2024/25 Houston RocketsRecord: 48 - 34
PPG: 99.5
OPPG: 97.0
If, before sim 1, I was told that we would finish in 4th spot in the west I would have laughed my ass off...
Targets for this year were:
#1 Establish what we have in terms of productive/potentially productive youth.
#2 Aquire picks
#3 Challenge for 8th spot in the West
#1 Young Guns - This year has proven that Roy Tarpley can be an elite power forward in this league, even when players around him are scoring the basketball. Roy has averaged 19.1ppg and 10.9rpg and I am thrilled with his production. One more good Training Camp and he culd be a real force...
- Olden Polynice has shown glimpses of what he can do, with a season high of 21 rebounds when Shane Wedge went down. He also averaged 8.3rpg in only 23minutes. If that potential can take effect he could be the long term solution at Centre I have been looking for. Scoring is not hugely important to me from the 5 spot.
- Muggsy Bogues has shown he is a "safe" bet at the PG position. After a slightly dissapointing Training Camp he has averaged 10ppg and 8apg while getting 2.3 steals. Good numbers, but in this league does your PG need to be a scoring threat as well..? Maybe.
- I am also intrigued by Adam Fortson. An amazing rebounder for his size from the SG spot he has contributed but not as much of a scorer as I would have liked. Percentages were poor but A- outside and defense with B potential make him one to watch out for. Here's hoping for another good TC...
#2 Aqcuire PicksI would have like to move one of my vets to get my hands on another first this year or next. But, no-one was really biting on Shane Wedge or Wiley Peck.
Kings pick should be around the 7/8th spot in the lotto, here's hoping for some good fortune when the lotto comes round.
Nets and my own pick won't be great but if I can grab a little more potential towards the lower end of the round that would be a bonus.
#3 Challenge for Playoffs- Well, this one worked out pretty good!
No way was I expecting 4th seed and many will say the Rockets are over-achieving. Maybe, but with youth on our side we may be able to steady the ship and become a regular fixture in the playoffs.
Big Questions:#1 How long can Zack Profit continue to be our main scoring threat. Should we look to go young now..?
#2 Can Polynice step into Shane Wedge's shoes..? Defensively and on the boards yes... but how much will we miss Shane's Scoring...
#3 (the Biggy) Is Muggsy Bogues consistent enough to be a starting PG in this league..? Should we settle for him as our PG...?
#4 Will TC be kind to us..?
Overall, I'm proud of what we have achieved this year. Hopefully we can maintain this level of performance or even improve with some luck in the off-season. Worse case scenario is that the off-season doesn't go well and we wait for Free Agency next season when Peck is expiring and look to build around the young core again...
