Dec.18 - Dec.29 It is not about b2b games, although there will be some really tough. But the problem is we are playing 3 most physical teams in the league in first week of this rough shedule - Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. You can argue, but this week will be nightmare for our players. Let's just hope there will be no injuries, and we shall keep players on the bench if they have some. Also b2b game, after physical beat-up in Indiana we play Pistons next day. Dec.18 vs Chicago Bulls Dec.20 @ Indiana Pacers Dec.21 @Detroit Pistons After this we are coming home all hurt and beat-up to play Mavericks, and after this game we travel to San Antonio. Like it wasn't been enough right after game we play b2b game at home against Memphis Grizzlies. It may look easier against Pelicans at home, but after this we have another b2b game against OKC away. So that's f'ked up shedule for us. Dec.23 vs Dallas Mavericks Dec.25 @ San Antonio Spurs Dec.26 vs Memphis Grizzlies Dec.28 vs New Orleans Pelicans Dec.29 @ Oklahoma City Thunder I'm not expecting much from our team there and hope we can get away with 4-4 record, and no injuries. 5-3 would be awesome I think?
We should be able to beat the bulls and pistons, and we did go 2-0 against indiana in the preseason. I say we lose 2 of all those games.
5-3... that's a brutal schedule. Imagine if Marc Gasol and Anthony Davis wasn't injured. It would have been laughably brutal.
Keep in mind they are planning to trade Asik before the 19th. If they get a halfway useful player in the deal it could really help boost the team and give some much needed depth. If they just trade for picks I'd have to think that if healthy they should win about half of these games vs contenders. So. 5 - 3 sounds about right. Gonna really need the young guys to really step up this year more than many on here thought they would have the opportunity to do back in October. They're development is key in these types of stretches.
In the past, I would be scared. But we got Harden and Howard now, so I'd say our chances of winning are pretty good.
I see Pacers, Spurs, and thunder. The rest of those teams are mediocre. Just take it game by game and it'll be easier.
It is difficult to tell right now. Having Asik, Parsons and Lin all out was crippling. We will see if everyone can get and stay healthy. I still do not believe Asik will be traded before the deadline. Teams are not desperate enough at this time. And it is still up in the air how much the players are going to commit to defense. Right now the Rockets are sporting about the eighth best defense in the league to go along with their second ranked offense. Worst - 4-4 Best - 7-1
My prediction is unless we go 8-0 there will be plenty of McFail, trade certain players and certain players just don't have what it takes threads/posts.
We're going to miss Asik if we trade him by Dec 18th and lose those games, like last season we traded Pat Pat for TRob and lost games.
The Rockets could win all of those games. They could also lose all of them. It's impossible to predict what mental state is going to show up.
