13. Rockets (9-8) | Prev.: 11
If you aren’t into the Tracy McGrady saga (and I’m not), there isn’t a whole lot to say here that hasn’t already been said: Houston plays hard, smart, and wins more than they should considering their roster. Yawn. But hey, that Chuck Hayes sure throws a mean outlet pass! (J/K, KA) — BP
via NBA Power Rankings: Rising C’s — NBA FanHouse.
Brett and I have a running gag over at FanHouse. He thinks Shane Battier is an overrated, underwhelming, terrible-at-offense, non-factor piece of meh-ness. I consider him to be arguably the best defensive player in the league, a team leader, an interesting person, and someone that makes the league that much more awesome and who can knock down a three now and then. Much of this comes from the fact that the Rockets, without their best players, took his Lakers to seven games and embarrassed them thoroughly in-between getting embarrassed themselves to a degree that is proper, given their injuries at the time. Or, more accurately, that he recognizes that for all of Morey’s accolades, the Rockets haven’t actually done anything. They’re an okay team, but simply don’t have a lot of talent. I mean, for all the talk about the trouble they gave LA in the WCSF last year, they still, you know, LOST.
But it’s crazy to me that anyone wouldn’t be inspired by this Rockets team, at least anyone that was a basketball-junkie. We’ve all seen so many teams quit when faced with injuries and a talent gap. To play lax, to write off the season, to mail it in. The Rockets have every reason to do so. Their #1 option on offense right now is a #3 option on a mediocre team. And yet Morey has this team again capable of sneaking into the playoffs. Even being in contention with how much money they have on the shelf is insane. But they play together, they play smart, and they work, constantly.
Kobe is the king of work ethic. You’d think his fans would have a greater appreciation for a team that reflects his attitude, even if they’re not as good as the Lakers. I mean, no one is this season. The flip side, though is that I’ve just told you that you should be inspired by professional athletes who are paid millions and millions of dollars actually working as hard as they can. When you think of it that way…
Shh! You hear that?
…
That’s an awkward silence.
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(A hand slowly rises above all the Rockets yes men…)
I too am not that big a fan of the Rockets. Close your eyes and listen to the lovefest by “hard core” fans and it sounds exactly like the promos for the WNBA back in 1998.
So they’re the NBA’s version of Moneyball. Hey how’s that going in Oakland? How many seasons will the Rockets field a team barely capable of making the playoffs before people realize that they’re just average? And how long will fans plunk down $80 a game to see college level talent hustle their way to 42-40?
Look, I appreciate the underachievers. The NBA needs them to balance head case teams like Memphis. But the excessive love affair with a GM that knows how to play the media game (he tweets, he’s friends with ESPN honks, he creates baseball-like stats so people can justify their arguments without watching the actual game… I LOVE HIM!!!!!!) is getting ridiculous.
My take on Battier last year:
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/2009/04/shane-battie-and-his-1300-statistical-categories-still-equal-a-loss.html
Yeah, because average defenders just luck into 6 blocks in one game….
Honestly though, how can anyone hate on the Rockets? I’m not a Rockets fan, but its not like they get enough media attention to make anyone sick of hearing about them. They aren’t good enough to get people jealous, and they aren’t bad enough to piss people off. They just are…. how can you hate something that just is?