There's a team out west that will argue against your first take. And next year such a long way out. Anything can happen in FA. However, As long as they upgrade Rino, I'm with you. Those road trips are the reason 6-6 in the next twelve likely. Aside from OKC, Toronto, Dallas (rivalry teams always tougher than expected), San Antonio, Portland, Detroit and New Orleans, the others should be easy wins. Either one of the mentioned could be a loss if not all.
Not sure why you think 6-6 is likely. It's all up to the Rockets since they are clearly better than every one of the teams you mention. I seriously doubt they go 6-6 unless something weird happens.
OKC, Toronto, NO (twice), Portland and Detroit. Even rivals Dallas and SA all possible loses. Dallas sucks, no doubt. But Dallas vs. Houston is like Dallas' championship game 7. San Antonio is always a problem no matter who doesn't play.
If there's ONE game I don't want to lose.... it's to OKC. Ugh. Get to 16 and anything after that I'll live with. Dont lose again to the Thunder.
When the Rockets have their entire team available this season they are undefeated. When Harden, CP3, and Capela play they barely lost one game to the Pelicans on some questionable calls. I think those factors are a far superior indicator of what will happen than they must lose games because... I think the Rockets winning on the revenge tour will energize them for the rest of the season, LAC, BOS, OKC, TOR. All of those games were lost due to injuries. I think the Rockets would have been close to undefeated against all of the top teams this season, maybe we lose to TOR and GSW and maybe we don't. We lost depleted games against MEM 2X, LAC 2X, LAL, BOS, OKC, WAS, DET, PHI. I argue that we easily win 7 of those games and more likely all of them.
yea but those teams aren't better than us. I said I don't see us losing any of those if we play our game and we play well, I know thats not easy to do. just like tonight some players can have a bad night or things not going our way. But losing would be mainly on us and the way we play rather than the other team being better than us.
yea injuries and questionable calls too, agree with you. I said on another thread yesterday the same thing. we could have 7 or 5 games more if w didn't have those injuries. Also we lost a couple we should have had like Celtics, Phili, 1 of the clips and Lakers I think too. Also felt the game against Toronto, Memphis and one of the Clips was influenced by the refs. Okc and NO were very close games and we were tie against GSW on that game we lost until mid 4qtr I believe.
Right now the Raptors and the Pelicans (Bird and Prehistoric bird/dino) are the fiercest rivals. Not named GSW. Celtics without Hayward was a very good team to play against as well. Quality games.
No, understood. But you pick out about 7 games that you play the core guys (Harden/Capela/CP3.....32-1 Baby when they play together) and find about 13 remaining games where you can rest guys. Gerald Green should have played more than Joe Johnson last night. CP3 looked a little gassed last night to me. I don’t think it was so much because of Boston’s defense. Missed some shots he normally makes.
cont’d from Post #36 After reviewing the schedule, I may have to reverse the rest breaks to about 8 games or so. @Thunder (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, because of Adams (B2B)@Bucks (Play Harden/CP3/Capela) (Rest Nene) @Raps (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, because of Val @Mavs (Rest Harden/Nene) (B2B)Spurs (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, because of ?Pau? Clips (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, because of D Jordan Pels (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, because of ?Davis? @T-Wolves (Rest Nene/CP3) Without Butler, Harden will go off. CP3 can rest as Gordon works. @Blazers (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, because of Nurkic Pistons (Play Nene) (Rest Harden) Why Nene, Drummond Pels (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, ?Davis? (B2B)Hawks (Rest Harden/Nene) Bulls (Rest CP3) Why Nene, Robin Lopez Suns (Rest Harden/Capela/Nene) Play Wright/Ryan/Black at center @Spurs (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, ?Pau?....Maybe Wiz (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, Gortat Blazers (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, ?Nurkic?....Maybe (at home) Thunder (Play Harden/CP3/Capela/Nene) Why Nene, Adams @Lakers ??? Will it matter (B2B)@Kings ??? Will it matter Just my quick assessment......subject to change. Pending health of Brandan Wright. Again Iso Joe vs select opposition against possible playoff contender player matchup reasons.
Uh, easily go 0-12? Here are the 12 games: BOS - They already won this game, but I could at least understand you thinking it might be a loss. @OKC - A tough one, but a very winnable game. The Thunder are not playing well lately and really haven't been since Roberson's injury. @mil - Not an easy B2B, but again a winnable game. If the Rockets can beat the Jazz extremely shorthanded and on a B2B. why not the Bucks? @Tor - This one will be brutal. The Rockets have always had issues in Toronto and this time around the Raptors are one of the best teams in the league. @DAL - A gimme. The Mavs are tanking. SAS - A B2B, so it'll be tough. Especially if the Spurs get back Kawhi(and Aldridge for that matter). LAC - Should be a win. @NOP - Very tough matchup. The Pelicans have the one victory over the Rockets this season when CP3, Harden, and Capela play. @min - A brutal B2B, but thankfully the T'Wolves also play the night before and will still be without Butler. @POR - A tough place to play. The Rockets needed a miracle 4th quarter run to escape with a win last time in Portland. DET - Should be a win. Especially if the Rockets have payback on their minds. NOP - Tough, but very winnable. I think 8-4 is the worst they do including the Celtics win that's already in the books. This is assuming no more injuries of course. And that might be enough to get the #1 seed. I could see the Warriors losing 3-4 more games. And the Rockets should win every remaining game after these 12. The only tough ones after this are at the Spurs and at the Lakers(although LA may have nothing to play for by then).
Just a little side note on Pels game. That was with Cousins-Davis combo. We’ll see if Mirotic works the same.
True, but they've been on a roll lately post-Cousins. And let's not forget that the Rockets have had their issues playing in New Orleans the last few seasons.
