Where is the Magic?

Well, I don't "see what you see." Perhaps it's because I didn't get enough spankings, as you suggested before. But yes, I think that if we brought back the exact same team PLUS a healthy Yao and McGrady, we'd easily be contenders for the title. And that's with no GM moves, though the GM is making moves.

And I think your statement that GM's are judged according to championships is (forgive the language) absolutely r****ded.

The number one (and number ONLY) issue for the Rockets has been health.

WE HAD TWO FREAKING ALL STARS ON THE BENCH IN STREET CLOTHES.

You can't blame that junk on the GM. What you CAN blame on the GM is the success we had in spite of that.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAD TWO FREAKING ALL STARS ON THE BENCH IN STREET CLOTHES WE TOOK THE FREAKING WORLD CHAMPS TO SEVEN GAMES.

END. OF. ****ING. ARGUMENT.

I hate to say it to you like this since you're an oldtimer leebigez, but this is an incredibly stupid thread.

And, just so you know, I'm not from a new generation. I'm 40. My parents spanked me with their hands and with a belt. And I've been through plenty of punishment in my life apart from that too.

I don't think your argument's stupid because I've been pampered; I think it's stupid because it's stupid.

 

Then they should have landed Jefferson AND Carter, right? I mean, we've talked about how transformative Jefferson and Carter are individually, imagine landing both! Put those 2 guys on the wings, run Roy at the point, and have Aldridge and Oden up front and you've got a contender. What is Pritchard thinking?

Except he didn't do that at all this year. He moved up 2 slots to pick a guy most people scratched their heads over. SPLASH.

Statements like this are why I can't take you seriously, and will not further engage in "discussion".

The Rockets acquired the Pistons 2nd round pick (Budinger) -- it is 100% certain that the Rockets and Pistons spoke on draft night.

I don't even know what this means.

So what you're saying is, because the Rockets were patient and didn't make a bad trade (including Brooks in a deal with the Kings), they now have an extra coveted asset. They wouldn't have this if they listened to you. There will be more deals to be made -- care to find the last time every major transaction was made pre-draft, and nothing happened the rest of the offseason or at the deadline?

It's the same song and dance, and it's old. Flip out whenever someone else makes a move. I believe others have asked, but you are yet to say what actual pieces you would've moved for Jefferson or Carter.

And I don't think this team is a contender as is. But I'm not going to go into some downward spiral over Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson -- two guys who "led" their teams to 34 win seasons. Neither one magically makes this team a contender.

 

But I am a self made man

 

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to NIKEstrad again."

 

I definitely agree, however its not about Brooks the player. Its about his value, and shrewdly managing the teams assets. You don't give up an asset that has potential to greatly increase its value as a throw in. Especially not for Artest. I am not in love with Brooks, however it is clear by keeping him a mere one more year, his value has increased exponentially. Now you can trade him while his value is high.

Basketball knowledge, scouting, an eye for talent is obviously important in running a team. However, effective and efficient asset management is essential, especially in today's financial environment. A rash move could cripple the franchise for years. When your team is restricted by the cap and and money actually matters, unlike teams like NY, LA and teams who have wealthy owners like DAL, POR, you have to be aggressive but also smart financially.

As many times as you mention how much you dislike Battier for Rudy, you forget about our throw in Swift. That was purely financial by getting rid of someone JVG obviously didn't like. Do you really think MEM asked for Swift?

 

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to NIKEstrad again."

 

Then there were 28 teams other than the Rockets who thought Dumars was asking too much for the pick. Backtracking from the "Morey dropped the ball and never even called" sentiment. Glad we got that settled.

Sigh. Back to distorted history.

The Nets went to the Finals 2 years in the crappy Eastern Conference days. They won 49 and 52 games those years. Jefferson was not the #2 guy either year. The first year, Jefferson was a 6th man and 6th on the team in scoring, averaging 9 ppg (just behind the illustrious Todd Maculloch, the bigger badder TMac). The 2nd year, Jefferson was a solid #3 behind Kidd and Kenyon Martin.

Like the Rockets, protection against injury is great, but if your horses aren't there for the playoffs, it will be hard to win.

Round and round we go. For the 50th time, what specific package could the Rockets have put together that would have had similar value to the Bucks?

We get it -- the Spurs gave up easily replaceable pieces. The Rockets did the same thing to get Artest last year. We didn't have the right mix of assets for Milwaukee / New Jersey.

 

You can say that you dont call people names, but saying they sat in their mommy's lap and got their head rubbed, or that they sucked in sports but won ribbons and all that self made BS you throw out there is no better then someone calling you a whiny b****.

Regardless, whiny or not, the bigger problem is you are a walking contradiction. You talk about titles being what GMs are graded on, and yet you heap praise onto Pritchard like some God. Portland has done nothing in the playoffs since his wheelings and dealings. Yes they made progress but according to you none of that matters since the Rox get no credit for taking the Lakers to 7 games in the second round. What award did the Blazers win this year?

Second, you fail to mention Pritchard has not landed the coveted big time free Agent either. He drafted Roy and Aldridge with two very high lotto picks. He blew the Oden pick big time. Tell me how dangerous a SG, SF, PF tandem of Roy, Durant and Aldrige would be. Factor in that without Paul Allen's billions Pritchard wouldnt have half the assets he has accumulated for Portland and you will see he is nothing special compared to Morey.

You also mention Dumars as this GM kingpin. You mention Darko as if it was some minor slip up when Melo, Wade, and Bosh all went after him. Also his trade of Billups for AI basically sent them from a powerhouse to a near lotto team in one season.

Lastly, Ill bring up the Billups trade again. Do you think it worked out for Denver or that they made progress this year? According to you its title or nothing so that must mean Denver is no closer with Billups then they were with AI.

 

When L.A. landed Paul Gasol, the rest of the western conference knew they were in trouble. And they were right. Just ask Phonix and Dallas.
It was a great move because L.A. virtually gave up nothing. I am hoping that's what Morey is up to.

 

you simply cannot force trades just for the sake of making one. it was obvious no meaningful trade was available without giving up too much. buying into the draft is really smart and innovative and it has to be looked at as an investment. this is a great way to give yourself more assets than other teams. it is money well invested if you can pick good players, build up their value like we did with brooks, landry and possibly dorsey whom are worth alot more than we got them for.

i like how morey does it. he gets players gm's pass up on because they are deemed to have weaknesses. for morey, he looked for upsides instead of weaknesses. this is a good way because when the picks mature, you can either keep it for our own team or use it in trades. landry, was deemed to be too short for power forward, but morey got him knowing this kid was explosive, strong and had tremendous heart. brooks is listed as 6 foot but those of you that have seen him, he is more like 5'10. but boy there isn't a person quicker than him right now, it is the same upside i'm talking about. i think dorsey will pan out as well. i mean even assuming he doesn't create his own shot. but he'll just wreak havoc on the court. be a monster on the boards and defense. and he can finish with dunks around the rim.

now i see the same thing with taylor and budinger. taylor is a scorer and budinger is shoot the hell out of the ball. both can do one thing really well and has potential to improve on other aspects. this is great. classic low cost high reward investments.

 

I know what you mean.

You heap praise upon Morey for the Rockets taking the Lakers to 7, but somehow they do it all in spite of Adelman, apparently. Sorry Batman, but that's no worse than lee's position on Morey.

 

agreed...if ym retires we are busted. without him this past year we wouldn't have won 30 games