Would you want to compete with about 2% chance of winning a championship?

That was incredibly scientific, with many supporting facts and calculations. JCDenton would be proud.

 

I'm not of the opinion that its championship or bust.

If its a choice between us getting to the conference finals and the team being blown up -- who here would take the latter?

I also think the Rockets plan is to stay competitive while also retaining the flexibility to upgrade talent and make significant roster changes. I like that approach.

 

Meh.



And hell yes, you should compete. You compete every season, and if there is a player on the Rockets or a coach who doesn't want to win? Get rid of them. Compete with what you have, try to build a better team, and play to win, unless the playoffs are completely out of reach and a loss will move you up in the lottery.

(I'm looking at you, Mr. Van Gundy!)

 

During the season, you always play and compete to win.

You can think about rebuilding in the offseason, after seeing how the season went. But no matter what, you never think of losing during the season.

 

With the way the questions are worded, who wouldn't choose the fourth option?

(Granted, two people who can't read chose something otherwise, but hey, its a free country!)

 

It's really hard to say - if the Roster remains as it is, I don't think we have enough to get past the L.A., Miami's and Boston.

In order to advance in the playoffs all the way, you need a perimeter guy or two who can get off a very high percentage shot in the closing minutes / seconds of a game. While there are exceptions - ala Detroit, that team was very sound in nearly every aspect of the game, and had quite a few legit all-stars as well despite no superstar per se.

It's no coincidence that the big name stars are the one who win the championships. Kobe, Wade, Pierce of late.

You look at a team like San Antonio and there championships - and they didn't have a big name perimeter star but Tony Parker and Many Ginobli and Robert Horry for some.

Look at how these teams are built - all with Clutch performers. L.A. has Kobe, but it also has Fischer who is really underrated in the clutch. Boston had Paul Pierce - he could get a shot of at anytime and in the closing minutes of their championship run the ball went into his hands often with success.

The Rockets are a bit shaky in that department. You are going to have trouble getting the ball into Yao with 10 seconds remaining - not enough time. and the refs allow for more contact in those situations.

So really it comes down to Brooks, Chase, Lowry, Ariza, and Martin. Brooks is clearly clutch, but teams can contain him and we've seen that at times.

Lowry and Ariza aren't great outside shooters (I know some may disagree). Chase has the potential - but he's still developing so it's unclear when he can take on that burden.

So that leaves us with Martin. And I just don't see him as that sort of guy. He's very efficient, and he gets to the line, but can you put the ball in his hands with 2 seconds and have him get a shot that's 35-40% accurate? I don't think so.

So that's my key thing with us and our team (beyond staying healthy). Brooks is good, and he provides hope, but against the Lakers - they will make sure they put someone who will bother his jump shot. You need another person. Maybe even a third who can hit that big shot considering that L.A. is going to throw Kobe, Artest, and Fischer at the perimeter - all very excellent defenders.

I know people may say - hey - why does the end of the 4th quarter really matter that much? I think because at least 1 game in a series is going to come down to the closing minutes and the ability to execute in the clutch - and against evenly matched teams, that may very well be the difference in advancing or staying home.

My 403 cents.

 

one flaw...

Now, if the Rockets played a superior team, like the Lakers or the Heat, I give them maybe 30-40% chance of winning a series. Again, 40% IMO is reaching, but like I said, let's be optimistic. Again, probably closer to 30%.

If we play the heat then we make it to the NBA Finals. Anything can happen in a 7 game series.

and forget those stats. there is no stat for hustle,grit, and determination.

Rockets gonads > Heat gonads

 

Ah, then I'll step off my indignant high horse and give a hearty, "I agree!!"

 

I believe the best most teams can do is be one of the players, and hope things break your way.

Especially without a superstar that a team gets lucky to draft.

Injuries play a role, chemistry and sometimes matchups.

The Rox were not the favorites their two championship years, and still we won em.

I would be happy signing Scola and hoping this team is good enough.

If not you use some of those assets at the trade deadline to take advantage of teams with buyers remorse.

DD

 

rebuilding isn't fun and it's no guarantee for anything.

 

why is everyone counting Miami and Boston as teams the rockets need to get past in the playoffs? Cause they are not. If we make the playoffs we won't be a 8 seed, we'll be a 4-6 seed in the WEST. A lot can happen until the WCF.

 

Hey, maybe we should just ask the Clippers how they feel about prepetually rebuilding.

DD

 

Aye. I think people forget the latter.

 

the Rockets dont need to rebuild we got young guys who have lots of potential.
We need a second superstar thats it.

 

If winning the Championship was completely random, then each team had slightly more than 3% chance at the ring. If we realistically only have 2%, that's not too bad, not too far off the completely random case.