Assuming health: What's the ceiling for this team?

"Assuming health: What's the ceiling for this team?"

So, we are to assume that Yao is going to be healthy....what is the celing then?

DD

 

2nd in the West.. WCF.. and if Yao is healthy, Lose to Heat in Finals.

 

2nd round.. maybe conference finals...

 

A completely healthy Rockets team can make the finals.

 

How far we can advance in the playoffs is contingent on our seed (obvious). If we can somehow keep from playing the Lakers until the WCF, I think we can give them a run to crack the Finals. So now that I think about it, I would consider the Rockets the favorite of a 7 game series with any team in the West (besides LA) if we are healthy. Does anyone think if we are healthy that any team (as currently constructed) in the West can take out the Rockets?

2011 Summary: Get a top 3 seed, gel as a team, stay healthy, could snatch a ring. :grin:

 

I'm feeling anywhere between the 2 and 4 seed with a WCF appearance. Possibly a Finals appearance IF they get hot at the right time.

 

I was thinking Lamar Odem to be specific, but i completely agree with u buddy. Scolas got a sweet shot.

 

52 wins, 3-6 seeds, and 2nd round. Unless Mavs choke again (could happen), I see Lakers, Mavs in the conference finals. I agree with Clutch in that we need a tall defensive big (either next to yao, or to sub for Yao) if we're to have any shot of defeating the fast paced offenses in the playoffs.

 

2 years ago the Rockets were the only team capable of winning in the Staples in the playoffs, thanks to Yao. This year the team is better (*) and rivals are worse (Denver, San Antonio, Dallas, Blazers, even Lakers... only the Thunder have improved). If that year we were a top team in the west behind the Lakers, I don't see why the ceiling for this year can't be the same or higher. It's on Yao (healthy and at 2008-09 level).

(*)
- We have more size inside with the arrival of Hill (who will improve as the season progresses), with Andersen (more experience & weight in the 2nd year, will improve his defense as Scola did it), and the new signing (Miller-Dampier, very important signing). We have also the rookie -Patterson-, who can defend/rebound already at a better level than Landry. And still have Hayes. We have more weapons. We improve the defensive presence, the rebounding, strength, shooting, experience, we have depth.

- We don't have Wafer, who was a scourge in that series, we have a better player in Budinger. We don't have Artest but have a more efficient offensive player in Kevin Martin. We have Trevor, who gives us size and athleticism that we lacked at wing positions and also provides some of the Artest defense. We still have Shane to complete an SF-combo that is the envy of any contender. A great combo in my opinion that can coincide on the court if required.

- We have improved PGs. Brooks being a better player at what he was already good 2 years ago, plus hopefully stronger and more reliable for next year. We'll see if Lowry keeps improving his shooting range.

- We have more experience as a group, a group with advanced chemistry on and off the court. This should give us the chance to start better the season than we did in the 08-09 season (more RS wins, HC Ad.). Young players more mature and ready for a playoff.


- And maybe the most important thing, in my opinion. Current roster fits better with our purpose. All of our players fit well with Adelman's system as well as playing for Yao. So we should be able to play a more solid and reliable basketball on a day-to-day basis. Remember we were a roller coaster that year, alternating very good games with horrible games the next day.

08-09 playoff rotation:

Brooks - Lowry
Artest - Brooks / Barry
Battier - Wafer
Scola - Landry
Yao - Landry / Hayes

vs

10-11 playoff rotation:

Brooks - Lowry
Martin - Budinger
Ariza - Battier
Scola - Hill - Andersen/Hayes
Yao - Miller - Andersen/Hayes

 

DO NOT UNDERSTIMATE THE POWER OF .....

THE STUPID REFS.

 

55 wins is the ceiling. But 50 is much more likely.

 

54 Wins
4th seed
WCF

This team cannot beat the current Lakers team. It has a good chance of beating everyone else.

 

High:
57 wins
NBA Champions

Low:
45 wins
9 seed, no playoffs

Probable
52 wins
2nd round

 

Western Conference Finals.

 

Even with a healthy rockets team all year you need to take into consideration mentality and when our team peaks.We have all seen teams that were high seeds and had the best or close to the best records in the past and they just peaked at the wrong time.Or teams that were low seeds that peaked at the right time.Houston is a prime example when they were a sixth seed and won a championship.

 

This. In their last playoff games together whenever Yao was consistently double teamed Scola's scoring took off. The two bigs have learned to play off of each other which was really devastating to their opponents.

It is great that you mentioned Martin in your post. His prolific and very efficient seem to be often forgotten by lost of folks here. I really believe that his game will blossom with Yao. Let us not forget that teams in the past had to twist their defenses to stop Yao. Fronting him was effective for a while but with Scola often rolling to the basket when the double team and fronting came it became less effective. Now with Martin and his scoring prowess will definitely cause teams to often choose their poison.

The Rockets defense, especially with Brooks and Martin in the perimeter, is shaky at best and it needs to be addressed this summer. Poor defense by the guards could put so much pressure on the bigs and could cause them to foul more.

Overall, I believe, with the OP's premise of general good health, the Rockets are serious contenders in the West.

 

western Conference final.

Defense is not up to par.

 

Sorry for the typos. Something distracted me while typing. Will do better next time.

 

Barring injury, of course, 58+ wins.