Rockets: Realistic ceiling for the Rockets this season?

[Pelicans78]

At best, 2nd round for now unless Howard and Harden improve as well as some of the young pieces.

[ambchang]

Tyson, the last 3 years in order has only played 62, 66 and 55 games. He's likely done or close to it as he can't stay healthy. Parsons makes them better on offense but they will be equally bad on defense on the perimeter. Parsons and Ellis had a defensive rating of 109 last year, then you had Dirk at 108. He'll also be a year older and likely declining a bit.

We'll have to see what Kerr does.

Mavs can play like the Rockets did last year. They can potentially score in bunches, centering around the Ellis/Dirk pick and roll, with kickouts to Parsons and lobs to Chandler as options. Defense is an obvious question mark, and I am not sure how much Chandler can play, but when he did play, he played well.

I am not entirely sold on SKerr, but I am pretty sure he's better than Jackson, especially on offense.

[Dex]

Dallas will be better than Houston.

[Jenks]

If Howard played to his potential, WCF

So 1st round exit

[Malik Hairston]

Portland was a slightly above .500 team from January to March until they padded their wins in April against teams that gave up, and subsequently got hot vs. Houston..they didn't make any significant improvements, either, and they were the most gimmick-reliant team in the league last season..I'd be very surprised if they don't end up 7th or 8th..

The Suns surprised everybody with their energy last year, along with Green having a breakout season..they have a lot to prove, tbh, it's very possible and likely(IMO) that they will not be a good as last year..they also haven't resolved the Bledsoe situation, too, which is obviously huge..

The only other team that can realistically compete for the playoffs(along with Phoenix) is New Orleans, and they have serious coaching and rotation issues..

I can't imagine the Lakers, Nuggets or Kings competing for the playoffs, way too many holes in their rosters..

[wanggi]

Rockets are significantly weaker at point guard and center. They have improved or replaced every other position. Losing Asik was inevitable but then again, Asik is a top 5 center who was playing backup. Defensively, he was what kept us in the series against Portland. Without Asik, we get blown out.

The big loss however, is at point guard. Say what you will but you're expecting unproven rookie Canaan to make up for Jeremy Lin? Unless the Rockets can sign Bledsoe, this is a serious downgrade.

Despite seeing his numbers down (12 points and 4 dimes last season), Lin was an integral part of the Rockets lineup. Patrick Beverley is sure a terrific defender, but he lacks the offensive skills set and the court vision Lin brings to the table.
ESPN NBA analyst Kevin Pelton also agreed that trading Lin to create cap space without getting a commitment from Bosh was a huge mistake.
"I think everyone agrees that not waiting on the final word from Bosh was a mistake," Pelton stated during the chat session on ESPN Sports Nation last Friday.
To sum things up, the Rockets' move to let Lin go away was huge blunder for the organization. At 25-years old, Lin hasn't yet reached his peak. Who knows what's Lin is going to be 3 to 4 years from now. Perhaps, the Lakers are the important winners of the deal, because they believed the former Harvard hot shot could be something special moving forward - something Morey and the Rockets never bothered to think of.
For more Jeremy Lin news and analysis, read more at IBT Sports

very insightful comment.

[DPG21920]

Agree with HH.

I like PHO. They play hard and are fun to watch. But they didn't really add to their team in positions of need. I like Isiah Thomas, he is a very good back up PG/6th man, but if you are relying on guys like Gerald Green (who broke out), PJ Tucker & Plumlee you are asking for trouble. They will compete hard, but if any of those guys regress to their mean (let alone 2 of them) PHX is in trouble.

They can still re-sign Bledsoe and have the requisite talent to compete, but if they lose him and don't replace him with someone better they are taking even more of a step back (let alone what I believe to be a natural step back vs how they played last year). But they have great upside and flexibility to trade so their fortunes could change quickly. Their front court is a disaster at the moment right now - especially Len can't stay healthy/perform.

POR played the strangest defense in all of basketball and now that teams have played them, will it even work? They will be good, but LA had one of his best seasons and I am dubious he can shoot that well again. We will see...

I think NO has a definite shot at the playoffs and as of now I would definitely say they are in. If they can move Gordon for a better complimentary piece that only helps.

Lakers will suck. UTA will suck. SAC will suck. DEN will be below average/to average unless everyone stays healthy and guys really take the next step which is doubtful. MIN .

That leaves:

SA
OKC
LAC
HOU
GS
MEM
POR

Dallas / NOP / Maybe PHX. With Dallas the most likely to step up (just need health) and POR the most likely to fall out along with MEM.

[Double-Up]

Dallas will be better than Houston.

...and Aspirin is more addictive than crack cocaine. please...

[RsxPiimp]

If Howard played to his potential, WCF

So 1st round exit

He did last year. Its not him. It's Harden.

[tlongII]

The Blazers will likely win the West this year. The Spurs are just too old.

[Texas_Ranger]

If only they would have a PG that can organize the offense..... meh it, Harden is there to isolate. Still they should make it to the 2nd round.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

The Blazers will likely win the West this year. The Spurs are just too old.

Blazers arent winning for a while. First round fodder unless they dodge LA, Dallas, Spurs, and OKC.

[Bulaien999]

Agree, the Lockets got weaker the past summer while most other western teams (even including the Lakers) got better. Lockets would be lucky to even make the playoffs, tbh.

What a ty take. At least man up and say rockets won't make the playoffs without the scape goat "luck" comment

[313]

Absolute ceiling is the 2nd round, but I'd be surprised if they made it out of the 1st..

People that keep saying they're going to miss the playoffs are crazy, though..there's no way they miss the playoffs, especially with their compe ion at the bottom of the West being far inferior(New Orleans, Phoenix?)..

Harden as a lead guy has proven to be a playoff choker(so far), but he's an absolute monster during the regular season..

Didn't phoenix win 50 games? Lol could've used Sacramento or Minny, Phoenix? Lel

[Malik Hairston]

Didn't phoenix win 50 games? Lol could've used Sacramento or Minny, Phoenix? Lel

Phoenix is the compe ion for 8th..

Sacramento and Minnesota aren't realistic compe ion for the playoffs..