65 replies to this topic

[txtdo1411]

I keep dragging this thread back to life, but I didn't want to start a new one just for this and it is relevant.  I presume many saw/heard Barkley go off on Morey and analytics last night, but if not here is the video.

 

 

My favorite part is that, as prompted, Barkley responds to Morey's assertion that he "spews misinformed biased vitriol disguised as entertainment" by spewing misinformed biased vitriol disguised as entertainment.

 

Also, I don't think Shaq knows what "vitriol" means.

 

 

The only thing I disagree with Morey on is that I still find Chuck entertaining...in all his glory.

 

Also, since we're in the Josh Smith thread...since moving to the bench he is shooting 39% from deep, 46% overall, and is putting up per36 numbers of roughly 18 pts, 9 rebs, and 4 assists with a block and a steal.  Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, Morey saw through to the good Josh Smith...

 

 

Chuck looked like a child last night. He really resorted to the nerds vs. jocks high school cliches.  

 

I just don't understand how this turned into an analytics vs. talent debate. Morey was simply calling Chuck out on saying something that is so factually incorrect, that it deserved to be called out. That's it. Then somehow it becomes a national sports argument of winning with talent vs. winning with analytics like the two are somehow in competition with each other. Anybody that follows Morey and the Rockets organization knows that acquiring talent is their no.1 goal. I mean didn't we just get a lot of flak for chasing Melo and Bosh in free agency and striking out? I just don't understand the media sometimes.  

[Mario Peña]

Charles Barkley stock is down.

 

Josh Smith stock is up and at a good time considering Dwight and Jones have been out. I hope Smith can swing a game a series in the playoffs, that could be huge.

 

I'm curious now. Not sure how to look it up but I wonder what the Rockets defensive metrics are versus playoff teams?

[thejohnnygold]

Charles Barkley stock is down.

 

Josh Smith stock is up and at a good time considering Dwight and Jones have been out. I hope Smith can swing a game a series in the playoffs, that could be huge.

 

I'm curious now. Not sure how to look it up but I wonder what the Rockets defensive metrics are versus playoff teams?

 

That would be useful information.  I looked and could not find any site that allowed for that sort of filtering.  I even tried finding one that would let me sort by opponent wins (I figured a cut off around 29 wins would be accurate) but couldn't get that to work either.

 

Does anyone know of a place to do this?  I can say we are 17-11 vs. playoff teams (I included OKC in that group)...not too shabby.  Take out the 0-4 vs. GS and we're 17-7 

[Dan G]

I keep dragging this thread back to life, but I didn't want to start a new one just for this and it is relevant.  I presume many saw/heard Barkley go off on Morey and analytics last night, but if not here is the video.

 

My favorite part is that, as prompted, Barkley responds to Morey's assertion that he "spews misinformed biased vitriol disguised as entertainment" by spewing misinformed biased vitriol disguised as entertainment.

 

Also, I don't think Shaq knows what "vitriol" means.

 

 

I agree that was my favorite part about Barkley's rant too. I love Barkley's entertainment value but I hate it whenever he talks about the Rockets. He almost never has anything good to say about our team. Him and Shaq are always bashing Howard every game that he plays. He'll call any other playoff team in the top four seeds contenders but always goes out his way to make sure to say we aren't contenders. We may not be favorites to win the title but we have just as much of a shot than any other team at the moment.

 

I may be completely off base here, but I think he somehow holds some resentment of Houston for not getting him a championship. He looks at The Jet and sees his two championships with Houston and he is jealous that Houston couldn't do the same for him.

[thejohnnygold]

Look what clutchfans cooked up.  Awesome.

 

http://rockets.clutc...-barkley-idiot/

[Drew in Abilene]

I think the Smith signing is proof that the Moreyball era is still in full swing. We've long postulated that Morey wanted two stars, if not three, and then would build around them with complementary pieces that were undervalued by other teams. Smith certainly has limitations, but McHale and the coaching staff has gotten some fantastic results from him. Remember when folks were jokingly suggesting that the Rockets write the contract to include a fine for every three Smith shot? He has been lighting it up from deep as of late, and I think that's due in large part to management giving him the green light to shoot from deep if he's open, and urging him to find another option if he's covered.

Smith has been an incredibly important piece since moving to the bench, more so now that Dwight is out. Morey knew that Howard was still at risk for injury, and he found a cheap asset that could help the team in the short term of the regular season, especially with Dwight and Jones missing time. Longer term, he is another creator who can lessen the load on Harden in the playoffs and can help tremendously on defense. Maybe this experience will lead him to stick around in Houston for years to come, possibly keeping a title window open a little longer.

All this is to say is that Josh Smith was viewed as the anti-Morey player, but instead has fit into what management has valued all along. Moreyball means more than we know, because he's always working the advantages to get a step ahead of the competition. It makes sense that even fans of his who spend a lot of time analyzing his moves wouldn't fully understand his methods all the time. I'm just thankful that he's our GM, because I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to root for a team stuck in the past like the Lakers or Knicks.