In their new power rankings the Rockets are 6th in the West and 8th in the league. Pretty big jump from last year. http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/poll/index.html
"Yao Ming and Bostjan Nachbar -- let's hope Rudy T. is multilingual" They still hammer us on the language issue though...
Especially considering Nachbar speaks fluent English. I wonder if they said that about Nowitzki. Probably. The foreign bias is out in full force.
I honestly think that if we're really 6th best in the West, then we'll be better than NJ. That said, this is a best case scenario for the most part. It assumes healthy players, and that both rookies will work out.
I agree with that. I can see their reasoning and I agree but making us the 6th best after last year’s record is still very generous. I am also thinking that making LAL the 5th team might be a little generous for them unless they can get a real floor general like Andre Miller before the season starts.
Much love from TSN, but maybe a bit early to say we'll be that good. IMO, the big 4 in the West are set. We'll be battling Minnesota, Seattle, Utah, LAC, and Portland for any of the other 4 spots, and it's too early to tell which of last year's playoff teams will drop off to let us in. My prediction: 5) Minnesota 6) LAC 7) Houston 8) Utah. Portland will self-destruct and Seattle will run out of gas. In the East, I think they underrated Boston, Toronto, and Milwuakee...but who cares?
ditto. seems to me that when a houston team is ranked low on power polls in the offseason by the national AND local media, they excel. if they're high up there...well....lets not think about that
I can expect a big jump for a team in the Eastern Conference, but the Rockets are out in the West. Seeding them 8th best overall makes me feel uneasy. Everyone always discounts the Sonics, Wolves and Jazz as teams that will fall off the bubble, but year after year, we're proven wrong. That means the last spot is up for grabs, and recent history has shown that while Portland players are erratic, they also have enough pride to win enough games and self destruct later in the playoffs. The Clippers are in the same boat we're in and I don't expect Miller or Davis to be on that team. Hyping the Rockets won't be doing them any favors, and the last thing we need is for the Rockets players to think they're better than they really are and give away the "easy games".
They actually listed the Knicks ahead of the Jazz...that's hilarious. God bless the speeding downward spiral and demise of the Utah Jazz!
Well good to see Houston is seen now... but gives me the jitters...to hear top 6th. better to be underrated...then you shine.
