Yes I agree, I hate that site. I've concluded that the cause of it is this site. They don't get enough "traffic" so they can't afford to update it. Blame it on Clutch!! Pugs
Rockets.com has a great Rockets history section thou. So some of you band wagoners can read about how Vernon Maxwell was the tragic Julius Ceasar of the Rockets championship empire.
Truth is, when it comes to websites, the NBA just pales in comparison to the NFL. You know why? Because the NFL pays outside companies to do the work and then hires a staff to maintain them. Like in any business, you get what you pay for. The NBA is just highly restrictive about certain things and has also been slow to turn the corner with technology. The NFL has been right on the cutting edge of it all along. MLB is starting to get better as well.
There is one part of the Rockets site that I enjoy: http://www.nba.com/rockets/dance/0405dancers_index.html I think it's time Clutch cranked out a "Girls of Clutch BBS" calendar.
Did the NBA have some sort of website standard at the beginning? I know some team sites are totally different now but before they were pretty much exactly the same as the other teams I like the Wolves site and the Grizzles site both look great, in terms of content I don't really know because I don't visit everyday
I like the twolves official site, it has video and great pictures. The Rockets.com layout isnt anything special either. They should try doing an interview with every player. Or get their own writers to put something up on the site. I visit rockets.com daily though, the do a somewhat good job with the news articles on the Web. But the interactive section sucks, They still have the Steve Francis wallpaper up. The pictures are bad too, they still have the one with Yao carrying the torch. And they dont have any Olympic reports. Not that they should be reporting every country, but like China (Yao), and Greece (Vanilla Spoon), are ones I'd like to see in depth reports about. Maybe scouting reports? But I'd like to see independent writers on Rockets.com, writers taht are able to criticize things.. like on other sports' teams' sites (manutd.com.. but this is soccer..) maG
That's what I would love the best. More interviews (real audio) more videos (real vid). Stories about Yao in the Olympics . Recaps about his games. What's Mcgrady up to...etc...
I know that it was only about 18 months ago that the NBA allowed teams to re-design their own sites. Up until then, they had total control of everything. But, they are really restrictive about how it is done, who gets access, etc. The guy who worked for the Rockets on their website and I talked numerous times about the restrictions of the NBA. In fact, teams used to have to send everything to the NBA for approval and posting on their site. Sometimes, it would take days to get information posted to a team site. Now, teams have more control but it is still very limited. The NFL allows its teams to do much more with their sites.
Just out of curiosity, Jeff, but what would Clutch do with Clutchfans if the Rockets let you take over the official website?
I wasn't suggesting that we "take it over." The NBA would never, EVER allow one of their sites to turn into ClutchFans.net. This place is unique. It is built on, by and for fans. Rockets.com is a commercial entity designed to drive interest as a means of selling tickets, merchandise and sponsors' products. What is said on ClutchFans.net often could NEVER be repeated by an offical NBA team site because they would immediately censor it. I just made a joking comment that we could get it in line for them, but... 1. There is no chance Clutch would give up this site. It is like a child to him. 2. No matter what was done to Rockets.com, it could never rival ClutchFans.net as a site for fans because of its commercially driven goals. 3. Seriously, I was joking. We already worked with the Rockets once (HoustonToyotaCenter.com) and that was enough.
