Are Statheads the NBA's secret weapon?

[Ripp]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

Because he had a $40 million hole in his roster?

[john2jer]

I don't know any insiders who can comment on David Kahn.

But looking at his decisions since getting the job, he has no business running an NBA team. Although, he still gets a few more years to fix things, obviously.

What bad decisions has he made? The only thing I think is legitly questionable from an outsider is Jonny Flynn. Kahn liked Flynn, but there was also the strong belief that they could trade Flynn and James Johnson(if they got him at #18) to the Kings for Tyreke Evans. Now obviously Flynn has had moments this year where he's looked fantastic, and moments where he's looked dreadful. The kid's not bad, though. Just has some work to do, like all rookie point guards.

Otherwise Kahn has made a lot of good, minor moves that will set them up nicely for the future. He's cleared more cap space, improved draft picks, and dumped players who weren't part of the future for either guys that are part of the future, or space to bring in talent.

[ARISE_CHICKEN]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

oh my goodness

[Banks2Pierce]

What bad decisions has he made? The only thing I think is legitly questionable from an outsider is Jonny Flynn. Kahn liked Flynn, but there was also the strong belief that they could trade Flynn and James Johnson(if they got him at #18) to the Kings for Tyreke Evans. Now obviously Flynn has had moments this year where he's looked fantastic, and moments where he's looked dreadful. The kid's not bad, though. Just has some work to do, like all rookie point guards.

Otherwise Kahn has made a lot of good, minor moves that will set them up nicely for the future. He's cleared more cap space, improved draft picks, and dumped players who weren't part of the future for either guys that are part of the future, or space to bring in talent.

Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn wasn't a bad decision? Sorry, but that's bad enough to make you the running joke of the league. Not to mention Rubio is putting up huge numbers this year, including 39% from the field and 6ppg. It all makes sense, though: he has Juan Carlos "La Bomba" Navarro starting ahead of him and he is an NBA legend after taking the league by storm.

[Jimmy76]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

oh my goodness

he's doing pretty well considering the rockets have in effect a 20 million cap

[john2jer]

What bad decisions has he made? The only thing I think is legitly questionable from an outsider is Jonny Flynn. Kahn liked Flynn, but there was also the strong belief that they could trade Flynn and James Johnson(if they got him at #18) to the Kings for Tyreke Evans. Now obviously Flynn has had moments this year where he's looked fantastic, and moments where he's looked dreadful. The kid's not bad, though. Just has some work to do, like all rookie point guards.

Otherwise Kahn has made a lot of good, minor moves that will set them up nicely for the future. He's cleared more cap space, improved draft picks, and dumped players who weren't part of the future for either guys that are part of the future, or space to bring in talent.

Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn wasn't a bad decision? Sorry, but that's bad enough to make you the running joke of the league. Not to mention Rubio is putting up huge numbers this year, including 39% from the field and 6ppg. It all makes sense, though: he has Juan Carlos "La Bomba" Navarro starting ahead of him and he is an NBA legend after taking the league by storm.

No, it wasn't a bad decision. I'm sure glad you can glance at stats, have you tried watching Rubio play? Rubio actually has started EVERY game for Barcelona this year. Navarro starts at SG. Rubio also has been shooting 39% from 3pt and 95% from FT. Rubio also leads his team in assists and steals, while no where near leading the team in minutes. He was also just named for the third year in a row the top young player in Europe. Now I'm sure you'll bag on the Wolves for Rubio not being in the NBA until 2011 or 2012, but he won't be the first player to be drafted and not play right away; Bird, Robinson, Ginobili, Sabonis... Learn the game, seriously.

[InBoobieWeTrust]

What bad decisions has he made? The only thing I think is legitly questionable from an outsider is Jonny Flynn. Kahn liked Flynn, but there was also the strong belief that they could trade Flynn and James Johnson(if they got him at #18) to the Kings for Tyreke Evans. Now obviously Flynn has had moments this year where he's looked fantastic, and moments where he's looked dreadful. The kid's not bad, though. Just has some work to do, like all rookie point guards.

Otherwise Kahn has made a lot of good, minor moves that will set them up nicely for the future. He's cleared more cap space, improved draft picks, and dumped players who weren't part of the future for either guys that are part of the future, or space to bring in talent.

Rubio and Flynn was just a horrible, horrible idea. Taking Rubio wasn't a bad idea, but then taking Johnny Flynn(passing up Steph Curry and trading away Ty Lawson, both better than Flynn, by the way) and basically scaring Rubio off from coming to the NBA for the next three years(In reality, the chances are strong that he never plays a game for Minnesota and he's not a great trade asset because he has no reason to enter the NBA until he doesn't have to adhere to the rookie scale anymore. Although things could get complicated with the next CBA)

[D-31]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

oh my goodness

he's doing pretty well considering the rockets have in effect a 20 million cap

I guess that's what happens when you have a team built around injury prone players.

[john2jer]

So you're in favor of drafting guys who refused to work out for your team? I think Curry is an excellent player, and I don't deny that he'd likely be a better fit than Flynn, but he canceled a workout with the Wolves and refused to re-schedule. So that right there causes me to have zero interest in drafting him.

Rubio will play for the Wolves in 2011. He wasn't scared off by anything. he was a 19 year old kid that would have had to pay to play in the NBA. It was a smart financial decision to stay in Europe for 2 more years when the buyout will be MUCH cheaper.

Now obviously we're both going to keep our point of views, and neither of us will be proven right or wrong until at the earliest 2011, but I feel very confident that Rubio will be wearing a Wolves jersey in 2011, unless someone offers just a ridiculous trade for him.

Wolves didn't trade away Lawson, they traded away the pick that was used to select Lawson. But speaking of Lawson, he's been good for Denver, but please tell me you understand the difference between playing back-up PG for Denver and starting PG for Minnesota. One team is the 2nd worst in the league, the other is one of the best in the West. One team has all-stars and likely a future hall of famer or two on the roster, the other has um, well... Not much. Lawson definitely has a much easier situation to be playing in than Flynn.

[Guy986]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

Ask the team's medical staff.

[The Shiv]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

Ask the team's medical staff.

GM's should take into account a players injury history. Dude should have traded Yao a couple years ago to get max value out of him.

[InBoobieWeTrust]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

Ask the team's medical staff.

GM's should take into account a players injury history. Dude should have traded Yao a couple years ago to get max value out of him.

Yao's too much of a cash cow to trade. Remember, the NBA is still a business and trading Yao is not fiscally responsible.

[RTM]

Stats have a place, they never have nor will rule the NBA.

[TheSheriff]

I am suprised so FEW teams have stat guys on staff. NBA owners are idiots: they hire former star players as GMs, who in turn do not use the proper tools to evaluate players.

[Mr. E]

If Morey is such a genius then why aren't the rockets in the playoff race?

Ask the team's medical staff.

and please take them with you.

please.

As to your question, Shiv - the Rockets came into this season without Yao and without McGrady. You have to remember that (to quote the great poet from Alabama, Charles Barkley) they were going to be turrble! Just Turrble! They were supposed to have at least 284 losses before the All-Star Break!

Instead they scrapped, took a lot of teams by surprise and played with more grit and determination than anyone outside of Houston expected. Thing did take a turn for the worse with injuries to Ariza and (especially) Kyle Lowry, and then you had the big trade that went down which really disrupted team chemistry right now in exchange for long-term gain.

If the Rockets miss the playoffs (which is likely) then that's OK, as any success this season has been gravy. Rather than tanking, Morey & Adelman are seeing these guys step up and prove themselves on the court. They're getting a good measure of players who fit in the system and who do not. The Rockets missing the playoffs in a season which started without their top two guys is not a failure - if they had players with no heart who rolled over from the start then that would have been a failure.

As for trading Yao: never going to happen. Yao means far too much to Les Alexander to consider trading. His value goes beyond basketball; much farther than the "jersey sales" argument people try to make when discussing his off-court value.

Morey's rep as a GM has been that of a stats geek, but that really underestimates his value as an evaluator of talent. He's shown an uncanny ability to find very good talent with very limited resources. He's also firm in his stance on player value, which is very underrated in a sport with a salary cap and limited options.

[Jimmy76]

we dont have a stats guy

my faith in this organizations ability to rebuild has dropped even more

[DFM]

The article says it's 13/16 playoff teams (everyone but Utah, Phoenix, and Atlanta), and Houston is obviously one as well. Who is the 15th team?

[mysticbb]

Memphis Grizzlies.