I don't really see that as a surprise. Morey was gambling for the home run and it didn't work out. I think it's a gamble that plenty of people would take. If we had landed Melo, he'd be our second playmaker.
Seems like Lowry was the home run and Bosh and Melo are leading their teams to the sewer but for more money. How is that a gamble worth taking?
Morey and Mchale flew to Philly to meet with Lowry. He was the first meeting during free agency. Rockets didn't pass on Lowry, he passed on us because he wanted his own team. Toronto was always considered the favorite to keep Lowry.
Getting Josh Smith when we were going to pay him deeply. Beverly playing like friends instead of enemies this year.
Not getting Bosh allows us all to see the blossoming of DMo. And being able to acquire Josh Smith and Brewer. The acquisition that wasn't was a blessing in disguise! Look at Miami's pathetic record and team. Good choice, CBosh!
We know that now in hindsight, but at the time Melo and Bosh were the big fish and Lowry just wasn't.
Everything about this season has been a surprise for me. I predicted the Rocktets would win about 46 games and struggle to make the playoffs. I thought letting Parsons walk and getting nothing in return was going to kill this team. I'm extremely pleased I was very wrong. I knew Ariza would help our defense. But I didn't expect Harden and the rest of the team to buy into playing defense. I'm pleasantly surprised DMo has figured out how to be productive in the NBA. I'm surprised Josh Smith seems to have accepted his role as a leader off the bench. I'm surprised Harden has become a real leader. You can see it in the way he communicates with the other players. I think McHale deserves a lot of credit for keeping this team together as the rotation as changed because of injuries and trades. Teams that were thought to be superior to the Rockets at the beginning of the season, are looking up at the Rockets in the standings. Only an idiot would deny that McHale and the coaching staff have done a fantastic job.
I'm glad you are surprised but I'm not. During Morey's damage control he spelled out what he would do and how we would be better going into this years playoffs. He said he would keep the biannual exception so he could outspend other contenders for buyout/waived vet players (Josh Smith), he would use the Lin trade exception (Brewer/Shved), he felt the defense was the most immediate way to improve (Ariza, Harden, improved coaching and focus), and he expected a big step forward from D Mo and/or T Jones. All of the things he said would happen have happened. The question in the offseason was how much faith did you have in Morey. If you had no faith (like yourself) then you took cynical skeptical view. If you had faith in Morey (which I do) you trust the process and know he is gonna do something. He always does and did it again this year. I simply refused to believe he would not build a contender around Howard and Harden. I also believed this forum overrated Asik, Lin, and Parsons. Asik missed half the season last year, Parsons is an above average role player with bad defense, and Lin is an inconsistent turnover machine with poor PG instincts, a mediocre shot, and bad defense. Wasn't that hard to replace if you ask me. Now you can stick Beverley, Ariza, or Brewer on a PG to prevent them from lighting us up vs Parsons/Lin/Bev.
This has been repeated many times. Yes, they tried to recruit Lowry, BUT left him hanging while they were busy chasing Bosh and Melo. If you were Lowry, would you wait for the Rockets you jump for the Toronto offer?
