Are the Rockets contenders now?

[Bandito]

If you guys didn't know Dwight said himself on twitter that he's coming to the Rockets. So do you guys think he makes them a contender?

Discuss...

Lin
Harden
Parsons
whoever was playing PF
Dwight

If they trade Asik they could get a nice PF from a random team that can play good because he is a tradeable asset now and he averages more than 10 and 10 on 30 minutes and he's not injury prone. Unless they decide to keep him and use him as a center to Dwight's PF.

[305Baller]

They have a chance to contend, lets see how they play.

[chips93]

they are like the nets. they have the talent, we need to see them play first though.

they dont look as good, as the lakers looked this time last year.

[jzek]

After they get Josh Smith (for Asik), yes.

[NASH = BEST]

10-1 odds to win it all according to Vegas. Eh, they're contenders but not "Top Tier" contenders. I would say they are 2nd round exit team now.

[brantonli]

One thing that does worry me slightly is that the Lakers looked amazing last year too (old, but lethal) but that quickly went downhill as we saw.

We should be giving Dwight a full offseason to recover, since we have the Harden-Howard core locked up for at least 4 years. i'm 100% sure that Morey is nowhere near done in terms of the Rockets roster, and will be making major moves (like the Asik for Anderson) soon.

[chips93]

After they get Josh Smith (for Asik), yes.

does atlanta really want asik? they already have millsap and horford.

[SoCalLakersFan1]

They've bumped up to grizzlies/clippers tier in my eyes, so a tier below the thunder/spurs.

[DMV2]

Can Dwight turn the Rockets into a good defensive team? They were awful on D last season.

[Qwyjibo]

I think they're the 3rd best team in the West right now. Behind OKC and the Spurs.

[OJ SIMPSON 2.0]

Lets see-

Dwight bricks freethrows, Harden Bricks jumpshots, Lin turns the ball over. Hopefully Parsons can carry them.

[beastee]

does atlanta really want asik? they already have millsap and horford.
Only way to even have close to a chance against Lebron in the east is to have a big physical team. Asik frustrates him big time. They would need a pretty solid 2/3 scorer though...probably not til 2014.

[305Baller]

Only way to even have close to a chance against Lebron in the east is to have a big physical team. Asik frustrates him big time. They would need a pretty solid 2/3 scorer though...probably not til 2014.

Too bad for Houston that Asik is gone...

:pimp:

[PickernRoller]

Depends. I remember Dwight bricking free throws in game 4 of the 2009 Finals which allowed Fisher to tie the game. In OT Lakers sealed the deal and in game 5 finished him off.

Given his freethrows with the Lakers this season little has changed.

[spiegel]

We need a stretch 4 to punish teams and balance the inside combination with Superman.Smith is by all report bound to come here.

[bluechox2]

first round exits, spurs, thunder, clippers, warriors, grizzlies are all above them

[Lateralus]

Depends. I remember Dwight bricking free throws in game 4 of the 2009 Finals which allowed Fisher to tie the game. In OT Lakers sealed the deal and in game 5 finished him off.

Given his freethrows with the Lakers this season little has changed.

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/954/403/OFmwkzM_original.gif

[Lateralus]

first round exits, spurs, thunder, clippers, warriors, grizzlies are all above them


Still will be better than the knicks. :bowdown:

[Inferno]

They should try to get Hickson at PF.

[Patrick Chewing]

Still the 6th or 7th best team in the West


Their ball movement is atrocious

[outbreak]

If they land smith then yes

[b4uc.23]

Yes, they just need to sign a stretch 4.. Its like 2009 orlando with a legit 2nd option.

[brantonli]

And another thing. Howard can actually catch the passes Harden always throws to Asik, but Asik always misses/drops those passes. It will be nice to see Harden's assists numbers go up.

[Bandito]

And another thing. Howard can actually catch the passes Harden always throws to Asik, but Asik always misses/drops those passes. It will be nice to see Harden's assists numbers go up.
And you think Dwight hands are better.You're going to be so disappointed...:roll:



In order for Dwight to be effective you have to set play for him on the low block. Or just shoot threes from his passes so he can get the rebound. He couldn't catch passes from Nash or Kobe.

[WayOfWade]

It'd be awesome if Miami faces them in the finals. They will have faced all 3 Texas teams there; it'd be Miami vs. all of Texas, and consequently, the world.

[brantonli]

And you think Dwight hands are better.You're going to be so disappointed...:roll:



In order for Dwight to be effective you have to set play for him on the low block. Or just shoot threes from his passes so he can get the rebound. He couldn't catch passes from Nash or Kobe.


lol his hands don't have to be good. Just better than Asik, which isn't hard at all.

[b4uc.23]

And you think Dwight hands are better.You're going to be so disappointed...:roll:



In order for Dwight to be effective you have to set play for him on the low block. Or just shoot threes from his passes so he can get the rebound. He couldn't catch passes from Nash or Kobe.

Lakers lack of spacing/shooters was also a factor..

[NASH = BEST]

And another thing. Howard can actually catch the passes Harden always throws to Asik, but Asik always misses/drops those passes. It will be nice to see Harden's assists numbers go up.

I don't know man, I watched a bunch of Lakers' games last season and Howard always missed/dropped passes from Kobe and Nash last season too.

Howard was a f-ing butterfingers last season.

[Heavincent]

Championship contenders? No.

[Bandito]

It'd be awesome if Miami faces them in the finals. They will have faced all 3 Texas teams there; it'd be Miami vs. all of Texas, and consequently, the world.
And they are 1-2 too. Would the record go 1-3 or 2-3? Oh the drama...

[mugiwara]

And another thing. Howard can actually catch the passes Harden always throws to Asik, but Asik always misses/drops those passes. It will be nice to see Harden's assists numbers go up.

Oh dear..

[All Net]

Without a doubt they will be up there.. More so when okc have got worse

[brantonli]

Oh dear..

:/

[KG215]

Without a doubt they will be up there.. More so when okc have got worse
Debatable. Martin was really inconsistent and not anything special after the All-Star break and playoffs, while Reggie Jackson emerged. And we still have room to add someone else. If Dorrell Wright comes to OKC (we've offered he's still mulling his options) and Reggie takes another step next year, then the bench will still be as good as it was last year, and I figure Durant, Russ, and Ibaka will be better. Westbrook's improvement may be limited or he may be the same since he'll be coming off an injury and having spent most of the off-season rehabbing.

It may mostly come down to how quickly Lamb adjusts to getting regular minutes in the NBA, but Reggie plays anything close to the way he did in the playoffs, then I think we're better off than we were with Martin's inconsistency, and the fact that he was an atrocious defender and basically became a glorified spot-up shooter the last half of the season.

[d.bball.guy]

We can never really tell, especially after last years Lakers. Same goes for the Nets.

[disel]

Debatable. Martin was really inconsistent and not anything special after the All-Star break and playoffs, while Reggie Jackson emerged. And we still have room to add someone else. If Dorrell Wright comes to OKC (we've offered he's still mulling his options) and Reggie takes another step next year, then the bench will still be as good as it was last year, and I figure Durant, Russ, and Ibaka will be better. Westbrook's improvement may be limited or he may be the same since he'll be coming off an injury and having spent most of the off-season rehabbing.

It may mostly come down to how quickly Lamb adjusts to getting regular minutes in the NBA, but Reggie plays anything close to the way he did in the playoffs, then I think we're better off than we were with Martin's inconsistency, and the fact that he was an atrocious defender and basically became a glorified spot-up shooter the last half of the season.
Dellfino signed with OKC RIGHT?

[KG215]

Dellfino signed with OKC RIGHT?
No, and I haven't even heard a rumor of that happening. Right now, I know OKC has offered Dorrell Wright. If he goes elsewhere, I'm sure Presti will pursue other options like Delfino.

[Pointguard]

I see Houston beating OKC, but not necessarily beating Clippers or Memphis. I see Clippers having trouble with SA and Memphis. I see Memphis as having trouble with OKC and SA. I see SA having trouble with the Rockets and OKC.

OKC
Clippers
SA
Memphis
Rockets

for now.

[Nick Young]

http://guycodeblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/funny-gifs-dancing-alone1.gif