I don't think that's fair. We were better than SA last year. We were the second best team in the west. The best team in the southwest division. They added LaMarcus. We added Lawson. On top of that, health is the most underrated acquisition this summer for the Rockets. Our full squad was playing amazing basketball before the weird injuries crept up. We STILL won our division, one of (if not THE) toughest divisions in all of sports, and made it all the way to conference finals (aka the finals). Hobbled the ENTIRE season and playoffs, this squad accomplished great things. Continuity improves the chemistry. If Ty Lawson is our biggest risk, I'd say we are poised for another run.
Anywhere in the top 6 is fine with me. Whether we're better than the Clippers or Thunder is a matter of opinion, and there isn't a wrong one (as of right now). All 5 teams atop the West are championship contenders, as are the Cavaliers in the East.
The gap between the Rockets and the Spurs was very small. San Antonio was one game away from winning the division. The Rockets lost a key player in Smith and gained Lawson. The Spurs gained more. Most analysts would say +Aldrige > +Lawson.
Aldridge is worth more than Lawson, no question about it. However, for the Rockets, Lawson may prove to be more valuable in that we really haven't had a starting caliber pg for many years now. Lawson will make the game so much easier for just about everybody, including Bev.
i think the first 3 teams on that list are the only "tier 1" teams in the league: SAS, GSW, CLE. the other 3 teams on the list are the only "tier 2" teams in the league: HOU, LAC, OKC. we still need one more piece to put us in the top tier. either that or we need dmo/tj to take another step forward this year.
I think we are better than SA as well. However, I prefer to go into the season as somewhat of an "underdog" as far as contenders go. Let the media kiss all over Curry and Lebron's ass. When it's all said and done, I believe Houston will come out on top. We were the 2nd team with Jones and Howard out half the season, with Beverly and Dmo out for the playoffs. We are a better team now. They'll know who's better come June.
Must be great being in the east...Rockets easily are no.3 and right now can challenge spurs and warriors. Funny how ty Lawson trade started making me thump my chest again... Season should start ASAP
My first thought was also, that Cavs can't be that high, but then immediately remembered that LeBron without Love and Irving was 2-1 vs GSW in superfinals. Overall great rankings. At least the top part of it. I have problems with his bottom half of rankings.
Nahh...you can put GSW tier 1 if you want, because they won it all; HOU, SAS, LAC, OKC and CLE would all have to be tier 2. Put CLE in the West, they don't make the finals, might even be a first round exit. I'd put GSW 1, CLE 5, SAS, HOU, LAC could all be anywhere from 2-4 IMO (all 3 teams had a similar record and improved this offseason)
You're correct. I'll add that the gap between the Spurs and the Rockets at 60% was small. smith was a key player, but we sort of lucked out with him fitting in because we always had one rotational power forward injured (Dmo and Jones). We get those two back healthy, Smith's departure is not as bad as it seems. Lawson provide the playmaking that Smith brought; however, he is so much better at it and fills a position of weakness. The weakest position last year. I argue that the Rockets gained more than the Spurs because Lawson fills a need that the rockets were so obviously inferior at. The rockets upgrades: Terry/Prigioni (Canaan/Terry) to Lawson/Beverley Harden/Terry to Harden/Thornton Howard/Black or Howard/Dorsey to Howard/Capela If I told you the rotations that the Rockets used last season could get you a division crown and Conf Finals appearance, you'dve called me crazy. The Spurs' acquisitions are not enough for me to say they have obviously leap frogged us. If anything, I'd say both teams upgraded their rosters equally.
I suspect we'll soon see a new banner in TC, and that city planners are already getting our "4th Place in Late July Power Rankings" parade going.
San Antonio was one game away from winning the division because Houston was injured all year and Harden received that ridiculous 1 game suspension, the Rockets had to play Atlanta that game without Dwight or Harden.
