how passionate fan he could be though if he cannot look at what the Rockets have accomplished with limited resources and not say we are a great team. Now again for the people who share his view and wants facts aside from one game away from the WCF, let me share some. Fact 1: We have consistently made it to the playoffs in a VERY competitive Western Conference (usually near the upper echelon) with usually one of or both stars missing substantial time. Health is only an issue if it affects us in the playoffs. Hopefully what happened with Yao really was a result of a bad ankle twist. Fact 2: Yao came off a mircrofracture surgery, which is really serious, played in those worthless tourneys and lasted pretty much the entire season. The fact that he is coming off an injury that requires no surgery and will not be playing during the offseason is factually a much better scenario for us. Fact 3: Regardless of whether or not we knew about the botched rehabs by both Battier and T-Mac, they and the rest of our team were still coming into the season off injuries. This season only T-Mac is in rehab. Yao's injury takes about 8-10 weeks to heal naturally. Fact 4: The team has gelled together and developed an identity. The Rockets are tough, rugged, scrappy, determined, and proud. You can take any star or marquee player, stick him on our team, and we will do great. Fact 5: Les will not trade Yao Ming. Aside from Artest, there are no great marquee free agents in 2009. Morey will only trade T-Mac if it will help the team. The guy is coming back so the most logical course of action is too see how much he can contribute. Fact 6: Regardless of what happens, Rockets are committed to $64.6 million going into this offseason with Wafer and Artest unsigned. Cook has a player option and giving how crappy he is, I am pretty sure he will take his $3 million player option. Luxury tax is projected to be lowered to $71 million. That means we have $6.4 million since Les will only go over the luxury tax for someone who is tremendously good. As much as we love Ron, he is not that person. Fact 7: We are heading into 2010 with a projected salary of $17,647,605 without counting Yao (he will most likely opt out) and not taking an Artest signing into consideration. The luxury tax for 2009 will be about $71.1 million and due to projected decline in our economy, will probably continue to be decreased in 2010. With Yao's agent most likely going to ask for a max contract and Les not wanting to let Yao go, I can only imagine he will get anywhere from $18-20 million. He is currently about $16.4 million with a player option of a million more. Aside from worrying about signing Artest in 2009, come 2010 we have to sign Scola as well. An ideal scenario will be if Artest signs for the MLE, Yao either takes his player option or signs for less to help out the team, and we have enough money to sign Scola and a third marquee player.
I believe Ron is expendable. Of course it is all depending on how much money he asks for. If it is too much then let him walk or sign him and trade him with carl landry for a big who can play mutltiple front court positions. Someone with height and can really relieve minutes for both Yao and Scola. Someone young and explosive preferable. I honestly would not mind picking up a guy like Shawn Marion. I understand Les is willing to spend money but how much more is still questionable. We are making some money but we are not MAKING THAT MUCH MONEY. Tmac is expendable but of course at the right price. It isn't an issue that needs to be forced but alternatives for his contract can be looked at. I don't think the Rockets should go out there and pick Vince Carter. He's expensive, old, and if we thought tmac's d was bad.. well Carter isn't going to improve that either. I would hope that Tmac plays well and if we want then we can trade him and his contract to a team like New Orleans to get us budding star in Chris Paul. Hey it is a business and if it improves us drastically like adding Chris Paul then that's a no brainer. especially since they are so strapped for money right now that it is quite frankly almost sad. I don't think Kevin Durant is going to stay long in OK Thunder either and is definitely expendable out there. Let's just say everyone except for Yao is expendable. The goal is to make strong moves that builds chemistry but are still affordable. It is tough times out there and as decent as profits were last season, next season is another season/ year with more layoffs on the horizon. As much as we want to keep this core together, each one of these players will become alot more expensive.
I agree with Gater. We are in no seat to just stand still. EVERYONE except for Yao is still expendable for the right price.
