Basically we’re second. Nice to see every team get at least two games. It’s very telling that in previous years we had teams like the Warriors have like 40 games so I wonder if those 172 include NBA TV games.
Time to reprogram our minds from the boring ESPN/TNT NBA duopoly. For a few reasons, over the last several years, I've watched a whole lot fewer national TV games that didn't involve the Rockets. Maybe this shakeup will change that. I'm hoping NBC and Prime add some freshness to the presentation. While TNT's studio and game broadcasts were better than ESPN, I was still getting of tired Shaq/Ernie/Kenny/Chuck and the younger folks TNT was trying to rotate in were unwatchable IMO.
Dumb and dumber sequence on ESPN right there. Prime will not have the NBA in my country so looks like all illegal streaming baby.
Some observations: - Both games in Phoenix nationally televised, two at home won’t. That’s great because listening to EJ is suffering. Also local broadcast for first home game Green is a win so we get to see the tribute video and his reaction. No crazy national media bullshit narratives either. - All 4 games against San Antonio are nationally televised, all 3 networks having at least one game. - Only 3 games against Golden State, of course two away and one at home again, all nationally televised, all 3 networks having 1 game each. - Only 3 games against Oklahoma, of course two away and one at home all nationally televised, all 3 networks having 1 game each. - Only 3 games against Nuggets, two away and one at home, both away games nationally televised. - Only 3 games against Lakers, two at home and one away (at home back-to-back), all nationally televised. - Only 3 games against Clippers, two at home and one away (at home back-to-back), only away game nationally televised. - Only 3 games against Minnesota,two at home and one away, two games nationally televised, one at home and one away. - 4 games against Dallas, only 1 nationally televised (home game). - Both games against Knicks nationally televised. Feels like a lot more 3 games against WC teams than in previous years, though I guess in the Cup they will make for 2 of those.
This is a cool breakdown actually, thanks for laying it out like that. I wonder how many of those away games flip to next season if we perform well as KD's Rockets? Even just the jump to that many national games seems pretty huge. Hopefully we'll make some more waves, I'll be happy if we can at least be seen as outranking Curry and his pet Donkey.
Also, I counted 8 back-to-back games so we know KD will most likely miss around 10-15 games this season...we're going to need Amen and Reed to step up offensively this year if we're planning to finish top 4 in the West.
We're so good. I think we finish 1st. We would have finished 2nd again if we brought back the same team with minor changes. With Durant on board I'm pretty confident we'll take a serious swing at the #1 seed.
I am confident of top 4, but Denver got better, OKC is still hella strong and barring injuries will have more time together. Plus Butler & Curry full season is likely no joke. Clippers potentially if that age is not going to show too much and Kawhi remains healthy. Lakers with skinny LOL Luka, an actual center as well.
I don't think the Warriors are a worry this year. The Lakers and Clippers could both be problematic with health, but that is a big ask for both. I would say OKC, Denver, and Houston are tier 1 in the West, Clippers, Minnesota tier 2, Lakers, GS tier 3. Rest will fight it out for play-in at best.
...and don't forget the Rockets are better than last season too. Besides the obvious of adding KD, this is the season that Amen gets unlocked. If Alp can regress to the mean in terms of efficiency, it's lights out. They really need FVV to stay healthy (and also regress to the mean for TS%) and/or Reed to step up. I'm predicting the Rockets start on a 10 game win streak, including ruining OKC's banner ceremony.
This is interesting. Rockets have this least B2Bs requiring travel. Could help … can’t hurt expand the tweet to see the whole league
Minnesota is not a tier 2 team to me. They were a borderline play-in team the entire season and didn’t improve their team much during the offseason. I think the tier 2 teams are the California teams. The Clippers and the Warriors were one of the best teams in the nba going down the stretch. The Lakers are tbd but I can see improvement with a revamped and motivated Luka along with Lebron’s ego not to let Luka outshine him and some of the depth pieces they added with Marcus Smart and Ayton. The Timberwolves are overrated to me, I’m sorry. If we would have made it to the second round I am positive we beat them. That’s why it pissed me off so bad losing game 7 to the warriors.
