http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2013/11/rockets-now-no-1-scoring-team-in-nba/ If that's any consolation, we've got one side of the coin locked and further solace: http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2013/11/rockets-8-4-start-among-10-best-in-franchise-history/ Some better news to read while recovering from the Mavs game and onward to rout the next team!
Not really vs Min : they're on a back to back vs us on 2 days rest at home, this is huge advantage us. @ Mem : Memphis been on and off this year, this seems a even at worst. vs Atl : see Wolfs, and they're not even as good as the Wolfs, we have rest they on back end of B2b, huge advantage. vs Brk : they suck, only worry is that they have a reversion to means game. @ SAS : this is probably the only game where we're not favoirte, back end of b2b (but they are too, and we fly in from Houston they fly back from Orlando.) difficult but not impossible game. I except the record in the next 5 game to be 4-1, at very very worst 3-2.
While team Points Per Game is nice, it's really not meaningful unless it's pace adjusted. You can be a poorly scoring team and rack up very high point totals by running the court and shooting early in the clock. I find a much more useful data point is either Points per possession, team TS%, or offensive efficiency. Even EFG%/APG% has some value. That said... Offensive Efficiency - 1.058/106.9 (5th/3rd in the NBA) (Team Rankings/Hollingers) Team True Shooting % - 115.5%/58.6% (2nd in the NBA) (Team Rankings/Hollingers) EFG% - 54.1% (3rd in the NBA) (Team Rankings) Points Per Possession - 0.98 (2nd in NBA) (Synergy) http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/effective-field-goal-pct http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats http://www.mysynergysports.com/ So yes, we have a top 5 offense, but not #1 despite being #1 in points per game.
I love your optimism but I am sure every last minute fadeaway shot will go in. That said realistically 4-1 is my prediction (unless McHale pulls a few more blunders)
Man it's a bunch of pussycats on this site... They've only played freaking 12 games... Harden only has one year of starting experience, Parsons has 2 years, Beverley none, TJ none, Lin only has like a year and a half.