The Rockets will win 65+ games next year. Why or why not?

No I just think you are out of your mind period.

Relax I was just joking earlier and should have put a smiley face next to it. I find it amusing that you in particular doubt the Rockets when you spent half the season proclaiming that they would not make the playoffs and then proceeded to watch them win 22 games in a row and go 21-10 without Yao. Do you know 21-10 extended to a full season is 55 wins. 55 wins without Yao. If we were just bringing Yao back I could see us getting to 65.

Let's not forget they dropped 15 games before christmas. They dug a hole while trying to learn Adelmans system. That will not happen this year. Yao is coming back and we added Barry Dorsey and Artest. Our rookies will be better and Landry, Rafer, Shane and Tmac will be healed ( people forget how injured this team was the end of last season and still kept winning). We were actually the number 1 seed for a brief stint without Yao. We will not lose 15 games before christmas. In fact I will go on record as saying we won't lose more than 6 games before christmas (provided no major injuries to the core players). And we will only get better from then on in. So yes I think a record breaking 70 game win season is possible. But don't worry I'm not going to punch you if you don't think we can even win 65. In fact I would be happy if you predicted we wouldn't make the playoffs again. Your prediction are always rather amusing and seem to help this team.

 

sure why not...
tack on 23 in a row and a championship while you are it!

 

I predicted 61. It's tough to say with the Rockets. There are several factors some of which are totally unpredictable:

1) Injuries. The #1 issue with this team every season. At least I feel more comfortable now knowing they're capable of winning when either Yao or T-Mac is out. And adding Artest, Barry, and Dorsey(and presumably not losing Landry) will only help.

2) Schedule. This won't be as big of a factor this season since the Rockets are returning virtually the same roster as last year(with the aforementioned new additions) and Adelman's system and rotation are now firmly in place. But it would be nice if the first few months weren't quite as brutal as last season. The 22-game winning streak was fun, but being in 10th place after 2 months wasn't.

3) Artest. The Pacers still haven't recovered from his shennanigans, so you can't underscore how important it is that he behave. An occasional technical is fine. But he can't be out of control the way he was back in his Indiana days.

4) The West. Some teams will be on the decline this season, namely Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, and Golden State. San Antonio is a possibility but they've still got their Big Three. But these are all still talented teams that could beat anyone on any given night. The reason Boston won 66 games last season was because 2/3's of their schedule was against an Eastern Conference that had only one other really good team, Detroit. The Rockets won't have that luxury. To even sniff 60 wins, they'll have to be healthy and on top of their game every night.

5) Free throw shooting. It was a problem last season, and it potentially cost them two playoff games against Utah(Games 2 and 4). T-Mac in particular is a major concern considering he gets fouled quite a bit. Getting Yao back will help since the Rockets have a reliable shooter in closing minutes of a game. But the team as a whole(I'm looking at you Scola, Landry, and T-Mac!) must improve in this area.

 

This is the most arrogant, homer poll I have ever seen.

You better knock on wood or your going to have thousands of pissed off Rockets fans on you.

 

They won't get close to 65 wins. Why not? McGrady and Yao will both miss games with injury. It has gotten to the point that we should expect it. Hopefully, it'll be early and they'll be back and ready for the playoffs. A very good season would get us 60+ wins.

 

58, #2 seed

1. The streak was a fluke, the team played great but they caught a lot of breaks with opposing player injuries. There is a reason it's a record, you can't expect lightning to strike twice.

2. Expect injuries, you can't expect an older team with a history of injuries to go injury free. You can only hope your injuries are minor, short term and only one superstar at a time.

3. The West is the best, the best I've ever seen in 40 years of watching the NBA. Parity at such a high level makes every game a struggle. We've got to face some of the best PG's of all time; PG's that take over a game. With these great teams you can only hope to win the season series by a game, maybe two so there are going to be some losses.

58 and a #2 would be badass!

 

Im calling 59 tops. We are in a really tough conference and division to be thinking 65+...

 

I can see the Rockets winning at least 60+ games but my number was 65, not 65+ that's being a little too optimistic, but anything is possible. This team without Artest could win 60+ games being healthy. Now add Artest making the team tougher, adding his defense and making the team more flexible. I also see the Rockets jumping right out of the gate, unlike last year. We might not have a 22 games win streak, but it not that hard to put several 10,12,15 games win streaks together with the team we got. This team is hungry, Yao is hungry, t-mac is hungry, Artest is hungry, Rafer, Shane, Scola and yes if Stevie is healthy he'll be trying to prove the doubter wrong.

But really in my mind it's not about the regular season, it's about the playoffs, it's about being the best and holding up the NBA Championship trophy.

 

Easy 60+ wins season. Will finish as No. 1 seed in the West.

But I expect low 60 wins (60-62) season. Dont need to push too hard in regular season.

Dont think it's too difficult to integrate Artest into the team. With an increase in 3+ point efficiency differential, the Rockets will be right on the track of 60+ wins.

How can the Rockets increase the point differential?
- I dont expect the Rockets to drop off in defense. Maybe even with a little improvement in defense.
- Lots of room to improve in offense. Dont expect to see too much Hayes on the court unless for matchups or foul trouble.
- Artest is another scorer who can have the ball when T-Mac sits down on the bench.
- Too many misses of easy baskets around the basket in last season. Artest is a good cutter and can finish strong around the basket.
- A better overall FG% for the team. Barry is a reliable perimeter shooter. Artest is a good shooter but streaky. They will give the whole team better confidence. I expect an overall FG% for the Rockets when compare to last season.
- If the Rockets find another VETERAN backup PG & C, then it will be a perfect start for the Rockets.

 

The Rockets will use the regular season as a preparation process for the play-off.
56-58 wins will put them in a good position in the play-off.

 

60 plus? Psshhh. We're not exactly the youngest team in the league and our history with injuries is atrocious. I say 56 or 57.

 

98 wins, period.

 

is the schedule released today?

 

yao is 60% now. at the olympics. that's not good. at all. in fact that kind of sucks. we'll do well, but not 65 wins well. I sincerely doubt we get 60

 

Wins will be a little down this year, however we will go much farther in the playoffs. I beleive that Coach Rick is done with those less physical teams of Portland and Sacramento, the media labled them soft. The Pistons and Lakers thanks to Shaq out muscled both Rick's glory teams. Even last year Sloan put it to Rick again. Rick is building up the muscle tone on his rosters now if we get beat in the post season its not going to be because we got pushed around. I do feel sorry for rick because that had been the case. So with the roster not built for speed or youth, or even all out fire power, 60 plus wins is a lot. However we will be built at last for winning a playoff series. Try to beat this new mucle ripped rocket's team 4 times Sloan, Popavich, Jackson, or Byron Scott.

 

Rockets are overachieving again. 60 wins, and second round exit.

If Rafer is still playing the major PG minutes, thats about the best you can get.

 

It seems crazy, but given relative health (let's say all vital players play 70+ games), 65 seems attainable. Taking a 55 win team and adding Artest, Barry, Scola as a full-time starter, along with a healthy Yao for 30 more games seems like about 10 more wins to me...

But it'll probably be more like 60.

 

At least 60, we added Artest and Barry to the team that had 22 game winning streak and won 55 games last season

But we gotta stay HEALTHLY

 

Not a worry here. I seriously dare you to try. You name the place.

My predictions ALWAYS...

You mean all 1 one of them?

What I find funny is that you probably don't know nearly as much as I do about basketball and sports, in general, yet you try to hold on to a single thread I created as if it defines my knowledge. Basketball experts that know far more than you or I make wrong predictions year in and year out.

It's also clear that you are a weakling that likes to find others to try to pick on from behind your computer screen as an escape for your miserable existence.

 

Did you just get out of band camp? Is that why it took you so long to respond? Seriously after we win game 65 you donate $100 bucks to the tipjar. If we don't win 65 I'll donate. If 100 is too much for you than tell me how much milk money you can save. It's on you now.