We know we're rolling this year with KPJ, J. Green, Tate, KMJ, Wood, Sengun, Nwaba, Lets see what silas can do with a training camp and stability. What do you predict?
This is a really hard call. The talent is there. The blend of youth and veteran is there. The real question is Wall & Silas. If both WANT to win we make the playoffs. If not it’s more of the same. Alpi is very competitive and may not be able to be governed back, too.
I think we're still going to be one of the youngest teams, but well show flashes of whats to come and be a hard out with the young guys energy, but ultimately the west 8/9 is already solid and I expect us back in the lottery before maybe we launch the next year, this one is more about development
We’ll see all rookies struggle, frustrating plays by our veterans, mind boggling rotations, DNPs, D-league stints for many if not all eligible players and do slightly better than last year: 20-33 wins. Prepare for a bumpy ride people.
As Is: Play-In Wall: was about 78% healthy last season. Probably been working on flaws this entire off-season. Be near 87% healthy and pass more. Kick him in the *** Silas if he calls off the screener like he did last yr. Wood: additions of Theis, Garuba, Sengun helps Wood avoid doing much of the dirty work. Stays fresher.....goes from 20 points a game last season to 24 points per game this yr. Porter: doesn't worry about stepping on Wall's toes......goes out and "Balls." Green: pushes team to Excel. Makes things easier for others when he steps onto the court as most attention shifts to him...even while with the vets. Will pass the ball when he recognizes multiple defenders on him. Eric Gordon: 18 points per game last season continues doing what he did last year. Hopefully better 3-pt shooting as we have better PnR action between ball handler & screener. Tate: improves his 3-ball. Doesn't have to learn a new system and get use to the speed and length of the NBA. Headsy player that has probably been studying the Silas playbook and has been working on his game the entire off season. Martin: looks as good as the end of last season. Will continue being a high NBA percentile as Roll Man in PnR. Possibly better with a healthy Wall/Eric Gordon, Porter not worried about stepping on Wall's toes, and the additions of Green and Christopher as ball handlers. Theis: this fella is an under the radar addition. Strengths are perfect attributes for what Silas wants his big man to do. Only thing better would be the obvious of being taller, quicker and dead-eye shooter from 3. Adequate enough to get us to that Play-In level....maybe more? Sengun: I've noticed good fundamentals, footwork (only saw one travel with sliding pivot foot in SL), aggressive. Since he is considered a rookie, the refs won't give him the call vs most stars of the NBA....but he does force the issue by being aggressive. Will go to the free throw line often despite being a rookie. One reason our defense was so bad was because Harden would often stop the clock and get to the free throw line and stop the bleeding of other teams runs. Last season Wall was the only real threat and his lift was lacking. I can see Sengun doing some up and under's, crafty Scola stuff while dipping his shoulder into some opponents. He will be called for some fouls but.... I like it. We (Rockets) need an inside presence that is not afraid of a little contact. Stop the clock and get to the free throw line. Garuba: liked him playing in the Olympics vs Jayson Tatum and KD but looks lost in SL. Guessing it's fatigue/jet lag combinations. Will hit rookie wall quickly. Gets plenty of bench time mixed in with some end of game defense time. ____________________________ This time last season I was pushing Westbrook to Knicks for Bobby Portis and non guaranteed contracts. Logic for Knicks being that Westbrook by himself can get the Knicks to the playoffs when healthy. Wall can almost do that as well....he just wasn't healthy enough in my book. Two year layoff and it was obvious he had little to no lift when defenders were giving him a little contact while he was driving. I expect improvement in this area from Wall. 38 to 43 win projection depending on the usual for every team......health. If Wall takes his ball and goes home early in the season (as disgruntled) 27-31 wins.
Voted 20-33, but if Wall stays healthy could do better. I like Seguin, but he will have his struggles. He does not elevate on defensive rebounds and gets pushed around a bit. I think he gets 15-20 mins at backup center. Green will flourish. KPJ will be held back as long as Wall is here. Was really high on KJM coming into summer league, but didn’t really see enough improvement to annointe him a starter. Garuba and JC will spend most of the year in G-League. Wall, Green, Tate, Wood, Theis is not a starting line-up that makes the playoffs. We will be better with Wood rejoining the lineup.
I don’t think they even sniff a play in. If Wall, Gordon and even Wood are playing THAT well they probably get traded by the deadline anyway resulting in more losses. I think we’ll see the young Rockets surprise teams at the start of the year maybe make it to .500 or better through 15-20 games but ultimately lose a lot to finish the last 3/4 of the season.
I got us between 25-35 we won’t be the worst team in the league and will have exciting young talent to watch but there will be growing pains and poor defensive play. 6th-10th overall pick unless we get lucky in lottery
I feel like Vegas win totals are about what I am expecting. There is a clear division of 6 lottery teams and then another clump after that. Vegas Win Totals for 2021/2022 OKC - 23.5 ORL - 24 HOU - 25.5 DET - 25.5 CLE - 28.5 SAS - 28.5 — MIN - 34.5 WAS - 34.5 SAC - 34.5 CHA - 36.5 TOR - 37.5 NOP - 38.5 CHI - 39.5 MEM - 41 —
