I cannot believe all this crap about tanking. What is wrong with you people?? Fans don't want their team to lose! They want their team to win, to succeed, right now! This tanking garbage just makes me wanna puke. Just about every thread I look in is something about "if we can pull a loss out against the Clips" and all that. That's the biggest bunch of crap. Teams lose respect when they tank. Quit riding the band wagon and root for your team to win! ------------------ [This message has been edited by LHutz Fan (edited March 23, 2000).]
Hmmmm. You can't stand embarrassment, you see no humor in making light of it, and your alias is LHutz fan. What's wrong with this picture.
I absolutely agree. Remember when we all bashed the San Antonio Spurs for tanking at the end of the '96-'97 season? Now that we are obviously not going to make the playoffs, we all want to do the same damn thing. Come on, people! Have some pride! At least root against the Clippers tonight. ------------------ Francis+Charles+Dream-Pippen= Rockets 2000 NBA Champions Houston Rockets Space Center
Ace, I can tell you, honestly and truthfully, that I have a lot of pride and I will never, EVER, so long as I live, root for the damn Clippers. I bleed Rocket red, er, um, pardon me, pinstripe! ------------------ Bring It!!
Talk what you want and pull for the Rocks the way you want. I will hope for a 20 point deficent going into the forth quarter, The team comes all the way back to take the lead by 2 with 10 seconds, its a shot from mid court and the Rockets lose by 1 on a last second desperation shot. To me the kids learned how to come back, they learned you can be beat by luck, and we moved a little closer to the Wiz for spot number 5. We will only have one year in the lottery, lets make the most of it.. From championship to Lottery to championship faster then ever in NBA history and the first with the same coach[special note to caveman] ------------------
I want the rockets to get lots of ping pong balls, but please, lets not get embarressed tonight. GO ROCKETS! ------------------ You know, it's interesting... --Calvin Murphy
"We will only have one year in the lottery, lets make the most of it.." It's that mentality that's going to have some people looking for a new team to support in a couple of years. If we're this bad this year, what difference is one new unspectacular rookie going to make? That's supposed to be our ticket to the playoffs? ------------------
Freak's right. As I posted in another thread, the Rockets will get their shot at Morris or Swift in next year's lottery. One lottery pick from this year's draft is not going to improve the Rockets' record by the 20-25 games necessary to make the playoffs next year. ------------------
The ROCKETS returning nucleus could be playoff bound next season. good draft+free agent period = ? ? ? 2001 ------------------ We would like to get rookie Francis on the break for some easy scoops in the first quarter...
When I saw the topic I thought you were refering to the fact that you made your user name LHutz Fan. There are sometimes we have to beet like the Clippers. right Matt hehe ------------------ ~John~ The Cheese Is In. Join us game nights in the chat room. JohnyRocket's Fan Site
TheFreak, Several months ago, you were much more positive about how far along the Rockets had gotten in the rebuilding process. Your current position seems to be more pessimistic. What happened (failed to happen?) to change your mind? BTW, the most important variable this summer is how much progress Cato makes on his game. Mango ------------------ It could be worse ....... you could have been born a Jazz fan!!!!
Perhaps the Rockets woes this season had more to do with the endless stream of injuries and less to do with the talent of the team. The ROX did manage to beat the Lakers twice, no other team has done better than that. ------------------ Kapaayaaaa!!
I agree with Hydra, I think if Barkley did not go down, and if Hakeem could breathe, I think this thread would not be about tanking. The injuries played a major part in the Rockets losing season this year. Now that they are not in the playoffs, why not turn a negative into a positive, nothing wrong with more ping pong balls! I don't think the rocks are "tanking", but I don't feel they are doing everything they can to win there games. RAWW ------------------ [This message has been edited by raww (edited March 24, 2000).]
Mango -- My feelings have not changed. One thing I see on the board is the lack of respect for what it takes to become a winner. People don't understand that you have to pay your dues...they take our championships for granted in a big way, not realizing that they're most likely a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Some just assume that we'll be right back on top in a few years, and that it's okay to lose now, because all we need is this one off-season and we'll be set for good. That's foolish in my opinion. As soon as a team loses a few games, the focus immediately shifts to what new acquisitions can be made, who can we trade, etc...what can we do to put us right back to the top. That's not the way to win, never has been. The Rockets have done a remarkable job of totally changing the look of the team and getting a new nucleus in place in the span of one season. Now we must have patience, and give the team the time it needs to come together. That's why I've thought all along that anyone thinking that one losing season is all it's going to take before we're back to prominence is in for a rude awakening. I can just see these people next year, when we're not leading the Midwest, calling for a whole sleu of personnel moves that will be sure to make us a contender... Hope that clarifies my position. ------------------ [This message has been edited by TheFreak (edited March 24, 2000).]
In my book the only goal is a ring. As we are 15 back in the loss column to the #8 seed in the west and we have 14 games left (yes Sac has one more) we are not going to win it this year. This season is OVER. What to play for now is next season--to me that means showcasing players to keep or trade, trying out new things, and using the rest of the games more or less as a practice for next games that matter (next year). If we happen to lose while doing this all the better, because I do believe it will be a while before we will have earned such a good pick. We know what SA did a couple years ago (tanked the end of the season because they were so injured they new the season was already thrown away). We are not Dallas, or Denver, or Golden State, or the Clippers, or the Gizzards, etc., they can take pride in winning a few extra games at the end (and maybe even be ahead in the standings of the Rockets for once, whoopee, we passed the Rockets). I don't think the race to the 9th spot in the West is worthwhile. You won't hear me saying "were number 9, were number 9". I can say yes, we had some bad luck with injuries, but we have some good young players and darn it if we aren't going to use this off year to our are full advantage and reload. That is exactly what last years champion did. Of course I must end this by saying I don't have season tickets, I can see how if you did you would expect something else. ------------------
TheFreak, I don't expect to see the Rockets with anything close to a 60 win season for the next several years. The Twolves are a good example of a team that had some young talent and it has taken them several seasons and several additional roster moves to be a solid team. Suppose for the sake of this discussion, the Rockets finish with 30 wins this season. I'll give Charles and Dream credit for 6 wins by having veteran's savy and poise. That means the other 24 wins were accounted for by the youngsters. After this season, the current players should have the poise and savy to get those 6 games by themselves. That would project to 30 wins next season without any siginficant roster moves. Now the "IFs" for next season: 1. Cato gets serious about things this offseason: adds 15 lbs and mentally gets his act together to be able to average 16 pts, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and 36 minutes. If Cato could achieve those goals, that should be worth 4 more victories. 2. They had numerous turnover problems early in the season and the inability to finish games. Numerous injuries to frontcourt players (Dream, CB4, Cato, Rogers). If they can improve in those areas, give them 5 more victories. 3. Do a few roster moves and so forth to pickup an addititional 4 victories. So, a season somewhere around the low 40's in victories would be a hopeful expectation. Beyond 45 victories would take some extremely good fortune this offseason. Mango ------------------ It could be worse ....... you could have been born a Jazz fan!!!! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited March 24, 2000).]
"I don't think the rocks are "tanking", but I don't feel they are doing everything they can to win there games. RAWW" NOT DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO WIN GAMES IS TANKING. WHY WON'T ANYONE REALIZE THAT. ROCKS KNOWS. ------------------
Mango....that last post of urz is the most ridiculous thing i've ever read. how on earth would u assume 4 or five victories for each of ur "IFs". Didnt you think for a moment that those young players are getting experience and should eventually improve the team's fortunes.I think that even if the rockets make no changes AT ALL this offseason, they will come stronger next year. all what they need to do is remain healthy....and play Dream! ------------------ Dream's Team!
The Rockets are TANKING, no doubt about it. The evidence: 1. Tmass has been healthy since January 2. Walt gets hot, held out with a bruise 3. Hakeem suddenly decides he is done for the year, even though Doctors said his illness could be controlled. 4. The Starters are rarely finishing games, even when they are close It is clear to me, the Rockets are trying to get the best position possible for the lottery. Whatever you choose to call it, this is TANKING. You can polish a TERD, but it is still a terd. DaDakota ------------------
