The Myth of Daryl Morey: Co-Starring Bill Simmons and a Naive Public

[threattonature]

In the end, Morey’s true distinguishing characteristic is his friendliness to the press. He gives a breadth of access and speaks openly, and it’s clear he receives deferential coverage as a result.



And what's this we have here today? Uh, yeah...

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/7/17/5913269/daryl-morey-ping-pong-nba-summer-league

Morey holds what is now a yearly Las Vegas Summer League diversion to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, but also to style on fools. Basketball people and media alike are invited to attend and donate to buy a spot in the tournament bracket. This year, we stingy internet people were scared off by the hefty buy-in, so Morey just went ahead and covered everyone's donations to fill out the bracket. So we signed up. Daryl Morey paid a bunch of money to charity so bloggers could join his ping-pong tournament.

Dead ass your article was the first thing that popped in my head when I seen one of the guys who played in the tourney thanking Morey for paying his way. Morey's no different than the actual athletes. Those that are great interviews and more available to the media get much better coverage. Those guys who care considered moody or to have a bad attitude seem to have an inordinate amount of negative press often attributing the players unwillingness to talk to the media on to their relationship with their teammates. Morey definitely benefits from shyt like the Sloan conference.

 

[USSInsiders]

@Walt Nice job on the interview my man

 

[K-Deini]

fukking @ senor spielbergo reference. good shyt man.

 

[mastermind]

Walt is on right now.

http://player.radio.com/listen/station/sportsradio-610

great interview by @Walt

 

[EA]

So concise and eloquent

@Walt for the great article and interview.

 

[NormanConnors]

Dope read/ excellent piece. Maybe now the coli will cut Joe D some slack, he's no where close to the woat GM.

 

[muzikfrk75]

Dope read/ excellent piece. Maybe now the coli will cut Joe D some slack, he's no where close to the woat GM.

Kahn is the WOAT

 

[KEEPITTRILLA]

damn grantland lowkey dissing
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/your-nba-offseason-report-card/

Rockets
One of the funny parts about spending way too much time on the Internet is that sometimes you initially agree with a criticism, but then everybody starts talking about it and tweeting about it, one-upping each other with hotter takes, and eventually the opinions get taken so far that you can’t help but double back and start defending what you were initially criticizing. That’s what happened with Daryl Morey this week.

It went like this:

• “Wow, the Rockets really looked like idiots in the end this summer.” (Yep.)
• “Morey isn’t as invincible as everyone says he is.” (100 percent.)
• “What happened this summer was a colossal mistake.” (Umm …)
• “Morey’s just a product of incestuous media putting him on a pedestal. He’s never been that great” (OK.)
• “Seven years in Houston, and Morey’s made the second round once. Why doesn’t anyone write an article about THAT?” [Backing away slowly]
• “FINALLY, the myth of Morey is being exposed.” (Wait, what?)
• “Will the Rockets even make the playoffs this year?” (WHAT?)

Everybody needs to calm down. The Rockets will be OK.

...

. Just because it came a year early doesn’t mean we have to suddenly have a collective reckoning over Morey’s supposed fraudulent career.
Anyway, I’m sticking with the Chris Paul comparison from Monday. Morey’s easy to root against for all kinds of legitimate reasons, and he’s never been as infallible as the hype suggests, but the broader track record is tough to criticize. That part is not a myth. I hated watching the Rockets last year, but go back and look at the 2011 roster. Morey turned that team into James Harden and Dwight Howard and a five-year window in which a title is at least a realistic goal. If the big criticism is “TALK TO ME WHEN HE WINS SOMETHING,” well, that’s what people say about Paul. It doesn’t mean he’s not really good.

 

[Walt]

damn grantland lowkey dissing
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/your-nba-offseason-report-card/

Yep, saw that. Expected it too. Didn't really address my points, tried to casually dismiss me as histrionic, doubled down on that really horrible Chris Paul analogy. But I understand - Morey is their guy, man. And the access and information he provides them is more valuable than writing something unfavorable about him. We can agree to disagree.

 

[Houston911]

Yep, saw that. Expected it too. Didn't really address my points, tried to casually dismiss me as histrionic, doubled down on that really horrible Chris Paul analogy. But I understand - Morey is their guy, man. And the access and information he provides them is more valuable than writing something unfavorable about him. We can agree to disagree.

Rockets lost parsons, Lin, and asik for ariza and a pick and somehow these idiots gave them a b grade. Lmao

 

[Jesus]

Anyone have a link to where this was posted on clutchfans because I missed it?

I'm just not feeling either sides of this debate because both are so extreme. You have one side that gives Morey the benefit of the doubt for everything because he's a 'wizard' who always wins transaction moves. Then you have the other side that I've noticed is fixated on this 'genius' tag that others have given him and almost seems offended that another man could get this title (never mind that he's always publicly deflected praise to Hinkie/Rosas and given credit to Buford, Riley, and Presti as the best gms).

I'll keep this short as short as possible but the first group has a hard time accepting that he's not infallible and the reality is that he without a doubt botched this off-season and got lucky the CP3 to the Lakers deal got nixed. There are other smaller errors but these two situations immediately come to mind. The second group never seems to take into account the fact that Morey isn't the owner of the team and at the end of the day takes orders just like most people on this planet. The reason I asked for a clutchfans link is because most of the members are longtime Rockets fans who are very familiar with Les and his actions over the last 20 years. Now I'm not saying other gms get the freedom to do whatever they want but I am saying that the plan Les has Morey operating under is essentially like forcing a right handed guy to shoot left handed for his whole career.

I think this article has many good points and I actually heard a bit of your radio interview (did great btw) but I think that's the one thing this story is missing. It's not surprising at all that this would gain traction with those that aren't close to the situation (or that just don't like the guy) but those of us with 20 years of watching Les work know that a few of the shots you're taking at Morey are actually Les' decisions. Hinkie has been the man in Philly for a year now and it seems like people have yet to notice that he's taken the polar opposite approach to team building as Morey has. I wonder why that is? It's incredibly misleading to say he dumped Lowry and Gogi for Lin. He flipped Lowry for Harden (he really flipped Raefer into Harden) and Les wanted Lin back by any means for off the court reasons. I really think this would have gotten a lot more traction down here if you worked Les into the story because most will just dismiss this as a Morey hit piece. I also think there's a bit of revisionist history going on regarding the 'treadmill team' idea but I'll save that for another day.

But most importantly I'm glad you're getting the exposure you deserve. I wish I had the chance to hear reactions from the callers but I'll definitely go back and listen to the entire interview now. You picked a great show to appear on because some other hosts would have cut you off repeatedly or thrown you under the bus after your interview was over. Word of advice, shyt on the Texans next time and you'll probably get on ALL of the local stations . I don't visit here that much during the summer but I'll definitely keep an eye out for your posts pinned at the top.

Sincerely the exact way I feel...above average GM. Most opinions on him are too harsh or forgiving.

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

Rockets lost parsons, Lin, and asik for ariza and a pick and somehow these idiots gave them a b grade. Lmao

what are you talking about. Lin and Asik were going NO MATTER WHAT. Lin is subpar in every sense of the word, and Asik just didn't fit in our rotation. Parsons was the one true loss, but clearly he WAS NOT worth 15 million/year and EVERYONE knows this.

Ariza for 8 mil/year is a MUCH better deal than paying Parson's 15 mil a year. You get equal scoring capabilities from both, but much improved defense with Ariza, something the Rockets sorely needed. I'm certain that with Ariza in our lineup we will be significantly better than we were last year.

Futhermore, since scoring has NEVER been the Rockets problem, we will definitely improve over last years squad, especially DEFENSIVELY.

Conversations like these proves that many of you don't watch shyt. nikkas just watch ESPN and look at stats.

 

[Dr. Fauci]

what are you talking about. Lin and Asik were going NO MATTER WHAT. Lin is subpar in every sense of the word, and Asik just didn't fit in our rotation. Parsons was the one true loss, but clearly he WAS NOT worth 15 million/year and EVERYONE knows this.

Ariza for 8 mil/year is a MUCH better deal than paying Parson's 15 mil a year. You get equal scoring capabilities from both, but much improved defense with Ariza, something the Rockets sorely needed. I'm certain that with Ariza in our lineup we will be significantly better than we were last year.

Futhermore, since scoring has NEVER been the Rockets problem, we will definitely improve over last years squad, especially DEFENSIVELY.

Conversations like these proves that many of you don't watch shyt. nikkas just watch ESPN and look at stats.

 

[USSInsiders]

Rockets lost parsons, Lin, and asik for ariza and a pick and somehow these idiots gave them a b grade. Lmao

Wow they lost two bums and signed a guy who will serve them just as well as that cac did for like 13 million bucks cheaper what a terrible offseason for houston

They're fukking losers no matter what they do. Can't believe such an irrelevant team is getting all this attention

 

[Houston911]

Lol at Ariza being as good as parsons
Lin is a bum
Asik is legit