Regardless of what happens in the Post-Season this year has been a massive success.

I agree. Not only because of our record and because we've beaten some really strong teams, but also because we didn't mortgage the future at the trade deadline to pick up some aging star or other fan darling who doesn't really move the needle. We held onto the core and gave them time to develop. Next year, Sheppard (and maybe another lottery draft pick) can join them.

Future's so bright, I gotta wear shades -- despite living in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Love it. Agree. Nobody predicted this. I am looking forward to the playoffs. It is fun watching them grow.

But at this point, they really need to win the 1st series otherwise the FVV haters will be insufferable. lol. It'll be all his fault. (but If they win, it'll be despite him.) Folks need something to complain about.

Thanks for being an optimist!

 

The only thing that matters is the post season - regular season is a necessary evil to get to the post season.

It has been fun, but now the REAL fun starts.

DD

 

Smile more, Ime breh.

 

To me judging a team is always about what they'll be in the future, unless said team is good enough to contend for the title. I actually am not sure if the Rockets are good enough to contend for the title this year. I don't think so. The team likely don't think so, or they'd have probably swung for a KD or Fox trade. So I'm really just thinking about the future at this point in terms of how I want to discuss the team. I mean, I can appreciate what they're doing right now when I watch the games. But there's only so much you can say "we're good" on a message board.

So going forward, FVV is declining and should probably be a backup if he's even on the team next year. In which case who's the new PG? Can Amen be a full time PG? Is Reed going to be good enough to play? Is Cam simply done as a Rocket? Are players like Jabari and Tari just who they are? Because neither has really taken a step forward, and they are up for extensions. Is the current Jalen who he is or can he take a step up to become an All-Star level player? Has Sengun lost his shooting touch? There are questions on this team if you view them through the lens of a potential contender. Even if they're overperforming relative to a .500 team from last year.

 

I love Ime's coaching philosophy.

I don't care if you are the softest bunny off the court, when you are on the court and playing for this team we need killers. We need absolute killers and our team identity has been that this year when we're all healthy and locked in.

Amen said it best, he was so locked in last night he didn't notice any of that non-sense Draymond and Curry was trying to stir.

During the Harden era, there were too many mental cases around. Much like the Houston Cougars who everyone counted out, we need players who are tough and strong mentally. I love how all our guys will back each other and against marquee opponents it's like we're going to war.

 

I've sad it before, all the doomers just need to look at some of the other organizations in the league to get a glimpse of how successful we are.

The Hornets have been rebuilding for 2 decades and have had multiple top 5 picks - currently they are 19-59
The Magic have been rebuilding ever since Dwight left in 2010 and only after 13-14 years have they made the playoffs - currently 38-40
The Spurs last made the playoffs in 2019 (Rockets last was 2020) and got lucky with Wemby but are currently - 32-46
The Bulls have been rebuilding for 10+ years and haven't ever been a top 6 seed since then - 36-42
The Kings, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Hawks haven't achieved 50 wins in the last 10 years.

This Rockets team won 22 games just a year and a half ago under Silas. We could have easily been the Hornets of the west but Ime has turned this team into a 50 win 2 seed in the western confrence. We are top 10 in both defense and offense without a true superstar. This team can only get better and we didn't mortgage our entire future like the Suns or the Heat.

 

OP, your point is literally true, but the last 17 games (esp the last two) have increased expectations a lot.

I've raised my personal bar for the Rockets from competing hard in the first round to winning the 1st series and competing hard in the 2nd round.

 

F that, WCF or bust

 

This team has completely blown regular season expectations out of the water. No one thought the team would perform this well and if anyone did I hope they kept receipts. Surpassing expectations doesn't mean I'll be happy no matter what happens in the playoffs though. I'd be okay if we lost in the first round considering the team's youth and inexperience, but I want our players to at least compete hard. If they completely crap the bed and we get swept in four blowouts it would be a disappointing way to end the season. I don't see that happening to an Udoka coached team with a team this good defensively, but fingers crossed.

 

You are saying this because your baseline expectation of this team is from the tanking years. If the Rockets lose in the 1st round of this year and then next year lose in the 1st round again, I bet you're not gonna think like this one year from now. The only difference between you and the "doomers" is that you have not adjusted your expectations yet, because you still don't think this team should be viewed as a legit #2 seed with #2 seed expectations. Not saying you're wrong, but that's why you think people who do look at this team as a #2 seed to be "doomers," since they don't think this team should just have a "well at least we aren't the Hornets" attitude.

 

Can't speak for him but my expectation is following what Fertitta and Stone said. That is my baseline. They said in 2023 they are entering "Phase 2" and must "learn how to walk before they run". This will be their first playoff experience, and the hope is that they'll come out as battle tested.

So based on:
1. How well they played this regular season
2. How well they are gonna do in the playoffs
3. Offseason transactions (trade FVV for KD/picks?)

If all goes well, next season begins phase 3, contenders.

Folks that are frustrated that today the Rockets are not better, suffer from moved goal posts syndrome.

 

No im just comparing it to other organizations. None of them have had a 50 win season and have a treasure chest of valuable picks to go get a star player. None of these organizations managed to get a generational coach who transformed the team in 1.5 years. This team is a legit 2 seed and I have legit 2 seed expectations from the team but we have to keep in mind that our players are almost all >23 years old.

The organizations I mentioned didn't fail in the draft repeatedly. Its a culture and a mentality problem that holds them down in my opinion.

 

The last few weeks have been super inspiring.

The team slipped from 2nd down the standings and was facing pressure to show they were for real. This is the stage where the young guys can curl up and die.

Instead they stood up to be counted. Alpy, Jalen, Amen and Jabari have all put on their big boy pants post ASB - their splits are all better post.
Amen has gone 15.2ppg 8.6rpg and 5.0apg with 59% from the field and 34.8% from three post ASB. Those are indicative of a breakout big time star.

These playoffs are going to be wildly fun. It will be great seeing what these young guys bring, and who rises.


And there is still Reed plus another pick to start working into the lineup in the coming years. Happy times.

 

Why would you want to compare the Rockets to bad organizations? Is there anything wrong for fans to expect the Rockets to be one of the good organizations? It's very odd for a fan to look down rather than up when discussing their own team.

 

While I generally agree, I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be bummed if we didn't advance at least one round, if only because I'm sick of the "Houston isn't a legit #2 seed" narrative.

 

Yeah we need to advance. All these haters on twitter and social media talking about we are a fake 2 seed. I hope Ime has the boys ready to shut some of these fools up.

 

Or when they say Memphis and Sacramento had potential. Those are crappy franchises, when the Rockets make a HC team, thats for a decade. Don't compare us with 'em. They're not like us