Does anyone else cringe at this point when we win? The Rockets have a rare opportunity -- they waded through a knee-deep crap season because of injuries to Taylor, Rice and Stevie for a while and they still don't have a team at full strength. This isn't their entire team and next year they should have everyone back and healthy... yet <I>this</I> season, with just 24 games left, we are tied for the 6th worst record in the league with Atlanta, and are just 6 games ahead of the worst record in the league (Memphis). We should be taking full advantage of this. We're at a dangerous stage. Another win and New York, Cleveland and Atlanta all push us to the 9th spot. Wins over Boston, Minnesota and in Phoenix? Good gosh Rudy... what are we doing? I agree it's comical, but seriously, through no real fault of the Rockets, those wins are going to hurt us. The Rockets should use these final games as a means to develop players and plays. There is no reason for Francis and Mobley to be putting up 40+ minutes a night any more. Griffin, Morris and even Torres should be getting a bump in minutes. If we're winning as a result of the play of those guys (ie while developing these players) then I'm thrilled... but snaring last-minute W's from the play of Walt "last 20 games are my thang, baby" Williams is just counter-productive. 2 years ago we sucked and hung around the 5th to 7th spot... then put on a rally that nearly pushed us all the way to the 11th spot. Instead we got 9th (because of a season-ending loss). The 7th spot came away with the top pick, and we came away with Jason Collier. Every ping pong ball counts. It could make all the difference in the world in trade talks (Odom, Lewis, G. Robinson?) this summer.
oh boy I love you. I wish you had contacts with Rudy. HEres my point you didnt mentain. WHat if by playing steve in theses full game minutes to try to build moral,steve tears a acl ala brent price,and steve is out next year + we get no pick in summer 2003.This is when I finally relize how truely unlogical rudy really is.Its almost like he is burned out or a old man trying to relive past old glory days..This winning SUCKS
I think the problem with this scenerio is that Rudy would need to get Cat and Steve to buy into it. I think it would be the RIGHT thing to do, but would be suprised if we actually did it. By the way, we need to HIDE OT on the injured list the rest of the way, no need to let the rest of the league see what a keeper he is, especially in a contract year. DaDakota
You are very very frightening, DR. Clutch makes some good points. I agree with him for the most part. But missing shots and deliberately losing on purpose is not the point being made here, kid... There's no reason to keep Steve and Cuttino in a desparate must-win mode, where they get infinite minutes and infinite touches, while the rest of the youth sits by and watches and waits for the offseason to work on their game. The point is to ease the load on Steve and Cuttino, knowing it's going to result in less wins, but use the rest of the regular season as a teaching tool for the new guys: Eddie Griffin most imortantly. But Morris, Torres, Mo when he gets back, and maybe even Cato (he does seem to have renewed zeal out there, and maybe it will start to carry over to his offensive game eventually, a la developing Antonio Davis) all could use extra minutes to help them develop. And as an added bonus, we likely end up with a better pick.
I dont see how trying to lose helps anything. Francis and Mobley are young, deserve to play, and deserve the chance to win. One could get injured, but they could also learn how to play better. Francis still drives the lane uncontrollably sometime and the more he gets called for the charge, the sooner he'll learn to stop after passing or adjust. Mobley has plenty of adjusting left to do still. The team needs a winning attitude. The team needs to try and win or lose with the players who will win or lose for them next year. Walt may still be here. T-Mo and Torres will still be bench players and the games will still ultimately come down to Steve and Mobley. Further, sometimes you need to learn how to play your hardest and lose to get to that next level. I think admitting your season is a waste with over 20 games left to play is just coutner productive.
HISTORY LESSON 101 SPurs lost on purpose(sat david out) and got more ping pong balls and got lucky duncan, result ring in 99' common,,average teams stay average..bad teams become great teams,great teams, crash to become bad team.// seattle,rockets,cleveland,atlanta,boston,perfect examples of teams,not willing to tank and settle with the same players year after year./// the agent of mo taylor,has ruined our team,,i know for a fact NO teams wanted more for that much...we were suckered in the bait trap and overpayed...just like with rice..and moochie...now we have 3 players who are giddy and the whole city pissed.
Robinson was injured. They lost because they sucked, not because they weren't trying. The Rockets will also lose because they suck, so either way it shouldnt matter. Besides, there are more examples of teams who lose and continue to lose (Memphis, Chicago, GS, Clippers for so long) regardless of getting good picks. The Spurs, because of Tim Duncan, were the exception.
JayZ750 -- I do see your point about Mobley and Francis. By no means are they polished products already. I'm not saying to bench them though.... I'm saying they shouldn't be getting 40+ minutes a night in a win-at-all-costs effort. Mobley is #2 in the NBA at minutes per game... Francis is #7. I'm also not saying to lose on purpose (tanking, missing shots on purpose, etc.), but that winning should not be priority #1 at this point. It's angering to see Griffin get 19 minutes, do nothing and the Rockets win. I do disagree about the season being a waste though .... if our goal is only to win games in the final 24, I don't see the point. Will Walt even be here next year? Every single thing we do now, in my opinion, should be for next year. Get Mo a little time, get his suspension out of the way, get more time for Griffin, Morris, Torres... even Langhi, etc. The Rockets should use this time to develop their younger players... Mobley and Francis aren't going to suffer as a result next season, and we should be the better for it. If losses come as a result (which they probably will), I'm not complaining -- it will only help this summer in my opinion. Using this time to develop other players, and increasing the value of possibly our only trading chip on the market this summer -- I think that's the best route. (though I'd feel more comfortable about my position if 'get Darius Rice' wasn't on my side)
Clutch...I wholeheartedly agree...I have been saying for a week or 2 now that we need to open our eyes and realize that this draft is not a very deep one (unless of course a few underclassmen declare later on...ie. Wilcox, Dunleavy etc). The difference between the 5th pick and the 9th or 10th is going to be huge. Now, obviously you never know who is going to pan out an who isnt, but Id rather take my chances on a better pick. Someone wrote somewhere on this board that we have the Raptors 1st round pick if its not a lottery...is that true? If so, how about trading ours (#6?) and theirs (#12 or so) and move into the top 2 or 3??????
I agree, but I just think Francis and Mobley need the time to develope just as much as some of the younger guys. It will be up to them (and Cato, KT, etc) to finally figure out how to play defense, work on offense, etc. The West will be strong again next year and we wont have weeks to waste trying to let them figure out how to play defense. I agree with your point on focusing all of the goals on making the playoffs next year, I just dont think giving Langhi or Collier more time will help. And I dont even think giving EG many more minutes will help. If anything, he is buring out a bit. I still see Walt as a possibility next year - although possibly a redundant one if Rice is fully healthy - if he will sing very cheaply.
How about clarifying our cap/contracts that end this year/pick situation? Walt's contract ends. Willis ends? Langhi/Collier/Torres ends? Salary cap?
Trying to officially confirm that .... somehow I question it (probably some loophole like top 15-protected.... but who knows since Toronto thought they were championship-bound). If we do get their pick lottery-protected... wow. Yeah, great deal. I'm hoping that is indeed the case. Best possible pick though is #14 (lottery is 1-13). We also owe a pick to Vancouver though.... but yeah, I'm rooting for Toronto to "barely" make the playoffs.
The turned ankle possibility in the last game really bugs me. It's so easy, esp. when playing against all the other team's scrubs. I don't want steve to play again this year. Cat too. I would let Griff see if he can shake the rust, Cato develop, KT showcase, Walt market himself, etc. At least limit Steve and Cat to 20 min a game. Geez. Scratch that. Ship Steve off to the Mayo Clinic (team orders!), and sit Cat's ankles,or umm...plantar fasciitis. Tank line-up Cato/Willis Griff /Collier KT/Langhi Langhi/Mooch Mooch/Brown 8 man line up. Hmm, we may need Oscar off the IR. Pretty thin, but that's OK ! Go, ping pong! How many chances do we have to lose to the other losers? There's a match-up problem! p
Play to win. It's as simple as that for me. I agree that the rookies will be hitting the wall if they haven't already. It's a question of if playing through it will help or hinder them. I think Griffin needs to play.
I wish Rudy could read this. Of course, Steve would never allow it, and rightfully (morals) so. Also, if Steve came to know about this, wouldn't this be bad for contract negotiations with him? We have all the pieces for an excellent trade. Something that could make us a contender. Question is, what do we trade for? At this point, there are few options. I'm sure the Rox haven't given up on Rice. They wouldn't trade him yet, because that would mean admitting it was mistake. So, 3 things: Trade KT or Mo T. Hopefully Mo T if we find a taker, because we can't have a backup that's locked up for 7 years, 6M a season. Try to trade Rice, with the 2 picks for a SF. If the Soonics are looking to re-build, this may sound tempting. 2 picks first round picks. All they'd have to do is let Rice retire if it doesn't work out. Then they can go ahead and trade Payton to start mass rebuilding. Finally, Yao Ming by trading both picks and whatever. I think a Miong/Cato combination would be excellent, giving Ming time to develop while being the backup. But, will we tank it?
I was thinking about that too Sane...but I thought of it this way...if Rudy or anyone else for that matter can convince Steve that this is a good thing for the Rox future...I would think steve would be all for it. I actually think if there is a chance Steve will leave, us showing him that we are committed to the future and are being realistic about it might be a factor in his decision to stay.
here's the remaining sched. 5 Tue Toronto 7:30 pm KTXH DTV W? 7 Thu @ San Antonio 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 8 Fri Golden State 7:30 pm FSSW DTV W? 10 Sun Utah 2:00 pm KTXH DTV L 12 Tue Seattle 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 13 Wed @ Minnesota 7:00 pm KTXH DTV L 16 Sat Chicago 7:30 pm KTXH DTV W? 18 Mon @ L.A. Clippers 9:30 pm KTXH DTV L 19 Tue @ Sacramento 9:30 pm KTXH DTV L 22 Fri @ Seattle 9:00 pm KTXH DTV L 24 Sun @ Golden State 8:00 pm KTXH DTV L 26 Tue @ Utah 8:00 pm KTXH DTV L 28 Thu Sacramento 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 30 Sat Phoenix 7:30 pm KTXH DTV W? Apr 2 Tue Seattle 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 4 Thu San Antonio 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 5 Fri @ Memphis 7:00 pm KTXH -- W? 8 Mon @ Orlando 6:30 pm KTXH DTV L 9 Tue @ Miami 6:30 pm FSSW DTV W? 11 Thu @ Dallas 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 12 Fri Portland 7:30 pm FSSW DTV L 14 Sun Memphis 7:30 pm FSSW DTV W? 16 Tue @ Denver 8:00 pm KTXH DTV W? 17 Wed @ Portland 9:00 pm KTXH DTV L I'd really, really like to lose those games against Memphis, Chicago, Denver, Golden State, and Toronto. p
I don't see many coaches tanking on purpose, much less Rudy. But I hear ya Clutch, I think we should improve our draft position. BTW, I have no proof, but I think the lottery could be rigged. I don't know. I think we may have a chance to land the #1 pick. The Knicks may have a better chance than us.
