How Do We Feel About The Rockets Winning With A Non-Shooting Frontcourt?

[TimeForChange]

Masai...but I believe it was actually Bobby...built no depth.

the "Masai can do no wrong" crowd is so embarassing.

Masai was trash for a few years. Just admit it and move on.

[Tripod]

Masai...but I believe it was actually Bobby...built no depth.

the "Masai can do no wrong" crowd is so embarassing.

Masai was trash for a few years. Just admit it and move on.

He has done plenty wrong. And I have said so repeatedly.

But I personally feel like he gave Bobby more control when he was spending WAY more time focusing on Africa bball after 2020. Go back and look and you will see me actively criticizing him for not getting the Raps a C earlier and spending too much time on the Giants. But all the moves we were making also didn't seem like Masai type moves and I think Bobby was given more leash.

But the OG trade, Siakam trade, and everything following all "feel" way more like Masai moves than the previous few years. That's just how it feels to me, and some others.

Ultimately it all falls on Masai either way. He is ultimately responsible. He didn't get the C early enough. He didn't build a bench. He was spending too much time on GoA. He allowed selfish play. He allowed the coach to enable that play. Etc...

[Yeezus_]

Fred turning into Steph Curry the last 3 games is the biggest reason they’re still in the series.

[Tor_Raps]

Houston tanked for 4 years and paid Fred 43 million to get to this point.

And who cares. I want to win championships. Houston isn’t winning a championship with this roster. They are also playing a very old and flawed team who is also doing the same lineups as Houston. Three non-shooters.

Do you think teams turn into championship contenders overnight? There are progressive steps required in order to get there...

The current players on their team aren’t winning a championship. Thats not to say they can’t make moves and construct a championship roster like we did here. They have good players and picks. Thats also not to say that this experience isn’t going to make them better. It will.

As Tsherkin and I mentioned, they are playing a flawed Warriors team who are also playing three non-shooters. Three non-shooters with Jalen Green and FVV aren’t ever going to win a championship. lol.

That flawed team has practically had the best record in the NBA since getting Butler and was feared by many heading into the playoffs. Don't hold it against Houston that they have enough roster versatility to find a way to get the series to 7 games in their first real playoff run.

And that was my point exactly, they have a lot of good to great young players that they can keep building on this year from. Raptors are hoping to get there in a few years...

[TorontoBarneys]

Masai...but I believe it was actually Bobby...built no depth.

the "Masai can do no wrong" crowd is so embarassing.

Masai was trash for a few years. Just admit it and move on.

I wouldn't say he was trash, but yeah, he was definitely coasting and resting on his laurels with the SIakam & Freddy core, and some posters have a hard time admitting this.

[ConSarnit]

Masai...but I believe it was actually Bobby...built no depth.

the "Masai can do no wrong" crowd is so embarassing.

Masai was trash for a few years. Just admit it and move on.

He has done plenty wrong. And I have said so repeatedly.

But I personally feel like he gave Bobby more control when he was spending WAY more time focusing on Africa bball after 2020. Go back and look and you will see me actively criticizing him for not getting the Raps a C earlier and spending too much time on the Giants. But all the moves we were making also didn't seem like Masai type moves and I think Bobby was given more leash.

But the OG trade, Siakam trade, and everything following all "feel" way more like Masai moves than the previous few years. That's just how it feels to me, and some others.

Ultimately it all falls on Masai either way. He is ultimately responsible. He didn't get the C early enough. He didn't build a bench. He was spending too much time on GoA. He allowed selfish play. He allowed the coach to enable that play. Etc...

Good thing we fixed that selfishness issue. Siakam, FVV and OG are really letting their current teams down with their selfish play.

[mihaic]

Fred turning into Steph Curry the last 3 games is the biggest reason they’re still in the series.

Exactly. He could easily shoot them out of the game.

And to respond to the thread made, they didn't beat the old arse gsw yet, wait for game 7 they could be out in the 1st round.

I watched Curry live this year against Toronto. He's a half step slower than he used to and cannot sustain his usual running around the opponent defense for the whole game. He's still a superstar but on the decline. And his supporting cast is shyte. I feel like the Raps rookies sans BI could give gsw a good run.

[Johnny Bball]

Houston tanked for 4 years and paid Fred 43 million to get to this point.

And who cares. I want to win championships. Houston isn’t winning a championship with this roster. They are also playing a very old and flawed team who is also doing the same lineups as Houston. Three non-shooters.

Do you think teams turn into championship contenders overnight? There are progressive steps required in order to get there...

Yeah that part I always find weird. No one goes from lottery to Finals in 1 year. You build towards it.

Houston is in a good spot....win or lose today. Then they will try and build off that...internally and thru trades. A bunch of their young guys are far from finished products.

But its the argument to want to continue to tank forever.

FVV was never as bad as some people here presume with their wealth of BB knowledge. They just hated so much they overlooked what he can do. He isn't worth 40 mill to us though. But he is to the rockets right now. That will change I expect eventually. Good luck Freddy.

[Tripod]

the "Masai can do no wrong" crowd is so embarassing.

Masai was trash for a few years. Just admit it and move on.

He has done plenty wrong. And I have said so repeatedly.

But I personally feel like he gave Bobby more control when he was spending WAY more time focusing on Africa bball after 2020. Go back and look and you will see me actively criticizing him for not getting the Raps a C earlier and spending too much time on the Giants. But all the moves we were making also didn't seem like Masai type moves and I think Bobby was given more leash.

But the OG trade, Siakam trade, and everything following all "feel" way more like Masai moves than the previous few years. That's just how it feels to me, and some others.

Ultimately it all falls on Masai either way. He is ultimately responsible. He didn't get the C early enough. He didn't build a bench. He was spending too much time on GoA. He allowed selfish play. He allowed the coach to enable that play. Etc...

Good thing we fixed that selfishness issue. Siakam, FVV and OG are really letting their current teams down with their selfish play.

If you don't think we were playing selfish bball, I don't know what to tell you.

They all got paid....shocking they are not playing that way now.

[Par36]

They are a first round team at the moment..

Maybe wait until they have a late playoff run before we post this?

[Basketball_Jones]

Houston got a bright future as long as they attract a star to sign there. Some holes to fill, doubt they bring back Freddy but who knows. Not really anyone to build around at this point. A bit like us with Scottie then we gave the short contract to BI to raise our floor.

[Tripod]

Do you think teams turn into championship contenders overnight? There are progressive steps required in order to get there...

Yeah that part I always find weird. No one goes from lottery to Finals in 1 year. You build towards it.

Houston is in a good spot....win or lose today. Then they will try and build off that...internally and thru trades. A bunch of their young guys are far from finished products.

But its the argument to want to continue to tank forever.

FVV was never as bad as some people here presume with their wealth of BB knowledge. They just hated so much they overlooked what he can do. He isn't worth 40 mill to us though. But he is to the rockets right now. That will change I expect eventually. Good luck Freddy.

Yeah no one should want to tank forever.

I agree on Fred. Everyone should be thankful for his part in the Raps winning a Championship. It's a team game and he was one piece who had some lows, but fantastic highs when we needed it.

But it's also OK to say you dislike what he morphed into after Lowry left and didn't like his "leadership" style, especially airing things to media. Also our playstyle was awful to watch...win or lose. But Nurse is also to blame there as he cared more about defense and let the vets dictate play.

Personally I like changing of the guard so if they beat GS, all good. Get more "new" teams in the final 8. They have lots of youth who will learn from it either way. And they brought in vets and a no nonsense coach to surround them. I think back to not that long ago when they played all out offense just chucking forever and no defense. Complete 180.

I do hope we get a great game tonight after last night's stinker

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Fred turning into Steph Curry the last 3 games is the biggest reason they’re still in the series.

Exactly. He could easily shoot them out of the game.

And to respond to the thread made, they didn't beat the old arse gsw yet, wait for game 7 they could be out in the 1st round.

I watched Curry live this year against Toronto. He's a half step slower than he used to and cannot sustain his usual running around the opponent defense for the whole game. He's still a superstar but on the decline. And his supporting cast is shyte. I feel like the Raps rookies sans BI could give gsw a good run.

He lead the rockets to second place in the west and is about to finish Golden States future title hopes, after ending the GSW dynasty in 2019.

How much more of a sample size do you need to understand that Fred is one of the best in the game in terms of impact and leadership? What will it take? Tell me please....

[mtcan]

If the Warriors win tonight...this thread is invalid.

[Tha Cynic]

Just goes to show there's multiple ways to skin a cat and that this board should stop with this 2K way of thinking when considering roster construction

This is it exactly. It becomes even more obvious as teams with different styles win every year.

Houston doesn’t have the star quality so they most likely won’t get far this year, but their style can still win a championship with a superstar added.

Their style of building is actually very similar to how the Raptors built their championship team, which required very good players at every position who could play defense. They’re then consolidated that into a superstar.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Houston got a bright future as long as they attract a star to sign there. Some holes to fill, doubt they bring back Freddy but who knows. Not really anyone to build around at this point. A bit like us with Scottie then we gave the short contract to BI to raise our floor.

Why would they not bring back the player that led them to second seed in the west?

[Purple+Black]

If the Rockets even make the second round, I’ll revisit after the next series to see how this thread ages

[TheRaptor!]

Fred turning into Steph Curry the last 3 games is the biggest reason they’re still in the series.

Exactly. He could easily shoot them out of the game.

And to respond to the thread made, they didn't beat the old arse gsw yet, wait for game 7 they could be out in the 1st round.

I watched Curry live this year against Toronto. He's a half step slower than he used to and cannot sustain his usual running around the opponent defense for the whole game. He's still a superstar but on the decline. And his supporting cast is shyte. I feel like the Raps rookies sans BI could give gsw a good run.

He lead the rockets to second place in the west and is about to finish Golden States future title hopes, after ending the GSW dynasty in 2019.

How much more of a sample size do you need to understand that Fred is one of the best in the game in terms of impact and leadership? What will it take? Tell me please....

"i hate Fred, he might be good with them but he was bad with us, he is worth the money to them but not to us, he might have led them to second seed in the west but I stick to my opinion that he is a bad player and i refuse to believe he could positively impact us regardless"

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

both these teams are not gonna win any championships so who cares?

[WaltFrazier]

The Rockets best lineup in the Regular season and playoffs mostly consisted of a Adams - Sengun - Thompson front court. How does it make us feel about those Fred - OG - Barnes - Siakam - Poeltl teams that failed here?

Do we think that if Masai had built the depth of those teams that the end result could have been different? Just thought I'd bring it up to see people's thoughts.

If we had kept Norm, got Jak a year sooner, still drafted Scottie, acquired a legit back-up PG and a shooter, it would have been a two year window in 22 and 23 where they would have done better than losing to Sixers first round and Chicago in the play in. Oh and Fred be healthy. It's a lot of ifs. But that core deserved a better roster build around them. Masai went so long with no PG but Fred, and zero centers until getting Jak a season and a half too late.