That's more reasonable up and down the line for the West teams. Can anyone tell me what casinos or online betting sites are allowing ppl to place these bets. I've searched and asked friends in Vegas to check the casinos. I fail to find any O/U prop bets. Odds for winning the chip are available though. I'm beginning to think the posting of the O/U wins are more marketing for one site to draw interest. I sure would have bet over on that 54, but probably need to register, put money in an account, then find it's not really available for betting.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...des-signings-offseason-grades-for-every-team/ Houston Rockets In: Carmelo Anthony (free agent) Michael Carter-Williams (free agent) Marquese Chriss (trade with Suns) James Ennis III (free agent) Brandon Knight (trade with Suns) Vincent Edwards (drafted No. 52) Out: Trevor Ariza (signed with Suns) Luc Mbah a Moute (signed with Clippers) De'Anthony Melton (trade with Suns) Re-signed: Clint Capela Gerald Green Chris Paul Houston brought back Paul and Capela, but losing Ariza and Mbah a Moute hurts big time, as they provided the length and defensive versatility that made last year's Rockets team special. They added Carmelo Anthony, and general manager Daryl Morey has hinted that the roster might look different come April. But for now, this is a significant downgrade. Grade: C-
We basically had the worst offseason across the NBA. Morey deserves to live in a van down by the river.
David Griffin on the Rockets' additions: "I don't like the fit of their pieces for a few reasons [...] Every time you radically change what you're about in pursuit of beating GS, you actually get further away. [...] I think that team actually may have taken a somewhat significant step backwards."
Griffin had Utah ahead of Houston in the West Rankings, FYI. "Being different" does not mean being worse. There is no magical formula. Griffin changed his Cavs team plenty and if he had stayed there, most likely would have changed in some more.
lulz... first off, replacing Ariza and Moute with Ennis and MCW isn't a "radical change." secondly, Morey has indeed made radical changes that improved our pursuit of beating GS....the McHale/Howard era to MDA, Gordon and Anderson was a doublin- down on offense, radical change. That got us to Division champs and the 2nd round. C) Paul was another radical change, that worked, when the media was saying it wouldn't, because of One Ball and chemistry iv) , MDA radically changed the team DURING THE YEAR. We morphed into an Elite switching defensive team by starting PJ Tucker, and morphed to playing heavy ISO-ball because teams started to try switching on us...whereby we said, "Bring it. We'll just ISO you, then." "radical change" is the new "chemistry" narrative.
Hoop Collective Western Conference Preview http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=24862434 Brian Windhorst: I don't know if Ennis will work out. Tim MacMahon: They feel dollar for dollar...they don't feel Ennis is a drop off from Ariza. Does Carmelo help or hurt the Rockets? They are a proven elite offensive team. Let's say Team USA Melo shows up. Losing Luc, Ariza, Bzdelik, how drastic do they drop off defensively? They went from 18th to 6th. If they go back to being mediocre defensively, does that forfeit any chance they have of contending? BW: May forfeit their chance of the #1 seed. One reason Ariza & Luc were valuable was because they were so good against the Warriors. TM: What happened to Melo in the playoffs? Jazz hunted him off the floor. BW: First conversation is the first 82 games. There will be nights they sail along & everyone is happy. Melo is one of the worst defenders in the league. Michael C. Wright: How will react to being the Sixth Man? TM: That's the big conversation. Do they declare he's coming off the bench? BW: They had to have an understanding before he signed. TM: They haven't been firm on that. Not only is it is he starting? He didn't handling not finishing very well. If you're up 5, two minutes left, do you have Carmelo out there for teams to hunt wearing a neon bulls-eye? Dave McMenamin: Those are all fair questions but he's there for the vet. minimum. Isn't that worth it? What are your better options? TM: The argument is the better option would have been paying Luc Mbah a Moute the $4.3M he got from the Clippers & keeping a guy who knows his role, valuable defensive stopper off the bench, didn't need the ball offensively, decent 3pt shooter. That's the argument. I would argue Mbah a Moute had more value to the Rockets than Melo would. Morey didn't feel that way. Chris Paul didn't feel that way. BW: They got Brandon Knight. He's over a year off a torn ACL. TM: They needed depth at PG. You got to manage Chris Paul to maximize a full playoff run. BW: I think they'll still be really good. Whether it's Melo, Knight, Ennis or one of those (other) guys will have a great year. Will that matter? DM: Lowest they drop? 3rd? BW: Think they'll win a ton. Not sure a more serious threat. TM: 65 like last year? BW: No. They got worse. (BW: Utah could sneak into the 2 seed.)
People don't realize how bad Ariza was last year in the playoffs. It was a problem. I trust Morey did his research with Ennis.
“James Harden can’t play point...” “Harden is too ball dominant to play with Chris Paul...” “Houston has taken a step back...” I love it when the media talk Houston Rockets.
"BW: May forfeit their chance of the #1 seed. One reason Ariza & Luc were valuable was because they were so good against the Warriors" I guess if they keep saying, it becomes true. 2-15 in 44 minutes against the Warriors in the WCF with one arm was "so good"
So Windhorst and David Griffin are on record with Utah as the #2 seed? Got it. Mannix has the "erosion of the Rockets" and the "Wolves have an outside shot at the WCF because Wiggins and Towns have to improve" We'll collect our receipts later in the season.
Good thread. All perfect examples of why I never pay attention to the talking heads yapping. I would also say that the naysayers only help the Rockets, who do much better outperforming low expectations than they do meeting exalted ones. So, by all means, keep downplaying their expectations.
I dont see Houston winning 65 games again this season personally but with good health I do not see why they dont hit 60. They will definitely try to get the #1 seed again though. Yes 4 home games vs 3 against GS is a big thing but what games are at home is even bigger all the odd games except 3 are at home and with the first two at home it makes a huge difference. I think GS will try to get the #1 seed as well this season moreso than last year.
The life of an analyst is all about when you draw that line of skepticism. For most outside of Houston, it's arbitrary. Hardly is it ever about a hopeful outcome.
