Is being mediocre really better than rebuilding?

Oh great another one?

 

you expect our guys to want to lose? are you serious?

even if we get a high draft pick that doesn't promise us anything, it would just be a season of losing. there only a few teams out there considered contenders, do you expect every other team to just lose on purpose because playoffs aren't good enough? i'd rather our guys prove to other superstars that if they come here they can be successful and win.

 

Who says the Rockets aren't rebuilding? In the last year, they have done the following:

Let Go:
Tracy McGrady
Carl Landry
NY 2012 1st round pick (lottery protected)
Joey Dorsey
Trevor Ariza

Added:
Kevin Martin
Jordan Hill (2009 #8 pick)
NY 2012 1st round pick (top 5 protected)
Courtney Lee (2008 #22 pick, and highly coveted around the league)
Patrick Patterson (2010 #14 pick)
Terrence Williams (2009 #9 pick)
Brad Miller

They've added those first round picks without tanking.

It looks to me like the Rockets have done a good job of infusing young talent into the roster while simultaneously trying to remain competitive and retaining some veteran presence. Having good veterans on the squad is a way to instill a professional culture and provide guidance to younger players.

This notion that to get really good you need to first get really bad is, I think, unfounded.

 

I agree with Durv,

We are rebuilding, it just happens that our team is brining in players that fit the system and it is working out.

I think this team can only get better, and there is no telling what can happen once we make the playoffs.

 

Why not try and make this a poll with only Yes or No as options?

I would vote an absolute "NO.” I would also like to read the opinions of the Tanking Front, I suspect there are a lot of them in here but I just can’t fathom the idea of tanking because I like the current group we have.

To make my point short, as long as we have a good system and guys trying their best, I’d keep trying to improve via trade. The only way I’d want to rebuild is if we have an out of character underachieving team, which would make me want to cast their asses off my team. Currently, I like each and every player we have; I also like our chances of taking the big leap via trade with Morey at the helm.

 

i can tell you we have zero chance at getting past the first round.

 

I don't know about zero, but sure odds are against us now, I woudln't be shocked though if we did.

I guess we will see how they start playing this month against good teams.

 

I've said this a few times before, but I think this take bears repeating because I don't think there are a lot of people out there that are thinking about this:

It's not as simple as just blowing a team up and grabbing players in the draft. So much can go wrong that can keep your team in rebuilding mode (or worse) for many years to come. Think of all the teams out there that have had multiple top 5 picks but are still lottery teams (Sacramento, Minny, Clips, Raptors). Think of all the teams that have been lottery teams for almost going on 10 years now. And what about the teams that got out of the lottery, sometimes they find a player, but due to unfortunate circumstances they are locked into a bad contract for years (and can't even start the rebuilding process again). These are teams like Memphis and Portland, both locked into long deals with no where to go really with the team. At least our guys you figure have a little room to improve and we aren't locked into any ridiculous contracts.

And people need to realize if we "officially" blow up the team (trade Martin, Scola, etc)... Adelman is gone. He's not going to stay here and coach a 20-30 win team. Morey might be gone too. Those two people are probably the two best things about this team and I'm not sure I want to risk what might be a good front office and coach just on the minuscule shot at a title.

And the odds at winning a title or even being competitive are slim to none. Something like 23 teams in the NBA havn't won a title in the past 20 years, and of those teams, maybe only 10 more have even been a contender at any point in time. It takes a lot of luck to win in this league, and if you are an above .500 team I say you cherish that for as long as you can because when you rebuild anything can happen that has nothing to do with how good your GM or coach are. We could end up like Sacramento for the next 10 years or we could end up like the Jazz... with like a 1/100 shot at being the next Spurs dynasty.

And why are people complaining? We aren't winning 60 games this year, probably not even 50, but I think there is a difference in a team that gets blown out by elite teams every time (rebuilding teams) vs teams like us that have realistic shots at beating any team in the league when they play. The games are still fun to watch.

 

I get tired of these threads. Anyone who suggests this knows nothing about the NBA. First of all, with our role players, we might be one legit star from being a contender in the west. You never know when you can shake loose a star who's unhappy and going nowhere where he's at.

Second, if you start rebuilding, you lose Adelman who is, without question, one of the top 5 coaches in the NBA. I put him behind Phil, Pop, Doc, and maybe Sloan. Keep in mind, Phil says he's gone after this season. The Lakers won't be the Lakers without Phil and a declining Kobe. Also keep in mind that the Mavs and Spurs aren't young, since Ginobilli and Dirk are their stars right now (with all due respect to Duncan). The Blazers future is over with the Roy and Oden injuries. Ok City is the future powerhouse but they have to figure out how to keep all their young players together and Durant's built like TMac (just sayin').

Third, just because you lose, doesn't mean you get a top 5 pick (which is realistically where the future stars are). If you have the 2nd worst record, you might only get the 5th pick.

Fourth, this draft might stink. The best players might stay in school with the threat of a lockout and a lot of unknowns.

Morey has the right idea. Slowly make the roster better and better and better. You improve the team. You make it more attractive for stars and free agents. Plus, you never know... you could pull a Pistons '04 and get to the championship with a bunch of great role players.

 

Ask the Clippers

 

One thing about the NBA is that 'rebuilding' can occur in one fell swoop. It only takes a 4 or 5 player trade to dramatically alter a team. There's little reason to believe that sucking will earn you anything.

 

what.
so fans pay to go see a game.
and watch their team tank?

 

Morey prefers to build through trades instead of hoping he gets a lottery pick and then hoping that turns into a superstar.

He wants to put enough assets in place to trade for a superstar directly. No one wants to trade for a player on a losing team so tanking is dumb.

 

You're assuming that the team isn't trying to do anything and is just happy where it's at. It's been looking for a new or other start for almost a year now, we've made some changes and upgrades and are still looking for more talent. Being mediocre with and pursuing major talent is really better than rebuilding and pursuing talent. I rather win more than lose and be closer to a ring than lose and be far away. I don't see how it's not better.

 

This man speaks the truth.

We have the role players, and we have lots of assets. Now the next step is to trade for a star-level player. If we are able to move some assets and/or acquire a star, then the rebuilding plan will have worked. If we can't, then we will be stuck in mediocrity.

 

Preach on brother!! You Sir get repped. :grin:

 

"Rebuilding" and "Tanking" aren't mutually inclusive.


You can do one without doing the other.

 

I think their happy..

 

Agreed.