How many of you actually think the Rocks are tanking?

I didn't see the last two games, so I do not know specifically what DaDakota is talking about.
I think that they are just losing. It could be possible that Rudy is giving a little time to players that might not be getting it in a playoff year, but he is not trying to lose every game. Don't see it in him as a person...

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as bad as they are stinkin the place up every nite...I have to be an optimist and say thatI don't *really* think they are losing on purpose.....but if there is nothing to fight for..who among us would give the 100%+ that would be required to win all things considered. Or maybe Rudy is just trying to hand out some extra PT to those that ordinarily wouldn't be gettin as much at this point in the season. I have venemently supported Rudy against those who would say "Fire his sorry butt!" because I believe in his integrity and ability. I just don't believe he would tell them to tank a game......

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Lar

Go ROXZ!!!!!

Lottery or No Lottery
Losing on Purpose is NOT Acceptable!

 

Perhaps the losses aren't premeditated, but still with purpose.

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I can never see Rudy as the kind of coach that would purposely tank , no way ! but I do see is him giving time to players that otherwise would not get it on a competitive season such as us being involved in the playoff race but we are not so why not ? either that or try to showcase some of this folks so they can hopefully be aquired by another NBA team in other words try to help them out.

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Please give us an excuse to party on Richmond street once again!

 

Bravo, 3pointer I couldn't have said it better myself. That is exactly what I have been thinking. Rudy says "Tanking? You mean lose on purpose? No, I'm just showcasing the guys that we may need to deal in the future and helping players get some muching needing PT."

And with that I hit a perfect score in bowling...

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The truth is out there.

[This message has been edited by Mulder (edited March 21, 2000).]

 

I think it is obvious that our players are not PURPOSEFULLY Tanking any games. They are all playing very hard.

But at the same time, I think Rudy is not doing everything in his power to win games right now. He is simply playing with the lineups and seeing how he can maximize his talent for next season...as well as possibly showcasing possible talent.

So I don't think Rudy or the team are Tanking games...but Rudy is not concerned at this moment about just winning at this point in the season.

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-Peace to the Believers

 

Look it all depends on your definition of tanking.

To me you should try to do everything in your power to win EVERY game.

Now, that being the case, how many of you actually think that Rudy is doing that night in and night out?

I do not think they are tanking in a "Let's try to lose" I think that Rudy is not putting his best team on the floor to try to win. Look he knows that this season is lost, and he has young guys that need experience.

There has been precedent with this organization before, we tanked to get Hakeem, we lost on purpose to get a better matchup/seeding in the 2nd championship years.

As for players busting their butts...yes some are, but the proper peices are not on the floor with them.

How many of you think that TMASS is not healthy right now? He is completely healthy, why is Dream so disinterested in the season?

It is as clear to me as the hand in front of my face, we are tanking.....though in a more respectable manner.

DaDakota

"The truth is in this post"

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RUDY know how to lose a game, he just runs his regular offense and regular defense and eveything else he does and we lose!!!! He does not need a special plan for that!!!

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A HOUSE is not a HOME if it is ON FIRE.

 

I kind of agree with DaDakota (gasp!), though I wouldn't call that tanking. I don't think the Rockets are trying to lose, but they aren't trying to win -- not the way, say, the '93-'94 Rockets tried to win. And I don't think, as DaDakota asserts, that it is Rudy T who is at fault for the lack of effort; it is the players themselves. They don't get up for games like they would if they were fighting for a playoff spot. I can't say that I blame them since there isn't anything to gain from trying. This is not tanking, however, it's just playing half-ass.

Is Massenburg healthy? I tend to think he is not. There is no reason for me not to believe they are telling the truth about his injury being a nagging one. As for Dream, I cannot believe he is playing like this on purpose and is happy about it.

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Last night against Cleveland, Walt Williams goes 7-9, scores 17, grabs 6 boards and even dishes out 2 assists.

All in only 20 minutes of play. 20 MINUTES!

Oh, foul trouble, right? 1 personal foul. Turnovers? 2.

Do I think Rudy is always putting his best matchups on the floor, or the combinations with the best chance of winning? No.

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I think that most of the Rocket organization is basically thinking that they are tanking, but nobody will admit it out loud -"wink,wink". SF, SA, Cuttino, and the Gizzard are playing to win for pride and their jobs, or so it seems, but they realize that since RT is not keeping them in the game (when it counts) that - winning is not important. What a sneaky,dastardly way to TRY to get a better lottery chance. IT makes me SICK. I'm against it and I hope it doesn't work just to prove a point, that tanking is for losers. If we lose to the CLIPPERS though- maybe we just suck.

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I agree with DuDakota, it depends of your definition of tanking. However, if you define tanking as anything less than trying to win at all costs for every game of the regular season (I would NOT call this "tanking") than we have been a tanking franchise quite often. We have always played lacksadaisical in the regular season, Rudy has always held the regular season is for playoff preparation (being fresh, rested and organized) more than simply W & L's. Why do you think we have never had 60 win seasons or ever had the best record in the West even with our 94-98 talent, where lesser teams like Seattle, Utah, Miami, Indiana (I think) & Phoenix--and maybe others too--had no trouble reaching that clip. We have never sweated the regular season losses if we thought it served a higher purpose--though I think this laxs attitude has bit us in the behind before. In my mind we are stretching this principal a we bit right now as we have no chance for the playoffs (extra non-concerned about winning), but the guys out there are not trying to lose so I wouldn't call it "tanking".

Ya'll should cut out the "tanking talk" less Rudy and the brass find out the fans are discouraged and win a few games that blow out draft positioning. Be happy with good effort, trying new things, and close games that slip away late in the 4th quarter. Of course I don't have game tickets so it may be easier for me to accept than others. Atleast it is just a short period, where as the Bulls sort of tanked a few seasons full well knowing season tickets sales were already in the bag. With a good lottery pick this year plus maybe minor other acquisitions I think we have a real good chance of making the playoffs next year. That is a turn around between having exciting and performing teams with yet differing core players that any fan should see themselves as lucky to have for their franchise.


[This message has been edited by sir scarvajal (edited March 21, 2000).]

 

DaDakota,

"There has been precedent with this organization before, we tanked to get Hakeem, we lost on purpose to get a better matchup/seeding in the 2nd championship years."

I'll have to disagree with you on what you said about '95. No way were they not winning to get a better matchup/seeding.

The team was on the brink of chaos. Seattle still had our number. Clyde was still finding his groove on his new team and Maxwell was becoming more and more discontent.

To say that were tanking that year is to diminish the incredible series of events that led to the second Championship.

I'm not saying that I don't believe that the Rockets have never tanked, I just don't believe that they did it in '95.


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SpaceCity of
RocketFuel

 

Clutch and others,

I did indeed make an incorrect call on Shandon Anderson.

I agree they are not TANKING on purpose, but if you look at just trying to win each and every game. I can not honestly say that they are putting forth a honest effort.

I have it from a good source that TMass has been healthy since around the middle of January. However, the team decided that they were not going anywhere and it would be best to get experience for our young players.

Is this a form of tanking...YOU BET !! You should try to win every game, if you are not, then you are indeed tanking.

Look, the Rockets are not above criticism, that does not mean that I LOVE them any less.

I do not mind them doing this, as I want a HIGH lottery pick and retool for a run next year.

Keep on trucking Rudy !!

DaDakota

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Shoot, I hope they continue to "tank".

The LOTTERY 2000 articles by Clutch are hilarious!

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Live Rocketball. Breathe Rocketball. Die with Rocketball.

 

DaDakota, what about the crux of my point--the Rockets have never gone after regular season W's with the ferocity of some of the other teams. We have just about always been a team (lead by the coach and Barkley as well, hard to know about Hakeem because he doesn't say much but he always seemed to save his best for the playoffs too) who assumed we could just "turn it up" once the playoffs started. If you use your win-at-all-costs tests of "tanking', then we have been doing it just about every year I can remember.

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Sir Scarvajel,

You are 100% correct. I do not agree with this type of mentality, and we got away with it in the 2nd championship year because we rested Hakeem...ahem...I mean Hakeem had anemia for the last month of the season.

I think Rudy should put more of an emphasis on winning in the regular season, if he had, we might have had more then 2 championships during the glory years...but I am sure MJ would have had something to say about that.

But that is one matchup that I think the NBA missed out on....sigh.

DaDakota

"The DA stands for Digital Anvil, watch out for our 1st game to hit the streets in late April..STARLANCER coming soon to a computer store near you."

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