Run it back. Something would have to go horribly wrong for this team not to get over 52 wins. Injuries could happen which is why nothing is a sure bet, but barring any unforeseen setbacks I think your money would be good.
If I was a betting man, I would take the over and would be cashing in when this team has close to, if not over, 60 wins.
I think 57 should be the minimum. A team with Harden most years is guaranteed to get 50 on most occasions and you upgrade a team that won 54 last season with Russ 3 to 5 extra wins is not far fetched
Agreed. About 57 would not surprise me either. I might actually be willing to bet on another 60 win season Rocket River
Not really …. Harden just doesn't take games off. 78 , 73 , 81 , 82 , 81 , 72 , 78. He's suited up and played 95% since he came to Houston and has played no fewer than 35.6minutes per over that span. You got Harden for 78 games , you can have four dudes from the YMCA and make the playoffs (48 was the 8 seed last year I think). This roster is better than that …. a lot better than that. The franchise has failed to exceed that 52 total only once since 2013/14. - 54 , 56 , 41 , 55 , 65 , 53. Last year winning 53 with CP3 missing 24 games and Capela missing 15 and that was after starting the season 11-14 ? I think its a safe bet to take the over at 52.
you should. i dont think realistically at this point when harden just turned 30, he won't be on some kind of load management. As well as the other guys. injuries tend to catch up to all players at one point or another. its no secret harden has played a ton the last several years and all those sprain ankles, soreness injuries that he plays through the very next night can catch up to him. and lets not forget all the times he is reluctant to sit when the game is out of reach and still wants to check in the game. this is besides the over 52 win over under. the only thing really stopping the rockets from getting close to that is injuries in the regular season. and that's always a question mark because it can happen at any given moment
52's an insulated # to a certain degree. As others have said, James + will get you 50...even in today's West. And, the synergistic upside of James/Russ is over 60. Even, if..Heaven forbid..James missed a chunk of games to injury, Russ would help carry this team in the meantime. Lots of support for OVER 52.
This is a more complex number than just identifying the incremental improvement or regression of just the Rockets with the addition of Westbrook and subtraction of Paul. There were more max contracts traded this year, than any other season in recent history. I think this is just coin toss of a bet. I would rather bet on something that will cover by a long shot assuming an implosion, and that has been the Lakers under every time they have added a star in the past decade. I also am betting on an implosion in Philly as well, 54.5 seems generous. I'd bet on volatility, and I don't think a Paul for Westbrook swap moves the needle in either direction significantly.
update. bets have been pounding the over in vegas. It is now at 54 for the rockets https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/1810166?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Full win totals board TEAM WIN TOTAL Bucks 57.5 76ers 56.5 Clippers 54.5 Rockets 54 Jazz 53.5 Nuggets 52 Lakers 51 Celtics 50 Warriors 49.5 Pacers 47 Raptors 46 Trail Blazers 46 Spurs 45.5 Nets 44 Heat 44 Magic 42.5 Mavericks 40 Pelicans 39.5 Kings 37.5 Pistons 37.5 Timberwolves 36.5 Bulls 33 Hawks 33 Thunder 31.5 Suns 29.5 Wizards 28.5 Knicks 28.5 Grizzlies 27 Cavaliers 24 Hornets 23
Both Bucks and 76ers safe bets on the over ? Hard to imagine both teams don't exceed 60 wins in a weak Eastern Conference where no other team may reach 50.
This is the biggest lock on over under in the NBA. Injuries are the only question but I feel better about our injury situation than the Clippers and especially the Lakers.
