My mindset this year is simple: Delighted when this team give wins, but I don't expect it. Even against mid to low teams, it's usually a 60-40 toss up. This group has overachieved from last year's baseline. Team is fragile when the conditions are not perfect (road games, injuries, inexperienced starter heavy minutes..etc). There's enough wins where they aren't bottom Detroit. So by this point, if the team is still learning from the losses I'm good with it. Note: Pistons also got vets last year, but those vets had a combination of injuries, meh fit and weren't good enough to lift that team. They also did a coaching change. On paper, Monty was a big name, but DET remained at the bottom (arguably gotten worse). Don't take it for granted we're in phase 2, becauae there are teams like the Pistons, who stayed behind. The larger leap some fans are looking for with the Rockets will take time: more reps, more continuity, 2nd half season + summer to get better.
This board is always manic with expectations. No one realistically expected a sub 40 (+/- 3) win season after that smilas clown show rewarded us with the 4th pick. Dillon and Fred turned out to be acceptable signings when everyone was under sticker shock (or worse) for the price tag. We had a new coach and 6 players under 21 who were still raw and needed the ball and proper playing time to draw out their potential. Also dumped a lottery team starter for pennies on the dollar because the kid couldn't keep his hands to himself. The tide turned so much that the off-season signing folks complain most about is Joke Landfill. Our 5 year rebuild plan is looking to be worse than the 76er's Process, which makes people heap even more expectations at any sliver of promise, but 37+ wins is actually decent even though there is so much more work to do and players to shift.
If this team was getting even a mediocre performance from the SG spot we would be over .500. Jalen Green and injuries are the reason we are below .500. Once the trade deadline passes Green will end up on another team or on the bench. Whoever we trade for or Cam will be the starter at the 2. If we get Tari and Bari back this team will climb back over .500 and challenge for the play-in.
I agree that most of the Rockets aren’t playing at an “All-Star” level meaning not good enough to be selected. But The term “all-star” is relative. How do you define a “star”? There’s several good players in the league that have never been selected to an All Star game. Jamal Murray has never been a star. Neither has Myles Turner. Both very good players. Who’s the second star on teams like Indiana, Denver, OKC, MIA, or ORL? Fred Van Vleet has been an All-Star. His numbers are similar to his star year except for scoring average. There isn’t much doubt that he’s a good player. The Morey theory doesn’t seem to hold since several playoff or fringe playoff teams don’t necessarily have 2 “stars”. And is getting into the All Star game a definitive measure of a player’s abilities?
