I'm sure that after we tank the season there will be a lot of marquee free agents lining up to sign with a team that hasn't made in the playoffs in five years, despite having two all-stars, one of the most coveted coaches on the market, just so they could land the 13 pick in the lottery. We already have lottery picks in Yao, Francis, Griffin, and an early first-rounder in Boki, and they couldn't get us to the playoffs. And we'll have a better record than Phoenix next year, by the way. I guarantee it. Because I know everything. And I can make my hand look like a rake.
The Rockets missed the play-offs by one game last year and Utah is definitely falling so why do you think that it is likely that we will miss the play-offs again? The Rockets will likely make the play-offs with one of the last 2 or 3 spots. LA, SA, Dallas, Minn, Sac and Port all seem locks for the play-offs but after the new Portland GM gets thru trading away all of its players such as Rasheed they could be in the same boat as Utah. The Rockets and Suns are definitely the front runners for the last 2 play-off spots.
i see it like this: 1. L.A. 2. San Antonio 3. Dallas 4. Sacramento 5. Minnesota 6. Houston 7. Phoenix 8. Portland yeah... whatever. i know i'm setting myself up for a big disappointment, but i still don't think phoenix is better than houston and i portland will absolutely crumble with pippen gone. seattle doesn't have a pg and ray allen isn't a franchise player. golden state... w/o arenas? i don't think so. we don't tank games here. we don't stoop to the depths of san antonio, cleveland, or la (clippers). ridiculous idea. i'm sure that they'll be a lot better this season. what's not to be hyped up about? a new arena, new unis, new coach=a new mindset for the rockets. griffin will be gone midseason.
I don't think Wally played as bad as it looked. He let Rick Fox get into his head, and got whistled for some BS calls
not too many at all. Could we say Jason Kidd and New Jersey?? Of course, that's the East. Larry Bird's first year, before Parish and McHale got there, they went from 32 wins and 29 wins in the previous two years to 61 wins.
I'm sure they would rather get past the first round. Uh...tanking is not an option. Playoff experience is more important than getting the 13th pick, adding another rookie. You start with the 8th seed and build from that, getting hungrier every year because loosing isn't an option anymore. They probably won't get past the first round this year, and might even get swept. Atleast they get the feeling and experience of the playoffs and can only learn from it.
San Antonio really didnt tank. David Robinson was hurt for a large part of that season. But in looking at the Rockets, NO WAY do we tank. That is a cowards way out. I would rather make the playoffs and get swept than sit and watch my team purposely lose 30+ games to "try" and get a decent person in the draft. Do you really think for a second that Steve, Cat, MoT, YAO etc.. would even agree to do that? What type of message is that sending to your current players? You are not good enough to win so we are going to lose to win. That is stupid. When you have the calibur of players that we do, you dont tank. Do you think that Yao would want to sign an extended contract with a team who wants him to lay down and lose on purpose. I think Yao(and everyone else for that matter) would be insulted and would not continue to play for this team. Stupid idea!!!
If my team does not play for win and purposefully tank the game for any reason, then I will not cheer for that team anymore. It is coward and very un-sportmanship.
I hate when teams throw in the towel But then again, I get po'd when veteran players think that they can take a pay cut and join a competitive team and think they're going to get a ring. Go down swinging. Or at least grab an ankle.
throwing the season would be horrible, and i bet yao would eat jeff van gundy's face if they did that. yeah lets get a new logo and a new stadium so we can blow off the entire season. HA!
New Jersey didn't tank that season. They were one of the most injured teams in the NBA that year, if not the most. Martin was down, Van Horn was down, and others. FatCat, I don't think you've said one thing that makes any sense... And your grammar is laughable...
Please name one team in the West that does not project as a Home seed in the East and a playoff contender in the West. The Clips have entered the NBA. The Nugs are NBA worthy. The Jazz still have Sloan and some young studs and FA stud(s). Sonics were tough post-Payton. Grizz are moving on up. The Rox have talent and new direction. WSolves appear stronger. Portland is talent rich, and going for new direction. Who can you flat out count out in the West right now? Only the Hornets, and only for one more year.
I am not saying that they did not tank at all. Sure they lost some towards the end to better their draft pick. But remember, their star player, 50 greatest of all time, only played 6 games that year. He was out hurt the whole year. Maybe he could have played more, but he was not about to play 50 or 60 games that year.
