Have the Rockets Organization (not the fans from here) given up on the Yao/Tracy experiment? Don’t be so fast to say yes, or they should have. A couple of things stand out at this moment in time that suggest that the Rockets may be in line to pull a fast one on the whole NBA this upcoming season and actually COMPETE for a Ring! Hear out the possibilities….. First, Yao hasn’t officially closed off the possibility of playing this upcoming season. If the Rockets were officially in rebuilding mode like most fans on this BBS believe, Yao should have already taken the best course of action for his long term health and career which would shut him down completely for this upcoming year. The fact that he is holding out suggests that he really wants to play by the end of the season, with maybe a late March return to get ready for the playoffs and push deep into the western conference, if not shoot for a ring. Second, it appears that Tracy may actually be shooting for a training camp appearance. Although this is just speculation and he could actually be out till the All-Star break or beyond, which would mean he is probably traded by then; the fact that he is already working out suggests that he also knows this and may be trying to give it one last shot with this Rockets team. Now, what if the Rockets make no more major moves before training camp and we go in with the roster that we have now. Let’s take a couple of “IF’s” along with that and see just how the Rockets may be ready to pull a fast one on the NBA: WHAT IF: 1) Tracy is ready by training camp and in great shape ready to play 2) The Rockets use the rest of the MLE to sign one or both of their second round picks PLUS Von again as another poster suggested on the board Regardless of how many people on this board don’t like Tracy, or think he is washed up, the ROCKETS don’t necessarily think so and are obviously trying to wait and see. It has been reported and I am pretty sure that Darryl Morey has gotten every call and trade proposal for Tracy this offseason, but yet so far he has taken none of them. Now if Tracy is ready to play in training camp, no matter how many people here hate it, he WILL start. We are playing assumptions here, so if he was ready and did start, then who starts at the 3? Battier or Ariza? That’s a big question and I am sure will cause some stir on here. But Ariza was brought in with the promise of being given starter’s minutes and an opportunity to grow and expand his game. I personally would start Ariza over Battier, but I am sure some fans on here might feel otherwise. Question #1: “IF” Tracy were back by training camp and ready to go, thereby starting at the 2 position at the beginning of the season, WHO should start at the 3 to you, Battier or Ariza and WHY? Now the roster would look like this if nothing else was done by training camp other than what is mentioned above: AB/Lowry Tracy/Von Battier?/Ariza? Scola/Landry Andersen/Hayes That’s ten players with the rest to fill out the roster of : Dorsey, White, Barry, Cook, Budinger, Taylor and of course Yao on ice or IR. Obviously someone will have to go in someway or somehow. While this team won’t be dominate, anyone that thinks this team would be rebuilding completely is blind. This team would definitely make the playoffs, and with a Yao Ming coming back in late March to take over his spot and a then Andersen having almost a full season starting to prepare to be his great back up, this team could very well push deeeeeeeeeppppppp into the playoffs and compete for a championship Next Year….assuming everyone stays HEALTHY! The first unit of AB, Tracy, Ariza, Scola and Yao; with a second unit of Lowry, Von, Battier, Landry and Anderson….although that’s a ten man rotation, at this point of the year, I say that we can compete with anyone in the league come late April, May and June with that team on the floor and HEALTHY! Who else thinks that the Rockets may be ready to pull a fast one on the whole NBA with me?
I think it's wishful thinking. I think, if anything, the Rockets have been more guarded with their concern regarding Yao's long-term health. They've held back more than was there with that injury. But for Clanton making those comments, I'm not sure when we would have found out we were looking at a full season without Yao and perhaps an early end to his career. What advantage are they gaining with all this? You honestly believe they would lie to the league about Yao's injuries to gain an injury exception? All the press on the Rockets in the offseason is negative...while they're trying to sell season tickets. This is a business....do you honestly believe they'd create this negativity on the heels of energizing the fan base during the playoffs while they're trying to lock down season ticket holders? I don't get the advantage here. Other teams building championship contenders aren't hiding it...they're doing it and trying to let potential customers know they'll have an exciting product. There is simply nothing to be gained from the "fast one" you think they're pulling.
First, calm down, relax...it's just a thought. By pulling a fast one, I didn't mean to suggest that they were lying about Yao's injury. Everyone knows or should know that he is still expected to miss the season unless otherwise noted. But the rules also state that he can come back if he regains his health late in the season. So there is no misleading here, it is a suggestion of a possibility. So there is no "secret" advantage that they rockets have. Everyone knows what the cards are. I am just saying that if McGrady can come back, and Yao comes back in late March, Morey has still put together a "rebuilding" team that with those two additions could still compete for a championship late this upcoming season.
Are you talking to yourself or MadMax? He seemed perfectly calm and rational in his response and didn't need to use all caps at any point to get his point across.
I think MadMax associated my thread title with the injury exception, which I didn't mention in the original post, to mean that the Rockets somehow "lied" to the NBA about Yao to get another player. That is not the point or suggestion of the thread at all if anyone reads it properly. By pulling a fast one, I mean that the rest of the teams in the league may see the Rockets as rebuilding as all of the negative press suggests; which is actually true. But also, the genuis of Morey is that he is doing the rebuilding while also keeping the Rockets in the surprise position to compete for a ring still, provided they get a couple of real breaks on the Yao and Tracy front this season finally. I don't think that the Rockets are "banking" on it, but with the moves they are making, they definitely haven't closed the door completely on a run this year if somehow a healthy Tracy shows up at training camp and Yao is able to play by March. Otherwise I think that they would have already taken some other possible deals for either Tracy or Battier by now. These are just my opinions though...people should relax and have fun discussing possibilities.
I think it is clear that I was talking to MadMax. What is not clear is why you feel the need to take up for him. I am sure he is a grown man that can speak for himself. Or are you trying to win points for a date with him or something? I digress.... By the way, in person I don't talk in monotone either...do you? Or does reading some caps and bold actually bother your eyesight? I mean for real dude, take a break and just focus on discussion if you have anything meaningful to add. This board is just filled with people trying to prove how witty they are at someone elses expense. My point to MadMax was simply that I wasn't insinuating that the Rockets "lied" to the league.
Um I'm not a native english speaker but I believe the term "pulling a fast one" means fooling or punking someone. If you don't mean that the Rox pulled a fast one, or lied to the NBA and everyone about the extent of Yao Ming's injury then why use that term at all? Its just as bad as Drexler's clubbing baby seals fiasco, except that Drexler got the term right and you didn't. Regarding your theory I believe you just stated the best case scenario for the team. Tmac is no spring chicken, he may come back able to play but no way will he come back in top shape. A healthy Mcgrady is good enough to make our team into contenders, however even if he comes back I don't expect to be able to contribute meaningfully this year. He'll probably struggle a lot on the court the way he did last year. Plus, by the time he comes back everyone would have adjusted to a running game, no way would he be able to seamlessly fit in that style.
First, calm down, relax .... I think the Rockets would love to have their max players back and available but it seems they are planning on the worst case scenario. The Rockets front office is not God, and cannot make #1 or #11 better, nor would I suspect, are they holding out on the rest of the league, and actually have Yao and McGrady secretly playing full speed pickup games in their underground labratory gym in preparation for world domination.
was thinking maybe the injury reports on Yao and T-mac would make a Western conf contender more willing to trade with Rox (Amare?), but didnt happen... so if we're trying to pull a fast one - it hasnt worked...
Wow, great post by the OP. I too have secretly noticed that the Rockets were planning a surprise party this entire time and that McGrady is probably ready to go. Consider the following factors: 1. Tracy has a history of working like an animal to come back swiftly from injuries 2. Drafting Taylor and Budinger 3. Signing Ariza 4. Tracy plays better without Yao on the court and probably asked him to kindly sitout for the season 5. The Rockets have a history of deceiving their fans with devestating news that merely leads into an uplifting situation LET THE PARTY BEGIN
My argument would be that we took LA to 7 games with this team without Yao/TMac and with Artest sucking. Why should we not be able to at least be solid with the same setup with Ariza replacing Artest and adding Anderson?
We can be solid, if by that you mean close to 40 wins. But it will take very good health from the guys that are available ... and I wouldn't count on that.
I have been thinking almost the same thing. At first I was looking at anything that would make us better and at the same time get rid of Tmac. I felt even if there was no hard proof, he quit on the team and I wanted no part of him. But as the summer transpired and Yao's injury appeared to be season ending I thought maybe keep Tmac till the end and use the cap space to get a player like Bosh or Joe Johnson. Unless of course a great deaal came into play. e.g. Amare. We could treat Tmac like NY treated Marbury and cut him off the team at the end. But then I hear rumors of a locker room beef with Artest and even Yao made me think he just got a little primadonna and picked up his toys and quit playing. Now that may sound bad and it is but it is an excuse that is understandable albeit selfish and it is better than the other alternative which is that he is just a selfish lazy punk. I don't think he is that extreme. He is just a little self-centered and a bit egotistical and childish to some degree and he clearly does want all the glory but having someone from his own locker room question his character and watching the Rockets do so well without him may be enough of a slap in the face to wake him up. Enough of a reality check to make him see his talent and fame doesn't guarantee anything. And maybe that will motivate him to come back with a vengeance. Add that with the fact that the annoying locker room nemesis is gone and right in his face he could see how good this team can be just by working harder and smarter possibly he learned something. Am I sure about that? No! But as players I would consider for Tmac disappear and I read more about the cap decsreasing so do won't be big players in the 2010 free agency makes me think the Rockets are preparing for now and not rebuilding. I mean if Tmac comes back healthy and motivated who could we find better for this team. Lebron, Kobe, Wade Bosh, maybe Amare, Chris Paul, Deron a few others but a healthy and motivated Tmac is a hard guy to replace. SO my guess is that Morey looked across the board and found replacing a disgruntled injured and apethetic Tmac would be difficult. And keeping a healthier returning, chip on his shoulder, motivated to make it out of the first round Tmac could be the better solution for this team. I expect this Yao and Tracyless team to still keep us above 500 for a while. A rotation of ANdersen Scola Battier Ariza and Brooks will fight every game and with Chuck Landry Lowry and Budinger coming off the bench their is no reason why we won't be competitive every game. ANd if Tmac comes back before the year end and buys into the team game ( I am sure he will unless he wants to commit NBA suicide) we will be even better. I know many on here think Artest was better than Ariza but I think by season end Ariza will prove to be more valuable to this team. There is no question Artest had some great games were he was the reason we won but he also had some crazy ball hoggong games were he was the reason we lost and in the end against LA he stunk. I think Ariza will bring us more consistency in shooting and defense. Add that with Brooks and Lowry both improving over the summer, Landry coming back healthy and ready to play for a full year, a decent backup center, Scola stepping his game in the playoffs which increased his confidence plus maybe even getting some real contributions from Dorsey and Budinger and there is no question we will be better. And all you have to do is look at the way the Rockets are spending money right now and feel confident the Rockets are looking for now and not just tomorrow. Buying draft picks Buying a center. Not trading Tmac for a bag of bones, signing Ariza. The Rockets aren't looking for lottery picks are free agency 2010. They are looking for playoffs 2010 and quite possibly a return of Yao Tmac. The Rockets intention is to now keep Tmac. And that with Tracy saying he feels better than he did at this time last year and everyone saying he is working harder than ever. I genuinely believe he wants to get out of the first round whatever it takes. So quite possibly he will be buying into Adelman's offense. The only question is can he really return to old form. That not even his doctors can answer but the fact that he is working hard and already doing some drills makes me optimistic. and looks like Tmac is here to stay and the rockets have no intention of not competing this year.. And that all makes sense. I positive TMac will give us his best effort this year and be very coachable and a team player. Anything less and he could go the way of Ai and marbury. We will start the season with a better team that split 4 games in the playoffs with LA Plus and is better because of Anderson and Ariza and Brooks and Lowry improving and when Yao Tmac come back watchout. Yes I said Yao. Remember his fracture was a small fraction of what the fracture that required surgery was last year. Even he has the surgery and is extremely cautious of his rehab timetable the healing of the much smaller fracture should be sooner. Add that with the fact Morey said they are not ruling out his return this upcoming season and he is very optimistic (especially considering Morey doesn't want to say to much after crying to the NBA we neeed a disabled player exception because Yao is out for the season) and I feel pretty confident we should have Yao and Tmac back fr 1 whole year. And this time around it might work.
I understand MadMax, (one of my favorite Rockets of all time actually), but I meant pulling one over on the rest of the NBA teams. Many teams are counting the Rockets out of the contender hunt for next year...so the Rockets would be "pulling a fast one" on them if come April they are in the thick of contenders because of a then healthy Yao and Tmac. It had nothing to do with misleading the league or anyone about Yao's obvious real injury. Titles are always misunderstood until the content is read. I thought my content made clear what my position was about "pulling a fast one".
Man MadMax really needs to calm the hell down. That guy is always running around trying to cut somebody down in his tracks.
