Why do some people assume we will be out in first round again?

It's because the West is so tough this year.

I don't think people are SURE the Rockets won't get to the second round this year... but they wouldn't be surprised if that's the case because the teams are so closely matched.

 

Because some people care more about winning the internet than about the Rockets. They have staked out their positions against Morey, McHale, Harden, statistics, whatever, and value vindication more than victories.

 

Anything less than a WCF appearance would be a failure of a season considering the roster we have.

Getting out of the 1st round is all fine since we haven't been able to do it in a long time but with such a stacked roster, a WCF is a definite must.

Defenses tighten up come playoff time, less whistles called on drives to the basket. Teams ahve a chance to scout opposition teams over 7 games and the Rockets are not that hard to devise.

Ask Damian Lillard:

 

have you seen the other WC teams and how our play translates to the post season? Its not exactly a revalation

 

Houston's sports history has conditioned fans to be pessimistic.

 

Dwight just coming back from injury and limited to 20 min a game and can't play back to backs. Jones got injured again, may not be 100% going in to the playoffs. Beverly out for season. Dmo with back problems, K-pap with the ankle. Won't be 100% healthy going into the playoffs against the defending champs if we stay in the third seed. We also can't count out Dallas if we get the 2nd seed, they aren't the spurs but they aren't chump change either.

So you tell me why they might pick us to lose the first round.

 

Pessimism, negativity and failure fuel the souls of some of the members here.

 

Don't speak for me. I have never said we will be out of the 1st round. What I have said is that this roster should be a WCF at the very least (anything less is a failure) however I am not confident that the coaching (or lack thereof) and the system we employ gets us there come post season.

I believe just like we saw last playoffs that coaching will have a huge say in where we go.

 

Im confident the Rockets will CONTINUE to prove the media wrong and even our own fans wrong.

 

This.

 

You're completely discounting the other 7 teams in the WC playoffs. GSW, LAC, and SA can all make the same argument of "stacked roster + WCF or bust." And the other 4 teams have had injuries significantly wreck their chances (OKC, POR), have been there before and won the thing (DAL), or can claim themselves as being the most physically demanding team of the entire playoffs (MEM).

It's easy to look at our roster and say we're Finals contenders. But you need to look at the other teams in the conference as well, for more perspective.

This isn't the LeBron-led Miami Heat in the same conference as 5 crap teams and the Bulls / Pacers. This is a year in which any team can come out of the West and only 2 would surprise me (DAL and POR).

 

People think the more negative they are, the more "realistic" and "smart" they are.

Sure, the Rockets could lose. They also could win.

 

Why? I'll give you several reasons: 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014. Every one of those years saw the Rockets lose in the first round. 2009 was the only time they advanced.

 

1 reason only


Kevin McHale

 

Definitely. Lin is addition by subtraction, Ariza has adequately replaced Parsons and more and growt of DMO, TJ + Josh will more than make up for Asik. Plus Brewer

Yet to be seen come playoff time. Coaching goes to a whole new level come playoffs. Playoffs require coaches to think on their feet and be proactive and McHale is not that

Yes see answer to 1st question

I don't think anyone is sure we will be out of the 1st round but many don't have the full confidence that we will progress. Mainly because of the big let down of last post season. We were suppose to breeze through to the 2nd round but got our asses cleaned up by Stotts.

 

Out of all those "reasons," 2014 is the only year that matters to us.