I don't think this Rockets team is right in the head. Hard to envision them winning an X's and O's matchup over 7 games.
Whether the Rockets win in the first round IMO depends entirely on two things. One is whether our clear non-shooters like Tari or Okogie or DFS somehow get hot and sizzle from the 3pt line for a short stretch. The other is how much opposing coach is smart enough to really take advantage of our lack of shooting and ball handling as a roster. The Rockets aren't so devoid of talent that they can't beat Wolves. But if I had to bet the house on one side I'd certainly bet the Wolves, assuming no major injuries going in.
Capela is fine for a backup, but with or without Sengun, the Rockets don't have a rim-protecting starting center. Sengun necessitates more defenders, but his offense has been off for about 40 or more games.
On paper, I think they have the advantage. Edwards has already beat KD in the playoffs before and we don't really do well against good paint defenders. However, this year the Wolves are throwing games as much, if not more than we are. I think it'll just come down to who's more locked in for the series.
I still think our style is built for the playoffs. Slow paced, lotta iso, midis, post up. While many teams are running n gunning in the regular season. But we'll see what happens
No one has won a championship like that in years. GSW, Boston, OKC all had great team movement and balanced scoring inside and out.
The game slows down regardless playing halfcourt, you gotta have ISO as well. We'll see. This team is so unpredictable but if Sengun can turn it up a notch, KD should be fine, Sheppard, Amen, Jabari was really good vs gsw last yr. I mean we still got some hoopers. Eason had a bad season, he might go off in the playoffs as well
Well - we have another month before the playoffs, so things could look different in a month. On one hand I do think that a lot of the guys on the Rockets learned last year that being a top seed doesn’t promise you a damn thing in the playoffs except a game 7 at home. This year (as to be expected), the Rockets didn’t play every game like it was game 7- so, while I think last year we were not as good as our record - this year I think we are a little better than our record. This year we also have Kevin Durant and he is still a top 5 offensive monster in the league. So I think we are overall better. However - I don’t know what to expect out of a lot of the Rockets. How will Sheppard handle playoff pressure? Will Amen not get some easy buckets in the playoffs like he gets in the regular season? Will turnovers kill the Rockets? The first week of the season I said the Rockets chances of getting out of the first round were under 50% and I still think that is true - while Sengun has disappointed, KD has stayed healthy- so I still think the odds are the same. Minnesota and Denver are better than the Rockets IMO - as is OKC and SA. The Lakers have three potential top tier scorers and that gives them a chance to just out man power the Rockets. The front office and coaching staff have a built in excuse already - the GM floated it at the deadline… but I think that Fertitta expects a first round win and may demand some changes if they don’t.
This Rockets team with this coaching staff will not win a first round matchup. Don't care who our opponent is.
I have zero confidence at all. Which isn't great, but also isn't the worst. I'd rather have no confidence and lose than confidently lose. At this point my expectations are non existent. They were high before FVV's injury. They were still pretty high going into and the first month of the season. They evaporated about a week after Adams' injury -- if not before. Blame it on coaching, players, bad luck, whatever. It's clear this TEAM isn't built right. Additions needed? Addition by subtraction? We'll figure that out in the off season. For now, I just pray that Alpi has an awakening and turns back into that Euroleague guy. And KD plays with more heart. And Tari makes a shot. It's a long prayer.
We are 23rd in half court offense. Virtually everybody we will see in the playoffs is better at half-court offense. We may have been trying to build a half-court offense, but we failed miserably.
Seen several posters mention building a faster offense based on transition / causing turnovers and such - problem is that's not playoff basketball. Everything slows down, every possession is more important / under a microscope and that happens in the half court. This team has no half court execution. We all differ on the whys and how's of this lack of half court play but the bottom line is without it, this team is not winning in the postseason.
