Feigen Blog: Rocket Ire After a week or so reading through the blog responses, I have to admit I'm a bit stunned by the anger out there. Some of it is understandable. Most of the rage from last season was bottled up. At the time, the injury-marred season bred more disappointment than fury. Disappointment does not inspire the kind of ire that has bled all over the blog lately. But now, a few months removed from the season, we see all kinds of anger. I can't offer much help for last season. It was pretty lousy, but it is over. Then again, judging from the feelings about those associated with 2005-06, maybe it won't be over until a new one begins. That said, the real problem seems to be that it is difficult to get a handle on a team with the uncertainty that comes with youth. Of course, a year ago, people were pretty excited because of the presumed sure thing veterans that filled the roster. That didn't go so well, and not just because of the injuries to Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and many more. As for this year, the Rockets don't need to hit it right on every kid, just a few. They are not without potential. I've read that the Rockets have no shooters, when some of the additions actually are strong shooters. I've read there is no size when Kirk Snyder is huge for a guard and Vassilis Spanoulis has good size for a point. I've read all kinds of things about Rafer Alston, who some apparently think spent the off-season kicking puppies. This is not to say all is well and that great glories are certain to be coming. The Rockets are counting on several unproven players to contribute around Yao, McGrady and Shane Battier. Of the 17 players on the roster, seven were acquired this off-season. With two max-out players, additions are usually going to be role players. Maybe it's time to gamble on young, rather than old, players. We'll see, which I suppose is the point. We'll see. We haven't yet. There's plenty of time for all this anger, but it might serve to wait for a preseason game or two.
I'm not surprised Feigen is surprised. I think he's thought that both the average and hard-core Rockets fans have been far off-base while he still blithely defends Les' expectations and wonder why emotions are raw. This is not just about last year or the Mav series meldown, it's also about the two years before that. And now you can make the case that we're further away from competing with SA or Dallas than we were then. It is all understandable, but it would be nice to see some one who actually watches the team be a little more realistic than the company line. Feigen is not the ideal person to do it as beat writer, but Justice, Lopez, Fowler and Blinebury haven't shown me they're paying enough attention and it seems that they're all worried about the lack of interest in this franchise by Houstonians and they don't want to make the problem worse. Bottom line is we have hope, things haven't gone well and I understand why many people are frustrated by this franchise. If Feifen wants to Rockets love he can always come here.
Typical apologist garbage from Feigen. Hmmm...last I checked, Rudy Gay is a young player worth taking a gamble on...
My anger continues on several levels from "moneyball" worship to the draft/trade of Rudy Gay to the Mike James fiasco to the lack of confidence in Jeff Van Gundy. I love the Rockets but I am appalled by some of management's actions ... and inactions.
Part of the problem is that you have too much input in personnel decisions. That is, CD + JVG + Morey + TMac (to a smaller extent) = WTF?! CD really bungled draft day. Shane Battier to Houston? Fine. But don't make Jerry West look like a genius by not getting a draft pick to go along with Battier. You know, CD, negotiate a little bit. Or did JVG say, By hook or by crook, get rid of Swift, he gives stupid people a bad name? We could say, well, JVG wouldn't have played that hypothetical draft-pick (#22 from Memphis?) rookie, what with us picking up a decent player at #32 who also is a rookie. And yet we've been flailing about ever since draft day with one signing after another, some of them undrafted players. I like some of our acquisitions, but in the end, we might make the playoffs (we should), but unless we make a real move, Tracy McGrady is doomed never to make it out of the first round of the playoffs. More importantly, the Rockets are gonna be "stuck on stuck".
although some gambles do need to be taken (like snyder, vspan) these gambles are relatively small...and then there is the swift gamble which blew up in the teams collective face. However, i think that getting a 'sure thing' is important too. You have to have a few contants on a team. Guys that you know what they bring and bring it every night.
I just wish Jonathan would own up to who he is around here. Hi, Feigen. We know you read... we just don't know if you post. No need to lurk. (unless you value your sanity!)
The Rockets did not make solid off-season moves (except Battier, for too much), they are rolling the dice with young, unproven, and marginal players. Not smart. But smart has been a rare event since the championship years, essentially TMac and Ming. TMac's comments during the offseason clearly indicate that he "hopes" the Rockets are not through putting together this year's team. I feel the same way.
5 words. We don't have the money. 2 more words. Salary Cap. EDIT: I just saw the blurb from Denver saying that we are trying to work out a S/T for our TE. Excellent if we can do it. But it seems like a long shot.
The Rockets need players to suit up game after game. They don't need lingering injury problems. No matter the experience that veterans bring. If they aren't playing, all their knowledge goes to waste. And none of this that they can mentor the younger kids. The best way to teach the NBA youth is like in Kindergarden, "Show and Tell". When the new generation sees dedication and prowlesness, they learn. They don't learn from someone telling them something!!! If not all of these geneius head coaches would tap all of the potential from every NBA player. And we'd be seeing teams full of Michael Jordans!!!! Either way those veterans whom are gone, had their value because they were grind it out daily players. When you take the daily out, then you've got a problem. And with age that lingering injury, wether it be the knee, the back, the stamina, etc. is going to be more prevelant. I like the movement to everyday players who can grind it out game after game without having to miss out large portion of games due to back problems. Sure, McGrady and Yao have had their injuries, but everyone agrees probably all over the world that if those two players play at the top of their game, they can lead a team to a world championship. So, you have to bite the bullet when they get injured or are hobbled by lingering injuries. But, there is no excuse to carry veteran role players hobbled by injuries an entire year.
people are still mad about the mike james fiasco. ***** the rockets had mike james, and they traded him away! if i was in mike james's shoes, i would do the rockets dirty also.
I love it when people see it the same way i do, plus the rockets knew they were going to be trading Stromile draft night... i know i read multiple people on here saying how they bought Stromile jerseys for dirt cheap. Plus i feel the anger of the fans is a good thing, we could be like other fans and not give a half-damn
Yeah, anyone else feel some throw- up on draft night when the deal was going through midway of my cheering.
Well he's listed at 6-6 225, but according to his draft results he was more like 6-7 228 then. So he's probably something like 6-7 235 now. Granted it's not "huge" for a SG but it is damn big. And yes I KNOW I will get 10 responses calling me a liar for making up that he is actually 6-7, but hey I guess some people just refuse to accept that the size listings are mostly BS.
I had a bad feeling on draft night we would trade the pick. Other than Marcus Camby, i can't recall a young player JVG took under his wing and devoleped. Luther Head? Please correct me if i'm wrong, but i just don't think he feels like taking the extra year to teach a rookie the ropes. Or maybe he's too scared he'll draft a bust? For some reason i think he gets the final say on our draft and what we do with it. We were desperate for a high profile coach to make a "splash" when we signed him and he could of easily worked it into his contract after being very coveted by other teams.
