I've mentioned it before, maybe here maybe not, but this team reminds me a whole lot of the 2015 Astros. I'm hoping for the same trajectory.
Playoff basketball is almost a completely different sport. There's a huge difference (both for the coach and the players) in a 7 game series compared to the regular season that's just a non stop round robin with different teams every night. In a single series against one team, playing them over and over, you get to study your opponent. You get to tailor your gameplan around what will work against them, and exploit their weaknesses. You try to take away the things they do well. Almost none of this applies to the regular season. And then after the games, you realize what their plan was, and you have to re-assess your strategy and adjust based on what they're doing. And then there's adjustments to the adjustments, because they're adjusting too. Playoff experience is absolutely crucial, this is why young teams always get crushed in the playoffs. OKC last year is a very good example, I never considered them serious contenders for this exact reason. This is a learned skill, it takes a lot of time and a lot of practice to get good at this. And you can only practice it by making the playoffs. Our team is very good but we have zero playoff experience. Our guys don't know how to play and win a series, and it's going to take time. They need playoff experience before they can be championship contenders.
absolute best case scenario for this year is a second round of the playoffs. if we stay healthy, if we keep up this level of play for the rest of the season, get top 4 seed and home court advantage, we could realistically get to the second round but that's a lot of ifs. Only one month into the season, and while super encouraging, need to brace ourselves for the grind of the season and the unexpected things the whole season can bring. also, some currently struggling teams will DEFINITELY pick it up (denver, minnesota, etc) and current standing DEFINITELY wont remain the same throughout the season
While do agree with your statement, just hypothetically thinking, I feel as though they have a chance, all they need is a shooter. I want to see how they play against Golden State and OKC again, as well as Minn. But I think they have a chance, if they make the right move this year, for sure next yr.
I dreamt 2 nights ago we’d won the title this season (I’m serious). Does it mean the answer is “yes”?
No, we're a good team - even playoff-caliber - but losses to teams like OKC show that there are levels to this.
The way I see it, the NBA is going to force Boston and OKC to play playoffs games such that they could be upset. I think the Rockets are in the next tier of teams which includes about 8-10 teams that haven't separated themselves. I would not rule the Rockets out as title contenders. Edit: I think Tari is making a big jump in talent level right now.
No…the roster currently constructed has some clear deficiencies that will show against true championship contenders. But I like where we are headed….we just can’t mess this up by making a rash decision thinking that we are closer than we really are.
Boston and OKC are the only teams without deficiencies. If they get/stay hurt or upset, the NBA is still going to finish the playoffs such that a non-true contender (i.e., team with clear deficiencies) will win the title.
No, the true contenders have multiple good 3-point shooters to provide spacing required for ultimate efficiency on offense. They get past those teams that use "Big" playing drop coverage on defense. Teams like Nuggets (Jokic), Knicks (KAT), 76ers (Embiid), Wiz (Valanciunas), Suns (Nurkic), Rockets (Sengun).....Are all fools gold moving forward * Sabonis is good but team is all offense and no defense. *Edey is good for regular season success and can be benched easily due to being on rookie contract for 4 to 5 years. Grizz need a little more depth to have good enough Small-Ball lineup. __________ *Rockets need another star facilitator. I'm sure Rockets are interested in Giannis but Giannis wants Lakers LeBron, AD with Dalton Knecht. Rockets claim they don't want to break the young core for Giannis...but many suspect otherwise, speculation is Jalen Green and Jabari and picks (by one you tube producer). IMO the Sengun-Giannis pairing will not work while both lack an outside shot. Jalen G, Sengun, Giannis has a chance......it would contend. Regular season top 3 seeding in the West; Small-Ball lineup in the playoffs with Jalen-Giannis. Jalen Green can't carry a team to the finals by himself (right now), meaning good playoff teams will take advantage of Sengun inability to contest the 3 well enough. But Jalen with the help of Giannis could. I don't think Durant would ok trade to Houston despite Royal Ivey and Udoka. Outside chance Rockets trade for Michael Porter Jr if Denver is out of it. But MPjr helps spacing, Rockets would need another facilitator to go with Jalen....as Sengun will be run off the floor. Jalen can't carry the Rockets by himself as sole facilitator. VanVleet is washed and will be Houston CP3 by the playoffs. Like last March, it's too fatiguing for one player to carry a team, especially against the NBA's best.
If a team with almost zero Playoff experiences except Brooks and FVV's experiences with other teams......wins until the Finals. Okay, I believe in miracles.
Here's the Rockets players and their WS/48, minimum 100 minutes played. Starters .182 .075 .120 .158 .225 Bench .253 .185 .093 .174 That's a lot of good players....and I think if they could replace the one weak link in the starting lineup with a quality player, they could have a chance at making some noise in the playoffs. Despite the weak link..... I never thought I'd see the day the Rockets were statistically the net #1 team in the league.
I hear you but I am speaking as of today. That is a long ways away and so much can change by the time playoffs start. At that time we very well could be a championship contender, I just don’t see that now but I still like where we are.
Some team will win and I just don't see it as close to 100% it is OKC and Boston. LAL has too much experience. Denver...not enough players left. Minnesota....I think they made a smart move for the long term, but they need to figure stuff out. Dallas...defense optional (edit) for their best player Clippers hurt. Also, the trade deadline has not passed so the assumption that the Rockets only have FVV and Brooks among the rotation with playoff experience is not guaranteed.
