Cat, because they are so wrong so many times, I have to believe they are making the stuff up. They may not do it for money, but they do it to gain respect and "legendary" status in this forum. All it takes is one right guess out of 20 right? After that, they can have threads started where people beg them for "information." If you want to sit there and pick apart their little puzzles, go ahead. They love it when you do that. It makes the feel special. Do you see Clutch or anyone in his crew starting threads like that?
From what Clutch has stated in the past, Clutch's primary source is Doc Rocket. He's reputable... there's not much more that needs to be said on that. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the history of the BBS, but I'm guessing you haven't been around that long with the content of that post. Doc's not making things up. Take my word on that. Oeilpere doesn't have quite the track record, but he was one of two to scoop the Steve Francis trade in 1999, before any media outlet was onto the story involving Houston. OP's sources aren't quite as reliable as Doc Rocket's, I don't think, but he's not making things up either. There are a couple of other self-proclaimed insiders that could be guessing, but I can assure you that Doc Rocket and oeilpere aren't. They're reputable. Besides, you really don't seem to understand just how many trades are discussed. There's hundreds of trades on a yearly basis that are "discussed" around the office... even a 1 in 20 ratio is pretty good. They're trying their best to tell us what *could* happen. They aren't claiming it to be a done deal.
Clutch has vouched for Doc Rocket numerous times. Also - Doc Rocket said several weeks before the lottery that the Rockets would do anything to get Yao Ming in a Rockets uniform. Turned out to be true.
Like, pued, I think clutch's word is the only thing necessary to make me certain of their credibility. Clutch puts tons of time into this site. He takes it seriously. And I respect him. If he says Doc's a source, then he is. Most of what he says the Rockets are thinking never comes to pass. That's true with all trade discussions. Just because the Rockets want Odom, and the Clips want to deal him... well, that's reason to talk, but it doesn't mean that either side will see eye-to-eye on value. Perhaps the Rockets didn't want to chance Ming busting. But they wouldn't deal unless they got something really spectacular. That explains some of the pre-draft rumours. I like to know what the Rockets are collectively thinking. If you don't, you can ignore the threads.
Yeah, that was a stretch. A 7'5", offensively gifted and athletic player was available and we had the number one pick. I think it's pretty safe to say almost every team in the league would have done everything in their power to land him. Sorry Pued, but that was a given. I think we'll hear from Doc or pops soon enough, but it's just too early in the game for any "serious" trade/FA talks to happen in regards to the Rockets. I'd give it at least another 2-3 weeks before we start hearing anything.
Sorry to bring this up again, but for those who doubt oeilpere there was also the scoop that caused him to stop posting and change his name from popeye to popeye francaise. These guys are both real. Clutch knows their true identities and that's why he's vouched for them. The most boring posts I ever read on this board are the ones who accuse them of fraud. They can't come back soon enough for me. Pimp: Not all the Rashard info is out there. We don't know what Rockets management are thinking and we don't know what, if anything, they've offered in a sign and trade. Doc and popeye probably do. And even if offers don't pan out I, and a lot of other people here, find them very interesting. Naysaying against all evidence isn't clever. It's dull.
What evidence??? There is none. You guys are just impatient. This whole ordeal where people start begging for info less than 2 weeks into free agency is dull.
I'm not going to get into whether we should ask for info so soon argument but I will say this. It seems odd that niether Doc or Pops has posted ANYTHING in weeks. I mean NOTHING. Maybe the organization has demanded secrecy from everyone on free agency activity this summer and they are just doing what they are told. In any case, this summer is turning out to be the slowest I've ever seen.
Or maybe there just isn't anything to report that hasn't already become public knowledge. Free agency just began not that long ago. The Rockets top priorities are getting Yao taken care of and signing Steve to an extention. Nothing else (talking numbers with Lewis or S&T with Seattle) will get off the ground until that task is complete.
I am impatient, it's true. But not about this. I'm actually not even very interested in the Rashard sweepstakes. As long as we don't wind up maxing him out, I don't really care whether we get him or not. I think we're fine without him and would be marginally better with him. I think the same's true of Dallas. I'm not here to defend asking for info. I don't have an opinion on that. The evidence I referenced was: 1. Clutch's word that these guys, especially Doc Rocket, are real. 2. All the good info we've gotten from them including, but not limited to, trade for Steve, Shandon signing, Cat re-up, Yao, etc. 3. When they say something will definitely happen (Cat re-up, Yao, Shandon), it does. There are particulars to these (and other) scoop, which prove their credibility, though I really didn't need anything more than Clutch's word which is golden. For example, Doc confirmed the TroyBaros info about Steve being unhappy about Yao before it was in the media but denied Troy's other info. And he was right. That's not a lucky guess. Popeye confirmed Cat's extension when his flirtation with Toronto still looked very serious. He also told us to look for a deal with NJ at last year's draft. Said we were talking to lots of teams, but that NJ looked most likely. When they picked Eddie I told everyone at Rudyards there was a chance they were picking for us. Pops made me look like a genius that day. In light of all this, why someone would bite the hands that feed us the best food is totally bizarre to me. It's the equivalent of shouting "Nuh-Unh!" just for the sake of it. I can't remember now who it was that kept saying the insiders were liars and they only trusted Clutch. I posted repeatedly saying if you trust Clutch, why don't you trust him about Doc. I'd ask all the rest of the doubters the same thing.
despite the fact I get bored with speculation and really don't care one way or another about roster moves talks...popeye also called the Marc Jackson wasn't happening ordeal. popeye loves to talk and loves to tell stories and surely hears a lot and surely adds to some things based on common sense and his own take. I've brought up things wrong with his scenarios and others (aelliott) have too, like Garnett's imposing salary!! But it's just discussion. I don't hate the speculation, or when someone is wrong. What I hate about it all is a bunch of spawned threads of silly ideas based on reading too much into what pops says and Doc, too? I'd rather talk basketball than speculation. I'd rather someone scoop a new play--I'd rather scoop what Rudy really thinks of Kenny or Mobley. I'd rather here what is happening in practices...in the lockerroom. The trade room just bores me by comparison, because, by its nature, things rarely happen, so who cares. People say they like to know what the brass is thinking. What the brass is thinking about other players??? or our players??? our system?? our defense ?? our offense ?? I'd rather like to know what they think of us!!! not "them!" Speculation about others just seems like a fantasy league or trading card fascination, that I don't understand. look at it this way. People enjoy the NCAAs, right. Trades are not allowed, so there would be very limited talk like this. An NCAA BBS would be about the players and coaches...not trades. Backseat coaching and talking about the game. It annoys me to hear people say that trade speculation is the only reason to read this BBS. You must not be much of a basketball fan if you are only interested in roster moves...imo. My wish is we find a scooper that will tell us the new plays. At least give us the play names or system name, and we can then spot them and draw them. Isn't that as interesting, if not more, than scooping things which by their nature have a fail rate of 95% in never happening? I don't get the fascination with scooping trades, and never have in any sport. I want to know what the coaches think of their team, as is. That's what fascinates me.
HP: I am one of these posters you don't understand who enjoys hearing inside info on roster moves. I also enjoy reading thoughtful analysis of our current squad and the plays they run. I don't think the two are exclusive, nor do I think they can be. If you're engaged in discussing our offense, that discussion changes considerably when we do something like the Barkley trade. Those discussions of what plays we run are also well informed by the strengths and weaknesses of our current roster and how our strategies could change with roster moves. I think you are more interested in roster moves than you let on, as they give you an opportunity talk plays, x's and o's, etc. You had a field day the the Yao Ming pick, for example. The distinction for you is maybe done deals versus speculation, but I also remember a discussion we had at Rudz (just barely; I was well into my cups) about how great it would be if we could land Yao (this was before the lottery) and all the opportunities that would afford. But I didn't get into this thread to talk about how much I love dreamcasting as you call it, only to say how annoyed I am by people thinking it's clever to doubt the insiders no matter how often they prove their credibility. Keep up the good, thoughtful posts though. I enjoy the half of them I understand and look forward to my continued education so I can understand the other half.
I had to post here on this one.. I am in some agreement with the people who talked sh*t about the posters here such as popeye and beloved doc rocket but I agree in a different way: the popeyes and doc rocket do it in such a way as ' i know something and you dont' type of manner then seem to gloat over their insights..oftentimes sorely obvious doc rocket tried to imply some inner something about us gettting ming..as rocketspimp says in this thread that wasnt a big scoop.. I argued that before and clutch scolded me because i didnt know who doc rocket was and that I shouldnt talk sh*t.. at the time I was merely saying their was no need for ego and this is just a bbs.. why give cryptic posts and all that?? why gloat..why state the obvious? just stupid..even if doc rocket or popeye were carol dawson or rudy t it justs seems infantil to sort of gloat about a scoop whoop de f*cking dee you know??!! i mean i met lionel richie or smoked a blunt with elie...does that make me cool?? i know girls who hang with the rockets and i have heard TONS of things throught them but I dont want to even post it here because its intrusive to them and their private lives or intrusive to the team in general.. there are a lot of things youll hear in a restaurant or from a friend who hangs with keith jones or whatever but who cares really..?? just post the scoop unless obvious and move on dont kid yourself that your cool because you must be insecure to do that.. thats why i dont like doc rocket or popeye because they think they are so cool to give us info.. there are plenty of people here who have insight and are legit besides those guys and dont need to prop themselves.. still i appreciate the info from them/everyone if legit and reasonable..I respect info from clutch though because he doesnt gloat and is humble.. you are so right heypartner i agree with you but its still fun to mentally masterbate over the different trade possibilties..
Maybe to us, but not to anyone else. Read any article written by people covering the NBA, it all contains speculation upon who the Rockets would draft - maybe Drew Gooden, maybe Caron Butler, maybe Jay Williams, etc, etc - even the other insider on this board said the Rockets were wary of Ming, and that Ming might not be the pick. And of course, don't forget the famous Chicago workout, when many teams were supposedly "dissapointed" and didn't think he was a top pick. Doc Rocket alone said that the Rockets would solely pursue Ming, and would take him despite any possible complications with China.
hp, if Rudy actually did any coaching it would be great to discuss offensive and defensive systems in more detail!
