We will make the playoffs, we will finish 4th, and here is why..

Wow, we got some homers and some haters in this place. We even have some homer haters and hater homers too.

The rockets haven't looked particularly sharp in the last set of games, but it's not like we are winning games against high school teams here. As bad as WAS is, they recently upset OKC. Any team on any night can win, this is the NBA. What we should take away from this stretch is a multiplet of things. First, Lowry is a stabilizer on offense. The rest of the starters seem quite variable, but Lowry is the only player I can think of who doesn't have bad nights. If he can't shoot, he makes passes, if he can't rebound he increases defensive pressure, he just gets done what he can. Awesome. The bench is our biggest weakness. Nobody can create a shot for themselves. Lee might be an exception to this. Really we need more consistent play from everyone else, Kmart especially. If those pieces fall in line I think the OP is right. So there is some.truth to this thread.

 

Preach moderation!

The Rockets are beating the bad teams and losing against the good teams...

That is how the season will continue if no major changes are made.

The Rockets can make the playoffs, if they get a couple of lucky wins against some of the good teams as well, but that's the only way it's going to happen. If you think otherwise, you're only fooling yourself.

Take this team for what it is: a mediocre collection of talent that is playing at a level expected from it. That's a hard truth for fans to swallow, but it doesn't make it less true.

 

Injuries to the Bear or Lowry will end this season. Other than that I think we have hope for anywhere from a 4 to an 8 seed.

 

This!

 

I agree with this list. Even if the Rockets are playing well these 7 teams are clearly better. Only way we end up with a better record than these guys is if something crazy happens.

 

Optimism is good but unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment.

The only way this team makes it to the #4 seed in the West is with a significant change to this roster. This current roster is, playing at their very best with no injuries and catching all the breaks, the #9 team. And with the way the starters are piling up minutes, if we lose one of our rotation guys for any length of time, we could be down to 12-13 in a heartbeat.

 

This is exactly how I feel. We've been getting wins, but short of a handful of quarters and a few players, I haven't like what I've seen from these guys, certainly not from the bench.

I don't think we're much better than last year's team. But I think circumstances will allow us to finish in a playoff spot, but it'll be ugly unless something changes.

Regarding our bench and Scola...blech...Scola has been one of my favorite players since he arrived...but this season, I've seen too many times where he just gives up on defense. He's not getting into position for enough shots, and when he does get one of his few shots off in a game, it's no longer consistent. The bench went from a strength to a weakness. Dragic isn't running the offense efficiently. And Patterson has regressed greatly due to his injury.

I just hope these guys get over whatever is holding them back, because each of them showed more promise last season than this one.

Don't get me wrong, I love many things about this team and I hope they play hard-nosed every game. Maybe it's just selfish of me, but I was hoping for a lot more improvement from more guys than what I've seen so far.

 

I admire the enthusiasm. But we're not better than OKC, LA x 2, San Antonio, Portland, Memphis, or Denver. Assuming we don't have a significant injury to any of the starters, we're a 6th seed at best.

 

I don't think SA, POR, and ATL are bad teams.

 

They already are. In fact, they've been ahead of us since the 09 year. Maybe longer.

 

Nuggets are going to be #1 seed, I called it after last season and am sticking by it.

The Blazers aren't that great but I don't see them being so bad that you would disrespect them like this.

Hyperboles aside, the only teams that are definitively going to be ahead of us are OKC and DEN. Both LA teams are a work in progress due to some offseason changes but I think they'll beat us as well.

 

it's a 5 game win streak longest currently in the league. After we beat SA Saturday it will be 6.

This is a better, no much better, (in degrees) team then last years.

 

I have to admit I am pleasantly surprised with this team, not yet enough to change my sig but I will gladly eat crow if we finish the way you say.

That said:

Spoiler

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p3-eavMSBnk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Print screen'ed and saved this quote in a notepad file on my desktop.

 

Not only that, but we can look forward to finishing fourth in the conference for years and years to come! :grin:

 

Injuries and shortened schedules can change entire dynamics.

I want the Rox to tank for a draft pick, but since that is not going to happen, I hope they shock the world and steal a championship with their chemistry approach.

DD

 

you should have stopped at "we will make the playoffs"

 

It's funny how a softer schedule can make the Rockets look like they can make the playoffs. And the rest of January looks to add more victories. Unless changes are made the true picture will reveal itself for all to see.

 

Reason for optimism: We can fight to make the playoffs ... These bundled games actually helps our cause

Reason for pessimism: The yearly injury bug has yet to strike our most important player....Oh it's coming!!!