This week’s question asks: How many wins will the Houston Rockets have this season?
The Rockets have been on a roller coaster since the start of the decade. From a franchise-changing trade in 2021 that sent James Harden, the Rockets’ best player, for almost a decade to a complete overhaul that saw them hit rock bottom and end up in the lottery for several seasons. The latest iteration of the Rockets has shifted from a team full of young, promising players struggling for wins to a more veteran-led team expected to make deep playoff runs.
Even though the Rockets made the playoffs the past two seasons, they hoped for more, especially after the blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Durant to Houston last offseason. The past two seasons have seen the Rockets bow out in the first round despite winning 52 games both seasons.
Now, heading into year two of the Durant era, the Rockets hope the return of Fred VanVleet and the additions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic will finally give them the push they need to get past the first round for the first time since 2020. We asked the SB Nation community for their opinion on how many wins the Rockets will have this upcoming season.
This is what you said:
The SB Nation community has spoken, and 68 percent think the Rockets will win at least 51 games for the third straight season. As mentioned earlier, the Rockets have won exactly 52 games in the past two seasons, and in the Western Conference, every win counts, as spots three through five were separated by only two games.
Some fans believe the Rockets will go backward this season. 32 percent believe the Rockets will win fewer than 51 games. After last season’s disappointing finish, it is understandable that some fans have lost confidence in the team, as the Rockets didn’t make a big splash this offseason like they did last summer.
The Rockets front office and coaching staff have made it a point to say that they believe VanVleet’s return and the other additions mentioned earlier in this article will be enough to finally get past the first round this upcoming season. With a full roster this season, if the Rockets can stay healthy, I believe the Rockets can get to 55 wins, which should be enough to have home-court advantage, something the Rockets did not have this past playoff.
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Thank you to the SB Nation community for voting!
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