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I can't believe that I'm this excited about the start of pre-season basketball!

This years Rockets may be, despite last years success, one of the big underdogs of the upcoming NBA season. There seems to be a real divide among those in the media who will bray like mules about how much the Rockets have diminished; all while putting them as a steady top-3 in power rankings. James Harden, Chris Paul & Clint Capela return to lead the All-FIT team through the next Window.

The big addition, in case you missed the past two summers, is Carmelo Anthony; but he's possibly not the guy who will make the biggest impact for the newcomers. I am thinking that will be James Ennis, who is sounding like a real bulldog on the court. He is PJ Tucker approved, so that goes a long way here.

Game Schedule:

October 2, 2018: Rockets vs. Grizzlies
October 4, 2018: Rockets vs. Pacers
October 7, 2018: Rockets vs. Spurs
October 12, 2018: Rockets vs. Grizzlies

And then...it begins.

What is everyone looking for? I am curious to see how the bench shapes up. I was seeing that Hartenstein is really impressing. We will see how Knight, Chriss & MCW work their way in.

Gerald Green returns as Houston Fandom in Human form. Eric Gordon is in a lot of trade rumors; but doesn't seem to think that he's going anywhere. He'll be one of, if not the key off of the bench once again...unless he is starting as some rumors are now saying.

GO ROCKETS!!!

i don't know what is the starting lineup when pre-season begin
but Gordon been playing with Harden and CP3 in training camp
Melo and Ennis are most likely coming off the bench

Maybe

Harden
Paul
Gordon
Tucker
Capela

Ennis, Melo, Green & someone who steps up off of the bench

No way you start Gordon imo because you need that impact he brings off the bench.

You start Carmelo because he fits better in the role he'd have there than coming off the bench w the ball. Playing the baseline and running out a bit- Carmelo is going to have a really good year. They'll get him some easy baskets and he'll turn it up for them

Melo at the 3 or 4?

I get the argument for starting him over Ennis, but I can’t put him ahead of Tucker in the starting 5. We need that guy for his edge.

Coeur wrote:No way you start Gordon imo because you need that impact he brings off the bench.

You start Carmelo because he fits better in the role he'd have there than coming off the bench w the ball. Playing the baseline and running out a bit- Carmelo is going to have a really good year. They'll get him some easy baskets and he'll turn it up for them

MDA is the head coach
he will figure out the best lineup rotation

as of right now
this is the rotation
C - Capela, Hartenstein/Chriss/Zhou (Hartenstein been the best among them)
PF - Tucker, Melo
SF - Harden, Ennis
SG - Gordon, Green
PG - CP3, MCW

MaxRider wrote:

Coeur wrote:No way you start Gordon imo because you need that impact he brings off the bench.

You start Carmelo because he fits better in the role he'd have there than coming off the bench w the ball. Playing the baseline and running out a bit- Carmelo is going to have a really good year. They'll get him some easy baskets and he'll turn it up for them

MDA is the head coach
he will figure out the best lineup rotation

as of right now
this is the rotation
C - Capela, Hartenstein/Chriss/Zhou (Hartenstein been the best among them)
PF - Tucker, Melo
SF - Harden, Ennis
SG - Gordon, Green
PG - CP3, MCW

Nene? And I think knight (when healthy) will be over mcw

I would like starting ennis and tucker at 3 and 4 and Gordon and melo off the bench for offense

jwise44 wrote:

MaxRider wrote:

Coeur wrote:No way you start Gordon imo because you need that impact he brings off the bench.

You start Carmelo because he fits better in the role he'd have there than coming off the bench w the ball. Playing the baseline and running out a bit- Carmelo is going to have a really good year. They'll get him some easy baskets and he'll turn it up for them

MDA is the head coach
he will figure out the best lineup rotation

as of right now
this is the rotation
C - Capela, Hartenstein/Chriss/Zhou (Hartenstein been the best among them)
PF - Tucker, Melo
SF - Harden, Ennis
SG - Gordon, Green
PG - CP3, MCW

Nene? And I think knight (when healthy) will be over mcw

I would like starting ennis and tucker at 3 and 4 and Gordon and melo off the bench for offense

that's based on the 3 days training camp we had so far
Melo has yet to play with Harden and CP3 in the lineup

you know Nene won't be playing every game

I think the starting 5 will vary depending on the lineup, but won’t be surprised if Ennis and Tucker will start at 3 and 4, with Melo and Gordon fueling the bench. This will all depend on Melo.

Mr. E wrote:Melo at the 3 or 4?

I get the argument for starting him over Ennis, but I can’t put him ahead of Tucker in the starting 5. We need that guy for his edge.

Apparently Melo has been pretty much exclusively a four in the parts of practice media were allowed to see. He's also only been with the second unit. Feigen had a piece the other day that all but guarantees Melo will be coming off the bench as a 4

MaxRider wrote:

jwise44 wrote:

MaxRider wrote:
MDA is the head coach
he will figure out the best lineup rotation

as of right now
this is the rotation
C - Capela, Hartenstein/Chriss/Zhou (Hartenstein been the best among them)
PF - Tucker, Melo
SF - Harden, Ennis
SG - Gordon, Green
PG - CP3, MCW

Nene? And I think knight (when healthy) will be over mcw

I would like starting ennis and tucker at 3 and 4 and Gordon and melo off the bench for offense

that's based on the 3 days training camp we had so far
Melo has yet to play with Harden and CP3 in the lineup

you know Nene won't be playing every game

Apparently since the report that they may start Gordon, they seem to have switched to Ennis at the three in the starting lineup during scrimmages. I'm pretty sure he will start. The three guard lineup is good, but I'd rather close games with it, not open them like that

It's also really weird how Nene hasn't even been mentioned anywhere. Feigen was talking about how Hartenstien seems to have won the backup C spot over Chriss and Zhou, while ignoring Nene, unless he meant backup when Nene rests

K_chile22 wrote:Apparently since the report that they may start Gordon, they seem to have switched to Ennis at the three in the starting lineup during scrimmages. I'm pretty sure he will start. The three guard lineup is good, but I'd rather close games with it, not open them like that

It's also really weird how Nene hasn't even been mentioned anywhere. Feigen was talking about how Hartenstien seems to have won the backup C spot over Chriss and Zhou, while ignoring Nene, unless he meant backup when Nene rests

nothing is final yet
coaching team is going to try out different lineup throughout the season
they paired Melo and Ennis together a lot
and Melo mainly playing with backup unit

we know what Nene can do
he is not going to play back-to-back and he will probably not play when opponent center isn't tradition C/PF

i guess Melo will start after all

pre-season game 1 starters

C - Capela
PF - Melo
SF - Ennis
SG - Harden
PG - CP3

Was really looking forward to the first Chris to Chriss lob!
Got it first half of first preseason game

Legacy Arena right now:

Man, the Toyota Center looks totally different! Sorry...

Also, 32 points given up in the 1st quarter?!

No defense, no fit, no window, no chance.

stupid rule changed, some free motion thing (this sound like a rule to get Curry more unguardable)
every time Rockets put hand on moving player, beep, foul
CP3 got hit shooting 3 twice, no foul

Ennis looks slow in open court
Chriss needs to wake up and get ready to catch those passes

Harden-CP3-Gordon lineup is still the best

MCW and Chriss showing some flashes of goodness.