Predicting where the Rockets will finish in the Western Conference next season

It's playoff-or-bust time for the Houston Rockets. In 2024-25, the objective is to reach the postseason.

It's a lofty goal. The Rockets have one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Sure, they've bolstered that young core with veterans, but the point holds. A team with this many rookies, sophomores, and third-year pros in their rotation will likely lose some games.

That's not to say the playoffs are an unrealistic goal. The Rockets were .500 in 2023-24. With some internal development, they could easily look like a playoff team.

To get there, they'll have to survive a grueling Western Conference. We don't have a scientific method here. We'll simply divide the conference into tiers, and predict the Rockets' finish based on their placement in those tiers.

The Rockets should be ahead of these teams

Portland Trail Blazers

We like how Portland's rebuild is shaping up. Trading Malcolm Brogdon for a much-needed young defensive wing like Deni Avdija was a smart move. Donovan Clingan should be an ideal fit for this young group as well.

That said, Avdija is a role player. Clingan is a rookie who will struggle to usurp Deandre Ayton and (if he's healthy) Robert Williams III in 2024-25. The future is bright in Rip City, but they should be in the race for Cooper Flagg next season.