So, Hollinger's power rankings are out, and the Rockets are appropriately a middling team (http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/2). However, there was a particular stat that jumped out to me, which was Strength of Schedule thus far in the season (http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings/_/sort/sos). It is not overly surprising to see that the Rockets have had the hardest schedule so far this season, and I am not given a gushing with optimism over this fact. What does make me excited is the team with the easy schedule so far: The New York Knicks. The Knicks (by far) have had the easiest schedule so far this season, and are still only 5-4. I'm not saying this will mean the Knicks pick is on its way to becoming a top 10 selection, just saying that those who think the pick might be a late lottery selection could indeed be right. The season's short, but there is reason for optimism...and that reason's name is Mike D'Antonio.
i would love a top 8 pick (ours) and a lottery pick (knicks) with two second rounders... assume knicks are the dreaded 14 we could possibly trade our first and both seconds to move into the top 10... having two top tens draft picks in this deep stacked draft class would make me very happy......
The Rockets losses haven't really bothered me at all. It is still too early to judge. Also, there are too many other teams that are not doing too well.
I'm not gonna start looking at mock drafts just quite yet. If i had to guess, we probably wont even have it by the time the draft comes around. I'd say that the knicks pick is going to be a major factor come the trade deadline if they are around or below .500, and it will be a nice bonus to package with expirings to get something good
Too early for SoS to matter statistically. For example, if Houston is good, they wouldn't show up as good for their opponents SoS because of all their losses.... you need at least a 25 game sample size.
what Ziggy says. The schedule is brutal...but in a small sample size...when you lose your opponents win boosting their strength. What is Washington's SoS....lol. [edit] holy crap. the 0-8 Bullets have the 5th easiest SoS right now. not a good sign
I completely agree, but you must admit, if you look at the teams the Knicks have played so far, they are pretty inferior -- not just by the standards of their record, but also in regards to their talent level. Still, your point is totally valid.
he also has the 76ers number one in his power rankings.........................................................................SURE they're that good
The power rankings are pretty much... Whose hot, whose not. The Rockets, clearly, are not hot at the moment. The Rockets are a team that can explode and go on a tear the second half of the season, or blow it up and finish at the bottom on the tank. Even if I wasnt a Rockets fan, I would find them one of the more interesting teams in the league.
I have learned not to put much into strength of the schedule. All the teams and all the players are heavily scouted and unless your team is playing the Jupiter thunderbolts and Uranus thundercats- you are gonna play against the same teams as every one else. I understand that with the shorter season and couple of back to back to back, most team might get tired, but every team is playing the same schedule for the most part
SOS is huge especially in a condense schedule. Look at the NFL, teams have playoff years purely on playing a weak schedule (see broncos).
Worst we can do in the first 10 games now is 3-7... we can still make the playoffs after that, though it will be tough. If we can pull out a win and wind up 4-6 after this tough schedule we'll be right on track for the postseason.
