Anyone else feel like we're destined for another 1st round exit?

Most probable teams to go home first. Mavs, Clippers, and Rockets

 

Yes (The recent "Time to be Honest" thread. This one's thread's better worded though)

As I said there, my outlook has gone from
"Hopeful", down to
"Believe it When I See it", with a mix of
"Cautiously Optimistic" tossed in (just cuz its a reason we even watch any Rockets game in the first place...)
It hasnt been a definitive "NO" or "Of COURSE Not!"

Encouraging part of recent ROAD win vs Clippers (always a great thing) is Rockets won in SPITE of shooting poorly from field. That can mean Rockets have plenty room to go UP and can't go much worse. D-Mo can't keep going 3-15 from the field.

Discouraging aspect is that without James Harden's singular ability to get refs to whistle fouls, this game isnt even close to a Rockets win. And refs will only swallow the whistles MORE in the playoffs.

Also even with complaints about McHale's coaching, I don't see any better way to utilize the current cast of Rockets players than what is being done. Ariza has cut down on his shot attempts,
Beverly doesnt force shots and focuses on D and open looks (not EFFECTIVE at doing it, but playing his role right)
Terry correctly is a 3pt specialist not a playmaker
Motiejunas is only offensive low post threat at center
Dorsey is a situational player
T Jones is a better starter than Josh Smith, etc.
The only "saviour" is playing Pablo Prigioni more minutes (really... its the only other option left out of lack of options)

Or hoping a super talented addition of Dwight Howard offers that much better bump up in team player. Otherwise it needs to be the James Harden Free Throw Show and getting a team on a bad night.

 

I'm a houston sports fan....

So. It's in the back of my mind.

 

I think our style of play isnt suitable for postseason victories, and we dont have enough shooters. If we lose this will be soley on Moreyball.

 

All five of your support points are likely significantly affected when we get our star center back healthy. So I strongly disagree.

Also, bummer of a post after a really big win.

 

We play in the Western Conference, in the toughest decision. Statistically speaking, going out in the first round is the most likely scenario. That's just the way it is. It doesn't mean that you don't keep playing your best and hope for the best outcome.

 

also I dont think there is a team in the West who is alot better than the other playoff times. Maybe the Warriors but the Rockets have just a good chance to win it all as any other team. We've beaten the Grizzlies twice, I believe 1 or both times without Howard. weve beaten portland and the clippers twice without Howard also. The only team that we havent beaten is the Warriors. Playoff Basketball is different but adding Dwight should only help us out

 

So, maybe the question is, who is destined for at least the 2nd round in the WC. I don't even know the answer to that. If GS faces a healthy Okl City in the 1st round, I'm not sure GS would even advance pass the 1st round.

 

We are destined for a Finals loss.

Such a failure

 

With McHale as the coach and his amazing inability to make adjustments or use the correct players I have my doubt's. But I think we will advance past the 1st round for sure.

Also I don't think HCA means a damn think in the West. The teams are just way to good from 1-8 for that to matter to much.

 

THAT's MY LINE


T_Man

 

Would rather get out of first round tha Harden winning MVP. SORRY SIR BEARD-O-LOT

 

Last year we didn't have Ariza. Defense wins championships. The Clippers owned us last year, but we've tied them this year. The 2 superstars on the Clippers, Paul and Griffin, were both shutdown in back-to-back defensive 1on1 plays by Ariza. That is huge. You have to be able to play shut down defense if you're pursuing a ring.

 

The west is a COIN TOSS in my opinion...Including Golden State as the game changes and slows down in the playoffs as we know usually.

I'll take the Rockets chances with Howard back which gives us a deeper bench and should neutralize our rebounding problems. Impressive we're 3rd in the west with Howard missing most of the year.

 

Or Brewer or a Grown up Jones...

T_Man

 

Make shots. Move on offense.

These things are not impossible.

 

Actually no I don't. This team seems to be much more clutch late in close games than any Rockets team in recent memory. Somehow this team finds ways to win, usually. If we lose it's usually a blow out. With Dwight coming back and providing rim protection and rebounding I'd put this team up against anyone. Although GS is definitely the prohibitive favorite.

 

This.

I find it hard to believe there will be any heavy favorites in the 1st round of the Western playoffs if GS is up against OKC.

 

We won a play series last year

(Major Spoiler Alert Below)

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYHBXqSbMbA

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86xr7kUxRtQ

[/SPOILER]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh_wLpQjh6k

Spoiler

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mejFtEY5faU

 

The biggest indication to me that last year's team lost was our inability to keep a lead.
I think we kind of over exaggerate how badly our team chokes just because last year's team did. Most people don't realize that we had the youngest team in the playoffs last year, and the fact that we have so much more veteran presence is a good indication that we have much better composure.

Another fallacy that most of use for playoff failure is the fact that we rely on Morey ball for offense and that is not sustainable come playoff time. The fact that everyone forgets is that we are a top 10 defense, and that is what carries a team (especially in the playoffs) at the end of a game. Additions such as Ariza, Brewer and Smith (also D-Mo's emergence) are also indicative of why we made such a big jump.