Hank, I think don't think it is quite a 50 loss team, but . . . it might come pretty close to it. A 40 to 50 loss season is very possible, if T-Mac doesn't come back into mix early enough or he doesn't pan out from his recovery (or decline to the point of being an average shooting guard). I like this team, but do I think they are going to tear through the Western Conference with the current (active) squad. Although, we let Artest go and pick up Ariza, but he doesn't have Artest's offensive scoring prowess at least not yet. Aaron Brooks can score, when the other team is not focused on him. I don't expect him to carry this team, either. Scola might be close 18 and 10, but it probably won't be enough. Still, I would keep my fingers cross, because games are played for a reason. I know some people, especially in the media would have people believe it is only a 5 team league. Where you might as well just sit back let the battle started between the Lakers vs. the winner of the Magic/Celtics or Cavs. That is what will make a great season and bring all of the ratings. I guess, but in that regards I say #uck the NBA, ESPN, and the rest of the national media. I hope the two worst teams in the playoffs reach the Finals and have it all blow up in their faces.
McGrady? I think if you're planning to ride McGrady this year you might be disappointed. He's getting old and breaks down pretty easily even when he's not the first option! What's he going to do when he doesn't have Yao to carry him? OK. If McGrady comes back to his old form, we could be average. I love our coach. We have a good coach. Even still, this is a 50 loss team unless someone (maybe McGrady) steps it up BIG big time. But I still don't see it.
When the team is so far in the preseason doing really well and is having a bad stretch in this game and a thread goes up about how badly this team is gonna do yes I call them a cry baby. I can respond to that however I want to (like every response in the GARM is full of meaning), if you don't like it then move on and post your own "meaningful response". Who the heck are you to tell me how to respond on an open forum?
I absolutely agree with what Bigpetelikeiron said. Hank should be allowed to state his opinion if he wants to. Just because it is negative in regards to our beloved Rockets doesn't mean you have to tear him apart. Personally, I think we will be around .500 based on quality defense and people like brooks and scola stepping it up. We will be running more and also running the pick and roll more with brooks and scola which should be affective against most teams. To play .500 you have to beat the bad teams and play the rest of the league tough. We will be over .500 with T-Mac, so we just need to stay competitive before he gets back
Since when has yao ever carried mac . in 07 tmac led this team to 50 plus wins when yo boke hes leg. in 08 he led the rockts to 54 wins when yao went down mid season. so when did yao carry mac gain
so you expect us to lose 55 games. if yao came back right now fully healthy, i bet you expect us to win 50+ games. that's a 20 game difference. if yao was that valuable, he would get "some" more MVP votes a year ago wouldn't you think? do you know how bad your team has to be to lose 55 games? even detroit last year with all their chemistry problems only lost 43 games. that team had no star, a shoot-first PG who can't create, no legit post presence, didn't respect their coach... seriously?
I personally think tanking would be a good strategy for this season, but I don't believe they will lose 50 games. I predict 41-41. Even without Yao and Tracy, I think we have decent skill, especially at the PG and PF positions. We're weak at C, but lots of teams have done reasonably well without much at C. Besides, we have Morey making a couple of strategic deals, especially at the deadline, and Tracy will be at least a pretty decent player. I predict he will play at the borderline all-star level, at least for the last half of the season. The question there is, will he be injured? Really, I think 40 is the most losses they will have, and I think it is not unreasonable to think they will win 50 games.
well by your rating system Aaron brooks and Lowry combo is below average, and Mcgrady is also below average. then care to explain whos an average pg in the league
.500, or a few games over it, is the peak for this team. It does have the potential to be as bad as a 50-loss club, though.
Yeah. Seriously. I think this team, minus Yao, is at least 20 games worse than it is with Yao. I think it's shocking that anyone would argue that the difference Yao makes isn't worth at least 20 games a year. The whole team was built around the guy, easily one of the best centers in the league, and now he's being replaced by a rookie. Think about it rationally... Combine that with no McGrady for now, and no idea what he will be when he does return, a starting lineup that is below average at most positions, a young bench, undersized and young PG's, questionable offense from your 2 and 3 positions, and Adelman would have to be the coach of the year for this team to even win 41 games. Nope. This is at least a 50 loss team, and I'm sticking with 55...
Ok. bur if we win more then 27 wins, then you have to bump this thread and apologize for this thread. ok
We are too good for a top lottery pick but we don't seem to be in the mix for anything more than a 1st round of the playoffs (if that much). John Wall is definitely out of the mix sort of a miracle. Personally, I'm hoping for a Yao resurgence and something to come out that's good out of the whole T-Mac debacle.
"well by your rating system Aaron brooks and Lowry combo is below average, and Mcgrady is also below average. then care to explain whos an average pg in the league" No. Not the combo. I like the combo, but neither by himself is much above average for a starting NBA point guard. I can think of plenty of combos that are not as good, but that's part of the reason why I said I think our bench is above average. Aaron Brooks is a very nice player, but he's not exactly a superstar. His offensive game is above average, but his total game isn't when you factor in his defense and rebounding liabilities due to his small size. He's a nice player. He might be slightly above average overall, but not by much. As for McGrady... The McGrady I saw last year was below average. The McGrady before that was a superstar, but I'm not expecting a superstar in November. I guess we'll see how he's healed from the injury. Anyone else here expecting a miraculous recovery? Bad back, bad knees, a year older...Come on!
This team could certainly go on to lose 50 + games when you look at the lack of talent and injures ( I mean to players that are left......after all we are the Rockets, we always have injuries) As for McGrady, no telling what he will be when he returns....if he ever returns in a Rocket's uniform. At least the young players will get to develop.....
