62 years and counting... is the end in sight?

[sturt]

 

 

[KB21]

Nope.  Unless they make some moves, the end of losing isn’t anywhere in sight.

[sturt]

Um, well, it kinda goes w/o saying that there will be some moves. Half our roster is likely off the books as-of July.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

I'm still holding onto that we are about 5 seasons away from a championship contender. Trae is capable of leading this team to a title, but we are a ways away from thinking about that. It depends on Schlenk making moves, Hunter/Reddish developing into scorers, and getting Trae veteran help. It may go without saying, but it is truth. The Hawks have always had a low ceiling until now.

[macdaddy]

Maybe we should follow the Astros blueprint.

[AHF]

1 minute ago, macdaddy said:

Maybe we should follow the Astros blueprint.

We have been the last few years.  But I think that we will be moving into "competitive" mode for next season so the tankathon by roster design that epitomized the rebuilds of the Astros and Cubs (and others) should be over.

[KB21]

13 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

Maybe we should follow the Astros blueprint.

What?  Cheat?

[macdaddy]

Just now, KB21 said:

What?  Cheat?

Exactly.   

[AHF]

1 minute ago, KB21 said:

What?  Cheat?

The one that didn't involve cheating but involved them acquiring all the talent on their roster.  The cheating was stupid and shouldn't be something that anyone emulates, although sign stealing is an old, old tradition in baseball.

[bleachkit]

Besides paying off the refs, how can you cheat in basketball?

[macdaddy]

3 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Besides paying off the refs, how can you cheat in basketball?

I don't know but i'm willing to bang a trash can if it gets us a trophy.

[AHF]

2 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Besides paying off the refs, how can you cheat in basketball?

Flopping is the main way.  

I guess something like this?

[bleachkit]

11 minutes ago, AHF said:

Flopping is the main way.  

I guess something like this?

I'd consider flopping to be in the gamesmanship realm moreso than cheating. No one flops their way to a title, unless the refs are just incompetent.

Edited February 3, 2020 by bleachkit

[JayBirdHawk]

26 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Besides paying off the refs, how can you cheat in basketball?

 

Home team installs a camera above visiting bench with a clear view of the chalk board. Person behind screen relays info directly to the bench about a play???

[sturt]

1 hour ago, macdaddy said:

Maybe we should follow the Astros blueprint.

Trying to imagine what that might mean, and the technology that would have to be involved. Like, a wearable something that acts like a leather magnet?

[macdaddy]

18 minutes ago, sturt said:

Trying to imagine what that might mean, and the technology that would have to be involved. Like, a wearable something that acts like a leather magnet?

Deaden the home team's rim.  Raise the visitor's two inches.

[AUhawksfan]

Screw with the scoreboard.  Oh wait, we've already tried that.  Multiple times......

[AHF]

2 hours ago, macdaddy said:

Deaden the home team's rim.  Raise the visitor's two inches.

Sounds like the old Boston Garden where only the home team really knew where the dead spots on the floor were located.

[sturt]

 

Should we be concerned that ownership is beginning to pressure for accelerating the process?

(In hindsight, one could make the case that's also what happened with the Asterisks, after years of futility.)

 

[AHF]

Just now, sturt said:

 

Should we be concerned that ownership is beginning to pressure for accelerating the process?

(In hindsight, one could make the case that's also what happened with the Asterisks, after years of futility.)

 

I'm not sure I see the parallel to our situation unless it is in the most general sense that pressure can push people to do stupid things.  The Astros seem like they were one of a number of teams that succumbed to the temptation to cheat.  Numerous teams using electronic means to steal signs and then MLB issued a warning.  At least two continued beyond that time (probably more).  

For the Hawks, the worry about pressure is they do will something stupid to "win now" like Orlando's trade of Oladipo and Sabonis or the Nets (in separate stupidity from the Boston deal) trading away the pick that became Damian Lillard for Gerald Wallace. 

The Astros, in contrast, were very smart about their roster management and had already built up a dynamic pool of talent when they started cheating:  Bregman, Correa, Altuve, Springer, etc. to go with one of the best pitching staffs in the league.  They still had enough talent in the system to add guys like Cole, Verlander, Giles, etc. without having to deal elite prospects like Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker.