They are a Finals contender. Should be top 4 in the West for sure, maybe top 2. Depends on how the PF and PG positions are filled out.
Although I'm really excited, I'm trying to keep my expectations low. Rmbr when last year ppl would say lakers gonna win it all with the team of stars? We all know how that turned out. I just hope training camp goes well and chemistry is good. (deep down I hope we go to wcf but im trying to contain myself)
right now? we have no bench and no PF, so not very good lol. not sure how the team shapes out but assuming we move asik for a PF that fits, and sign a shooter to backup at the 2/3 and a big guy to backup at the 4/5, i'd say 55-60 in year 1.
Anything but 55-60 and second round of the playoffs would be a disappointement imo. WCF would be cool. I don't think we're real contenders next year though, chemistry needs to be built and we need more time to flesh out the bench. the ability to say "yeah i'd be disappointed if we didn't make the second round" AND back it up reasonably is incredible
As currently constructed, I'd guess the Rockets win around 56 games. Given the natural improvement curve we should see from Jones, D-MO, Greg Smith, & Beverly, plus the continuing impressive growth of Parson all-around game, with Lin, Asik & Harden all a year better and more comfortable with each other, plus the addition of the NBA's best Center. If we are able to add Josh Smith and a quality/serviceable PG, I think the Rockets could approach 61-62 wins. You are saying we would only be 6th best out West, but keep in mind the Grizzlies have no $ or youth to get any better than they were last year. The Lakers will not be above us next year. The Warriors were right there with us last year and will improve as their team matures, but I think D12's acquisition trumps their Iggy pickup(minus the players they shipped out to get him and the future improvements forfeited in that deal). The Rockets have improved more already than the Warriors. The Nuggets will also fall, no telling how far with their GM gone, coach let go after winning 57 games, and their arguably best player returning from a serious injury, and their best player before he went to GSW(Iggy) opting out and clearly saying that he wanted to be anywhere but Denver. That is 4 teams right there that the Rockets have made up ground on, and arguably passed. San Antonio looks to be going to war with the same squad, plus a good signing in Marco Belinelli at a very reasonable 2yr/$6mil deal. But outside shooting wasn't the Spurs problem. Injuries and having Tony Parker shut down in the 2 biggest games of his career since their last championship was what cost them the championship this year. Duncan can no longer carry the team for more than a game at a time and you never know which Manu will showup; the broke down turnover machine who is a +/- nightmare or the clutch shooting, kamikaze 6th man that can go off for 25 in no time at all. I think the Spurs are holding onto a winner, but by the time the next season starts, they will all be a year older and just a step slower. I think they have gotten all the championships they will out of their homegrown "Big 3" and they are on their way down. The Clippers were able to convince CP3 to stay for the max, but I can't help but wonder if they got any better this offseason so far. They are in danger of losing a great bench piece in Barnes, and are letting Billups leave. IMO, they just got hosed by getting only Redick and Dudley(a guy who should NEVER EVER be starter in this league) for soon to be Face-of-someone-elses-Franchise Eric Bledsoe. Seriously, is that all they could get back for CP3's heir apparent and a star PG who actually plays defense and is as fast as anyone with the ball since I don't even remember when. I think the Clips shoot better now, but don't have a quality backup PG to run with what would be a great second team. I think they blew it and will look back at the Bledsoe deal as something that could've put them over the top had they gotten in return what Bledsoe is truly worth. That leaves OKC, who I think is really feeling the sting of how poorly(at least for them) the Harden trade worked out, and how truly horrendous the Kendrick Perkins signing and contract extension are. They cant give him away and that contract alone cost them the chance to run out the league's first "Big 4"in Durant, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka. K-Mart is gone leaving only leftovers from OKC's haul from the Harden trade and while I think they can compete for championships as constructed and as they all mature and grow together, what might have been is greater than what currently is for OKC. I don't see the Rockets any lower than 3rd in the West, possibly as good as the #1 seed out West if we add the missing Stretch 4 like J. Smith. I can't wait for next year.
Depending on Lin's improvement and who plays PF I think we will be third in the West after OKC and SAS. But we should be even better the year after since it most likely take a year for a young team to be elite.
I think the sky is the limit best record in the league if the pf position is addressed. You have to remember the rockets lost a lot of close games last year. As always you need health though.
If the ball doesn't get "sticky", Harden plays SG, and Lin plays PG, I'd say 62+ wins. If the ball gets "sticky" with Harden playing PG and Lin playing "I'm not sure what my role is on the team", I'm thinking 48. But really, it'll be something in between. Throughout the season, they'll forget over and over that "sticky" ball doesn't work. Well, I'm talking about just one person forgetting.
I'm leaning towards 56 something wins. Keep in mind this will be there first year together, the chance of winning a championship is rather thin due to lack of chemistry and youth.
i think we'll make it to the conference semi-finals at least, perhaps even the WCF. I don't think we'll take the crown from the Heat in the 13-14 season, but the 14-15 season we DEFINITELY have a strong chance if the whole team still maintains its core and is properly meshed together. All eyes are gonna be on us for the next couple of years folks, let's try to impress
Gonna have to wait for other moves to be sure, but as currently constructed I still think we're a 55 win team.
I think that if we get an upgrade at PF and a decent backup SG/SF before training camp, we should be 3rd seed and lose in the NBA finals.
