Are the Rockets REAL CONTENDERS to win a playoff series in the West this year?!
Sam & Bryce discuss the Houston Rockets & their impressive start to the season (14-6!) while projecting whether they will be good enough to win a playoff series in a loaded Western Conference this year.
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Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you covered in this show.
39 Comments
I like how you guys are responsive in the comments….Good job guys. My Rockets defense are stifling and the offense is a grind it out kinda offense so I think they can do damage. Champion caliber, I’m not sure about that. But they can definitely surprise a few teams. The thing with the Rockets is one night Alpi can hit u for 30, next night Jalen, Next night Fred. So there is really no real way to tamp down one guy.
Yes. The talent, the chemistry and the will are there, and they are gaining experience with evey game.
Part of my calculation is the growth seen in 10 game stretches and how that translates to in-season growth compared to some you named as potential first round match-ups. The ceiling is higher.
The rockets are still in phase 2. If we can get into the playoffs and win a round we will be in phase 3. Until then, pump the brakes
Playoffs they’ll get washed but they’re regular season demons
The fact that you're praising Dillon Brooks proves that you don't watch Rockets games.
The Rockets are still a very sensitive and fragile team. There is no continuity except for Alperen and Amen. The only and biggest improvement compared to last year is the defense, and that is due to Alperen improving himself in this regard. A team that is so unstable in three-point shooting cannot become a champion.
You guys dont know what the hell you talking about. The only team that I wouldn't pick houston in a playoff series against is the okc thunder. And if they dont have chet then thats the thunder ass to 😂😂
Rockets have seven players averaging double figures scoring. It seems they don't need that one guy when they're so balanced. Any given night the high scorer might be Brooks, or Smith, or Sengun, or Green, or even Eason.
Rockets would beat the suns in a playoff series.
lol at 40th podcast in a row! I appreciate you guys following the rockets rebuild and being objective about it. Love your stuff. Keep it up.
Relative to your question…. Obviously it depends on JG and his consistency (efficiency) and usage.
They are still young, they can still scale this season unlike most teams in the west (outside OKC). They would probably need home court though, so being top 4 is necessary.
We say in germany: Offense win games and defense championships! The Rockets can beat nearly every team in the Play Offs
Rockets still have to prove it, but I'm all in on them. And to say Sengun is "better on defense" is a back handed compliment. Dude has been surprisingly incredible on D.
And I hope some team in the playoffs lets Jabari stay open.
For my fellow Rockets fans, from 8:13 on its just the usual fantasy trade talk.
I guess i get the skepticism is warranted because they haven't done anything yet, but I'm not picking the Lakers, warriors or grizzlies over them in a series. Looking forward to revisiting this conversation in April.
Good discussion otherwise. Y'all have a great Thanksgiving.
People always willing to blow up this team it makes no sense, Zach is no for me; but some one like foxx or booker I’m willing to flip for, and what teams really out match them on paper? They really missing that bruising big but that’s really it.
Easily win 1st round, maybe 2 nd round, the West is kinda shaky this year, we need a pure 3 point shooter cuz there are days no one can shoot 3 to save the team
Y’all are trippin, they def can beat some of those teams. One of the best defenses in the league if not the best. Plus tons of young athletic guys and Sengun.
can yall do a video for best defensive prospect at each position in the 2025 draft
Precisamos de atiradores do perímetro com urgência, não da pra chegar longe sem esses caras 👍🚀🚀🇧🇷
The Rockets are winning by exerting more effort right now. I'm not sure they have the stamina by the end of the season to win the same way. They can somewhat mitigate it by playing a deeper rotation, but they can't afford to lose Sengun to fatigue or injury.
I dont know about the other teams but we aint losing to lakers for 4 games bruh
No
They’re going to be a tough team to face in the playoffs. Not saying they’ll come out of the west, but I can as far as the Western Conference semifinals if they go right. Hard to see them getting by OKC, Dallas, and maybe Golden State.
I don’t know how far they will get. Their defense is what will determine how far that will go.
We just want to make it to the playoffs, winning a series is a next year thing.
Why even make a podcast about the Rockets if all you’re going to do is talk down on them? Shit’s stupid
As a rockets fan I want Edwards… I feel like he should be the target for any trades even if it may be unlikely
A series? As in one series? Of course they can. The west is deep so even if they grab a top half seed they could still match up with a good team early but defense will play anywhere against any team and the Rockets play defense just as good as any team in the league. And being one of the youngest teams in the NBA they're only gonna get better throughout the season
It's always the same question with this team, what are you getting out of Jalen Green? If he's going to suddenly put it all together this season, I think the Rockets can hang with anybody, because when he's on he looks like a legit star perimeter scorer and you've already got Sengun who will presumably get back to finishing better around the rim. But Green is only on like that 25% of the time at best, and when he's off, he's usually really off, like wasting possession after possession on offense and not really being a plus defender despite his improvements on that end. Or, if you're going to replace him with another guard at the trade deadline, who is that likely to be? And that's a question which is really tough to answer a quarter of the way into the season.
The Rockets offense is so clunky, and they shoot so poorly. I love my team, but our young guys are so inconsistent that we can't afford fvv to be too, but he has been.
Giving : isaiah hartenstien &
Jrue
Getting :Immanuel quickley & Austin
reaves, 9cat 12 team
I have Sga, Lamelo, Jdub, Franz,
Dejounte, Suggs, Should I accept?
I find it strange there's constant chatter about going all in on somebody THIS season – because frankly, who available is worth going all in on??? The non-playoff teams don't typically have that guy – especially this season. Markkenen's ineligible. Zion, Ingram & LaVine make no sense (injuries/contracts). Does anybody account for a smaller but just as important move (Sexton/Simons)? Adding a more efficient guard in case Jalen doesn't figure it out makes the most sense. At most they'd give up one 1st rd pick – leaving them options for the big fish down the road.
Saying the Rockets have little to no chance to beat anybody outside OKC in a playoff series is a stretch. The Lakers are terrible defensively. Memphis & GSW are Steph & Ja reliant (injury prone) & Amen's an elite defender who can shadow them. The theory the Rockets can't do this because this is who they are – is flawed. No reason why Amen, Sengun, Jabari, Tari & especially Jalen won't get better. Of the current playoff teams, the Rockets beat the Mavs & Knicks from start to finish. They crushed the Clips twice. Outside of OKC on the road & GSW, they've proven themselves. Maybe the Rockets offense can't get better but it also can't get worse. They've gotta roster full of players who's shooting numbers are below their career avg (FVV, Sengun, Jalen, Jabari)
Instant subscriber, 1st time I have heard a real authentic take about Sengun… Been saying Sengun below average fg% all year and all hear from other podcasters is how great and dominant he is
The rockets will continue to improve
Jalen green knows how good houston is
And you c as nt ever count out steff curry and warriors coaching
ROCKETS CAN GET LAURI MARKANEN FOR FOR JALEN GREEN + 1ST ROUND PICKS!
JALEN CAN BE A BUILDING BLOCK FOR THE JAZZ!
JIMMY BUTLER FOR JALEN GREEN IS GOOD TRADE AS WELL!
The prejudice and ignorance towards the European players is incredible!!! Alperen Sengun does triple double nearly every 3-4 games, he has the third best +/- stats in the league, he is literally a rebound monster and you are talking like he is a bench sitter. Well, he keeps increasing his pace, soon you will learn to respect the talent&effort.