Let's check out the standings after tonight's games: Memphis - 48 - 26. Houston - 42 -32. Not too shabby for a team with, let's see, how did MFW2310 put it? Oh yeah, "10 mediocre players". It's certainly a good thing for us the Rockets are so much more "superior" to that bunch in Memphis.
You know what, I can remember so many teams that put up stats for only one season. But like I said, hey, who cares about probabilities.
Now that's a true statement. Memphis may well prove to be a flash in the pan - only time will tell. IMHO, that's not likely as long as they have Jerry West as the GM. On the other hand, the Rockets have Carroll Dawson and you can do the math on what that means. The problem here is that we are STILL WAITING for the Rockets to put THEIR stats up for one season. Oh and by the way, my stats were off. As of this morning, here are the standings: MIDWEST CONFERENCE STANDINGS Team W L PCT GB Minnesota 53 24 .688 --- San Antonio 51 25 .671 1.5 Memphis 49 26 .653 3 Dallas 47 28 .627 5 Houston 42 33 .560 10 Denver 40 37 .519 13 Utah 39 37 .513 13.5 Don't misunderstand me, I support the Rockets but I am deeply skeptical about the organization and players right now. I find it simply baffling that Memphis, a team that everyone left for dead on the side of the road, has not only come to life but shot right past us and has done so convincingly. What do they have that we don't? Hubie vs. JVG is a wash - both are solid competent coaches. In terms of athletic ability, the Rockets have a better set of players plus the Rockets have that most rarest of players, a true center, around which to build and grow. The only place where Memphis has an edge is in its organization. Hands down, they have the better organization and that was the difference this year. We let KT & Posey go because of $$$. Memphis picks up Posey and never looks back. We piss away 3 1st round draft picks for a PF who is no longer playing for us and is out of the league. We try to plug that hole with old cheap ex-Knicks players and surprise surprise: it doesn't work. And that's why unless drastic changes are made at the top of this organization, we'll all find ourselves sitting around saying the same things about the Rockets this time next year.
This is where I really disagree. Now you guys do have a true center and that is an advantage but it is not the prime requisite to winning an NBA title, it just gives you a better chance. However as a whole, top to bottom, the Grizzlies have a much better roster and our coach manages our roster better. Do you really think Theron Smith and Dahntay Jones are head and shoulders abouve Boki? No they are not but there is a committed effort by our coaching staff to develop the entire roster in order to increase our assets and making off season improvements more feasible. Remember, CLeveland and Golden State also have true centers.
I have to admit that you make an excellent point about how Hubie Brown manages the Grizz roster so much better than does JVG and the Rockets band of ex-Knicks. Of course, Hubie benefits from having a REAL GM who possesses the BRAINS and ability to recognize NBA talent from teams other than the NY Knicks but that's a discussion for another time.
