They had a good year, yes, but it's pretty obvious now that they overachieved based on taking the regular season more seriously than the other teams. Jefferson was one of the worst contracts in the league when they picked him up. $14 million a year, and he was considered a flop in season 1. He's been fair this year at $8-9 million a year, but is by no means a star. It's pretty reasonable that CBud could have better stats than Jefferson next year, and at $8 million less in salary. Regarding the fast transition -- I think it's very difficult to argue that they planned it all. They lucked into it by having Robinson get hurt, tanking like mad, getting a very favorable pingpong bounce, and having the good fortune to have a top 20 alltime player available at the #1 spot. Really the only thing they did was lose an extra 10 games on purpose and then prayed to the gods. I'm not against that, but I don't think you can blame Morey if not every step in that process turns out well.
First of all, my bad for the lack of clarity. I was referring to the Spurs championship teams of a few years ago when Duncan was still dominant. But the current Spurs demonstrate my point just as well. Duncan and Ginobili are still producing with the Spurs, albeit at a reduced rate, and the Spurs are no longer considered contenders. I sincerely doubt you'll see any big sportswriters pick the Spurs to win the title next year. My point is that even with two of the best-run organizations in the NBA, if you remove their superstars, they turn into the Rockets: a collection of overachieving good players who are in no way contenders. That doesn't make Buford or Presti bad managers, it's just a fact of life. To expect Morey to lose two superstars and just go get some more is unrealistic. Now, there is one exception. A well-run organization like the Thunder can identify and draft some cornerstone talents with a few high lottery picks, but Les has made it very clear that this is not an option, so we're going to have to get lucky to get our franchise players. And I also dislike the Spurs passionately
Well if he wants Daryl Morey has to "face the "music", I suggest that he send DM a copy of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". It works wonders for my disposition whenever I look back at the past 11 years of Rockets' (insert descriptive adjective here).
I don't think Morey is leading us into the direction of rebuilding, but in a "retooling" direction where we are either making the playoffs or barely missing the playoffs; that is, we will remain competitive. How will we get to contender status? I think Morey will try to trade up in drafts, go after 1st round "busts" or low risk, high reward projects, and free agents. Will this strategy work? No clue. I think Morey and his staff have generally been able to evaluate and judge well. It's over played and cliche but it's the honest, lame, truth: Morey did the best he could with what was given to him and what we could get on the market. It sucks, but it's the truth. Personally, I'd love to go all in for Marc Gasol and build around a top center in his prime, hopefully retaining as much of the core as possible.
'Facing the music' is an English idiom to accept criticism or punishment for something that you have done. Not to shift the blame elsewhere for the 4 years and continuous of mediocrity nor be surrounded by your fans that pat you on the back with positives for every move you make even though the season results are dismal. And last but not least the negatives that outweigh the positives are not even shown in the light by these Daryl only fans.
I was going to write you off as having a bad day with your original post, but you seem to have hammered home the fact you have no idea what you are talking about as this thread has gone on. what strikes me as funny with all these morey hate threads (no, you are not alone in your delusion), is that a solution is never really offered. its just alot of moaning with no substance. so let me ask, what would you suggest morey had done "to pay the big bucks"? seeing as you feel he is cheap. what savior of the franchise did morey screw the pooch on by passing up or dumping? because all this talk of the ariza's, batum's and brook's of the world being the missing piece to turning this ship around is laughable.
We had the 5th best playoff performance 2 seasons ago. Go look up the word mediocre, I'm sick of stupid people using that word.
