Yes, it's an interesting list, although it doesn't really address the "no respect" issue, which is directed primarily at Charles Barkley I believe...
Interesting compilation! I might suggest, though, that JJ's objection was being traded <b>to</b> New Orleans.
I think this is a very good post overall, but you are simplifying the equation. Respect come in many way shape and forms. Players that played with us know we have a bright future. That along with the teams they are traded to makes them unhappy. Think about it, KT was traded to Philli, JJ to NO!!!!!! JB came from the Hawks. Moochie was rotting the bench in NY, of all places. TMac was shouldering the load in Orlando. NVE played for the Warriors. MJ was on a mediocre Bucks team and Shard is from here. So I think it's pretty obvious why they'd rather be with us than the teams they are with. As for the all star team, both our players deserve it. It has nothing to do with respect. It has to do with TMac at worst is one starter and I doubt anybody would actually chose Brad Miller over Yao. Fans loving the Rockets? Great. But no fan yaps louder than the national media, which love to diss us. And we consistently get screwed by the refs despite being popular. We get more respect than some posters here think we get, but we definitely are NOT getting THAT much respect.
All that this proves is that the Rockets are a "popular" team, and only among fans and players. Just because you're popular doesn't mean you are respected, and most people's idea of respect is repect from the media, not who wants to come to Houston or not via Free Agency. Anyway, I doubt when a player is traded here, he would actually come out and say "this is alright, but I'd rather player for my hometown or for a championship contender," so don't let that influence you too much. The only way to earn respect is to get to a conference championship get out of the first round consistently. We've failed to do either, so until then, we'll be refferred to, correctly in my opnion as a "dangerous team" who "might make some noise."
