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So after a bunch of different things reasons, we will finally get to see the Rockets play today at full strength. So what are your expectations?

I'm personally pumped and think they could be championship contenders if the Harden situation dissipates. Wall and Cousins looked great in the preseason and seem to be a lot better than people thought while Woods has been a beast in the 2 games.

There aren't many weaknesses on the team currently except maybe they're only 7 deep. Although that can change as the season goes on and maybe a few others show themselves as rotation worthy.

Wall/ Harden
Harden/ Gordon
House/ Tucker
Tucker/ Woods
Woods/ Cousins

I think best case scenario is they are better than last year but not championship contenders.

harden could break through any year dont categorize him with russ

2nd most talented team in the league (maybe 1st)

Don't forget McLemore, Nwaba, and Sterling Brown. Not great players of course, but reasonable depth rotational pieces in case of injuries.

I'm super intrigued to see John Wall back healthy in a new situation with the most talent he's ever played with.

I think Harden is still gone so not sure it really matters. I also think Wall/Boogie/Gordon is 3 players they are giving major roles to who can't be counted on either for health or consistency of play. The potential upside in the short term is better, but just such little chance even if they convinced Harden to buy in and stay of those 3 guys all being contributors come the playoffs.

I think Stone did as good a job as anyone reasonably could have done considering all the constraints he faced, but I think the team we see in April looks nothing like this one.

Assuming Harden is on his best behavior/effort, as he has been very recently, Houston has a relatively deep and complementary team.

Wall/Nwaba
Harden/Gordon
House/McLemore
Tucker/Tate
Wood/Cousins

I don't know if that team is ready for the Lakers, and maybe the Clippers, but I like their chances against everyone else in the west. Especially if they embrace the offense Silas wants with more ball movement, and a little less reliance on iso.

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More or less the same from last year. Lock for a second round but won't have enough to finesse the elite teams in the West.

Wood is a really solid big. Wonder why Detroit and previous teams he was on let him go?

Optms wrote:More or less the same from last year. Lock for a second round but won't have enough to finesse the elite teams in the West.

You are likely correct, but this season they at least have solid bigs in Wood and cousins

Texas Chuck wrote:I think Harden is still gone so not sure it really matters. I also think Wall/Boogie/Gordon is 3 players they are giving major roles to who can't be counted on either for health or consistency of play. The potential upside in the short term is better, but just such little chance even if they convinced Harden to buy in and stay of those 3 guys all being contributors come the playoffs.

I think Stone did as good a job as anyone reasonably could have done considering all the constraints he faced, but I think the team we see in April looks nothing like this one.

I would agree this ultimately ends in a massive, reshaping Harden trade, but in the meantime I really hope the overall depth can keep minutes lower on Wall, Gordon, and Cousins. Between Harden, Wall, Gordon, Nwaba, Brown, and McLemore there shouldn't be any reason to put heavy minutes on Wall or Gordon. The front court is a little thinner, so I worry for Boogie more.

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A lot of talent.
A lot of questions.
That makes this Rockets team extremely difficult to guage.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:Wood is a really solid big. Wonder why Detroit and previous teams he was on let him go?

I seriously believe Detroit couldn't keep him... It seems he wanted to go, knowing he could go to a warmer climate with a team that wasn't rebuilding.

Rockets have lots of depth and talent. Wall looks almost back in al star form and he’s healthy. Cousins looked great. Wood was the steal of the off-season.

The defense still looks sus. We'll see. The talent is there and depending on how this Harden hissy fit shakes out the team could be really good.

Moahst wrote:The defense still looks sus. We'll see. The talent is there and depending on how this Harden hissy fit shakes out the team could be really good.

Ya, along with the Harden issue, their perimeter defense is the only thing that would hold the Rockets back.

Adam Stern wrote:A lot of talent.
A lot of questions.
That makes this Rockets team extremely difficult to guage.

Pretty much. Wouldn't be surprised if they finish 3rd or 10th in the West.

Talent is there but we don't know what will happen with Harden and health is still a big concern for them (Cousins/Wall).

Harden looks spectacular as ever even being overweight

Losing RoCo is going to hurt on lot on defense in big games. Obviously Wood has been really solid. Not sold on Wall staying healthy/effective.