LA - 1/4 Dallas - 2/4 Denver - 1/3 Utah - 2/4 OK - 3/4 Phoenix - 0/4 Portland - 2/4 SA - 2/4 Roughly 42% We know that this current Rockets team is a shell of what it could be next year. How do you think Yao + Morey's additions will affect the teams record against Western Conference playoff teams next year? Best and worst case. IMO, I'm confident that adding Yao alone to the mix will push us above .500, at the minimum. This team WILL be one that depends upon superb shooting performances, so home court advantage will be crucial in the playoffs. I can see this team being a top 3 seed. Best case, I feel that the Rockets will be somewhere in between the 55 and 60% range against the Wests contenders. Thoughts... Also if anyone else would like to calculate some of the other Western Conf. teams records, that would add great insight to a discussion. Thanks, I look forward to some great discussion!!!
Depends on on if Yao is healthy, who the Rockets add via MLE, via sign and trade, and ping pong balls. If the ping pong balls fall right and the Rockets can get Cousins or Evan Turner, they will be able to offer a really good offer for s/t as well as just outright trades. Yao goes down again and Rockets can't get anyone of significance...we are back to where we are.
I did something similar today, and I came up with 18-26 against all playoff teams (including Eastern teams, but not including Bulls or Raptors).
The funny thing is that in the beginning of the year Daryl Morey thought that we match up especially well against Phoenix. He was bummed that we didn't win a game in Phoenix back in November, thinking we had a very good chance of beating them on their floor. And they end up sweeping us this season.
I think our troubles with LA and Denver is all about not having a true legit center. If we can get two quality big men (Yao+?) then those records should improve next season. Not sure wtf happened vs PHX but I'd imagine Amare kicked our a$$ but with him probably leaving for the East that should also change next season.
And its mainly because Phoenix actually does live by the running philosophy that many thought the Rockets would naturally adopt without Yao on the floor and Steve Nash is beastly.
Those team have closers. If the Rockets get a superstar (it may even be Yao) to close games, they will be competing for the division crown.
Nobody doubts the Rockets can be great with a healthy Yao Ming next year. Every realist knows Yao won't ever be healthy though.
I think AB IS our closer. That guy has been fearless, ripping the hearts out of opponents and their fans this last month.
YEah, our odds against the top western team depends solely on how many "big men" we got between now until next season. Lakers got 3 big men Dallas - got 2 Denver - 2 we need more then just Yao and scola. Scola it's not a defensive stopper like those traditional big men. scola is a skilled crafty PF.
I've been learning over the past few seasons that we don't want to face the Suns in the playoffs. They seem to be kryptonite for the Rockets. Does anyone else notice this?
I agreed w/ Morey and was at that November game vs the Suns. Turns out Amare just flat out owns our Chuckwagon Hayes' best move against big men, the strip, is completely nullified by the fact that Amare does a very good job keeping the ball over his head. Coupled with his quick/big first step and Chuck is powerless to slow him down in the paint.
Great Thread. The Rockets will be better no matter what. Lowry, Scola, Ariza, Budinger all improved their play.
