We as fans are forced to eat, what is served by upper management. Fans want to think they have an idea of what and how the team they care so deeply about should be built. Most are emotional charged about the process and their way is to the championship would work if given the opportunity. “Random trades” is full of people that share their version of the path to victory. It’s what some of us are obsessed with. Thing is we are not in the know and conversation with other teams or have the control to make a decision. But will spend time hidden behind our keyboard/phones acting like it matters
I love using stats and analytics... bc i believe we, as fans, tend to warp our perspectives based on our personal opinions... I hated Dillon Brooks - until he was a Rocket and I watched him game after game and appreciated how hard he worked every game... I loved harden when he arrived... loved his pre-game ritual w CP and Lin... then when I saw his narcissistic tendencies - it became all I saw... I was never particularly enamored with KD - but after watching him all season, I garnered an appreciation... Maybe I'm just looking at him through rose-colored glasses... but here are my takes... Harden insisted on running up his stats - even if we were up by 20+ late in the 4th... he was about personal glory on an ongoing basis (prob from being a chubby asthmatic kid he is battling inner insecurities...) I dont get that from KD... he's secure... he wants to get his 20-25 pts and work on his legacy stats - but he'd love to do so and then sit for the 4th if we got a big lead - happy to do it... he's 37, he'll gladly take the minute mgmt... but he couldnt... every time Ime tried, we collapsed and KD would have to come back in... which i think contributed to his frustration... he didnt want to carry this team every night - Harden insisted on it. Now KD does want respect - and to be revered - and hasnt he earned that? if the game is on the line in the clutch, he wants to take the shot... but thats self confidence and he wants to win... and it isnt like there's anyone on our squad who I would want him to defer to... maybe Alpi if the other team has weak interior d... but KD was brought in to be the closer.... KD requiring too many resources? I dont understand that... Harden is the guy that insisted that he be THE system... I think KD would be happy to be part of an ensemble cast - as long as they are winning... He doesnt want to be the facilitator... he doesnt want all of the offense run through him - again, Harden insisted on it... Saying KD has "now he's thrown his entire team of young guys under the bus"? Dude fkd up and talked some smack - thinking he was doing so in somewhat anonymity - stupid! but Harden was the guy who went into a post game interview saying "we're just not good enough..." Imo, THATS throwing guys under the bus...
We also don’t know what conversations or discussions the Rockets have internally. Who is pulling the strings or who really wanted certain players on the team etc. Easy to look at the phone or keyboard and judge.
I don’t think waiting another 2-3 years with zero guarantees while forcing your young core you drafted 3-4 years ago to wait some more is rational nor is it fair to the players or fans. It’s not even sound business wise. The goal is to create a successful and solid product that can attract the regional, national, and global markets. What sense does it make for a franchise to build a team after 5 years then throwing in the towel and trading for unproven draft picks to reset again? The Rockets are only in their second year of phase 3 after 2 first round losses. Let’s see what upgrades we make and another go at it before rushing to judgement
