The Spurs have an identity and built their roster accordingly to execute. The Rockets have an identity, but our roster has flaws to support our tough "I gonna punk you" mentality...If Ime will continue to be our coach then Sengun and Reed has to go. I hate to say this, but we probably traded the wrong player. Jalen Green would've been a better fit alongside KD. Sengun plays kinda soft at times and Reed is just a liability out there. We gotta go all in now to get Giannis or we'll be stuck the next 5-6 years of watching the Spurs and Thunder go back and forth to the FINALS
When one of three things happens: We luck into a finding a true MVP contender We fire the current crew and manage to somehow end up with an elite front office/coaching staff afterward Houston becomes an S tier city where every player is eager to go Might be a long wait for a train that don't come...
How long is long? We've been waiting 30+ years and we ain't getting any younger. Maybe the next generation or two and the Rockets can go on an Astro-like run.
It was their turn in 2018 but in the words of Raffy, “just not our year”. (TBH, Harden era was their time but alas the Warriors also existed. Damn hamstring!) We are a 45-50 win franchise that loses in the first round. Not talking about this year or last year or next year. As a whole. 4 Finals appearances, 2 championships. We don’t really build or develop. We acquire through trade. 31 years since being in the Finals. 8th longest drought in the NBA. (Kings 75, Hawks 65, Clippers 56(never), Wizards 47, Hornets 38(never), Wolves 37(never), Blazers 34, Rockets/Grizzlies(never) 31, Jazz/Bulls 28, Sixers 25, Pelicans 24(never))
Pretty sure 26 teams or so are constantly thinking the same. It takes a lot to win a ring and to even make the Finals. Sometimes talent isn't enough. You need a little luck from injuries, desperation shots, and matchups. SA was dominant for so many years because everyone bought in. Will Castle, Vassle, Wemby, and Harper all buy in to the degree of Duncan and Robinson? Vassle and Castle seem like hotheads. I could see them declining or thinking too high of themselves due to their improved play next to Wemby and chase money. Wemby also can't possibly stay healthy for forever. Every star eventually has an injury that clears the way for at least one season. These guys are all on rookie contracts too. The financial math is going to come for the Spurs eventually.
I know the doomer mentality is on high after Spurs reach the Finals but as someone who been here since YaoMac the Rockets position isnt that bad. First of all unlike the Harden era or YaoMac era the Rockets core while still lacking are all just kids under 25, they can still improve and get better. Secondly unlike Morey Stone protected our asset base, we still have chances in 2027 and 2029 to reload. For YaoMac and Harden, the team just kept getting older and more washed at least in our team the young guys havent even reached their prime yet. Third, other than Wemby it seems every other team still has flaws. OKC Chet looks like he is Wembys b**** and both him and JDub are injury prone. Wemby too is prob already the best player in the world but at 7'6 he aint gonna have a 20 yr career like Lebron. He is gonna have a short or injury plagued career sooner or later. Other than these two who else in the West? Jokic is getting older and stuck on a bad team. Luka is also injury prone. Ant has Julius Randle and Gobert as his sidekicks lol. I still like Rockets core in the long run after OKC and Spurs.
Let's look at the young players of this rebuild #2 pick Jalen - Gone #17 pick Sengun - hasn't gotten better since year 3 #23 Garuba - gone #24 Christopher - gone #3 Jabari - took 4 years to be average starter #17 Eason - may not be back and constantly injured #25 TyTy - gone #4 Amen - Still no jumper after 3 years #20 Cam - gone #3 Reed - Shot 31% in the playoffs after 2 years. #10 pick - Traded for 37yr old KD I'm still having trouble finding where all the growths are.
The sheer mismanagement of draft capital and the lack of player development have convinced me that the rebuild means the Rockets are going to stay on the treadmill of mediocrity. Ime can potentially coach a heavy defensive team with at least one good offensive player to a title, but only if he gets a good matchup. Dude is not an elite team coach, but rather an overpromoted defensive coordinator.
We historically like big names over fit and prioritize individual talent maximization over team cohesiveness. Talent aggregation is obviously big but when it supersedes team identity/coherence, you can lose direction, continuity, psychological ownership, and developmental runway. Also, our definition of a players “prime” seems to be a bit more relaxed than some other organizations. We tend make to instant gratification moves whenever we’re in striking distance of long term success. It’s a basketball culture thing for me.
