Hollinger puts out exellent previews for teams/players before every season. His team previews are available on ESPN Insider right now, and the preview for the Rockets is a fun read (he really likes our team this season).</p> Hollinger's Rockets Preview It includes an in-depth 06/07 recap, a review of offseason moves, strengths/weaknesses, and an outlook. I'll post the Outlook section here:</p> <hr width="100%" size="2" /> Outlook This might take some of you by surprise, so let me start by saying I realize the waters in which I tread have claimed many good souls before. Betting on Adelman and McGrady to achieve postseason success hasn't been a really wise play over the past decade. Betting on both to win together seems downright masochistic. Could this be the year T-Mac and Yao see the second round? That said … I'm betting on these guys. Big time. Like division champs big. Like best record in the West big. And yes, like winning the championship big. Of course, it's never easy to come out of the West. Houston could easily finish third in its own division, as it's populated by what I consider to be the three best teams in basketball. The two-month playoff grind is a concern, too, given the health problems for McGrady and Yao in recent years -- especially the back trouble that has plagued T-Mac. While I'm going over potential weaknesses, let's put a few others out there. The team is unlikely to defend as well as it did last season, as Adelman can't match Van Gundy's brilliant track record at that end. It's not clear if Francis can reform his over-dribbling ways and become a secondary player, nor if Scola can make the immediate adjustment to NBA ball that will be needed to close the open wound at power forward. And it appears Yao's defense can be taken advantage of in a seven-game series -- just ask Carlos Boozer for confirmation. I like them anyway. What makes me think these guys are so qualified to climb to the top of the mountain? Mainly, the help. Last season Houston had two superstars but little else offensively, and McGrady's numbers cracked under the strain. This season the Rockets have the same two superstars, but now have several quality role players around them to pick up the slack. In particular, the addition of more players who can create their own shot is going to be a huge benefit to the offense, which was excruciating to watch last season. I'm still haunted by the memories of four guys standing around watching T-Mac during that seventh game against Utah while missing a ton of open kickout shots. And it's not as if Houston was chopped liver a season ago. The Rockets won 52 games, and actually were much better than their record. One would expect a team with their scoring differential to win 57.4, and as those of you who've read me for a while know, differences between real and "expected" wins are almost pure luck. That came with McGrady and Yao combining to miss 45 games, Wells going in the tank, Snyder missing half the season and the head coach working on his exit strategy. So what happens if you take that team and add Wells (essentially), Francis, James, Brooks, Scola, and Butler, and give it a coach who wants to be there? It's scary to think, but a gang that had 57-win talent a season ago may also be the league's most improved team. And for that reason, even considering T-Mac's and Adelman's postseason histories, one can make a fairly convincing case that the Rockets are the team most likely to be holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June. Prediction: 61-21, 1st in Midwest, 1st in Western Conference</p>
I'd hope he's right, but I honestly think that's a bit optimistic of our beloved Rockets. I just feel there is a missing piece to be filled.</p>
^^ Right now it seems we have enough backups at each position. Not as deep as the point guard, but we can probably cover any injury besides ones to TMac or Yao.</p> It'll be different after the preseason cuts though...</p>
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets are slightly over .500 come All Star Weekend. There's a lot of adjustment and experimenting to be done and I don't think rotations will even be set til well after the preseason is over. With that said, I think they'll be the best team in the league in the 2nd half of the season.</p>
