RealGM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... tStandings

they have us ranked 8th in the west:

8
Houston Rockets 45 37 .549 42 40 .512
How is Yao? That's the first question for Houston, which has built a strong supporting cast without knowing whether its 7-foot-6 superstar can return from foot surgery to carry the team. But if the big fella can go, the Rockets have the pieces in place, with the experienced Rick Adelman and savvy Daryl Morey for guidance.

lol

So Royce thinks the 4th seed won't win 50+ games? And I don't see Thunder taking the number 2 seed either. That seed is for Dallas (until they choke in the playoffs again).

As for the Rockets, I think a healthy Yao Ming will put this team within Top 4.

the funny part is not about Rockets at #8 but Thunder at #2
all the hype on Durant now
seriously
they will be best at #6

#1 Lakers
#2 Dallas (always bad in playoffs, but strong team no doubt)
#3 Utah (healthy Deron is dangerous and now they have a much better offensive player in Al Jefferson)
#4 San Antonio (their regular season record wont show it, but they are top 4)

These rankings are a joke. Rockets never get any respect. We have Yao returning and a deep team with quality role players all the way around and we are only going to see a 3 game improvement?

BTW, they only had 3 teams with 50 or more wins? Thats petarded. The last 3 years there are 8,6,8 teams with 50 or more wins in the Western Conference.

Should Yao stay healthy I don't see why we can't challenge LA for the #1 seed.

KiDdFrESh wrote:These rankings are a joke. Rockets never get any respect. We have Yao returning and a deep team with quality role players all the way around and we are only going to see a 3 game improvement?

BTW, they only had 3 teams with 50 or more wins? Thats petarded. The last 3 years there are 8,6,8 teams with 50 or more wins in the Western Conference.

Should Yao stay healthy I don't see why we can't challenge LA for the #1 seed.

Personally, I see the top teams in the West (in no particular order) as: Houston, LA, Oklahoma, Portland, Dallas, and Utah. The Clippers strike me as a sleeper playoff team, but I want to see how they play and what Blake Griffen does.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Rockets take down the Lakers.

KiDdFrESh wrote:These rankings are a joke. Rockets never get any respect. We have Yao returning and a deep team with quality role players all the way around and we are only going to see a 3 game improvement?

BTW, they only had 3 teams with 50 or more wins? Thats petarded. The last 3 years there are 8,6,8 teams with 50 or more wins in the Western Conference.

Should Yao stay healthy I don't see why we can't challenge LA for the #1 seed.

we'll never get respect till yao stays healthy (and 20/10ish), AND the team proves they're among the elite. the earliest that can happen is january. i think the only way we'd be considered elite is if we play one full healthy season, and do no worse than the 2nd round.

also, they're espn rankings, cant take them seriously

^ Exactly. If our our star player can make it through one season without pulling up lame we will get the respect we deserve.