In all likelihood, we will match up with them in the second round unless the Suns has the best record in the West.
I have a feeling this is going to be our best season in a very long time.. WATCH OUT EVERYONE IN THE WEST!! 60 wins here we come!!
As much as I'd like to rank us way up there (top 3), I just can't do it, for the following reasons: 1) In order for us to finish in the top 3 we'd have to overtake SA, if we can't do that then the best we can hope for is 4th. 2) Even though our team will be better in the regular season, what really matters is having a PF in the playoffs. Hopefully the upgrade (I pray it is an upgrade) at PF will help us win a few more games, along with experience, and a better PG, we'll be a few spots better. Hopefully we resign JB and Deke, and get a good PG like Damon and we'll be set. If I had to make a prediction I'd put us 4th at the end of the year because I just don't think we can overtake the Spurs yet. One final note, everyone putting SA 1st, and us 2nd or 3rd needs to realize that is literally IMPOSSIBLE! Pugs
The Rockets were the 3rd best team in the conference last year once Van Gundy and McGrady figured each other out. That was with our undersized, old, and slow backcourt. Once we upgrade our backcourt even a little bit, and now these guys get to go into the preseason with TMac, Yao, and Van Gundy on the same page, even WITHOUT SWIFT, we will be better and get more Ws than last year barring injury. This is a 55-58 win team WITHOUT SWIFT, just based on TMac and Yao gelling and Van Gundy's coaching.
To me Yao is the key, he affirms what the YOF opinions of him are this year by having his breakout season and we catapult up the western standings. Yao has no excuses this year, he now has the athlete along side him to play help defense, he has a personal trainer and 3 years of NBA conditioning, he has had more off season rest this year than in previous years. I am looking for big feats from our big fella this year, if he has his breakout year and we get an established PG like DS then why not the NBA finals.
I don't think Phoenix will have the same success as last year. I'll predict them in the 4th spot. I think the only team that can beat the Rockets, is the Rockets. If we get on a tear, not even SA can get in our way. Look out. Amare for MVP??? With the help in the low post, my vote goes to Yao.
54+ wins...... In the regular season we'll probably finish 5th again, maybe 4th, but I think 5th. Spurs will be the Spurs Suns will be the Suns, unless they lose JJ Sonics, or Wolves will win their division Mavs always have great regular seasons, this one will be no different Rox are next.......BUT.... In the playoffs, regardless of seeding, the only team in the West that can beat the Rox in a seven game series is San Antonio, IMO.
55-60 wins for sure, and every team will fear the Rockets once the playoffs come around, if they are healthy for the playoffs I would seriously either favor them or declare a toss up against anybody. The only things that can change that is if the Rockets don't improve their back court, if Tony Parker steps up as an elite PG in the NBA, if Amare Stoudemire becomes the DPOY like he says he will, or if Dallas is able to acquire some superstar type player to go along with Dirk, like Paul Pierce. Every one of those things is highly unlikely so I'll keep my high hopes.
Really? I can't imagine us not moving up to the 4th seed given that: The 6-11 start will probably turn around to at least 11-6. (5 more games) We won't lose to the dregs of the league (Bobcats, Hawks, Knicks, Toronto) as much. (3 more games) I think those two alone will be the case since TMac, Yao, and JVG have a year of adjustment under their belts. Even without counting any improvement at all from Swift, we should improve at least 8 games or so. That would have put us in the 4th seed last year and will be enough to put us there this year. If Swift gels with this team quickly and/or we are able to bring in a quality PG, SG, or SF, we could challenge SA for the division. 1 - SA 2 - PHO 3 - MIN (rebounds from bad year to win the NW division) 4 - HOU 5 - DEN 6 - DAL 7 - SEA 8 - LAL Of course, all that is assuming none of these teams make moves before Halloween.
I agree....It took this team almost 2 months to get it all together and start playing like we knew they could. Once they got Sura in the lineup and acquired Wesley was when they really started playing good. I definitely dont see us struggling so much in the early part of the year. Even if Swift takes a little time to get "with the system", we still should have Howard back healthy(I havent seen any reliable indicators that he wont be) and we all know how well this team was playing once Howard was a integral part of the starting rotation. Basically...no way do we stay the same or do worse...we move up since no other teams above or below us have made substantial moves that would affect our standings
All things being equal, and KNOWING the Rockets are not done (inexpensive but decent PG; bringing in a young 2/3, hopefully).... 1. San Antonio. Team to be admired. Hell, they keep improving every off-season with subtle moves. But how can you screw up a team with Duncan and Ginobili? 2. Phoenix (depending on what happens with Joe Johnson or The Matrix; could slide pretty far if they lose either) 3. Houston. Again, knowing they'll improve the PG situation, and perhaps even the 2/3 spot. 4. Denver. Karl turned that team around. 5. Dallas. Deep and versatile, with extremely talented b!tch-flopmeister Dirk leading the way. 6. Sacramento. Too much talent to not be in the playoffs. 7. Los Angeles Lakers. Got a lot of work to do, but I'm giving Phil the benefit of the doubt. 8. Utah Jazz. With a real (if rookie) PG, AK47 healthy, they could sneak in. Minnesota? They need to blow up the team, but who do you get for Garnett? Clippers? Always the Clippers. Golden State? Might actually make the playoffs, now that Baron Davis was magically healed in that trade last year. Seattle? Crash. Portland? Still putting it together. Memphis? Need to dump salary and re-fashion their roster. New Orleans? Yeah, right.
Spurs - Do I need to expound? Rockets - Maturing team with better chemistry Suns - Highlight reel material with no defense Dallas - See Suns Denver - Wildcard. Could be better, could get worse Wolves - KG comes back with a vengance Sonics - Sophmore Slump Memphis - Still growing, need a big playmaker Kings - Their time has passed, time to rebuild. At least they have some good trade-bait. Jazz - Bad contracts Lakers - Kobe+Phil=11 Clippers - Creeping up on the Lakers Trailblazers - Rebuilding Hornets - Rebuilding
I'm surprised the Twolves hasn't made moves this offseason to get KG help. If KG starts questioning whether management is trying their best to help him out, then I doubt he'd want to stay in Minny. he's already rich beyond his dreams. He just wants to win now! Come to Houston!! He can be our PF, Swift SF, and we move Tmac to SG. Yao KG Swift Tmac Stoud ?? I can only dream.
