2011-12 Houston Rockets Predictions
Written by Jack Jones
Many wouldn’t know it, but the Houston Rockets actually had a winning record last season at 43-39. What did that get them? How about a last-place finish in the NBA’s Southwest Division. This stacked division saw the other four teams all make the playoffs with 46-36 records or better.
While the Rockets do have the chips stacked against them as getting to the playoffs in this division, they will have a better chance this year. I believe every other team in the Southwest has downgraded, and this division won’t be nearly as tough as it was in 2010-11.
Houston must take care of their own business first. They tried to make a three-way trade with the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Hornets, which would have landed them Pau Gasol. However, commissioner David Stern rejected the deal, and the Rockets haven’t been able to upgrade their team much because of it.
Aside from drafting talented rookies Marcus Morris (No. 14), Donatas Motiejunas (No. 20), and Chandler Parsons (No. 38), the only addition the Rockets have made is trading for Jonny Flynn. They gave away Brad Miller in that deal, and they also lost Chuck Hayes in free agency.
What will help the Rockets going forward is not having to pay Yao Ming a ridiculous amount of money to ride the bench. Ming simply could not stay healthy, and he has elected to retire. Houston will now be able to put that failed experiment in the rearview mirror, which can only help them improve this team.
The Rockets were a dynamic offensive team last year, ranking 3rd in the NBA in scoring (105.9 PPG). This unselfish bunch led the league in assists (23.8/game) as well. However, they could not stop anyone on the other end of the floor, ranking 22nd in scoring defense (103.7 PPG).
It appears that Houston will be fielding a similar starting lineup to last year. PG Kyle Lowry (13.5 points, 6.7 assists) and SG Kevin Martin (23.5 points) form one of the most underrated backcourts in the league. Lowry will be backed up by Goran Dragic and Flynn, while Martin is backed up by Courtney Lee and Terrence Williams.
Their frontcourt is solid as well with SF Chase Budinger (9.8 points), PF Luis Scola (18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds) and C Jordan Hill (5.6 points, 4.3 rebounds). The depth behind these three is tremendous. Scola will be backed up by Patrick Patterson and Morris, Hill by Hasheem Thabeet, and Budinger by Marqus Blakely and Parsons.
Western Conference Prediction: 4th Southwest Division – The Rockets have nowhere to go but up in the Southwest Division. They should overtake the New Orleans Hornets for fourth place in this division. The Hornets lose Chris Paul and are clearly in rebuilding mode.
I don’t believe the Rockets are on the same level as the Mavericks, Spurs and Grizzlies talent-wise, but they could sneak out a No. 8 seed. This is quietly one of the up-and-coming teams in the West, and they are only a few moves away from being a serious contender. Their depth is very impressive, and it will allow them to stay competitive once again this season.
Expert handicapper Jack Jones gives you a brief preview of every team in the league with his 2011-12 NBA predictions article.
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