Daryl Morey: Rockets Can Become NBA's Best Offensive Team Ever

[RealGM Wiretap]

Daryl Morey remains bullish on the Houston Rockets' chances this season, believing their defense can finish in the top-10 and also that their offense can be historically special.

"I really think we could be the best offense ever put on the floor," said Morey to Kelly Iko of The Athletic. "Now we’ll see if we can back that up, but our transition has been really good. Obviously, last year, we were one of the best halfcourt teams ever. There have been times where we’ve combined those two things and looked really good. Sometimes our transition has fallen off, sometimes our half-court (offense). But if we pull it together like I think we can, I think we’ll be the best offense in the league and a top-10 defense. That’ll be a formula to win the title."

The Rockets have had one of the worst defenses in the NBA to start the season, but Morey believes that can turnaround.

"We’re going to be a good defensive team," said Morey. "Obviously there’s been, you know, some things that don’t look good so far. But I have a lot of confidence that we’re going to be one of the top-10 defensive teams by the end of the year. That’s going to be us tightening things up. That’s going to be the mix of players we play, and how we play them. That’s going to be whatever we need to do to be a top-10 team. To be a championship-caliber team, you gotta be a top-10 defense.

Via Kelly Iko/The Athletic

[kenwood3333]

And the worst defensive team at the same time

[lonzo_pelota]

how was john collins drug tested and not him after this statement?

[Illmatic12]

Chinese government already thinks they’re the most offensive team ever

[Ayuandmi]

how was john collins drug tested and not him after this statement?

Lol

[scrabbarista]

Sounds reasonable to me.

[Revived]

Morey finally speaking publicly after going into hiding after the China comments...coward.

[arasu]

Morey finally speaking publicly after going into hiding after the China comments...coward.

The cowards are the people who tried to throw him under the bus for standing up for what's right.

[arasu]

The Rockets will be bottom 10 in defense this season. Best offense ever is a possibility.

[anthony00]

needs to be fired doesn't watch games because stats are coool

[Sam195]

Morey finally speaking publicly after going into hiding after the China comments...coward.

The cowards are the people who tried to throw him under the bus for standing up for what's right.

Morey clearly is suffering from some drinking or drug issue. He literally looks like former Friends actor Matthew Perry with the noticeable weight gain and refusal to shave regularly. Add to that I highly doubt he was in a good head space when he made that tweet that cost the nba, its owners and its players billions of dollars in lost business. I am not arguing the message of his statement but if anyone thinks Morey is not smart enough to foresee the backlash of his tweet then you are naive. He clearly was on something and lost control of his cognitive competencies when he made that tweet. If he wasn't having substance issues the nba could have easily canned him but I am guessing they were scared of the horrible PR that would come from both the china free speech conflict and firing a very public executive suffering from addiction issues at the same time. NBA under Adam Silver re-branded the league as one that has concern and makes investment in their player's health and well being both during and after their playing careers. Allstar players like Demar Derozan and Kevin Love have spoken out on depression and anxiety. Chris Paul the NBAPA President has negotiated a deal where the league and union share the cost of health insurance for both past and present nba players both during their playing and post-playing careers till death. If Morey got canned all this progress would also be defamed.

[mustbeniceman]

Didn't this guy get locked up?

[arasu]

Morey finally speaking publicly after going into hiding after the China comments...coward.

The cowards are the people who tried to throw him under the bus for standing up for what's right.

Morey clearly is suffering from some drinking or drug issue. He literally looks like former Friends actor Matthew Perry with the noticeable weight gain and refusal to shave regularly. Add to that I highly doubt he was in a good head space when he made that tweet that cost the nba, its owners and its players billions of dollars in lost business. I am not arguing the message of his statement but if anyone thinks Morey is not smart enough to foresee the backlash of his tweet then you are naive. He clearly was on something and lost control of his cognitive competencies when he made that tweet. If he wasn't having substance issues the nba could have easily canned him but I am guessing they were scared of the horrible PR that would come from both the china free speech conflict and firing a very public executive suffering from addiction issues at the same time. NBA under Adam Silver re-branded the league as one that has concern and makes investment in their player's health and well being both during and after their playing careers. Allstar players like Demar Derozan and Kevin Love have spoken out on depression and anxiety. Chris Paul the NBAPA President has negotiated a deal where the league and union share the cost of health insurance for both past and present nba players both during their playing and post-playing careers till death. If Morey got canned all this progress would also be defamed.

Do you have any evidence of substance abuse or addiction issues other than weight gain and irregular shaving? That's quite a list of assumptions there. And "clearly" none of what you wrote is actually clear.

[Sam195]

The cowards are the people who tried to throw him under the bus for standing up for what's right.

Morey clearly is suffering from some drinking or drug issue. He literally looks like former Friends actor Matthew Perry with the noticeable weight gain and refusal to shave regularly. Add to that I highly doubt he was in a good head space when he made that tweet that cost the nba, its owners and its players billions of dollars in lost business. I am not arguing the message of his statement but if anyone thinks Morey is not smart enough to foresee the backlash of his tweet then you are naive. He clearly was on something and lost control of his cognitive competencies when he made that tweet. If he wasn't having substance issues the nba could have easily canned him but I am guessing they were scared of the horrible PR that would come from both the china free speech conflict and firing a very public executive suffering from addiction issues at the same time. NBA under Adam Silver re-branded the league as one that has concern and makes investment in their player's health and well being both during and after their playing careers. Allstar players like Demar Derozan and Kevin Love have spoken out on depression and anxiety. Chris Paul the NBAPA President has negotiated a deal where the league and union share the cost of health insurance for both past and present nba players both during their playing and post-playing careers till death. If Morey got canned all this progress would also be defamed.

Do you have any evidence of substance abuse or addiction issues other than weight gain and irregular shaving? That's quite a list of assumptions there. And "clearly" none of what you wrote is actually clear.

lol Morey just came out of the witness-protection program to make these comments since his china tweet. And when I mean witness protection program I am guessing some fancy Texas rehab facility - he may be allowed to leave the facility for work now but still has to go there for regular appointments with his counselors and doctors. Good for him.

[The_Hater]

I’m not sure why everyone is laughing at this? The Rockets had the top ranked offense last season, ahead of the stacked Warriors, and they feel that RWB is an improvement on CP3 while their depth is clearly much better. And they employ the best offensive coach of the modern era.

They’ve been close before and on offensive rating they absolutely could post the best number of all time.

[TroyD92]

I’m not sure why everyone is laughing at this? The Rockets had the top ranked offense last season, ahead of the stacked Warriors, and they feel that RWB is an improvement on CP3 while their depth is clearly much better. And they employ the best offensive coach of the modern era.

They’ve been close before and on offensive rating they absolutely could post the best number of all time.

With one of the most inefficient players in basketball with a 27% usage rate? Huh?

[The_Hater]

I’m not sure why everyone is laughing at this? The Rockets had the top ranked offense last season, ahead of the stacked Warriors, and they feel that RWB is an improvement on CP3 while their depth is clearly much better. And they employ the best offensive coach of the modern era.

They’ve been close before and on offensive rating they absolutely could post the best number of all time.

With one of the most inefficient players in basketball with a 27% usage rate? Huh?

Westbrook was inefficient last season, not every season. And so far this season he’s traded in long 2’s for shots at the rim and his 2FG% is currently at a career high. The extra spacing and Harden’s presence makes him better.

I realize that hating on RWB is in vogue these days but everything is not as obvious as you seem to think. Even with terrible shooting by Harden early in the season the Rockets still currently rank 3rd in offence. This one needs to be allowed to play out.

[tosi]

Top Offensive team and while not being champions as well

[MitchB3]

It's things like this that makes you wonder if they really want to win championships