We are good - surprisingly good. Rockets defy expectations. How can continue to improve to be legit?

1. Focus

2. Consistency

3. Replace Brewer and Ennis for another three point shooter

 

More power dancers.

 

sweep the leg

 

so what you are saying, we didnt play any real contenders?

 

I can't find a stat for how many teams had 10 or more game winning streaks last season, but I bet it doesn't happen for more than 6-7 teams per season no matter how friendly the schedule.

While it doesn't inform us much about our ability to win a playoff series, I would say beating even the 10 worst teams in the league at home in 10 consecutive games is a sign that the team/staff is very focused, prepared and sharp >> which does say something special about the team.

 

took 4 pages

but we will never beat CLE on the road this year. No way.

Spoiler

this one is a joke, too. get it?

 

I totally forgot we still have Ennis on the bench hahaha

 

As weird as it sounds right now, I think our improvement with current cast is still better on-court chemistry. We've still got room to grow in the new system and creating more "muscle memory/group memory" on ball movement and getting into the best set per possession based on defense.

But this streak has accomplished a great deal, especially the all important intangible of playing for 48 minutes (thx bench), and a sense of urgency in 4th Q defensive clampdown.

 

The Rockets can improve with an upgrade at center. Put in Paul Millsap at the 5 for the Rockets and they would be favorites to win the championship in my opinion. DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard would also make the Rockets title contenders.

 

It would be nice as a back up center, and could possibly give more spacing options but the center or even the pf are usless at the 3pt line if they cannot beat there man off the dribble and our rebounds probably would be effected against better guards or sf that can rebound such as Westbrook or even Lebron....idk i wouldnt risk it.

 

I told y'all before the season we would be good!

 

Aside for the Warriors yes, we played only them in ten games, two good teams (Thunder, Celtics) and seven bad teams (Wolves, Lakers, Kings, Mavs, Nuggets, Nets, Pelicans).

 

sure it is. hater.

 

15 point + win against Spurs at home tomorrow.

 

With the way our roster is constructed there are only marginal improvements to be made, but maybe that is enough for a puncher's chance to upset the Warriors in the playoffs. To be strong contenders we need to have a top-10 defense or close to that, and we are not there yet.

There are two areas where I feel we can upgrade through trades:
- Interior defense when Capela sits: turn Nene/Harrell back-up center minutes to a more defensive-minded rim protector, eg Nerlens Noel
- Playmaking/scoring from the bench: turn Brewer/KJ/Ennis into somebody more productive that can lighten the load on Harden / Gordon / Bev, eg Gary Harris or Belinelli

Otherwise, the team will continue to improve organically. With Bev back we feature 3 good defenders in the starting line-up and are now up to 17th place in defensive rating (Basketball Reference definition). Dekker, Capela and Harrell will continue to improve defensively. Anderson's shooting and overall performance should bounce back to career averages.

 

Continue with the encouraging improvement and obtain more consistency regarding the following:

 

yeah baby

 

Need a superstar to come in the offseason.

Blake Griffin would be a huge upgrade.

Hayward would help but not as much as other guys.

 

I wonder if Brewer, Harrell and a 1st would be enough to get Chandler from Phoenix?

Getting pushed around on the inside seems to be our only noticeable weakness at this time. Chandler would address that, and still fit the PnR format we have with Capela. Phoenix has no real need for him given they aren't any good, but there's always a good market for centers of his ilk so I tend to think that won't be a good enough offer.

Drop him in as a tag team with Capela, and we could legit have a top 10 defense, which I never would have dreamed coming into the season because he's still a beast defensively and on the boards. As is, I think our lack of interior size is still gonna kill us in the long run.

 

would kinda hate to lose Harrell