Are the Rockets the team to beat in the West now?

Of course. Just like the Big 3 in the east. Its a Big 3 in the west. But yes I think they are the team to beat. They were the team to beat last year when they were on their 22 game winning streak. Now theyre gonna have really good defense.

The Spurs and Lakers are still the team to beat. Until the Rockets get out of the 1st round then we can consider them. They havent proved anything yet. Did Ron Artest even get in the All-Star game?

Not really cuz T-Mac & Yao are still injury prone. If they could make it through at least 75% of the season (w/ the 25% bein in either the middle or beginning of the season), they should be good, and thats if they dont run into any problems with Artest. But it should be good, to bring back their def strenght that they had 2 yr ago w/ van gundy.

No, they still can't hang with my Suns. Give the Suns a pre-season to gell and you are going to be amazed. Okay, Amare can outplay McGrady, Grant Hill can outplay Artest, and even an older Shaq is better than a soft Yao. Plus, they have still arguably one of the best point guards in Nash so I think the Suns can take the Rockets.

nope. Your not the team to beat unless you do something. Wait till the season starts. Yao or TMac will get injured. Its almost a guarantee now. This guy above said Kobe cant score with Artest or Battier on him haha. Kobe averaged 33 points against Houston this year and 27 against Sacramento. while shooting over 45%. Your a dumb

this is exactly what the rockets to finally make it to the second round of the playoffs. I see the suns, mavericks, and jazz falling to the seventh, and eighth seeds, and one of them won't even make the playoffs, which will open the door for the rockets, who I predict will finish the season as a 2 or 3 seed, get to the second round of the playoffs, but lose to the Hornets in a six game series.

I still believe in the suns but Rockets will get pass the first round for sure!!!

Prolly cause Kobe can't score with Artest or Battier on him!

No I still think the Lakers are the team to beat.

no, but on paper they should be contenders, but thats said about the rockets every year. injuries will kick in and theyll never develop team chemistry.