By all preseason expectations, this is a perfect season

During the latter months of the season various members of the national media would on occasion state their opinion--and an opinion which seemed almost unanimous--that the Rockets had the real potential to make a deep run in the playoff and that with the addition of one other star might even be a championship contender.

Instead, the Rockets down the stretch kept losing to teams like Phoenix and LA (and almost to Minnesota!) and then get swept by an OKC team without Russell Westbrook in the first round.

But...you're saying that this is cool, because, hey, even with another star on the roster we're not near to being a playoff threat; we're just a fun-loving, young, rebuilding team who is just happy to develop our second-round picks and not have a losing record! This season was perfect, then: because we didn't suck!

Personally I think that's weak. Who cares what the expectations had been at the beginning of the season; what is important rather is what the expectations were a month ago when we knew our team better and what they were truly capable of. The Rockets didn't show enough heart down the stretch and underachieved when it counted--at the end of the season, and on into the playoffs. This game today against OKC the Rockets were actually the better team, and should have won, but they lost. YOu have to take advantage our your opportunites when they arise. Last year for example the excuse was: Lowry and Martin are injured, that's why we lost 7 of our last 8 games. This year the excuse is: we're young, so who cares if we get swept! Who knows what the excuse will be next year...

 

Westbrook played two games. He didn't sit out the whole series.

And, except for the first game, we fought hard, we just could not quite get to the end.

Just think of this: how many years had it been since we made the playoffs? How many years had it been since we made it past the first round?

If we could do some damage next game and drag it out to five at least, I am satisfied.

It is easy to get blindsided because of the bitterness a close loss left. We are really doing just fine. The bitterness will pass

SS999

 

Ummmm I never heard anyone say that.

 

Who?

Who thought this?

I'm pretty sure that no one gave us a chance against Spurs or the Thunder. So not sure where this deep playoff run thing is coming from. Also most of our on fans were terrified of playing the Nuggets...oh and just because they are without Gallo doesn't mean we would have played them tough. They beat us without Gallo AND Lawson...they now are only missing Gallo right now.

With that said by all pre-season expectations this has been a great season. Now if only we can at least get a W against the Thunder and drag this series out some then that will be a lot more fun then getting swept.

I also disagree that the Rockets are a better team even without Westbrook.

Their best player is still better than ours. Their bench is STILL better than ours. Their big men are better than ours...how are we a better team than them at all?

 

rockets fans shouldn't be angry with this season. definitely some things i didn't like about the rockets this season, but overall we should all be over-satisfied.

rockets, a team in the toughest conference and toughest division were suppposed to be a lottery team but instead make the playoffs.
- we have a superstar and a few good role players in the making
- a lot of cap space and trading pieces this offseason
- a bunch of young pfs drafted in the first round
- a lot of potential

doesnt matter if we get swept, this was a good season.

durant is the 2nd best player in the league. even w/o westbrook its not so bad to get swept by them. first game was a blowout, next two games came down to the last few possessions. this team made some daam good adjustments, as an 8th seed, against the defending west champs. we have a bright future waiting for us

 

Our performances in the playoffs have been frustrating, but I do recognize that this has been a fantastic season. The experience they are gaining is invaluable. To face a contender gives them a clear picture of how close/far they are from contender status. It tests out the young guys under extreme pressure. Shows us what Harden can do in a playoff atmosphere.

 

I'll put money on it that next season we will be even better, not quite elite but I'd say maybe the 5th seed...

 

Rox23, only homers think that way.

When Westbrook, Harden, and Durant were formed in their first year together and made playoffs did anyone think they were going to make a deep playoff run? They only made it to the second round. Why do people have such high expectations for this team? Oh yeah, because they're homers.

 

If we can become the first team in NBA history come back from and 0-3 hole, then it would truly be a perfect season.

 

If we continue to improve, then next year I think we will have a shot of getting to the 6th seed

 

Posting this here because it's a great fact to keep things in perspective.

 

Just Win on Monday and go from there. I can't believe the team will go out on a 6 game losing streak IF they lose on Monday.

 

Harden is not a rookie though, so that's something to keep in perspective. This is his fourth full NBA season. It is his first year in being a number one option so that can factor in.

Harden is going to continue to become more confident and next season he should have more help. This team as constructed is never going to be a championship contender in my opinion but with a few moves to solidify our post presence (with a superstar or two preferable PF + Howard) and much needed depth we can be a true contender.

In fact, if we get Dwight this offseason and also make a trade for a PF then I think we will win the West next season.

 

I think the Rockets can do better than 6th.. they had a real shot at 6th this year. They were in 6th with 2 games left.

They should be fighting for at least 6th next year.

 

Funny funny... We are better right now than we were at the end of the season. This team would not have lost against LA in the last game of the season and would have one against Phoenix. This team would be the 6th seed right now if healthy and the same experience.

We will be a lot better next year just because we will be one season older. DMo will be better. TRob will be better. Patrick Beverly will be better. TJones will be better. Jeremy Lin will be better. They will all be better just because of experience. The team will be better just because they have been together for a year. WHich makes us good enough to compete with the elite. I don't know if we will get into the top 4 because POP knows how to win and OKC ain't going no where, plus Denver will be healthy again and CP3 is CP3. But I do expect us to over take Memphis as Randolph and Prince decline.

And all of this improvement is without any changes. Does anyone think Morey will not make at least one big move before next year playoffs? The Rockets need just one player added. A 20/10 stretch four that blocks 3 shots a game and shoot 40% from behind the arc. That's all they need to be championship contenders.

Okay that player doesn't exist but Kevin Love is the next best thing. With Kahn I thought we had a chance to sneak Love away. With Saunders not happening.

Dwight Howard ain't going nowhere. He loves L.A.. So forget about. Where else can we spend or max Dollars or a portion?

I watched Josh Smith a lot this playoff series and he disappears in the biggest moments and biggest games. He is an athletic specimen but he is probably not as good a shotblocker as T Jones. He rebounds but not amazing. he can't shoot 3's better than DMo and can't create on his own. Yes he is an upgrade but if that's the best we can do with our dollars this off season I am inclined to wait a year.

If he was a great defender and could play the 3 spot for spells I would consider signing him. But nothing I have watched convinces me of either. Admittedly I haven't watched enough footage to determine if he is a good at either. So I will trust Morey on this. Still want something more for my buck.

Paul Milsap is the same situation and I would prefer Smith over him. He is a better offensive player but you have to wonder if one of our other power forwards could turn into better players. I like TJones and expect him to improve a lot over the off season. If Dmo can improve his 3 point shooting and I think he can then he becomes a stretch 4 that can come off the bench.

That being said why not rent somebody for 1 year. The Pacers rented David West, the nets rented Humphries, the knicks rented Kenyon Martin. All of those guys are available and all are probably an improvement over our current 4's, at least for now. We sign them to a 1 year contract and then wait a year for the next free agent pool or make a move near the trade deadline for a team trying to dump salary. If the Bucks are not better next year they may want to dump salary and ilyasova would be high on my list. He is the best stretch 4 who can shoot 3's with the best and rebound decent. He is Novak with more moves and better rebounding. Plus he can play some small forward as well and his contract is a flat 8 mil for many years and he is young. He is my choice for tradeline deal after Love. Of course I am talking players available. So don't bring up Bosh, Aldridge, David lee or anyone else not realistically available.

We can't keep Delfino and Garcia IMO. They are redundant. And I would like to upgrade our bench so one has to go. I like Garcia over Delfino. Delfino has helped this team and finished good last night but Garcia has been the better shooter or at least more consistent shooter down the stretch and that has won him a spot over Delfino in my book. Plus I don't want to see delfino playing the 4 ever again. And the best way for Morey to insure that is to release him. Still I think small ball works some so what we need is a more athletic 3 who can play some 4 for spurts can shoot the 3 and play D. Lebron James ain't walking through that door but Danny Granger comes to mind. He is not needed in Indiana. A luxury they can't afford. If the price is right he might be what we need.

I would release Brooks. He is a great shooter and scorer but if McHale isn't going to play him than what's the point. Plus I do agree he is a bit of a defensive liability. But I would like another 3 point shooting specialists in his plave. Someone who can come off the bench and light it up. Either Dunleavy, Korver, or Reddick. All of those guys may be over priced. I wish we could get Battier back. Okay so a lot of options here and we will only make a couple of these moves. Basically we need to release AB and Delfino, add a temporary upgrade at the 4, an upgrade 3 for Delfino a stretch 4 would be nice. All of this is doable. The thing is don't over do it. We have a good squad that needs some tweaking. I have been critical of Morey's drafts in the past but one thing I feel confident we have a GM who sees are weaknesses better than me and is able to find gems to fill them at a good price so I expect to get some of these needs meet. We will better next year.

 

keep garcia over delfino.. way better defender, however delfino is probably the better passer of the two.

this teams rotation as it stands is gonna be good enough for the 6th seed next year via our internal improvement..

but with new players, namely a power forward and center that can jump, we could easily crack top 4

 

Wouldn't worry about it. The last 2 games have been two of the best all year. They are playing great. Beverly is a feisty pg that could be become 6th man of the year. Garcia has stepped up and separated himself from Delfino IMO. Parsons is solid and will only get better. The Big O is playing hurt and T Jones has earned minutes that he will get next year.

 

In a generalized statement it's been a great season. In real world practice it still breaks my heart we blew a chance at the 6th seed by losing to the Suns and Lakers.

 

Preseason, I had the Rockets pegged as a 5-8 seed when people were saying they'd be the worst in the West

I think they did awesome considering Harden, Asik, and Lin were doubted as starting caliber players and Parsons was criminally underrated. Even guys who were traded like TD, Mook, and 2Pat contributed to the season. I was impressed by TD - the guy who was benched for half a year, coming out and winning games. Delfino was a great pickup and I think Beverley is one of the best backup 1's in the league.

Next season, you guys need a new system. Preferably one with actual roles instead of having 3-4 playmakers on the court at the same time. I don't think McHale is a bad coach, but this is a coaching issue.