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Regardless of the overpaying issue, Rockets have definitely improved a lot. They finally have a real PG who can be a good mentor and be the closer if need to, in Fred. Their defense should improve a lot with both Fred and Brooks. Plus they get 2 pretty good rookies in Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

I think their starting lineup would be Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr, Alperen Sengun with Kevin Porter Jr., Jae'Sean Tate, Jeff Green, Jock Landale among major backups. This team is much better than the last season's team.

Last season's team finished with 22-60 record (.268). How much Rockets will improve next season? Do you think they can reach .500?

I also saw how Drake made fun of them calling them a Chinese league team where Fred has signed . Maybe this will light a fire in them? It would be great story if they can finish ahead of Raptors next season

35-40 wins.

Probably 32 wins. They just scream 11th seed to me.

Not much imo. They tied for the 2nd worst record in the league and their big signings were... "Checks notes* Fred Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks.

30-34 wins imo

gl if you think FVV is a closer

Some, but not a playoff team.

I think 34-38 wins. Will hover around 9-12 depending on injuries.

Green, Smith Jr., and Sengun should keep improving and are good talents. We will see what kind of player Thompson is.

Fred and Dillon will bring a new identity and a defensive mindset.

I still think it's a bit too much dysfunction, immaturity and Fred and Dillon are a bit too inefficient to bring about a big change. They lost Gordon who was one of their best shooters last season. Fred is typically a good 3 point shooter, but had a bad shooting season last year. It will depend if he can regain his shooting.

Not much. Fred is pretty good, Dillon Bricks gives back what he provides on defense by being atrocious offensively, thompson is a rookie.

The only teams I think they're better than for sure will be Portland (after Dame and Nurkic trade) and Washington.

Detroit/San Antonio/Charlotte are debatable.

Indy/Orlando were good when they were healthy and should take a step forward with their youth.

So in the end, Houston will be battling to not be the 6th worst team in the nba loll

I would bet very very heavily against them finishing .500, and if I had to bet on a particular win total it'd be maybe 30-32. They should beat terrible teams more consistnetly next year, but as of now there are fewer junk teams that the Rockets should win at least 65% of games against. That should get them to about like 12 wins. That still means that, to get more than about 28 wins, they'll have to get a majority of wins against teams that are better than them but that they play better than.

That happens pretty frequently, though, and having a couple of competent guys means that will be easier--steady hands means it's harder to blow leads and get steamrolled for 7-8 minutes straight. But it's still tough to count on and makes this unpredictable. Either way, though, I don't think they'll do that like 30 times next year so .500 seems pretty goofy as an expectation.

Fred/Kevin Porter
Green/Amen/
Dillon/Tate/Whitmore
Jabari/Eason/Jeff
Sengun/Landale

Ime (if he is willing to abide by team / organizational rules) helps more than their player signings, but what's hard to predict is how the loser mentality is going to mesh with Fred and Dillon wanting to prove they're the alphas / leaders in the locker room. If the Rockets young guys are against change then buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride...

35 wins is definitely in the cards.

They'll be "better" because they have a real coach and decent point guard now, but I don't see more than 30 or 32 wins. They're still really young.

And if you need something Drake said to motivate you you have more problems than I thought.

So 30-35 wins are the expected win total for next season for the Rockets. The Raptors finished 41-41 last season. So that means if Raptors lose 6-10 more games next season then we can see Rockets finishing ahead of Raptors. Doable? Will losing Fred get the Raptors below .500?

They could not have signed a less efficient duo than Fred Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks. Their season is going to be a mess.

Still dont see them winning more than 30-35 games with that roster especially out west...there is no closer, locker room didn't get any better adding in Brooks...just dont see a vast amount of improvement

The shooting

Of all the players shootin 999 FG or more last year FVV and Dillion shot the worst %. - KOC

Richard4444 wrote:Fred/Kevin Porter
Green/Amen/
Dillon/Tate/Whitmore
Jabari/Eason/Jeff
Sengun/Landale

Udoka has said he's interested in moving KPJ to his more natural SG position, and Amen Thompson figures to be a PG.

Also, I wouldn't be stunned if Brooks ends up coming off the bench at some point (mostly dependent on Eason's development at PF). I do think you nailed the starting five for Opening Night, though.