Are we really this good? First 6 games: The teams we have played have a combined 14-30 record. Only one of those teams is .500 or better(Denver). One of those teams didn't have one of their best players available(New Jersey). 4 home games. 2 road games. Final 10 games of the month: The teams have a combined 37-28 record. 8 of the teams have a record of .500 or better. 2 home games. 8 road games. IMO, these 10 games will show where where this team's heart lies.
I agree with the premise -- that the next 10 games will tell us a lot -- but I do think these first few games have told us something. Last year, we consistently lost to teams that we thought were "lower" than us (i.e. teams with records under .500). We also consistently lost big leads late in games. So far, we're doing a good job of beating teams we're supposed to beat (the Memphis game excluded) and we're increasing leads rather than losing them I'd rather look at the games we've played so far and be encouraged than simply say, "we haven't beaten anyone yet."
Do not use our plan, to not use excuses, as an opportunity to be unfair. If NJ is missing players, please find a way to mention that we were too. If Dallas has changes to get used to then it should be mentioned that the same thing is happening with us. We have new players and new coach. As if I did not see mention of us being undefeated on the road.
I don't understand. Do you want us to win or not? Like I always say... there are more teams in search of pessimist fans... go there if you are going to do that here... And I don't care if you call me a homer... I am always rooting whether "are we really this good?" or not. Root for the Home Team or shut the trap.
Not one to have my humble opinions disappear into obscurity on a fading thread, I've reposted my post from the "Becoming a Power House" thread (a good thread too). I believe the post also relates to this thread....... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I think it's still a little early to be talking about power houses. The Rox haven't really been tested yet, and our 5-1 record shouldn't surprise anyone given the relatively easy schedule so far. We've played: Denver (w) Memphis (l) Chicago (w) New Jersey (w) Orlando (w) Miami (w) Given our/their strengths and past records against these teams, we should've beat Memphis, but were expected to lose to New Jersey. Obviously we were expected to beat the rest of these mediocre teams. So anything but a 5-1 record would have been inexcusable. Let's see how we do against Dallas, Phoenix, Portland, and Sacremento. These are our toughest match-ups for November. If we win at least two of these four, and beat all the rest of the teams for November (Toronto, Philly, GS, LAC, Utah, and Seattle), we should be sitting at 13-3 by the end of the month. If we're 13-3 by the end of November, I'll be convinced that we definitely are a force to be reckoned with. The Rox will then be a power house, for sure. Go Rockets!
Not that fast. I think 10-6 is acceptable and reasonable for current Rox. We can lose to SAC, Philly and even Portland, but we need to beat Dallas, Sun and Seattle.
we'll find out tommorrow but i like it so far, rox are more patient, and takin it 1 game at a time and not gettin bigheaded, shows alot of maturity. if we win tommorrow flat out, then we'll earn some RESPECT. even if we keep the game close and lose we'll get some ups.
but then again we've only played EASTERN conf teams exception of Denver (young and 1st game at home) so the true test will be this whole week, think Yao wll have a MONSTER game tommorrow and break outta his Passive mode, gotta get Yao mad to Win
We are definitely a better team than last year. With the way the team is playing the defense, they should be able to win a lot of games. I compare this Rockets team to Pat Riley's Knicks & Heats (1st couple years), good & physical defense, great effort all around. The only difference is that we have a little more offensive power than those two teams. --daoshi
No $hit! No one is b****ing about about anything, but rather simply pointing out the competition is about to get stiffer. Get over it.
Enjoy the moment of us being in 1st place. I agree that the next few games will show what we are made of. But our team chemistry is there, and that has very little to do with who you are playing against. Similarly, we don't seem cocky and overconfident, which caused us to lose big leads last year eventually resulting in losses. After the next 5 games, I don't expect us to be 10-1, but I am sure that we will be fine.
More facts: 1 ) We beat 2 crappy teams in Orlando and Miami. Those 2 combine for 13 losses. The other teams are respectable. 2) We've had our share of injured/suspended players. 3) We have not just won games, we've blown opponents out. Our point scored to points allowed differential is an astounding +13.7 ! The closest teams to us are Detroit, Milwaukee and Seatle (all around +7)... When's the last time we won any game by 20 points ?
The teams we are going to play through the end of the month are respectable. The 6 we have played thus far, you'll be lucky if half of them are in the playoffs come the end of the season, two of which are from a very weak Eastern conference(Orlando & NJ). For those of you playing the "we have injured/suspended players too" card, our injuries/suspensions are not to a key starter(ie. Kenyon Martin. Neither Mo-T, Pike or AG are key starters. You could make a case for EG, but I have a feeling Cato might have still earned the starting job. It was the one and only instance where this scenario came into play, so making it out to be a multiple instance isn't accurate because everyone we've played has players missing from their bench. When was the last time we won by 20? Try last Monday again the Chicago Bulls. The Before that, one by 21 and almost 2 other times in April. I'm not arguing that this team is not talente, because I believe they have the personnel to seriously compete. And I don't mean to take anything away from these first 6 games because like one poster said, a win is a win, but better competition will show us how good this team really is.
Nice reply, but I think you ignored the best response against you: Last year, had the Rockets taken care of business against the poor teams, they would have won 50+ games and made the playoffs. IMO, the Rockets' primary problem last year was that their success was too predicated on the hot days of 1 or 2 guys, which tended to mean that if those players weren't hot... it didn't matter how bad the competition was. It isn't like that so much anymore, since the team has better defense and ball movement. So, no... we haven't really played anybody. But there's still been substantial improvements gainst similar opponents.
houston Rockets = The Dallas Cowboys of the NBA [I HATE THE COWBOYS but they do have a great Record this season] Was it Van Gundy or Parcells that said YOU ARE WHAT YA RECORD SAYS YOU ARE Rocket River
Danjojo's thread puts the stats in a different light. The schedule will get tougher...but 5-1 is still ...5-1. Pretty damned good. End of November will be a better measure. End of April (beginning of June??) even better still. I've got me a good comfortable seat on this bandwagon, and I'm not ready to get off yet. I like what I see.
