Next year: Can the rockets make it to the WC finals?

depends!

 

I doubt it, but New Jersey got to the finals, so you never know.

DaDakota

 

Depends on the Gelling process.

Without a doubt. They could possibly jump several teams
Unless they do some serious things this off season.

Timberwolves, Jazz, Sonics and maybe the Blazers

Mavs, Spurs, Kings and Lakers - Still Ahead of us.
[Though the Mavs and Spurs are within striking distance]

but by and large . . it is not so much us. . . as them

we have to wait and see what people gain and lose
then make those type of decisions.

Rocket River

 

To be honest, I don't see the Rockets going to WC Finals anytime soon. Not with LA, Sac, SA, Dallas, Minnesota all vying for it as well.

 

I don't think the Lakers are unbeatable, and I don't think they will be as good next year as they were this year. I'm not saying the Rockets will knock them out of the playoffs, but there's no guarantee the Lakers will be in the Finals next year.

Take away all the injuries, we should have made it to at least the first round this year. We should make it into the second round this year if we stay healthy and develop as we should, IMHO. I don't think it's impossible that we make it to the WC finals, but it would require the team to gel, and who knows if that will happen?

Remember early in the season when the Rockets took the Lakers to overtime and only lost by a buzzer-beater? Before our collapse, we could stay with them.

 

Finals? No time soon. If the NBA re-aligned, maybe.

We might be able to sneak into the playoffs if healthy. You know that these teams will be there: Sac, SanAnt, LAL, Dal, Port, Min. We can vie for the #7 or #8 seed, get some experience. Shaq, in a year or two, will be too beat up to carry on. Then we can talk.

 

Much of our success next year hinges on the play of Glen Rice and Maurice Taylor. If Rice can regain his shooting touch, we might win 5-6 more games. He's bound to get plenty of open looks with Mobley and Francis commanding double teams. Also if Mo Taylor can provide a spark off the bench (backing up KT), then we might have a nice little frontcourt.

Realistically, I don't see this team as higher than a #7 seed. There's just too much talent in the West. Seattle and Utah are on their way out. That leaves the Lakers, SA, Sacto, Dallas, Portl, and Minn. Remember, the Clips are knocking on the door too. But the future is the Rockets with Ming.

 

I'm with Baqui99, the Rockets could possibly slip into the #7 or #8 seed assuming everyone stays reasonably healthy.

And if a team like SA or Dallas is the #2 seed, the Rockets have a decent chance at pulling the upset.

However, the WC Finals? Don't count on it.

 

Since we do not have finals caliber defense and most of our offense runs through either Steve or Cat, It will take some major changes even if Griffin improves greatly and Ming lives up to expectations.

I just don't see us rising above Steve's ability to involve those around him and make them better.

IF we get good low post defense (our perimeter defense is poor) Good health, the young players shine and Steve makes everyone better by becoming an outstanding PG- Then IMO we will be in the playoffs with a decent seeding.

Are those some big IFs?

 

i can't believe you guys!
we were legit contenders even before griffin. we were younger and less experienced. and we were already the 8th seed.

we were already beating all the best teams, LA, SA, Sac, whoever came to the Compac were given a whipping... (albeit only the best teams, and then we'd lose to the warriors...)

now our opponents are older, weaker, broken apart. we are stronger, more experienced, and we can't beat them?!

i say next year, with our lineup:

C: Cato, Yao
PF: MoTay, KT, Griffin
SF: Rice, Tmo, Nachbar
SG: Mobley, Torres, Simon?
PG: Francis, Moochie

we go all the way to the finals. screw the fakers!

 

One step at a time. Let's make the playoffs first.

 

post deleted

 

Aiming for finals seems somewhat premature ... ... The next season should be all about seeing how your "rookies" develop ... if you make it to the playoffs, great ... if not it doesnt matter as long as Griffin and Ming look like they will have a good future ...

 

I'll give you one thing ... you are optimistic as hell ...

 

You are revising history to suit your needs.

In the 45-37 season, we had the following record against playoff teams:

LAL - 1-3 - 3peat, 'nuff said
SAC - 0-4 - added Bibby & Turkoglu
SAS - 1-3 - added Parker & S. Smith
DAL - 2-2 - added Van Exel & LaFrentz
POR - 1-3
MIN - 2-2
PHX - 1-3 - added Jake + 2002 draft + Marion improve
UTA - 1-3 - always a tough match w/ their disciplined approach

Don't be deceived by the fact that the Rockets feasted on the East in 2000-2001. That level of success is unusual. Don't hold your breath for a Finals showing next season.

7th or 8th seed and maybe a 1st round upset.

 

This is as funny as watching all of the Argentinian players crying.

 

Lil, you can't be serious, if Cato and Rice start next year we won't make it to the WNBA finals much less the WC finals. Get real about Rice, he is one of our next asst. coaches, at best. And Cato, well the only finals he is going to are the ones he will take if he enrolls at U.H. Now a lineup of Francis, Mobley, Griffin, Ming, and K.T. or M.T., healthy, matured, and better disciplined, well, maybe. That would be a team with loads of talent and potential, but chemistry and performance are the bottom lines.

 

...... only if TMo starts 82 games

 

No.
We will probably be just happy to make the playoffs next year. The West is loaded and we don't play D.