Doesn't this season validate Morey's "3 STARS OR ELSE" strategy?

So by only having one superstar, we still manage to be "tied for the 3rd best record in a ridiculously tough Western Conference at 36-17"...

That actually sounds like it kind of invalidates the need for 3 superstars...

 

I'd say Harden is about 1.5 / 3 where howard in his limited games has been the .5. Having another big time player gets us to the top.

 

Best player on the best team > best player in the league in the 4th or 5th best team in most cases.

It is what it is.

 

I agree. If we were winning with three stars, then that would validate his strategy. We are winning with one elite player and a bunch of good role players. If we added a third max player, the quality of our role players may go down. I've never thought that having three elite players was absolutely necessary. Two elite players and a solid supporting cast with great chemistry should be enough.

 

Sorry OP but you even contradict yourself in your little piece there, you throw a lot of stuff together so not really sure what you are trying to say. Regarding getting that third star, Morey is plain wrong, it's that simple. If he had not focused so much on Melo who would've been a terrible fit, Bosh, Durant (already thinking so far ahead) we would've had a great team right now. Think having a Lowry, one of the 5-6 PGs who changed teams this deadline etc. We already have Harden and as you pointed out, we have a great record and we are not far away from a contender. A third star is not necessary, a solid C off the bench and a PG / playmaker off the bench would've been enough.

 

Lowry, Harden, healthy Dwight...that is a championship core.

 

The fact is the salary cap will jump up significantly in 2016 and that means lots of teams will soon have the spending power to pursue max guys regardless of how badly they managed their cap before. Along with that comes guys who are going to get max money because teams have it to spend but they won't necessarily be worth their contract. I would say Houston is in a pretty good spot to pursue those true max type players with a strong case for a contending team WITHOUT sacrificing anything for the quality of their supporting cast - in the short term. Eventually those rosters will even back out as role players and star players alike get resigned to new deals with the new revenue money but if a team is smart, they will secure good players on decent long term contracts right before 2016 and then throw the bank at guys like Durant.

I think it's actually going to be pretty interesting in the interim to see how teams react to the new cap. Will have to see who spends in 2016, and who has cap left over the following year. If too many teams overspend for marginal talents right out of the gate(because they missed the top tier talent), that's less money for much more deserving players so there will be a weird period were market values will be all over the place depending on the context. We know teams like NY and LA and even Dallas will wildly (over)spend if the money is available but what will be interesting is what happens when all that spending occurs in 2016 and how will that ripple to player contracts in the following years.

 

This season in which Atlanta and Golden State are dominating the league you mean?

 

Yeah, man, really makes it obvious, missing Lowry now hurts... I mean houston really just needs a good creator (2nd/even 3rd option if Howard's playing behind Harden) and I think team could compete a lot better, especially if Howard comes back healthy.

Maybe in off-season Morey can get a good player like that, we don't need a superstar or something just borderline, that can run offense when Harden sits. Currently this team should be renamed Houston Hardens, because it reminds me of early Jordan having to do everything for his team to even have a shot. Basically harden needs his pippen (not the Rockets version). I think Howard is great, but still need someone to bridge the gap between the two, it's like in that Portland series, only one could be good and not both at the same time. And this season is proving it more.

 

The only team-building tenet that Houston's record validates is "James Harden is Jesus".

 

Then the question is, does that qualify as 3 stars?

 

Yeah, I don't know on Lowry thing if myth or not, I was just saying would have been nice for sure. I definitely agree cap flexibility is important for 2016, just think in 15 if they could get a PG and have his contract end/trade after season.. Definitely have to at least try for a Durant type player.

 

2 elites and a star...I would say so. We don't really need a guy of Lowry's caliber to win a championship but hell I wouldn't say no to that

 

How is Morey's strategy about winning the title? I would say he has built teams to be great during the regular season, banking on luck to get far in the play-offs. Look at our record since he's been here:

2014-15
NBA
Houston Rockets
36 17 .679
2013-14
NBA
Houston Rockets*
54 28 .659
2012-13
NBA
Houston Rockets*
45 37 .549
2011-12
NBA
Houston Rockets
34 32 .515
2010-11
NBA
Houston Rockets
43 39 .524
2009-10
NBA
Houston Rockets
42 40 .512
2008-09
NBA
Houston Rockets*
53 29 .646
2007-08
NBA
Houston Rockets*
55 27 .671

 

I'm enjoying this winning season and I haven't missed a game since new years, now that I'm finally able to watch them again after 2 1/2 years.

That being said....we could win 70 games this year, but if we're ousted in the 1st round again....the season is a failure.

Nothing is "validated" until we win a playoff series or 2.

 

or four?