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Only 1 ESPN writer thinks the Rockets are a top-5 team next year.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by bmd, Aug 6, 2015.

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  1. bmd

    bmd Member

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    Bradford Doolittle:

    1. Clippers
    2. Warriors
    3. Spurs
    4. Cavs
    5. Heat

    Arash Markazi:

    1. Cavs
    2. Warriors
    3. Spurs
    4. Clippers
    5. Thunder

    Ethan Sherwood Strauss:

    1. Warriors
    2. Rockets
    3. Spurs
    4. Cavs
    5. Clippers

    Michael Wallace:

    1. Warriors
    2. Spurs
    3. Clippers
    4. Cavs
    5. Grizzlies

    Royce Young:

    1. Warriors
    2. Cavs
    3. Thunder
    4. Spurs
    5. Clippers




    http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13348213/which-top-five-teams-nba
     
    #1 bmd, Aug 6, 2015
  2. marky :)

    marky :) Member

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    The Heat wtf?!?! :confused:
     
    #2 marky :), Aug 6, 2015
  3. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    Your title should read, "only 1 of the 5 writers that ESPN asked, thinks the Rockets are a top 5 team his coming season".
     
    #3 bobrek, Aug 6, 2015
  4. Nimo

    Nimo Member

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    inb4 "ESPN sucks!"
     
    #4 Nimo, Aug 6, 2015
  5. bmd

    bmd Member

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    Yeah, that seemed super ridiculous to me. Here is his explanation:


    Doolittle: Miami Heat. This is very close between Miami, Houston and Oklahoma City. I'll go with the Heat to highlight them as the prime challenger to the Cavs in the East. If healthy, Miami should be about a half-tier below the Cavs and a half-tier above the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Washington WIzards. We'll get our first extended look at the Miami starting lineup that we envisioned when the Heat acquired Goran Dragic at the deadline, and it's an impressive group. But despite a little cost-cutting of late, the bench should be much improved, and stable, with Gerald Green, Justise Winslow, Amar'e Stoudemire and a healthy Josh McRoberts. It looks like the Heat have enough talent to insulate themselves against further decline by Dwyane Wade. But if he's healthy and on par with past performance, look out.
     
    #5 bmd, Aug 6, 2015
  6. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Contributing Member
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    That's good. People doubted us last year, and every year we won the championships. It's good for the Rockets to be doubted and then to surpass those expectations.
     
    #6 FranchiseBlade, Aug 6, 2015
  7. Mattician

    Mattician Member

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    Most reporters and "experts" had the Rockets as a number seven or eight seed last season.

    Lol.
     
    #7 Mattician, Aug 6, 2015
  8. bmd

    bmd Member

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    I'm sure people will figure that out in about 2 seconds.
     
    #8 bmd, Aug 6, 2015
  9. count_dough-ku

    count_dough-ku Contributing Member

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    Yeah, I saw that yesterday. I'd be curious to know where exactly the other 4 writers do rank the Rockets. I don't have a problem with anyone saying the Warriors will be better. They're the team to beat as of now. The Cavs did get to the Finals last year and have a much easier path through the East, so no problem there either. The Clippers? Ok, they did wind up with the same number of wins(56), split the regular season series(2-2), and were 14 1/2 minutes away from closing out the Rockets before they blew a 19-point lead. Plus they got Jordan back, stole a key rotation player from the Rockets in Smith, and added additional depth.

    But the Thunder? They could wind up being really good, but there are tons of question marks there. Is Durant's foot healed? Can Donovan coach in the NBA? Will Kanter at center be too much of a defensive liability? Do they have enough at shooting guard? For now, I'd rank the Rockets above them. I also have a real problem with ranking the Heat above the Rockets. Yes, Bosh will likely be healthier this year, they'll have Dragic the entire season, and they added Winslow and some quality depth. But Wade is a year older(as is Bosh, BTW), and they were a lottery team in a sh-tty Eastern Conference last season. They'll be a lot better, but I don't think they'll be superior to the Rockets.
     
    #9 count_dough-ku, Aug 6, 2015
  10. ceonwuka

    ceonwuka Member

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    *shrug* The only real head scratchers are the guys that included the Heat and Grizzlies. Who are clearly a level below the top 6.

    Justification can be made for any of Warrior, Cavs, Spurs, Rockets, Thunder, Clippers in any order.


    1-6 is too hard to call.
     
    #10 ceonwuka, Aug 6, 2015
  11. rocketpower2

    rocketpower2 Member

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    Good. Let em sleep.
     
    #11 rocketpower2, Aug 6, 2015
  12. Texanasiafan

    Texanasiafan Member

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    Also if you have followed ESPN for quite a while, you will know that Ethan Sherwood Strauss is mostly likely just trolling with his Rockets pick.

    He is the beat writer for GSW.
     
    #12 Texanasiafan, Aug 6, 2015
  13. count_dough-ku

    count_dough-ku Contributing Member

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    Agreed on the Heat. But the Grizzlies could realistically be ranked above the Rockets. They only lost one more game than us last season and injuries did play a big part in their late season slide. If they can manage to stay healthy(a HUGE if of course), they could finish ahead of the Rockets.
     
    #13 count_dough-ku, Aug 6, 2015
  14. chenjy9

    chenjy9 Numbers Don't Lie
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    It's BSPN, what do you guys expect?
     
    #14 chenjy9, Aug 6, 2015
  15. sealclubber1016

    sealclubber1016 Member
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    People hate us, I can't believe some of you are still surprised by this. Credit will never be given to Harden and Howard until we hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy.

    Every success will be overlooked (clippers and mavs collapsed, Rockets just happended to be there) and every failure blown up (Harden struggled in one series, therefore he isn't a postseason performer)

    Embrace the hate.
     
    #15 sealclubber1016, Aug 6, 2015
  16. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    There's no way you could make it in before ESPN sucks, they've sucked for years.
     
    #16 Bobbythegreat, Aug 6, 2015
    1 person likes this.
  17. dharocks

    dharocks Contributing Member

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    Literally all of dudes are glorified bloggers. No where near ESPN 'A' lineup. I'm surprised they didn't ask Israel Gutierrez for his take.
     
    #17 dharocks, Aug 6, 2015
  18. Texanasiafan

    Texanasiafan Member

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    Arash Markazi - Clippers beat writer
    Ethan Sherwood Strauss - GSW beat writer
    Michael Wallace - Heat beat writer
    Royce Young- there are 2 Royce Young, but this one most likely will be the one as OKC beat writer

    Bradford Doolittle - a dick.
     
    #18 Texanasiafan, Aug 6, 2015
  19. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    LOL Clippers

    How many years is this now? How many years does one get benefit of the doubt?

    Why doesn't Memphis get the same benefit of the doubt like LA?

    Warriors
    Cavs
    ---[In no order, group of...]---
    Rockets
    Spurs
    Thunder
    Grizzlies
    Clippers
     
    #19 J.R., Aug 6, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2015
  20. Houstunna

    Houstunna The Most Unbiased Fan
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    Pretty silly to be non-Top5 by 4 writers then, then number TWO, by one.

    Not 5, not 4.. but TWO when 4 others say non-top5.


    Somebody hatin
     
    #20 Houstunna, Aug 6, 2015
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