We have 2 above-average backup PFs that have been starting. Neither of them are the answer. I think Jones will be the answer, he's just not ready. I need to see more of Dmo before I say one way or the other about him. I definitely feel he needs more muscle though.
Stamina issues aside from all these youngsters playing more minutes than ever, from sheer talent I'm buying into this team as a playoff team. ~45 wins. Meaning they are basically one star-caliber player from being 2nd level contender just after OKC, assuming Lakers/Spurs dropoff due to age. I'm still hesitant on this year because I believe they're developing. Also, Morey has ran out of draft picks, so I can easily see him making trades at the deadline to replenish our stock of liquid assets. So I still think this is more of a throwaway year. But if they keep this up, we just may make a big acquisition at the deadline to give it a shot this year.
LOL "liquid assets". Classic Morey lingo Yeah I agree this isn't a playoff year, this is a development year. However, if we do make the playoffs on a supposed "development" year, we're going to be a really scary team for the future.
clearly this team has already exceeded my expectations of them coming into the season (after the Harden trade). Loving this team - there are still kinks to be worked out (transition D, Delfino/Douglas handling the ball, help defense, etc.), but man... there must be some kinda blessed water in Houston, the accelerated development/chemistry of this team has pleasantly surprised me.
As good as this team is playing right now I can still see how it won't be quite like a OKC or Miami any time soon. OKC and Miami have super mutant wings and then secondary guys are also super mutant jrs OKC (Durant, Westbrook) Miami (Lebron, Wade).. Both Hardin and Lin have yet to really endure a couple 82 game seasons and I can see their bodies once again breaking down.. Also Hardin is a bit short of having the super mutant status physically.. If he was 6'7+ I can see him being able to compete with Lebron and Durant more but as is in a intense playoff series that's the disadvantage he will have. Best thing to do is let guys like Delfino get a bit more chemistry and the rest of the bench follow. Delfino needs to play beyond his salary structure as far as efficiency in limited minutes..
The Rockets need an experienced big and some experienced mid-size cats. Have a broken down player like Mike Miller to show a thing or two in tight situations would help alot in limited minutes or from the bench. Delfino is the only guy that remotely knows how to really handle tight situations and Harden should be wise beyond his years in that regard as well.
Worst thing that can happen now is an injury. I see Lin gets his rest but when he does there's not a good enough pg that can maintain. Harden and Asik seem to be in the same spot, as good as Delfino and Greg Smith are they still leave something to be desired. Delfino has so much experience, just not NBA PlayOff wise, and should be a mentor with even smarter play. I hope he can deliver because let's face it, he's as good as a back up league for the money their is.. I don't think there's any back up wing available better than Delfino..
If the Rockets played in the eastern conference they would be good enough to compete for a 4th seed, they seem to beat most of the eastern conference teams, even took the Heat to the wire. Beat Knicks twice, Bulls twice, Hawks, Celtics. We own the east. Problem is that we play in the west and we typically get beat by teams like the Nuggets, Jazz, T-Wolves, Blazers, all of which will be competing for the 8th seed in the western conference this year. I think we finish 9th at best and maybe 11th at the worst. Here's how I see the west shaping up. 1. OKC 2. Clippers 3. Spurs 4. Memphis 5. Lakers 6. Dallas 7. T-Wolves 8. Golden State/Denver/Utah/Houston/Portland (in order of highest chance) I think out of the potential teams to land the 8th seed, Denver and Golden State are the most likely. Houston just doesn't have the experience yet and its unfortunate that we play in the west because I think we could do some damage in the east and get some playoff experience under our belts.
I think it is because Morey picked players with high IQ's who are also very unselfish & buy in. He also chose two guards who are excellent PNR players & Asik proved to be quite adept at it & Smith developed into a diamond in the rough. I have my doubts about whether the Rockets will make the playoffs but I think the growth they have shown at a individual and team level is to be commended irregardless of there win/loss totals.
I think we are better than people give us credit for. We really should of beaten Portland both times and Toronto. I think if this team wasn't slapped together at the last minute we would be 18-9. Right now we are in the tier with GS, Mem and Denver, just above Minny, Utah and Portland. I am excited to see what pieces Morey adds next and I can't wait to take the next step forward in 2-3 years as the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers decline.
we really should have beaten miami cause referees steal that game from us... btw how many true losses we had? i mean games where the game was already decided before last 5 minutes? i can think of only 4 games 1s utah game 1st lakers game 1st sas game OKC game all other games we were competitive until the last minute or into OT
Question is have we grown more than these other teams in the Western Conference. I think we have, and therefore the games we should've won can be won next time around.
its not only that we have grown but we lost second portland game because of a shooting night that batum will never ever repeat ...he made a lucky streak of several heavily contested 3s and they were back in the game...
i don't know if they will lose again i've never seen a more efficient team i'm thrity seven been watching nba since eleven
Watching part of the Lakers-Knicks and Heat-Thunder game on Xmas day Watching aging old players against each other pales in comparison to the explosive higher pace match up of last years NBA finalists I can't see Knick or Lakers advancing in the playoffs unless their rest their older players Spurs style We can best the Knicks and Lakers with our running offense I not sure how we can matchup against teams like the Heat or Thunder when they play at their best They can play fast break as well as us plus they have extra height and strength we don't have on the half court game
I had no expectations for this team anyway this season so 15-12 is a pleasant surprise. That schedule in January is going to be rough though. We'll see exactly what we're made of.
I think we are better than the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 teams. Lin is slightly worse than Dragic/Lowry Harden is much better than Martin 2012 Parons is better than 2011 Parsons and 2010 Budinger Patterson/Morris are slightly worse than Scola Asik/Smith are much better than Dalembert and Hayes Bench is probably a wash. The previous 2 teams have barely missed the playoffs, so I think this team will barely make it in. This all assumes the team stays as constructed. As Bima has pointed out, a trade for a max level player is going to be difficult during the season.
