[ClutchFans] Podcast: Are the 2016-17 Houston Rockets a 50-win team?

You got to be joking. Everyone is thriving under him . Gordon, Anderson are playing well. Ariza is getting ton of layups off the ball from Harden and Nene passing abilities. Everyone is getting good looks. Harden can do the hell he wants with his skill level and ability to get everyone involved and better.

 

I think we can all mostly agree the offense is working. Its a bit unclear (to me) how much MDA has to do with it though.

Last year we struggled for many reasons, but one of them was a lack of outside threats. Ryan and Gordon keep the opponent honest in regards to guarding the 3 pt line. That would be true no matter who was coaching.

 

By net rating:

#2 offense
#28 defense
#9 overall

Enough for 50?

 

Fringe.

If that defense rating can creep up to something like 23 or 24, we should be good.

 

Man I really don't understand how our defense is so low. They actually look decent watching the games. I would have guessed like 18thish

 

You know that's a good question.

I wonder if turnovers hurt the defensive rating. If we give the other team the ball and they get an easy fast-break, does that essentially count against the defense?

 

What source is that from? On ESPN's website we are:

6th in offensive efficiency
22nd in defensive efficiency

 

I'm using Basketball Reference's adjusted net ratings

 

Ah, alright, the ESPN ratings are unadjusted then.

 

That's a solid point I'm sure that definitely hurts the defense even though it really shouldn't. Maybe I just got accustomed to the god awful effort on the defensive side last year that the effort they're displaying this year makes them seem better than they are haha.