Comments on: Winderman: Battier a big loss for Rockets in playoff race

By: icu84bs

icu84bs — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:19:45 +0000

Houston basically traded (a slowing) Battier for a 1st round draft pick (no way they resign Thabeet). Good move.

By: dmiratsky6969

dmiratsky6969 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:30:05 +0000

Nice comeback…

By: tommvaughan

tommvaughan — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:06:00 +0000

The problem with this theory is that the Rockets defense was just as dreadful before Battier left. In fact, they lost to the Heat by the same score back when Battier was on the team.

You also forgot to mention the Rockets have won 7 of their last 8 and own one of the best records in the league SINCE they traded away Battier. This data does not support your point and would seem to be a much bigger sample then then the one game you point to.

By: jsprunner

jsprunner — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:56:52 +0000

Actually, I was only having fun with the outline of the trade. I’ll never be an NBA GM (and neither will any of the posters here, most likely), but I mostly like the analytical approach Morey seems to take. But it’s hard to make the argument that the team is appreciably closer to contending since he’s arrived. Can’t blame Yao/Tracy injuries on the GM, but don’t blame the team’s record on Battier. If he was holding the Rockets back, there is such a thing as the bench. Nothing was keeping Budinger out of the starting lineup other than the coach, who must have felt Battier’s contributions were valuable. I would have preferred to keep the Battier’s cap room (which is only going to get more scarce whenever there is a new CBA) rather than take on Thabeet’s #2 pick overall salary, and a non-lottery #1.

And even though the team is now full of good, complementary assets, none of them in any combination has been attractive enough to any other team to reel in a major star via trade (which is clearly the Rockets’ goal). The marketplace (i.e, other NBA GMs) is effectively saying that our players are just not good enough to help them get better, which is the ultimate judge (along with the team’s record) of your franchise. I’m a Rocket fan, but we’ve been average, to slightly above average for a really long time now. Unless we get really lucky in the draft, we won’t get a franchise-changing talent in the middle of the 1st round. We will probably be looking for a new coach as well in the offseason. I’d love to hear how Morey is going to get us into contention any time soon (fingers crossed).

By: thekingdave

thekingdave — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:46:15 +0000

TheKingDave: Winderman full of it

Let’s see, hang onto Battier, continue to hang below .500, then lose him for nothing.

Or get a 1st rd pick, open up minutes for Budinger, and watch the team go 10-4 and re-enter the playoff race.

But Battier’s defense was so vital right? He could slow down Lebron James or Dwayne Wade. December in Houston- Mia 125 Hou 119. Sound eerily familiar? What a moron Daryl Morey is.

By: jsprunner

jsprunner — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:18:01 +0000

Hey, lay off Morey already! When you have a chance to get Hasheem Thabeet for the expiring contract of your best veteran defensive presence, you HAVE to take it!

Amateurs…..

By: thekingdave

thekingdave — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:02:47 +0000

TheKingDave: Putting my name before the headline makes me feel important

Yep, should’ve hung on to Battier, let him walk after the season, and continue to middle around .500. Who could forget how vital his defense was, especially when the Heat beat us 125-119(same score) in Houston with his world class defense and non-existent offensive game.

Oh wait. They’re 10-4 since dealing him which is the prime reason they even got back in the race. Also picked up a 1st round pick for a player who had zero chance of returning. Stupid Daryl Morey, what a moron.