I wasn't suggesting the Rockets tank - sitting Brooks and company on purpose would be terrible and we'd be laughed at. My point was more.. if they lose, I don't really care. Good. If they win, Great. In any other year, I'd be pretty pissed about any loss by the Rockets. This year's Rockets? I'm OK with losses - I just want our players to develop this year. I'd rather they miss the playoffs by 1 game and have the 13th pick than make it and have the 14th.. because frankly, you never know a) who could be there at 13 and b) if you luck out and land in the top 3 (unlikely, but still a chance.. and 0% chance if you aren't in lotto.) That's pretty cool that you worked for the Mavs -- I assume you never cheered for them though, right? RIGHT?! I remember reading an article about the pre-Cuban days, but a quick search only pulled up this: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/National_Spotlight_Jonah_Ball-090401.html Not really an in depth article on it as I seem to remember, but I don't have the energy to go scouring right now. I just thought I remembered there being a report about how bad the Mavs locker room was before Cuban.
I can't root for a Loss (even as I see the advantages). Give me 45Ws and yet, Secaucus - then give me the magic ping pong balls.
You said "By tanking you show that you've lost faith in your players ability to win". You said "Plus tanking really makes the franchise look good " So let me get this straight. You are saying WE SHOULD tank even though you know that it sends the wrong message to the players? You are also saying that WE SHOULD tank even though it makes the franchise look bad? The rocket players and coaches have too much class to do as you wish. I just don't know why you would want the Rockets to stoop to this level. It's not worth moving up a few places in the draft, I don't care what you say.
I was rooting for a horrible season or a good one and at this point, I guess I gotta go with a good one, we're too far to turn back
Your worst case scenario has the Rockets either making the playoffs or being the best team not in the playoffs - I like your optimism!
Our team as currently constructed is not a title contender. Nor are we a team like the Blazers who are stocked with so much young talent that contention is only a matter of waiting for the guys to develop, which means we've got to add pieces. Sure, there are trades and free agency, and I'm confident the front office is exploring all available avenues, but the draft remains the best way to acquire young, cheap talent. Yes, it's unlikely we get John Wall, but there have been many good players drafted outside the top 10, especially in recent years. Our staff has demonstrated a knack for identifying talent, and high picks increase the probability that we'll get our guys, and adding a few more Landrys or Buddingers to our roster puts us closer to the championship than getting smoked by the Lakers in the first round.
The ideal situation for the Rockets is to have as many "hard fought" losses as possible. Games where we do enough to scare teams but not actually win. That way, the young players gain experience in playing competitive b-ball and giving it their all. Fans enjoy close, exciting games played with heart and hustle. Adelman's happy because his players are playing to their abilities. Morey's happy because the trade value of players remain high. Plus, the Rockets still end up with a high lottery pick due to a losing record. Basically, everyone wins.
When was the last time either one of those teams won a championship? This year we are 1-1 against the Cavs and 3-0 against the Thunder. You don't have to throw your own team under the bus to build a strong team. Haven't the Clippers had a multitude of high picks? How has that worked out?
Are you saying you wouldn't want the chance to get a Lebron or Durant type player ? The Thunder/Cavaliers both probably have a better chance at winning a title than we do.
Not if it means losing on purpose. There are some things you just don't do. I'm going to enjoy the rest of the season much more than you, as I root for the Rockets to win and you root for them to lose. You are not a real fan.
Dude those are players you get in 1-5 or maybe sometimes 1-10 in the draft....LOOK AT THE UPCOMING DRAFT....other than John Wall who else can make a team that better?
Hey, a collapse is possible, we can all agree on that, but to root for one? I cant do it, you work with what you have and you let the future worry about itself. the team busts its a** gets in the playoffs we see what happens; they bust a** and we go to the lottery, we see what happens. The mutual opinion is we all think Morey knows what he is doing, no matter what happens the team should get better. If we get a lottery pick, you think Morey would trade it? If we get to the playoffs it wont be by sneaking in we would have earned it. other thoughts Dorsey is not getting playing time unless Chuck goes down? (which may or may not happen with this tendinitis) Yao + 1 wont build a dynasty or guarantee finals appearances the concept of creating a dynasty should be out of the realm of clear thinking. The closest thing right now is the lakers... as much as i dont want to admit it. There is too much talent and the playoff format is too tough. .
I'm a true fan. I would rather us not sneak into the playoffs, and have to play a top seed, because I don't see how we can win a playoff series with our inability to close games...or get good shots at the end. That's typically death for playoff basketball. I like to watch to see our young guys develop, and am happy with the wins we get. But if I had to choose between a 1st round exit or a chance at a high lotto pick, considering our rebuilding then I would want the pick. What's wrong with that?
So any team that's a 7-8 playoff seed, they might as well concede the season to the 1-3 seeds. If you cant shoot for first, shoot for last. Reduce the playoffs format to only 4 teams per conference. So there is no false sense of accomplishment of any kind Then after you draft a high end player and conveniently get off to a bumpy start...think of what another high end pick can do? John Wall AND Harrison Barnes? Then give them another 2-3 years to "develop" and gel. So the franchise is only serious about really competing for something 3 out of 10 years. Basically, how do you know when to press the reset button year after year? Maybe the lottery system is flawed.
