I've been shocked with how much and how quickly the defense has turned around with coaching Brooks, and FVV. Also, Sengun is making fewer risky passes and protecting the ball a lot better in general has made him an even more efficient offensive player. That with FVV replacing KPJ has upped the passing while dramatically reducing the turnovers. The turnover reduction has helped the defense a lot. Also, offensive rebounding is down as a by product of getting back on defense (will be interested to see how this turns out with Tari who's good on the offensive boards and defense). Besides for FVV, it looks like nearly everyone is having a career year on FGs that were assisted (i.e., guys are getting better looks expecially inside the arc). The shooting....about 5 guys are having career years behind the arc. I am expecting some regression (especially in the 3 point shooting from guys like Brooks, Tate). For the offense, I am really curious to see if the Rockets can keep up the passing while keeping down the turnovers.
The Rockets have 2 players in the top 15 and 4 players in the top 50 league wide in assist to turnover ratio and are #6 as a team. After the last couple years, that's refreshing,
That's just not true. Plenty on here and in the blogosphere pegged the new Rox at 35-42 win range. I myself have posted 41 but hopeful for at least 38. Now if the Rox get to 42-50 wins then yes, nobody saw that coming!
Nobody saw this coming? The West is so incredibly overrated and it was obvious to anyone not blowing smoke up your ass. Especially Memphis and Utah being bad, could see that from a mile away if you pay attention at all to basketball. My expectations were 40 wins, they are now 45 wins. I was giving Ime 2 months to get through to the team and have them gel but we are way ahead of schedule.
Also players skulking around by not getting back on defense after a missed shot or not getting the ball has decreased a lot.
One week idiots want to trade Jalen and Jabari is a bust. The following games we need figure out if we're a top 4 seed..... Overreactions.
We’re not going to stay top 5 in net rating over the whole season. We’ve had the best 3 point luck in the league so far (2nd highest 3P%, and 4th lowest opponent 3P%), and probably the best opponent injury luck so far. NBA regular season outcomes depend a lot on relative effort levels - we’ve wanted it more every game this season, and it’s shown. I think we can keep that up for most of the season because most of our guys legitimately have a lot to play for, nobody is saving their legs for the postseason, and I believe in Ime as a motivator. Long term (past this season), is it a sustainable advantage? Probably not. Look at the Kings last year vs this year. Hopefully we’ll truly be at a talent advantage instead in future years as our young guys develop.
I will wait another 15 games before I reset any expectations. I do like the way we are looking so far and the direction we are heading as a team. Eason being back healthy should give us another capable player and once Amen is back we will be full go with our rotations. We still have a very tough schedule ahead of us these next couple of weeks so we will be tested.
I'll let you know after the Denver game. If we are competitive that game then I think they just might be a play-in team. If Denver handles us easily then we probably are just benefitting from the long homestand and other team's injuries. Should add, since Murray will also be out for our game with them this weekend, it doesn't matter they are still a top team even without him. Still a top 5 team without him. So I'll change expectations for them based on that game.
The Rockets are shooting 39% from 3 this year as a team. That would have lead the league last year - there's simply no way that number is higher after 82 games. Likewise, they are allowing 32% from 3 this year as a team. That would have lead the league last year - there's simply no way that number is not higher after 82 games. Also, even though SOS is pretty biased at this stage, guess which team has played the easiest SOS among all 30 teams so far. I am glad the Rockets rebounded from a nasty looking first week, but I don't have them in the play-in yet, and I think some regression from current state is inevitable. But even a regressed Rocket team is better than the last 3 years of trainwreck. As always, I hope I'm wrong
I actually expect us to do better against older teams like Lakers and Clippers because they simply can't keep up with the intensity or pace we can run with. The real gauge for me is going to be the more "prime" player teams, Nuggets, Celtics, Bucks etc. If we hold our own against them I'll consider revising my 30ish games I thought we'd get this year.
I know we had a few good changes between last year and this. I'm trying to figure out what helped the most? I think the order is... A) Letting Silas go and bringing in Ime B) KPJ gone C) Bringing in FVV D) Bringing in Brooks We're not even using our draft pics so it's not Amen or Cam. (So tanking last year seems for naught but hey it was worth a shot for Victor) And maybe...just maybe...we won't have such a hard time getting FAs in the future.
Way too early to talk about expectation reset but what the Rockets have shown so far has been impressive:
Why would being competitive with Denver prove to you that they are a play in team? If they are competitive with Denver they are a championship contender!
