It's the schedule. The Rockets are just fine.

I am still worried about this team. In one of the other threads, I had them at 18-14 by Jan 1. They could win the rest of their games this month to be 17-15, which would be one game off, but I had them losing to Miami. So I guess 16-16. The problem with that is they have lost a couple of games that I thought they would win, and are not beating teams I thought they would lose to.<p>I personally did not feel like the shcedule was all that bad, because with every team it levels off. Take a look at the January schedule, it is brutal; 17 games, 4 back to backs, all against playoff bound teams except Clippers and Memphis. Our January record will tell us where this team really is.<p>They havn't done anything special to me. They have one most of the games they are suppose to win, but have not beat anyone that they were not favored to win (put into account they were due to beat OKC, even the bad teams win some of those games). I am normally very optimistic about my Houston teams (Rockets, Texans, Astros), but they always disappoint me. I see the Rockets no more than the best Lottery Team, a .500 ball club since the trade for Martin last year.<p>Don't get me wrong I'm a true fan, and will always root for my team no matter what, but I feel I won't get let down if I lower my standards and see the team as what they are ( a .500 team), atleast that is what the record shows. I guess this is also steaming from the kind of year the Texans are having. With that said I hope I'm wrong and we make the playoffs.

 

I wouldn't worry. The Rockets are still improving. Brooks just had his first game back, battier is playing his best in Years, hayes is an 80%ft shooter with a 4foot midrange shot. Budinger is starting to do other things beside shooting and his shooting is improving. J-Hill is turning into a basketball player before our eyes and will be much bettor by seasons end. T-Will eventually will be a real plus. ANd Morey is certain to make one more deal to improve the team before the deadline.

You expected them to beat OKC and the Bucks. But both of those were on the second night of Back to back and Lowry looked drained and pathetic. If we had a healthy Brooks we probably would have won both of those. But either way both of those games were on the road against playoff teams. Yes the Bucks are legit. They beat Dallas and almost beat the Spurs right after they beat us. We played good most of the game and petered out at the end. If we played them again I confident we would win. In addition there is no way we should have lost to Chicago which you probably had us in the loss column for that one.

But all of that is in the past and I believe we will see continued growth by this squad. A real test will be on December 29th against IMO the best team in the league right now, Miami. Watch that game if you want to gauge this team. If they keep it close till late in the 4th quarter than we will be able to compete with any one. They will improve and be ready for the playoffs. It is not a myth that the Rockets so far have had one of the toughest schedules. Yes it is better now but January is another monster month. But I actually expect us to even be more above 500 after that month. And After that the schedule gets easier and the last month half should be a chance to move up in the standings. I see us only getting better and going into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league. Ah but don't mind me I am the guy who sees the glass 3/4's full. ANd also thinks Yao will be back next year.

 

Rockets did have a hard schedule (and it will be hard in january as well) and fared quite well I'd say. Not because of the win ratio (it's bad), but because the way they were in all games except for one. A team with a little more chemistry (no plus talent, etc.) would've made every second loss a win. We had our first PG, second PG, SF, backup SF, backup SG, team defense in a slump all the same time and still were very near to starting 3-2 and not 0-5. We could be easily 15-12 and I think it's pretty clear that we don't need 50 wins to clinch a playoff spot this year. 44 should be enough. I am sure we will suffer some fluke losses but not 5 in a row, or at least it's quite unlikely.

 

Sure, the team is improving. But if a difficult schedule (playing good teams) is indicative as an excuse to lose, what do people think is going to happen if we make the playoffs where every team you play is a good team?

 

This team as is, would be 4 or 5 games and done in the playoffs.

DD

 

we didnt have aaron brooks for most of those games.. hes a BIG part of our team.. I think as the season progresses Jordan Hill will also get better and better.. and our team will Gel together and be better towards the end of the year.. i think this team can do alot better than you give them credit for.. just my opinion though lol

 

Exactly. Until we can beat good teams on the road, a playoff appearance is going to be a very short affair.

 

I had us losing to OKC, but beating the Bucks. You are wrong, because I had us beating Chicago. I felt they came into our house and beat us and that we would return the favor. We were 3-8 after the first OKC game and I didn't think we would lose to Toronto, Charlote, Chicago or Milwaukee. I knew we would have a hiccup somewhere in those games though, but not 4, but we did make one game up with a win over the Lakers. I felt 15-6 from that point which would have made us 18-14 by January 1.<p>But like I said I'm always optimistic about our chances, and believe that we can do damage in the playoffs but always get let down. So all I'm saying is if I lower my standards of what the team success will be I won't be disappointed.<p> But don't pay me any mind, I'm just trying to sike myself out to not believe they can make the playoffs. But heck who am I fooling, I still believed we could make the playoffs last year all the way until we were mathematically eliminated. I even believed the Texans would still make it even after being 5-7, see where that got me.

 

What happened to this, which you posted just 4 days ago?

 

Without the 0-5 start its more like 15-10. Not a bad record if you ask me...

 

The part of the schedule that really screwed us was actually thee china trip. The whole jet lag thing combined witho practice time contributed to our slow start. It happened to Dallas last year and Phoenix the year before that.

 

Good point. Hope the league can schedule games abroad during the earlier part of the pre season games.