10 misconceptions about the Rockets this off season.

See thread.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=171873&page=1&pp=20

 

Hmm. IMO Ariza is a much better player. Gortat is currently a better fit, only because we don't have a starting center. However assuming Yao eventually returns, I would rather have our starting SF for the next 5 years instead of a backup C. And considering winning isn't even a priority next year, position of need isn't the most pressing issue.

 

Ariza won't be our starting SF. It will be McGrady, unless he gets traded.

 

all i gotta say about this is that 1 the rockets can still make the playoffs this year without no start player we took the lakers to game 7 without t-mac and yao was out after game 2.... morey knows what he's doing ... just because we lost yao it doesn't mean we automatically have a losing season... we have a lot of warriors on this team that wont quit.... watch adelman take the rockets to the playoffs this yr.... i would expect this from critics to leave the rockets out of the playoffs but from clutchfans/rocket fans we should support them... they are pro basketball players that get paid to play in the nba..... i believe they will make the playoffs just watch.......

 

We got Ariza with the injury exception!

And we DID try wholeheartedly to get Gortat, but he wanted to
be a Mavprick instead - even so he ended up back in ORL anyway.

So the entire point is moot.

 

We lost more than T-Mac and Yao. We lost Ron Artest and Deke also. There is no contending for a championship, when you lose 4 all-stars.

 

Have to agree with most, except for height. That's a maybe yes, maybe no. I think there is too much talent on this team to be lottery bound in normal world even without Yao and Tracy. Unfortuneately, if this next season is like the last few seasons in the West, you would have to be a 50 win team which I'm not sure our team can pull off.

My question to anyone who knows, how deep of a draft is there next year if everyone goes pro that we think will? I mean what good is it to be in the lottery if there isn't a decent player to pick up. Morey has shown the ability to pick good talent whether at the beginning of the draft or the end.

 

Thanks BetterThanEver for calling Deke a all star on the team. His presence will be missed on the court, and even just seeing him on the bench. I think the team may do better than expected though because Brooks will be used to being a starter, Landry won't have the effects of his gunshot wounds, and the team won't either and we only know of 2 of the players with injuries, instead of last season when most of the team was injured.

 

Which part of these points are the misconceptions, the first or second sentence?

 

I think another misconception is that they've mailed in the season. I am definitely expecting this team to win some games.

 

Many of these aren't misconceptions at all. I don't think many people believe we need to trade Brooks. Most understand that he's a good piece of a rebuilding team and that he's continuing to improve, so trading him wouldn't make sense. I don't think most people believe the Rockets will be weak enough to be a lottery team. Who believes Ariza was a mistake? I think most Rockets fans like the move.

The misconceptions are that the Rockets will really be that bad, that they're a shoo-in for the lottery if they stand pat, that they don't have a shot at the playoffs and that they have much of a chance of landing one of the big names next summer. The chances are simply very slim. There is only one LeBron James. Not every team that is willing to pay him can have him. Only one can.

Morey has no intention of allowing the Rockets to be a lottery team. He's seriously trying to upgrade via trade. That's a fact. The Rockets are loaded with young talent that, in the absence of stars, will have a chance to step up and make a name for themselves. With Adelman's team-oriented approach, improvement from the likes of Brooks, Ariza, Landry, Budinger, etc., underrated vets like Scola and Battier, and a sweet trade on Morey's part, there's no reason to assume the Rockets can't make the playoffs. They're poised to sneak up on the league.

If you think the best plan is for the Rockets to tank and clear the decks for next summer's free agents, that's one thing. But don't assume that's what's actually going on. That would be a misconception.

 

That's it. Posters/Fans are down playing the chances of the team this season. The team was/is built to compete and too early to generalize that the team is lottery bound. A single move might just propel the team into that contender level again. Just trust management and see where they take the team.

 

I disagree with about half of that.

For one thing, I fully believe this team could make the playoffs next year, so long as injuries don't kill us again (but maybe that's hoping for too much, I don't know)... and then if Yao actually manages to come back, who knows.

We don't need to tank to try to rebuild. Not yet, at the very least.

 

tanking does not sound good

 

No way! I love the NBA Playoffs, but it's not the same without my Rockets. Unless you really believe the league is 100% fixed, why not give your team a fighters chance to pull off the upset?

And tell Les Alexander that we should tank games and intentionally miss the playoffs. This is a business you know. The revenue and awareness of his team generated from the playoff games does matter. And I think Alexander's willingness to go over the luxury tax and buy draft picks does stem from playoff appearances and success.

 

I pray that no player on our team shares the same mindset as you. And I really feel sorry for you if you live your life that way.

OP needs to learn something about pride.

 

Good analysis
finally someone brought some sane back here.

 

Right on. I was just explaining to one of my buddies a few hours ago that the current Rockets roster is built to exceed expectations. None of that underwhelming '05-06 stuff.

As a matter of fact, I use '05-06 as our benchmark for sucking this year. Long bouts of no Yao and Tracy, and more relying on our depth. Can we get 34 wins? I think so. And I'll tell you one thing: this team can only be a HECK of a lot more entertaining than that one.

 

I agree. I'm expecting this team to win enough games to make a run for the playoffs. If T-Mac can come back strong, and if Yao can play at all in the playoffs, who knows what kind of damage we could inflict.

 

Much more entertaining and of course the coach is different. The way this team played in last year's playoffs shows toughness and determination. If Morey can add another piece plus the addition of the rookie/s this team can pull off some surprises.