Before Harden, Rockets managed ONLY a single playoff win since 1996. That's even with 2 HOFers in Yao + McGrady leading team and supported by championship role players like Artest, Battier, etc. That's an example of being lost in the desert. Let's not take consistent championship contention for granted. Nothing is owed is.
if we focus on development over wins - I'd say we're a 30 win team... keeping in mind part of developing guys is teaching them how to closeout and win in actual game situations... but probably losing some game by leaving youngsters on the court to 'figure it out' sorta thing - even on off nights... If we actually made Ws the end all goal... and tried to supplement the roster accordingly... call me crazy but i think we're in the 'play in' mix... enough teams will be tanking (or just bad) and we have enough raw talent that if supplemented with a couple vets... we could sneak in... hopefully Frittatas ego doesnt take us down this route... I think we'll be the 30 win team - without trying to tank... and thats fine imo... Get a whole mess of frp youngsters with upside... and the first thing you're gonna tell em is winning isnt important? naw... that may be 'the process' - but it aint 'building a culture'... I'd rather go with latter - and hope for (or try to make) a lil more luck along the way...
Maximize the next two years of draft picks especially the lottery and don't do anything stupid or detrimental like attaching picks to get rid of Wall or signing/trading an over-the-hill star with another crappy contract in some vain attempt to reach the playoffs.
Let me guess, they play 82 games now? Then it is likely 25-32. 53 wins would surprise me than 19 wins.
