I don't know if it is the advent of the video game that allows you to run the franchise, the proliferation of information on the internet or via sports talk radio and the four-letter network or just the desire to fill our ADD-addled brains with something when there is no basketball actually being played, but it seems as though the stuff that happens off the court has become as important as the stuff on the court to many fans. I find the trades and draft picks and free agents all interesting. But, it is almost as if we are obsessed with possibility rather than actuality - i.e. playing the game. For all the asset acquisition and salary cap maneuvering, something as simple as a key injury or poor chemistry can still destroy a season. I understand getting deeply involved in X's and O's as well as those with an almost obsessive-compulsive need to keep up with statistics. That is about the game - about how it will be played in the case of X's and O's or how it was played in the case of statistics - unlike following the exploits of the GM (no matter how much I may really enjoy DMorey) or learning the language of collective bargaining. Maybe this is just the way we engage with sports in our world today. But, honestly, I don't really want to know about the salary cap or the value of a player on the open market or the incremental pay raises in a player's contract. I don't cheer for tradable assets or low cap figures. I cheer for players. I root for guys to succeed because it makes the team better, not because it increases their trade value. It just seems as counterintuitive to being a fan as hoping for an injury to the other team's best player so that your team has a better chance of winning or wanting the team to lose to increase draft status. Then again, maybe I'm just bored with a summer of crappy baseball and Lebron-mania.
Well baseball is crappy every summer so I will blame it on LeBron :grin: I think we all chomping at the bit for basket ball to start I know I am . . . or at least some football to fill in until then Rocket River To think I was actually paying attention to TOUR DE FRANCE talk at my job . . . YES . . I WAS THAT FRICKING BORED WITH THE SPORTS Scene!!
I agree with Jeff's musings here, in general. I mean, ESPN is already talking about next summer's free agents! The potentiality of the thing is more important than the state of the thing, when it comes to today's NBA. It's like armchair GM is more fun than the games, which may be true. It also speaks to the interests of people who can afford to go to games (businessmen.)
I have to say I like paying attention to both games and the prep work for games. Games are the results of all the hard work put in by the GM, coach, owner, etc. so I enjoy a good move by a GM as I know it will pay off in my enjoyment of games.
It's the offseason. It's all we have. During the season, we get to see our warriors battle. Right now, we don't get that. This is the time when we exchange players, contracts, money and picks with other teams as we all try to make ourselves better in the process. This is the only NBA activity we have right now. And there's beauty in it. On paper, some teams may look like they'll win it all (Kobe Shaq and Malone) but, as Berman used to say, "that's why they play the game."
The root of your disdain is still firmly based in what's best for the team. I think most folks do the business-side chitchat/theories because they're looking for ways the Rockets can improve. They want the Rockets to be the best team it can possibly be and win a Championship. Most try and keep it based in reality. I don't mind this. I don't engage in it much, but it doesn't bother me because I feel it's done with the best interests at heart. It's also fun to dream just like it's fun to imagine what you'd do if you won $100 million. What bothers me are the pessimists, especially when we have a good team like we currently have. Those aren't fans, IMO. Those people just appear to predict the worst and hope it happens so they can say "I TOLD YOU SO!!!1". This includes those who declare that Yao will get injured again or those who say we cannot win without a superstar (other than Yao?) or those who say nothing matters without a Championship and we can't win one now. Screw all of those people. I don't want Yao to get injured again, so I'm not going to go around declaring it will happen. I think we can win just fine without any additions as currently constructed. I think a deep playoff run, while not as good as a Championship, is a quality, enjoyable season.
It is more fun than the games. The imagination is always preferable to reality unless you root for the Lakers, or Heat.
I think under Morey, the other aspects of the game have become much more fun. And it passes time at work in the off season :grin:
Morey is just more "in touch" with the new wave of being internet savvy. However, it is all on how you view him, some people are fans of Morey, others see him as a fellow businessman or peer. Again, probably an age thing. DD
I agree with you. If it's one thing I'm tired of reading on this message board is the talk about "assets".
I couldn't agree more with this. I only have a tiny bit of give-a-damn about how much a player makes and what his contract looks like. All I care about is that it's enough to motivate him to lace up his Chinese sneakers and play hard every night, and not so much that he goes Jamarcus Russell on us. I understand the offseason ponderings, but I only really care about who's going to be on the team, and who's going to be on the teams that we're facing. Thanks for the post and the perspective, Jeff.
