I think Rockets surprised some people with their preseason play and it's reflected in the Rankings. I watched some Clippers games and they don't look as good as they should be. I like being underrated though. I really think the Rockets will dismantle some teams. Even without Harden Rockets look like they could compete (in the regular season)
I think the Clippers will be an excellent regular season team. Just like the past couple years. But I expect them to shrink in the semis. (Why do we get onto Jordan for his inability to hit FTs yet Asik & Howard are equally as poor?) Never sleep on the Spurs, nor the Thunder. But we are DEFINITELY top 4, barring injuries. Anyone who puts Memphis or GS above us are instantly disregarded.
It depends on who they play against in the playoffs, the Grizzlies are the anti-Clippers, just like the Mavericks are the anti-Spurs, and the T-Wolves are the anti-Thunder. They might not be the better team in W-L, but they just match up better vs. elite teams.
The Howard hate is strong in LA. Mason and Ireland think Harden and Parsons are scrubs, and that he has nobody else on his team who can put the ball in the basket Guess they weren't watching preseason.
The Clippers are getting the Lakers votes. It's an LA thing. I think the Rockets are legitimately a top 3 team (Heat and Spurs deserve the top two). I don't get how the Bulls or Clippers are so high.
That's ridiculous. The Rockets finished 45-37 last season which tied them with Chicago and the Lakers for the 11th best record in the league. So these two morons think the Rockets won't improve at all in the standings this year with Dwight added to the roster?
Why are people so afraid to put us in the top 3? The only team that's clear cut better than us is the Miami LeBrons.
I'm just glad they don't have the Pacers ahead of us. They're a good matchup with the Heat thanks to Hibbert, but against any team with a competent center they're just a halfway decent team that defends well.
I still believe that NBA fans and probably a lot of commentators don't understand how good James Harden is. I think they see his stats, but they never watch rockets games. This factors in to how people perceive us. They'll learn soon enough.
