Feel free to add in more that you see around the web. ESPN Forecast: 53-29 BPI: 51-31 538: 57-25 (best NBA record) Vegas: 54 wins https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...gs-projections-big-questions-all-30-teams#hou Kevin Pelton (via ESPN's RPM) projects the Rockets to have 54.9 wins and the #1 seed in the West and #1 overall record. (E+) https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/27893998 The Athletic's Rockets final seed predictions: Lee: 3rd Isola: 3rd Vecenie: 5th Hollinger: 1st Vardon: 5th Amick: 4th Charania: 6th Aldridge: 6th https://theathletic.com/1304643/201...torylines-the-athletics-nba-staff-roundtable/
Honestly, usually i'm pretty mad at the media for underrating the team but I'm so unsure about how good this team will be. The defense looks atrocious. I think Russ is tough to gauge ( I didn't like the trade then and I don't love it now, but hoping he pans out). His defense is awful and his shooting is close to as bad, but his ability to create of the drive albeit with a high TO rate is unique to only a handful of players. His fast break play looks good too. We have no depth in the front court whatsoever. Morey has failed for the second year in a row to have some real length in the front court outside of Capela. MDA is a lame duck. Turner is a limp noodle. China is a distraction whether they admit it or not. Tilman is still cheap. BUT we have the best offensive player of all time and when he's on your team you can win every game. I think we will land between the first and the fourth seed but i wouldn't be shocked with a six or seven seed either.
If people are skeptical on the Rockets on the basis of being skeptical about their defense....well I don't blame them. Defense was the basis for David Aldridge's 6th seed designation. All of my Rockets questions are about the defense.
Dude...all of the top stats guys believe we are number 1 and winning the chip, this is baffling to me haha.
Haberstroh is selling the Rockets here (not because of defensive skepticism) but because of Westbrook's turnovers.
LOL, COWherd was talking on his podcast about rockets not even making the playoffa and is putting Dallas on 8 place. I really like him as a NBA reporter but at times he just being stupid.
It all depends on the other teams. The Rox are a juggernaut on Offense with some deficiencies but almost always good in the regular season.
#1 is too high, and #6 is too low, there is a number between those two for the rockets. We will see. Saying the rockets is going to the payoffs is the guy who was fired from ESPN. Only things you can hear from his big mouth are Lebron, Brady all day long.
i dont think hes stupid imho he just goes for clicks and hes talking points are tailored to produce most clicks that is viewership
A full season of House will do wonders for the team's athleticism and outside shooting. Gordon, Rivers and Thabo will help off the bench. Having 10-15 more games with Russ than CP3 will not only help the overall team's production, but lessen the burden on Harden. Eventually, Capela and the shooters and Russ will learn to play with each other and then they are going to bomb the league. The main challenge I foresee is getting Harden ad Russ to play effectively with each other. D'Antoni will have to have a big year.
very curious as to why u like Cowherd as an NBA reporter...I’m trying to think of a reason why that could be, but I can’t come up with 1
Lol u guys make this too complicated. Was the defense not bad last years Did we not almost get the 2 seed. With massive injurys I know people hate to admit it. ..if harden n the rockets are one thing. They are a awesome regular season team. As long as harden here I'm never worried we wont win a bunch of game So if really it was injurys that held us from possibly the 1 seed. Even with bad d