So the Rockets finally landed Dwight. Assuming it wasn't through a sign and trade and assuming we don't end up landing any more FAs, how good can this team be this year with the current roster? Lin/Harden/Parsons/Asik/Dwight/Bev/DMO/GSmith
I say 54-28. Some kinks early, pick it up late. Make WCF. Promising signs for future. Definite championship contender though.
realistically ill say the wcf and the the next year the chip but if we add someone else and some vets all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Assuming Asik and pieces traded for Josh Smith, regardless of Lin's situation(as in whether he's starting or Calderon is traded here), I'm going to guess 55 wins, +/- 5 wins. To me, the Rockets in terms of solidifying their championship status comes NEXT offseason. Because at that time they'll have the full MLE, 1st round pick, the ability to trade up in the draft from all the 2nd rounders they've hoarded, have Euro stashes come over, etc. But upcoming season, I see more as a building-chemistry year than instant contention.
We are already shooting a lot of threes. DH is going to get us tremendous post presence and boards. We are going to be a load. Defensively, DH is huge. Between Anderson and Smith, defensively we would want go with Smith. Between him and DH, can you imagine? It's going to be block party. Offensively, Anderson can space the floor and shoots better, but Smith isn't too shabby. We have Dmo who is kinda like Anderson. All in all, I would take a chance on Smith. Lin or any decent PG Harden Parsons Smith/Anderson DH We can beat anybody with this lineup.
Safe pick is the 3rd seed in the West. I have to see how the team plays together, who steps up, who gets worse etc.
Hard to say because I don't think the lineup is completely set. But I could see us being the 2 or 3 seed in the West and making the WCF or possibly even losing in the Finals next year. I'm trying to be non-biased, but I'm just so excited that it's hard not to.
i like what the rox have been doing in the summer, yet it is still too soon to tell. lakers were said to be the best team in the west last season, but it turned out to be a disaster. hopefully, morey can add couple of addiction pieces to the team, and mchale can work every out.
60 wins, easy.... Team on the upswing.... It's between OKC, ROX and the aging Spurs for the west....skraight up.
Assuming we traded Lin and Asik for a solid power forward and an average (or below average) point guard, I say we will have 55 wins. Last season, we had 45 wins. The addition of Howard and a good power forward upgrade will give us 10 more wins. Unfortunately, in the Western conference, it would mean we are only the 6th best team in the west.
Question 6: How good will the Rockets be? ESPN Radio ESPN's Brian Windhorst discusses the reports that Dwight Howard will join the Rockets and discusses the impact it will have around the NBA. Obviously, that depends in part on how Houston answers the other questions. But early indications are that adding Howard to a rising core of young players should produce a serious contender in the Western Conference. As I wrote in today's comparison of the Howard contenders, the Rockets' existing roster was projected for 37 wins above replacement (WARP) in 2013-14. Add in Howard's own projection (11.8 WARP) and the 10-win replacement-level baseline and Houston is looking at a projection in the neighborhood of 59 wins. That would have put the Rockets right in between the Oklahoma City Thunder (60 wins) and San Antonio Spurs (58) at the top of the West standings in 2012-13.
Top 2 in the West barring any major (more than 20 games) injuries to Howard or Harden. We're not done, either way. But, I think most here will be surprised at how well Harden compliments Howard and vis versa. They are a match made in heaven.
