Hi, everyone! Longtime member but first post in many years. I was beyond elated with the result today and I'm leaning towards game 5 on Tuesday to be a closeout session. All things considered, what are your honest expectations moving forward? I have loved the Rockets since 1983 and of course, there's been many up's and down's over the years. Houston will likely face San Antonio next as opposed to Memphis. As much as I'd love a repeat of the 1995 WCF's against the heavily favored Spurs, it is a very tall order to beat them four times and it would also require a Houston win at the AT&T Center. As some threads have mentioned, players such as Ryan Anderson have been a disappointment and playoff basketball is a completely different animal. I personally think the Rockets are perhaps just one star player away from truly contending, although a deep run this year would deem this season a success. What are your thoughts? Thanks!
Strong 1st post. My thoughts are adding Ricky Rubio doesnt make us so much better that it catapults us to a Championship. I think we are a Paul George away from seriously contending.
We are hoping we can attract stars in the off-season with this run (they avoided us after last year). Realistically we are not huge contenders but you never know, we are a very deep team.
Hiya - I looked at the salary rosters for several teams & PG13 is locked up for a deal thru next year
as much as I want to support this post, I cant. My thoughts are the Rockets are still playing the thunder and the fan base shouldn't look that far into the future. You've waited so long to post this, couldn't have waited a couple more days!? #GetWin4
My honest opinion is that this team isn't as good as people make them out to be, but they're a good team. The one thing that is saving them right now is that Morey's trades for bench help in Gordon and Lou are paying off at the most opportune time. Going into the playoffs, I was scared those 2 would be no-shows. I don't expect everybody to be on every night, but we need one or two other guys to be on along with Harden or more when he's not on to have a chance. So far, that's been the case. Beverley, Lou, Gordon, and especially Nene have all stepped up at various times. vs. Jazz - I don't know ... I'm not sure we can get past them, but then I don't expect to meet up with them. vs. Clippers - We should be able to take them out. Especially with Griffin out, but... I don't think meeting them is a concern. vs. Thunder - I thought we'd have problems with this team, but would win. The 31-point win was an aberration. They played us tight for the most part the rest of the season. vs. Grizz - Something makes me want to believe this would be the easiest team for us to play other than the Thunder, but ... vs. Spurs - Not sure I want to play these guys, either. Pop can play fast or slow. He'll figure out a way to slow us down or out-run us. He's annoying. I do like our chances against them a lot better than against GS. vs. Warriors - ugh. Everybody needs to be on to beat that team. Either that or they need to be off. I don't like our chances at all. Ultimately, I thought all roads went through SA and then GS... in other words.... be happy to get out of the first round, pray somehow we play Memphis, face GS, and get ready for next year. lol. Let's face it. The elite in the West are GS and SA. The Rockets are on that level when everything is clicking, but everything isn't always clicking, although we saw a brief glimpse of that in eh 30+ point blowout in Game 1.
Fact of the matter is that any team can beat any other team if enough things work out enough. At the end, it is all about probabilities, both individually and collectively. For example, if CP3 goes bonkers or hits some timely clutch shots and Crawford gets hot, they can still beat anyone. Now will that happen enough times in a 7 game series against us or GSW, probably not. Can Gordon, Lou, Ariza, and Anderson get hot together? Yes, but not very likely. That said, there is enough of them who have the ability to erupt more often than not, that makes the Rockets so dangerous. While things average closely into calculated metrics, but they are still generally grouped in highs and lows. There is no such thing (close enough) to someone who is just a consistent flat % shooter. Even the best shooters will go through slumps and hot streaks. It's frustrating for both players and fans as well as euphoric. It's also contagious and this is what we call chemistry and momentum. When enough of the team gets hot, then it spreads and others feed on it. Of course some will also get even colder as they try to card to catch up with those who are feeling it. Finally, with probability we also have to consider timing. As with individual players, teams have the ability to peak and dip as well. The great teams minimize those peaks and dips with an established offensive system; role players in set systems are able to increase their average base performance due to the comfort of repetition. Consider our roll players; I set a pick and move in this direction/spot and shoot if I get the ball and am open. Role players without inflated ego's are very good with following repetition. It's when they overestimate their abilities that game when things usually go bad.
Definitely one big player away from being a true contender (which means to be in the same range as the Cavs and the Spurs), as today i think we're good but still a pretender, just not on the same level of Cavs and Spurs (let alone the Warriors, they're ridiculous, four all stars in the starting 5, two of them being MVP caliver players). To me, a good series against the Spurs, even if we lose, would be still enough to consider this season as a very positive one since i never considered this roster that good. @Dr of Dunk great post, totally agree.
One of our strengths is we have no bad players. We literally have no one that just goes out and plays like crap every game (used to be Brewer).
If we beat the Thunder and then the Spurs......... There would be all kinds of.. Well...... Those are flawed teams... If we beat golden state........... People would say the Durant injury Honestly ..... I doubt their is anything short of a 4-0 blow outs from here on Would make people give them even the least bit of credit Rocket River
When everything is clicking, we blow out any and every team without a problem. We just have that much volatile firepower. That said, it will usually be Harden + 1/2 clicking and in those situations and when that is happening, I feel we can hang with and have a chance of beating any of the elite teams. If it's just Harden or Harden + 1 more though, that's going to be very difficult against SA or GSW.
We are not even out of the playoffs and you are making assumptions now? My thoughts are that I don't care what you think. Believe.
"Good" gets you to the playoffs (for the most part). We're beyond that. We need to get on the "elite" level. Utah, Memphis, OKC, Boston, etc. are all "good" teams.
The Rockets are a piece or 2 away from being the most scary team in basketball.... this year is a bonus and something to build on in the very near future..... If the rockets get to the WCF, it will be a massive success, and I am sure Red nation would be elated. I also think that this success will hopefully want players to come and play with the Rockets and James Harden. Bright days in Houston. Sit back and enjoy.
In a different year we'd be a "real" contender, but with how elite the Warriors are the bar has been raised so much. We're a player or two short of being realistic contenders, but anything can happen.
