Man, interesting data dive for that one, had to go way back in BB Ref. A team winning an NBA championship without playoff experience hasn't happened since the '77 Blazers with peak Bill Walton. And that was a rarity in NBA History, the next one before that was Paul Arizin's '56 Philadelphia Warriors before Wilt. So if the Rockets become a #1 or #2 seed in the dominant West are they contenders? Yes, I would think so by default, so there is a chance. Would they be likely to win it all? Statistically no, it would be extremely rare, but it would be one of the greatest rings ever
The Personnel is right on the money but who takes the clutch shots? Vet teams like Mavericks will make moves again at the deadline, things will look different after 40 games.
Jokic literally just won a ring and it's fools gold? Only reason he can't contend is his team sucks. They keep letting good role players go and picking up nothing in return. Can't believe they'd be dumb enough to get Westbrook.....
Any championship team needs a perimeter playmaker playing at a star level. The rockets would need either Jalen to get hot for the whole playoffs, FVV to step up in a way we haven't seen, or one of the young guys on the bench to make a huge jump throughout the year. While those are possible, I think it's unlikely...so, I would say we aren't serious championship contenders this year. Even Jokic's championship hopes generally depend on how effective Jamal Murray is in crunch time.
I agree that things will look different after 40 games. I just don't assume a team banking wins early with the assets to improve doesn't improve.
I know we have had an easy schedule, but to put the thread into perspective, when the Rockets won their first ring they won 58 games, which is a winning percentage of just under 71%. If the Rockets win tonight, it will put them at 72%.
I don't think the Rockets have an easy schedule, they have a middle schedule. https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength They are rank 12 in SOS which makes their top 3 standing even more impressive. Personally I think the Rox are in a great place: 1. No health issues in any of the core 7 (see OKC and Spurs) 2. Great locker room chemistry (Whitmore seems like the only outlier) Out of the future giants in the West I think the Rockets are poised to dominate due to these 2 reasons. Like OKC is the best but if Chet is always out then obv they can't compete with us. SAS Wemby has made great strides but like Chet time and health aren't on his side.
With consistent shooting yes this team is a contender. Tari and Amen off the bench is unfair most nights and I have to give Ime credit, he has this team consistently playing winning bball as this season goes on which is the most important thing.
They did, they got to the NBA finals with a young team and Chris Paul and lost 2-4 to Giannis and the Bucks. No playoff experience from their young core and actually were downright terrible or mediocre since Nash/Stoudemire left. They would have been the first team in almost 50 years to do it, so although statistically improbable, there is a chance if we're a top 1 or 2 seed.
Right now they're something like the "Grit & Grind" Grizzlies. 1st/2nd round defensive team thats a tough matchup. They could also miss the playoffs, but it looks like they can only get better from here If Jalen and Jabari actually play to their potential, Sheppard becomes a Sam Cassell-lite, its a chance to make some noise. The '23 Heat went from a play-in team all the way to the Finals. The bubble year '20 Heat team went from no playoffs, to the Finals with just 43 wins. 2020's ball is a little different than before
