[2017-2018] Predict the first half of reg. season games

How many wins will we have through the first 41 games of the season? That's all the reg. season games up to Jan 12th, 2018.

Poll closes the day before the first regular season game.

Votes are public: Just like any analyst who are forced to eat crow if they sleep on good teams, we also must eat crow if we get it wrong.

 

We had a 31-10 record by middle of last season. But there was a long winning streak following a double-OT away win against GSW. For me, a lot is hinging on this season opener, it matters more to the Rockets than it does GSW. However, if CP3 is able to bring stability to this team, regardless of a win or loss in our season opener, we should still be better this season.

Here's what stands out, IMHO.

Challenging games:

• 4 x MEM
• 2 x GSW (away and home)
• 1 x OKC (away)
• 1 x SAS (home)
• 1 x LAC (home)
• 1 x CLE (home)

B2B games:

• Oct-17,18 -- @GSW, @SAC
• Oct-27,28 -- @CHA, @MEM
• Nov-11,12 -- MEM, @IND
• Dec-15,16 -- SAS, MIL
• Dec-28,29 -- @bos, @WAS

To me, that looks like a low-key tough schedule.

• That first away GSW game is key, huge impact on our morale
• We play Memphis twice within a week, twice (Oct 23,28 and Nov 11,18), and 2 of these matches fall on back-to-backs -- I'd think this is going to wear down our front-court, and cause problems for us on whatever games are in-between those twice-memphis weeks.
• 6 out of 10 back-to-back games are also away games