Rockets.com
The Rockets fell short of their ultimate goal again this season. Every team's ultimate goal is winning the NBA title. The Rockets, however, have made it known that they are obsessed with beating the Golden State Warriors. Some would say they had their best shot was this season (Kevin Durant being injured and missing time, plus Ayesha Curry putting her and Steph's love life out for all to opine on), others would argue last season was their best shot (a Chris Paul hamstring away). Either way, they fell short and had plenty of opportunities each time to dethrone the Warriors' dynasty.
News has come down lately that may speak into some chinks in the armor that may have led to the Rockets' demise the last couple seasons. It has been talked about on this site by Charlie Pallilo; Joel Blank (twice); Salman Ali (twice); Paul Muth; and by Lance Zierlien, John Granato, and Raheel Ramzanali (twice). I wrote about how the Rockets still have a place in the hearts of Houston sports fans compared to the Texans despite them losing to the Warriors. However, there may be a bigger opponent the team is fighting that may come from within.
Reading through the tea leaves of a Marc Stein quote tweet of Jonathan Feigen, may tell us more about what's to become of this iteration of the Rockets.If anything can be derived from these tea leaves, it's saying that Mike D'antoni may either be on his way out, and/or being forced to make changes in his coaching staff if he wants to get an extension. Either way, it shows Tillman Fertitta is putting his imprint on things and not settling for the status quo.
Where does this leave general manager Daryl Morey? Morey seems to be in a bit of a safe spot. He signed a five year extension in March. Meanwhile, D'Antoni is working on the last year of his deal, and has had some of his handpicked assistants Thanos-snapped away. Morey is still under pressure to produce in my opinion because Fertitta won't accept anything less than an NBA title while this team has James Harden in his prime.With the team over the currently salary cap and bucking the luxury tax threshold (especially depending on what moves they make this offseason), it'll take a miracle for Morey to make any moves that'll vastly improve this team's chances. Considering they have no first round picks, very few desirable assets worth trading, and a couple albatross worthy contracts, Morey will have to Jedi mind trick his way through yet another offseason of transactions. That, or he'll have to hope he finds more diamonds in the rough like he did this past season with guys like Austin Rivers, Kenneth Faried, and Danuel House. But if D'Antoni doesn't cook up something with the groceries he's been provided with 9as has been his M.O. in the playoffs), he may be on the outs soon being as Morey is the one with the job security via his extension.
I have full faith this team will continue to play at a high level during the regular seasons in the years to come. Post-season play and performance is up for debate. as it stands, their best hope is for the Warriors and the rest of the Western Conference to stagnate or get worse, while they continue on their pace. That, or pray for a miracle. As the old saying I was taught by my grandfather goes: "crap in one hand and wish in the other, see which one gets full first."
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Rich Eisen lays out how Stefon Diggs trade will impact Texans next season
Apr 19, 2024, 3:03 pm
Impersonal as it might seem to have their dynamic on-field relationship end with an exchange of phone texts, Bills quarterback Josh Allen made it clear on Thursday how much receiver Stefon Diggs meant to him during their four seasons together in Buffalo.
Allen made no mention of Diggs’ mercurial temperament or the occasional sideline flare-ups by expressing only praise in his first opportunity to discuss his now-former teammate being traded to the Houston Texans earlier this month.
“Just thanking him for everything that he did for me, and (I’ll) always have a spot in my heart for him. I’ll always love that guy like a brother. And I wish him nothing but the best,” Allen said, in disclosing what he texted to Diggs. “My lasting memory of Stef will be the receiver that helped me become the quarterback that I am today.”
Brought together in March 2020, when Buffalo gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire Diggs in a trade with Minnesota, the duo went on to re-write many of Buffalo's single-season passing and scoring records, and lead the team to four straight AFC East titles.
Diggs, now 30, also brought an inescapable sense of drama with him in raising questions about his commitment to the Bills and whether his tight relationship with Allen had soured.
A day before being traded, Diggs posted a message, “You sure?” on the social media platform X in response to someone suggesting he wasn’t essential to Allen’s success.
Whatever hard feelings, if any, lingered as Buffalo opened its voluntary workout sessions this week were not apparent from Allen or coach Sean McDermott, who also addressed reporters for the first time since Diggs was traded.
“Stef’s a great player, really enjoyed our time together. Won a lot of games and he was a huge factor in winning those games. We’ll miss him,” McDermott said. “You never replace a player like Stef Diggs, and we wish him well.”
Allen turned his focus to the future and a Bills team that spent much of the offseason retooling an aging and expensive roster.
Aside from trading Diggs, salary cap restrictions led to Buffalo cutting respected center Mitch Morse, the breakup of a veteran secondary that had been together since 2017, and the team unable to afford re-signing No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis.
“I don’t think it’s a wrong thing or a bad thing to get younger,” said Allen, entering his seventh NFL season. “I think it’s an opportunity for myself to grow as a leader. And to bring along some of these young guys and new guys that we’ve brought in to our team. And that’s an opportunity, frankly, that I’m very excited about."
Despite the departures, the Bills offense is not exactly lacking even though general manager Brandon Beane is expected to target selecting a receiver with his first pick — currently 28th overall — in the draft next week.
Receiver Khalil Shakir enters his third year and tight end Dalton Kincaid enter his second following promising seasons. Buffalo also added veteran experience in signing free agent receiver Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins.
While Beane acknowledged the Bills lack a true No. 1 receiver, he noted there’s less urgency to fill that spot now than in 2020 because of how much the offense has developed under Allen.
“Now that Josh has ascended to the player he is, is that a requirement? I don’t think so,” Beane said.
Diggs’ role also began diminishing in the second half of last season, which coincided with Joe Brady replacing Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator. Brady placed an emphasis on adding balance to a pass-heavy attack and getting more receivers involved, which led to an uptick in production for Shakir and Kincaid.
While Diggs’ numbers dropped, Buffalo’s win total increased.
With the Bills at 6-6, Diggs ranked third in the NFL with 83 catches, seventh with 969 yards and tied for third with eight TDs receiving. Buffalo then closed the season with five straight wins in which Diggs combined for 24 catches for 214 yards and no scores.
”(Diggs) meant a lot. You look at the statistics, they don’t lie,” Allen said, in referring to Diggs topping 100 catches and 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons in Buffalo. “I don’t get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to lead the guys on this team.”