Westgate just released theirs and has the line set at 41.5 wins, tied for 8th in the West. Thoughts? Low or high? They have us treading water. Blazers seem high to me. Poor Lakers. Despite having high picks recently they're still terrible.
I just don't get the crazy love for the Jazz. They were 9th last season and will jump to 4th because they added George Hill, and old-asses Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw? I just don't see them making that kind of leap.
Last season was a "disaster" not because of the .500 record. We had a lot of .500 seasons in the 2000's and nobody thought they were "disastrous." Last season was a disaster because it did not meet the high expectations coming out of a WCF appearance. One can see it from different angles. Either the WCF appearance was a fluke or last season's mediocrity was a fluke. Anyway, we are having a very different core (again!) and a very different coaching staff. It's anybody's guess how we are going to turn out.
Ugh! Oh well, at least we are ahead of the Mavs. Still, it's hard to put much faith in these predictions.
I think right off the bat we can prove that we are better than the Jazz, Blazers, and Grizzlies. Jazz Depth Chart Spoiler Blazers Depth Chart Spoiler Grizzlies Depth Chart Spoiler Rockets Depth Chart Spoiler People are judging us on last year, and not really acknowledging the amount of change this team as undergone in the off season. Westgate pre-preseason W/L predictions are about as meaningless as CFB preseason rankings. Just look at the ESPN depth chart they have for the Rockets and it shows that they don't have any idea what we are going to run. No one truly knows what MDA is going to do, not us Rockets fans, none of the experts, nor the media. Obvious to say, but we could be all over the place: A top-tier team, a dumpster fire, or a middle of the pack team that has glimpses of great basketball but still can't shake major problems. But look at the talent on this team, and we can absolutely be better than the Jazz, Grizz, Blazers. Hell we were 2nd in the West beginning a season with Dorsey & Black as starters and ending with Terry and Prigs as our PG combo.
This^. I think the Rockets can rip off a lot of wins though. That will be a high scoring team but they will have to get used to playing with one another. I think the Rockets improve their record and get around 45 wins.
I hate to say it, but after last season's optimism it's kind of depressing that the best we seem to be hoping for is to match the record of the 2012-13 squad.
Well, it´s expected. We changed a lot of parts, we lost a top3 rebounder in the league, and wether you want to accept it or not, Dwight changed some of the dinamics on our paint. I won´t go fast for the over, at least until we know how is our rim protection going to be. The other way to see it is progression, I don´t mind sacrificing a few wins in a year like this if we are building towards a better future. I really want to see this year as a retool one.
