I think in the grand scheme of things we are spoiled. I don't think we have an appreciation of how tough the league is or how hard it is to win a championship. If you look at the western conference playoffs this year, it was obvious that a couple of good teams were not going to make it. It sucks that out team was one of those, but we have to deal with it. We are also the youngest team in the race so it doesn't surprise me that veteran teams raised their games and beat us out. For all the hand ringing going on, you would think there is at least one team that the Rockets are clearly better than that got the spot instead of us. Are there honestly any teams that you can say the Rockets are really superior to? Phoenix? Utah? Portland? I know Steve has been in the league for four years and hasn't lead his team to the playoffs yet, but show me a team in the west who's main star is younger than Steve. It takes a while before the young guys learn how to win. And if four years is the bench mark, a lot of guys would be shipped out for not getting it. That doesn't mean we should stand pat. It means we need a new offensive system. And they need some veteran players that know how to win. There are no knee jerk solutions that would turn this team into contenders next year short of adding Kevin Garnett or Kobe or someone. Let's realize that there are many teams in this league that haven't sniffed 45 wins or the playoffs a lot longer than four years so the Rockets aren't doing so badly. Tweak it, don't blow it up...
spoiled?? come on man, we weren't asking for a ring this year...merely a playoff berth. a playoff berth in a league of 30 teams where 16 make the playoffs....more team make the playoffs than don't. i don't think that's asking too much, considering the talent on this ballclub.
Well then Rockets fans aren't the only ones who are spoiled. Lots of people around the league have been saying how badly this team is underachieving.
They also talk about how badly coached it is, yet you always defend Rudy T. If you are going to use everyone else in the league sees the Rockets' problems, don't ignore the fact they also see the coaching problems.
I don't know if 'spoiled' is the right word. 'Unappreciative' and 'lacking perspective' definitely apply, though. And you must also realize that this BBS is a minority of Rockets' fans, and a lot of them are just Ming fans. In a poll on NBA.com not too long ago, the vast majority of respondents described the Rockets' season as "about what I expected".
Actually, I don't always defend Rudy T. Remember in those posts I was debating with you, I was saying that maybe the slow development of Steve, Mobley, and Griffin were more to blame than Rudy's poor coaching. I never stated Rudy T. was doing a good job. I agree Rudy has several problemsto take care of, mainly personnel decisions. I still can't believe a year or two ago he said Cuttino is one of the best players in the NBA!
it was "about what i expected", yes, but also "less than what it could have been if coached better"...
Like I asked, name a team in the western conference playoffs that we are obviously better than. It wasn't easy making the playoffs this year in the West. We are basically even with Phoenix, and they are a damned good team. I'm disappointed too, but put your emotion aside and look at this rationally.
wrong. totally disagree. the reason we are pissed is because like the federal gov,the rocket org is wasting money. money for rice=could be used for brand money for taylor= could be used for odom money used for cato=could be used for brent barry francis/barry/odom/brand/ming with the same cap space we have now. Stupid C.D. Rocket fans that arent,mad,know nothing about the business. The rockets blew their cap for 4 years,and ming will leave because of it.
Here lies the problem some still think we did ok, some think it was a terrible mess! I cant see how anyone could describe our team as one of the Good Teams! We never played a complete game of Team Basketball during the whole of last season. We must be realistic we need diciplin and a new game plan! Besides the changes !
I think the league should really cut playoff teams to 6 per conference. It's silly that more teams make the playoffs than don't. It probably wouldn't benefit US, but it's definitely better for the league.
Only thing that matters is winning. Minnesota played a better team game than the Lakers yesterday and I'm sure they're not sitting around saying well at least we played some good team ball. There were 14 teams with better records and 14 team with worse records. It's not like we were Denver or the Cavs.
I think Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant are both younger than Steve. Maybe Garnett too...Nowitzki is younger.
Juugie, did you even watch the 1st game between the wolfs and lakers. Lakers play a much better team game than the wolfs yesterday. Did you see how Kobe and Shaq get his guys involve, Fisher hitting, Fox hitting, Shaq to Kobe, Kobe to Shaq. While Minnesota is TRYING to play team ball, but fail miserably. The lakers are probably going to sweep the wolfs in the 1st round.
There you go: Kobe & Nowitzki is both younger than Francis. Their DOB: Kobe: 8/23/78 Francis: 02/21/77 Nowitzki: 06/19/78
Bad choice of words. I should have said years in the league. And both of them have teams with lots of veterans. So even though they may be younger, they have vets to give the team some stability. And by team ball, I'm saying a passing offense ala Sac or Dallas or Utah - which is what we generally mean when we metion team ball. LA's offense is built around the defense having to adjust to two dominant players. The triangle sucks if you don't have MJ, SHaq or Kobe to run it.
i agree with ya, juugie. we're used to greatness and OVERachievement. the moment we get a couple of top lottery picks and make a couple of good trades, we immediately start packing our bags for the finals. and in the past, we've amazingly done just that! life isn't always as rosy as that. i mean, if that were the case, then what must life be for clippers or warriors fans who get top picks every year? or how about teams like the Knicks, Mavs, and Blazers, whose 100million+ budgets don't get them anywhere either... man, we need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, not fret over every bump in the road. that being said, here's to the Rockets, NBA Champs 2005-2015!
This team is probably bottom 5 in getting the most bang for it's buck. Most other teams with huge payrolls at least make the playoffs...
