How many games will the Rockets win during the 2010-11 Season?

How many games will the Rockets win this year?

Just for a reference, there are 82 games in the season.

That means 41-41 is a .500 record.

Last year, the Rockets had 42 wins.

The best record last season was held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished with 61 wins.

The worst record last year was held by the New Jersey Nets, who finished with 12 wins.

Here are the official final standings from last year:

http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/year/2010/seasontype/2

 

Of course the key to making this prediction is knowing whether Yao will stay healthy throughout the season. As a result of the surgery to reform his foot, the impressive showing he has made in the preseason so far, and the coaches commitment to limiting his minutes, I believe Yao will stay healthy this year, and my prediction reflects that.

The Rockets also appear to have improved the rest of the team from last year. Both Courtney Lee and Brad Miller appear to be very solid additions to this team, with Miller being the key offseason addition as the backup center behind Yao. Even if Yao were not to stay healthy, I would still expect this team to improve on the 42 wins it had last year.

The addition of Yao and Miller at center should give the Rockets an inside presence that was almost completely absent last year. In fact, this position has been transformed from being the Rocket's greatest weakness last year, to an irrefutable team strength.

As a result, of this and the continuing maturation of both the players and the entire Rocket's team, and its improved mastery of Coach Adelman's brilliant offensive scheme, I am predicting the Rockets will win 55 games this year.

For reference, here is a link to a similar thread from last year where many of you made your predictions:

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=176037

 

They are infidels and should be treated appropriately.