[ClutchFans] For Rockets, winning in 2012 would be nice, but losing might be better

I think it boils down to your definition of tanking, if it is losing on purpose, then no, they are not going to do that, but if it is just playing the young guys and giving it the old college try, then yes they are going to do that.

To me they are both a form of tanking, and I agree with you, they are doing exactly what you said, play the young guys, pump up their stats to make them more attractive trade chips and if they win, great, if not, great.

DD

 

Only thing that scares me, really is:

What if you tank --honorably, I might add -- and then draft high, getting the franchise changer you wanted, only for him to say "I wanna go to ___________" 3-4 yrs later.

Don't get me wrong, that would mean you have a beast on your squad. I think I'm overthinking this one...lol.

 

Excellent post.

 

A superstar is not just going to fall into our laps. You can not get a superstar via trade when your team is not a contender or considered an up-and-coming team. The only realistic way to get a future superstar is via draft. Period.

 

The rockets don't need to tank. They are in the worst teams category already.

 

Another excellent read, Clutch, but I have a hard time endorsing "tanking" this early. Give us another situation where I'm yelling at Van Gundy to lose the freakin' game that cost us a chance at Roy and I'll yell "TANK!!" in a New York Knicks minute. I just have to wait and see the direction of the team early on. Maybe some of DaDakota's "light bulbs" that he's discovered under Morey's bed will go off. Perhaps McHell ends up being the perfect coach for this team. Maybe he strikes a Statue of Liberty pose, with a bulb attached to his index finger held high in a corner of the practice court, and the glow rubs off on everyone. Maybe pigs fly. Maybe DD flies! Stranger things have happened. Just don't ask me to name any right off the bat.

When the season starts, we'll know a hell of a lot more about the direction of the team simply by observing what Morey has, or has not, done. Give us 10 games into this shortened season and we'll have a damn good idea if tanking is the way to go, or the way being followed. You've certainly given us plenty to think about, as per usual. -

 

To all those that endorse "tanking"...

You have to be really bad, I mean EPIC bad to successfully tank this year.
Case and point:
Charlotte Bobcats expect to make Corey "bad p*rn" Maggette the center of their offense.
This is how it would go (copy and paste from Corona of Realgm)

maggette gameplan:

catch ball
change pivot foot
change pivot foot again
travel
dribble once
pick up dribble
3 1/2 steps to get into lane
barrel into defender
flail ball somewhere in vicinity of the basket
*tweet*
two free throws.

rinse & repeat.

Their starting 5 looks like
Augustin
Walker
Maggette
Thomas
Diop

No matter how bad we tank and let our veterans go, we will not be 5 worst teams in the league.

 

What a turnaround. I remember our endless battles on how you wanted to get a bunch of above-average to good players that compete with anyone. I remember how much you said we DIDN'T need a superstar.

Glad to see you finally come to your sense although it took some painful years eh?

I said back then and I say it now - Morey built a team of mediocrity. We should have been losing games long long ago. No superstar = no ring in the NBA.

 

This is the year to tank. Everyone knows that. There could be 6 future stars coming out.

But it's not happening. We're too talented to miss the playoffs as is plus Chuck Hayes. A player like Nene and re-upping Hayes puts us in contention for home-court in the first round.

There is hope. Our young players continue to develop. It might not seem like it right now but our future is bright. Getting someone to protect the rim is a good start.

Needless to say that the state of our franchise is very confusing right about now. So much uncertainty. I want us to truly contend year in and year out.

 

Hey it might even be exciting to have a full blown tank. Sort of like an extended training camp and summer league.

Start Thabeet. Too bad about the recurring injuries to Scola, Martin and Lowry after trade talks fall through.

Anybody else think that all the anti-tank talk by the Rockets is just posturing?

 

If we start the season off 2-8, WE NEED TO TANK

If we start the season off 2-8, WE NEED TO TANK

Based on how tough our first 10 games are, its very possible that we could begin the season 2-8. If that happens, we need to go into full tank mode. With only 66 games this season, that'll leave them with 56 games remaining to play catch up to .500. I'd much rather them play all our young players and try to develop them. That'll increase their value for trading pieces and it might bring out a future star we can build around. Not only that, it'll give us that high lottery pick we've been needing to find a future All-Star.

I hate tanking, but with such a brutal start, it might be a blessing to ease the burden on us. There are no games scheduled in May, so the season will practically only be 4 months long. Id much rather go through a miserable 4 months of watching us play awful to guarantee ourselves a top 5 pick and have something great to look forward to next season in the lottery. We'll have lots of money to try to land some good free agents in the summer, we'll have a top 5 pick, we'll know a lot about T-Will, Thabeet, Budinger, Morris and whether they have a future with us.

We can thank the NBA for basically telling us that we have no choice but to tank with the way they handed us that potent start. Now if we come away with a 7-3 record, then tanking is out of the question. We'll see what happens...

What do you guys think?

 

ok. i'll give the kev-meister the call and let him know the plan.

 

Yeaaaaaaaaah, NO! By that logic, we should've tanked last season after the 0-5 start

 

No, you see... last season we had 78 games remaining to play catch up and we didn't get going until after the All-Star break. We'll only have 56 games left this season if we start off. We'd basically have to go 36-20 to have a shot at the #8 seed. Is that really worth it? And if we come close to that mark, we'll once again miss the playoffs and end up with the 14th pick again. Look where last year got us....

 

Wait, what if we are 5-5?!?!

 

I'm for it, Lets tank this b****!

 

Tank is never an option. Never.

 

2-8 won't happen.

 

your right it'll be 1-9, or hopefully 0-10!!! that would be awesome!!!