If you were to exchange Jalen and Jabari for 20yo Jordan and 19yo Akeem this team still wouldn’t win 35 games, so it’s safe to bet we won’t
The only way this would be remotely possible is because of Bari’s defense and the spillover from that to the rest of the squad. which is a remote possibility. CWood was so insanely bad defensively it’s hard to put into words. JG could average 30 on efficient shooting - as he effectively did the last 7 games - and they will still suck if the defense doesn’t improve.
Hasn't this thread been started by all ten of you now that think a team with half the roster with 3 years or less is going to the playoffs. They will be fun to watch and painful all at the same time. Experience plays defense and wins tight games, rookies do amazing things sometimes and dumb crap often. Good luck.
in football you can make the playoffs (and even make a deep run, see last years cinci team) without actually being good. That can't happen in basketball. The rockets making the top 6 is likely at least 2 more seasons away, it's certainly possible the texans make it 1st
It's a long shot; there are bunch of good teams ahead of the rockets. Keep hope alive. go rockets. shock the world.
Green could be an all star and Jabari could be a ROY candidate and they STILL likely would struggle…and by the way I think the odds are heavily against both. Take a look around - there is a lot of talent in the league right now - the only way Houston has a chance to win more than let’s say 26 games is if Utah AND San Antonio AND OKC AND the Blazers AND the Kings all blatantly tank to give away 4 games to Houston and our team is so raw they can still lose to scrubs on basic execution mistakes.
This. We lost a lot of games last year because we couldn’t stop anyone. Scoring wasn’t an issue. There is a possibility that Smith and Tari and a focus on defense leads to a top 10 defensive team. If that happens and Green, KPJ, and Sengun improve and Smith shoots 36%-38% from 3 rather than the 30-34% I’m anticipating then a play in is possible. But that’s too much to ask for with such a young team. We need to play the young guys. Get another top pick and then cash in the BKN picks for a disgruntled star and sign Wiggins or Middleton next summer. Then it’s playoff time next year.
Yeah I get that in theory, but the Texans are BAD. Not very high on this yrs draft haul. With a ton of high picks in the next few yrs they will get their soon, but I see the Rox getting there first. I'll be happy with either.
I think we were the worst team in the league last year and we actually got even younger. Bottom 3 record again. They'll develop the kids one more year and then go on a spending spree trying to put the right players around Jalen in the offseason. The season after this one will be when we finally take a leap forward.
The hornets have been to the playin two years in a row. Don’t envy them. Their fanbase was really frustrated at the conclusion of this season
Let's see Golden State Memphis Denver Dallas Are the only 4 teams I see as locks Then u have teams with question marks like Suns - very dysfunctional right now Clippers - is Kawhi healthy Lakers - still trying to make it work Twolves - will Gobert/Towns work Pelicans- is Zion healthy Then u have teams that are bound for the lottery Blazers Kings Spurs Jazz OKC Rockets So my prediction is 1. Memphis 2. Golden State 3. Denver 4. Dallas 5. Minnesota 6. LA Lakers 7. New Orleans 8. LA Clippers 9. Phoenix 10. Blazers/Kings Hmm, u know what, maybe Rockets can sneak in the play in tournament
Blazers and Kings have established star level vets. No way we will have a better record than them if Fox and Lillard are healthy.
Your prediction is that the team who led the league with 64 wins, with little changes to their roster is going to drop all the way to the play in? Because of their owner being a POS?
Yea I agree, that's why I said maybe Also, all it takes is 1 injury to a major player for that team to completely fall. My expectations is 11 seed barely missing the play in No way the Spurs & Jazz are better Because Crowder wants out, CP3 got older, and there's clear issues between Ayton & his coach