GSW we have hardly any chance. SAS will be very tough, but if we are at our best, then we might be able to defeat them. Nevertheless, they will be favored to win against us.
We have some chance against OKC, and Dallas. Memphis maybe too. I don't see us getting past Portland. I don't see any chance of us matching up against OKC, because we will not be the 1st seed, and they are likely to be the 8th seed if they make it.
What about Portland makes you think the Rockets wouldn't get past them? It's just the opposite for me this year compared to last year. Last year, I though Portland was going to be a tough series for the Rockets, whereas the consensus on this site was that Portland was no match. This year, I think the Rockets would get past Portland, and the consensus here seems to be that Portland would probably win.
Just because we've beat the Spurs during the regular season does not mean we can handle them in the playoffs especially in the first round.
Here is how I would hope the matchups would work out for us First round: #2 HOU vs #7 DAL Second round: #2 HOU vs #3 MEM WCF: #2 HOU vs #5 SAS (let's hope that SAS beats GSW in the second round) Then, of course, Houston beating Cleveland in the Finals.
I agree. I think we are a much better team this year than last year. And Portland has been worse recently just because of injuries.
NEED the 2 seed or at a minimum the 3 seed. I don't care how well we have played on the road this year. The playoffs are a different animal.
Our 4's have improved, but they have not come close to slowing LMA down. Howard's return will help, but he is not likely to play as much as he did in the last season against them. Lillard has a huge advantage against us at the 1. Harden is better than last year, and Ariza/ Brewer will help us too. Matthews' absence might be felt, but they are confident against us. Bev will be missed to a fair extent IMO.
Bev was hurt in last season's playoffs. He had a decent series at best but was still limited. I would feel a lot more confident with Ariza or even Brewer on Lillard. D-Mo didn't play in last year's playoffs,but having him and Josh Smith rotate on LMA would hopefully slow him down a little bit more than we did last year....
I actually feel better about Ariza and Brewer checking Lilliard than Parsons and whatever Bev was doing last years playoffs.
When the Rockets give maximum effort, their defense is pretty damn stout. At the beginning of the season, you could see how hard they were playing on defense, and they looked impressive. In the playoffs, they will be giving maximum effort. With Ariza and even Brewer, I think Lillard will not have as easy of a time scoring. I also think Jones has improved defensively and Josh Smith is a good defender. Aldridge going off for 40+ last year was an anomaly. That isn't the norm. I think he'd have a tougher time against an experienced vet like Josh Smith. Also, last year Wes Matthews was the Harden stopper. This year, he's out for the season. Who is going to shut down Harden? I just feel like everything that hurt Houston last year against Portland has been improved on. The PF rotation is worlds better... Jones and Motiejunas are worlds better than last year, Matthews won't be around to guard Harden and hit 3's, and the defense overall is much improved over last year and the Rockets also have a near lock-down defender in Ariza.
I'm interested in how y'all adjust what I did behind the spoiler and add your stink to it. But I really think now looking at everyone's schedule that 2nd seed is ours to get, and we will play the Mavs. Spoiler Rockets Wed, Apr 1Sacramento -W Thu, Apr 2@Dallas-W Sun, Apr 5@Oklahoma City-W Wed, Apr 8@San Antonio-W 2ND NIGHT OF BACK TO BACK FOR SPURS Fri, Apr 10vsSan Antonio-L ROCKETS & SPURS SPLIT THIS 2 GAME SERIES Sun, Apr 12vsNew Orleans-W PLAY DWIGHT Mon, Apr 13@Charlotte-W Wed, Apr 15vsUtah-W FINAL RECORD: 57-25 Clippers Wed, Apr 1@Portland -L Sat, Apr 4@Denver-W Sun, Apr 5@Los Angeles-W Tue, Apr 7vsLos Angeles-W Sat, Apr 11vsMemphis-W Mon, Apr 13vsDenver-W Tue, Apr 14@Phoenix-W FINAL RECORD: 55-27 Grizzlies Fri, Apr 3 vs Oklahoma City-W Sat, Apr 4vsWashington-L Wed, Apr 8vsNew Orleans-W Fri, Apr 10 @Utah-W Sat, Apr 11@Los Angeles-W Mon, Apr 13 @Golden State-L Wed, Apr 15vsIndiana-W FINAL RECORD: 56-26 Spurs Wed, Apr 1@Orlando-W Fri, Apr 3 vsDenver-W Sun, Apr 5vsGolden State-L Tue, Apr 7@Oklahoma City-W Wed, Apr 8vsHouston -L 2ND NIGHT OF BACK TO BACK FOR SPURS Fri, Apr 10@Houston-W ROCKETS & SPURS SPLIT THIS 2 GAME SERIES Sun, Apr 12vsPhoenix-W Wed, Apr 15@New Orleans-W FINAL RECORD: 54-28 Mavericks Wed, Apr 1@Oklahoma City-W Thu, Apr 2vsHouston -L Sat, Apr 4vsGolden State - L Wed, Apr 8vsPhoenix -W Fri, Apr 10@Denver -W Sun, Apr 12@Los Angeles -W Mon, Apr 13@Utah -W Wed, Apr 15vsPortland -L FINAL RECORD: 50-32 1ST-WARRIORS 2ND-ROCKETS 3RD-GRIZZLIES 4TH-TRAILBLAZERS 5TH-CLIPPERS 6TH-SPURS 7TH-MAVERICKS 8TH-THUNDER 1ST ROUND: ROCKETS VS MAVERICKS 2ND ROUND: ROCKETS VS SPURS CONFERENCE FINALS: ROCKETS VS WARRIORS FINALS: ROCKETS VS HAWKS CHAMPIONS: ROCKETS
How many times have we beat the Clippers this year? IIRC 2? For some reason I feel like the Clippers don't own the Rockets as much as they have in the past seasons.
What happens if Clippers & Rockets tie with 55 or 56 wins, with regular season series with them already tied at 2-2?????? I'm not that far versed in NBA rules if someone could help me out. That is actually a very possible scenario. What if Clippers, Rockets and Grizzlies are all tied at 56 wins, with Rockets already having 2-2 tied series with both Clippers and the Grizzlies?
It's complicated, involving division and conference record, but most likely Griz and Clips will have the tie breaker over Rockets.
