Rockets vs Grizzlies: what made the difference

Kayman is right on. Yes, Cato was a very bad mistakes. Maloney, Mooch and MoT were mistakes too, even if a little better calculated.

But so what? Most teams have players like that and most teams are well over the cap (as Kayman detailed for Memphis). Let those players ride the pine until their contracts expire and keep building by the MLE and don't let your solid young guys (KT/JP) leave when you are allowed to match which doesn't cost you an MLE.

I am 99% sure if Memphis had our luck (drafting Yao, if Francis had stayed), and we had their luck (probably would have drafted Dunleavy or someone like that), they would be far close to a ring and we would be far closer to the lower draft lottery. Credit them from building someting decent without a lot of luck by being screwed in FA signings, modests trades and good drafting relative to position. If we had showed those attributes on top of lucking into the #1 pick last year we might be on the verge of a title in a year or two, right now that it is hard to see, no matter how good Yao is he will need decent role players to grow with him.

 

I'm in agreement with pretty much everything that's been said in this thread, but if you think Les is cheap and unwilling to invest in the team, then you are r****dED, Kayman, no offense. I'm only arguing with you about this one point. Les loves the team, has given the okay on a number of big trades, and supports the GM's and coach's decisions free agent acquisitions and other personnel moves. He's not one of those sit back type of guys who just tries to make money. That option about him does not belong on the poll or anywhere for that matter.

 

What happened to the option, Grizzlies have an insane amount of depth on their team?

Grizzlies, IMO are doing so well after the allstar break because their players don't play a lot of minutes, compared to other NBA teams. So their players are full of energy with all the rest they get, and the majority of the NBA is just about running on fumes.

 

If Les was willing to match Posey (or KT before) and still use part or all of the MLE to bring in other FAs but CD thought it best to sign Pike and A Griffin over Posey I take back what I said. In that case Les is a fine steward and CD has to go.

There is time this offseason to make up for mistakes--regardless who made them. Les can insist on using the trade exemption and taking on more salary if necc to make the Rockets a better team next offseason. The proof will be in the pudding, I hope the problems was CD because GMs are a whole lot easier to fire.

 

First, I dont think Les or CD wants to sign Yao at max while paying tons of tax. You cant blame them for that.
Second, Posey wasnt the same posey of Griz last year. Had he hit a buzzer beater last year with us like yesterday, CD would've signed him without hesitation. The fact was JP wasnt a good shooter when he joined us, dont jump when shoot 3's, hutsles but not smart (Did he foul someone last second of the game and cost us a game. Or maybe it was A.Miller with Clip, who missed both free throws, well anyways).
It happened to work out for JP in Griz, that's all. JJ bounced back and forth between team before finally found home here. It all depends. KT is puting up mosterous numbers in Phily while perceived as ball hogger here. Even Collier is flourishing in Hawks. But all these guys were here a year ago along with the current core of this team, where did we end up?

 

Funny how the oft repeated fallacy by Desert Scar is that the 'taxpayers' built the stadium...


guess what .....WRONG

the stadium is fully financed with hotel and car rental taxes which are paid by out of towners...

but dont let facts get in the way of a good Les hate-fest

 

Though he's an old coot...you're all underestimating the teaching skills and ability to utilize the strengths of his players that Hubie Brown has.

Posey a steal? Hardly. We laughed. We scoffed. Too much money. Which it was. Until Hubie was able to get that kind of performance from him. If Houston had matched, under Van Grumpy Posey's another of those bloated contracts.

Draft talent from years of futility? Then the Bulls, Clippers, Golden State, Atlanta should all be good. Gasol was a great pick. Swift was virtually a bust until Hubie got him going. Battier -- good depth but hardly top 5 pick talent (yet). Miller -- we thought he'd paid too high a price with Gooden AND Giricek. Plus Miller will miss about 20 games with a bad back. JWill -- did anybody want him? Wright -- another underachiever.

Memphis has certainly not been afraid of big contracts. But more importantly, they've got full production from their potential -- even after losing a great deal to injury. NBA's got lots of bad teams with big contracts.

I thought Hubie was too old. I thought Jerry West was past it. Memphis may still implode -- they've certainly got no individual players with the potential of Yao -- but whether its more attributable to West (who traded for 'role' players rather than stars, didn't give up on Swift and brought in Brown) or Brown, who has connected with the players on a level i never expected it's certainly more than willingness to spend, draft luck, or any particular player.

An aside: I read in an article how Hubie congratulates each player after a win -- thanking them for their contribution and asserting their value to the team. Compare this to Grumpy, who never even cracks a smile.

 

Well, JVG is a strict parent, but would do whatever he could to protect his kids, even if he had to hug somebody's leg being dragged whole court.

I wonder how JVG persuaded Ewin to come here during the offseason. Maybe he went
"Hey, do you remember how did I stick out for you when you were in danger."

 

Not only that, people forget that Les paid for 25% (or something like that) of the arena himself.

Les is a millionaire, but you can hardly blame him for being a little frugal with his money for a few years.

I'd rather him poney up bucks into the payroll when we are on the cusp of winning a title, rather than just trying to make the playoffs.

 

I don't see what the point is in asking why one team got the 5-seed and another got the 7-seed. Who cares? The Rockets have Yao Ming and therefore have a better shot at a ring than Memphis ever will. There's nothing Jerry West can do about that.

 

I am with ya, brotter.

 

So true

 

All of the above...but, I picked the BEST answer (C).

 

no it isnt r****ded...and coming from someon that doesnt even live here....I find your ignorance on the subject as understandable and your rage misguided....

the taxes CAN NOT be used for anything else....they were created solely to finance the Sports Authority....they can not be used for schools or public services....if there was no SPorts Authority, there would be no extra tax.
period.

IS not a prime destination...hah....tell that to the millions of tourists we get to this area every year.

you are reaching for excuses.

for more information....go to the Arena forum and read the many fine posts from Jeff detailing the exact way that all of this went off before posting more of your miguided ramblings.

 

So the extra $1-$2 a day on rental cars makes people go elsewhere??? I don't think so. Regardless, I would bet that the people who were taxed the most, were people traveling to Houston for business, rather than true tourists.

The tax was specifically created for the purpose of building MM, TC and Reliant Stadium. It could never have been earmarked for anything else, including schools or fire/police.

Les not only is not pocketing the cash, he invested tens of millions of his own money into the arena also.

BTW, the construction of the TC created thousands of jobs for a few years.

 

Well this is wrong. You guys having Yao does not automatically mean you have a better shot at a ring. He is a good building block but just that...

Shaq was better than Yao at the same age and he still needed Kobe and a proven championship coach to get a ring and except for 1 season, the Lakers still haven't dominated the league or seperated themselves ala Jordan's Bulls.

You have Yao Ming...we have Jerry West..IMO advantage Memphis.

 

Every team in the league would rather have Yao Ming as their starting center, than Jerry West as their GM.

Adantage Houston.