Rockets would be the 6th seed in the East right now...

the warriors in 2008 i believe had 48 wins and missed the playoffs narrowly thanks to denver who had 50 wins i believe.



it sucks but there isnt much the rockets can do they fought hard at the end which was nice to see that progress was made, problem was the changes they made probably happened too late and some of the games they lost this season for whatever reason you want to say - poor rotations, injuries, aaron brooks etc is hurting them now.

the only thing i am worried about is that lets say they do not make the playoffs (seems very unlikely with 3 games behind with 5 left to play and with NO owning tie-breaker) is that if Adeleman does not stay (which seems likely) then the progress the team has made may have to take a huge reboot. Which would mean another slow start next season (whenever that may be) and then trying to dig themselves out again. One thing that has been the case for almost the last 6-7 years is that the Rockets start out very slow and then have some good stretches to make it up. I just once want them to start out of the gate fast like they did in the 90s (obvious much better teams then) so they arent always fighting an uphill battle...instead of ending the season on a 14-5 tear starting the season out that way would do wonders for team morale and chemistry.

 

Please dont tell me the francis era bs again. If we wouldve been here we would be this seed. Well, they're not and if they didnt lose some of the games they shouldve won, we wouldnt have this conversation.

Yo-Yo, I disagree about the 6-7 year reboot if they lose adealman. I think Rick has done a great job with what he's had, but this team as constructed is where they will be for the next couple of years. Now, if rick had better players, he would have a better record,but I think the same can be said for another coach.Rudy T could probably get the same results with this squad. Thats not to dismiss rudy or rick.

 

Last year we had our best stretch right out of the gate, it didn't matter in the end.

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I think not just any coach can get what Adelman has gotten out of this group. This guys breath his system, remember it takes at least 2-3 years to run it to a T.

If there's a coaching change then I hope that we mirror Monty Williams' fast start more than Doug Collins' slow one in Philly; I'd take Thibs shaky start and strong finish for sure, what I'm saying is that this is a roster that needs to be clicking in all cylinders in order to make the playoffs.

 

leeb- I didnt say it would be a 6-7 year reboot, but it just seems for the past 7 years the Rockets never had a great start to the season if there is a coaching change i would expect something similar to happen as well compared to if Rick stays. The way the team is playing now they would have a good start to the season regardless of the opponents on the schedule I feel.

since 2000 the Rockets record entering december:
2000-01 season: 9-7
01-02: 7-9
02-03: 9-6
03-04: 9-7
04-05: 6-9
05-06: 4-11
06-07: 10-5
07-08: 9-8
08-09: 11-7
09-10: 9-8
10-11: 5-12

Considering that the Rockets finished under .500 in only two of these seasons (01-12 and 05-16) they've had strong finishes to the end of the season.

But in the 00-01 season they missed the playoffs by 2 games
In the 02-03 season they missed the playoffs by 1 game

these slow starts are hurting them and especially this year we could miss out on the playoffs by 1 or 2 games and look we had a 5-12 start to the season and lost to teams like golden state, charlotte, washington, toronto and choked away the chicago game.

The years when they did make the playoffs they could have had much better seeding and could have created more favorable matchups and additional HC in later rounds.

There hasnt been much consistency to this roster but it seems now there finally is and with the addition of a player or two (hopefully a shot blocking center!) this team can be poised to have a great 10+ game W game start.

having a 12-5 or 13-5 start to the season will do wonders and help garner respect the team needs to have that focus from the start they've overcome injuries in these last 17 games and i always feel the start of the season everyone is relatively healthy and just gone through training camp and numerous practices where the team should be playing at its best not at its worst.


i guess its a bit of vent but tired of seeing this team drop winnable games early in the season and having it come back and bite them in the ass at the end of the year.

 

If the Rockets had been in the East, T-Mac would not have the "2nd round virgin" moniker, and the Rockets won't have the "One playoff win over a decade" label. If the Rockets had been in the East, the T-Mac/Yao combo would be considered a mild success rather than a horrible disappointment.

And if the Astros had been in the AL East, the McLane/Hunsicker era would have 1 playoff birth at most, and likely have been playoff-less(their 100 win season came at the expense of a super weak NL Central-biased schedule).

In the end, you work with the hand you're dealt with. Sometimes luck go your way, ala the Astros. Sometimes screws you in the ass, as with the Rockets.

 

I agree that coaching change will waste at least one season, maybe more depending on the quality of the new coach. This group is attuned to Adelman's coaching. Changing a coach will force them to change part of their games again, and it might also force Morey to readjust the roster again.

That's why I strongly believe that they should make every effort to retain Adelman. The fact that they still appear undecided is just mind boggling. This has to be either Alexander's stupidity (think the axing of Rudy T and JVG) or some conflict between Adelman and Morey.

 

Houston has such a small regional fanbase on that map.

 

This is my favorite. In a SW division vs Eastern conference tournament the SW would win 75% of the games.

 

Yes, the Rockets would be 6th seed in the East and also I would be chosen as the center for a team otherwise comprised of 10 year olds, but neither fact is especially relevant.

 

Signed,
Kelvin Cato

 

I grew up in Montana where on that map is "Blazer Country" I can say that is not true at all. Growing up, I guess I would say that a there was a noticeable population of people who liked the Super Sonics, but never Blazers fans.

 

But the Rockets aren't in the Eastern Conference. Not to be rude, but this thread title comes up every season and I don't see the point of it. That is why it is called the Leastern Conference. It is just frustrating to bring up; the Rockets have to pursue their fortunes in the very tough Western Conference, the way it is. Unless someone knows a way they can transfer to the East.

 

Lol the seeding has nothing to do with equality. The reason upsets don't happen is because after so many games and possessions, the better team will clearly show itself.

In a 7 game NBA series, each team will have about 700 or so possessions to show how good it is. In an NFL playoff round, each team will have like 10 possessions to prove itself. In a round of NCAA bball each team has like 60 possessions.

It's simple math.

 

Perhaps if we had traded Battier's intangibles a little bit earlier we would be in the playoffs.

 

Doesn't this remind you that one year with Steve Francis where the Rockets had a dominant record against the East?

 

That was the 47-win-yet-no-playoffs year.

They were undefeated against the Central, 12-0 or something like that.

 

But the thing is.... we are not in the East. So lets focus on the west.

 

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/

You mean 45?

 

very clever

 

^Fail...but fixed*