We look fantastic. How do you think our game will go over in the playoffs?

If our defense carries over then we're gucci, offense will not be a problem, but offense starts with defense.

 

My biggest concern after reading most of (haven't finished yet) 7 Seconds Or Less by Jack McCallum is whether we will be able to keep leads. There were a lot of playoff games from that season in the book where a 36-22 lead after one, quickly turns into a 42-40 deficit. Our defense seems a bit better than that Suns team, but our offense will have some stagnant moments, especially in the playoffs when defense becomes more physical.

With that said, I don't think many people thought we'd be this good this early in D'Antoni's system. If we can win 60+ regular season games like we're currently on pace to, then I think it's safe to say that the sky is the limit in the playoffs. Honestly the sky was the limit for that Suns team and for unfortunate circumstances they never quite pushed all the way through. I love the fight in our team. I can say confidently that this team will never mail it in, which is what it felt like last year's team (Beverley and a couple others aside), did all season long.

 

Before the season I honestly believed we could win at the minimum 50 games. Just being able to rid ourselves of Dwights inconsistency and bad attitude would do wonders for this team and not to mention adding a legitimate coach (although I was skeptical about D'Antoni).

Seeing this team now just clicking on offense is amazing. We could easily surpass the 55 win mark orossbily threaten for 60 wins.

I don't see many teams keeping up with us offensively except for SA and GSW. If we keep playing like this I think a first round win is a given and depending on the matchup in the second round I don't think it's crazy to think a WCF appearance is out of the realm of possibility. Of course all of this depends several factors including health and our ability to get stops when we need to. Needless to say this is the most fun I've had watching this team play in a long time considering how terrible last year was.

 

we've struggled when refs swallow the whistle early and right now it takes us too long to adjust to that. that's playoff basketball so they better learn how to adjust faster than they are now. part of that is defense which can buy you time until you can adjust offensively.

 

Harden will be guarded more tightly. Gordon will have to start with him at the 2 guard spot. That will create more pressure on the opposing team. Defense, and rebounding will need to improve for us to go deep into the playoffs.

 

If u are talking about the t-wolves game last night, consider that they only swallowed the whistle on one end of the floor.

 

Why would Harden be guarded more tightly? And why wouldn't that be a defensive mistake, allowing alley-oops over and over. Seems the defenses have a lot of poisons that they need to "guard more tightly" come playoff time.

I think Harden will burn defenses that focus too much on him, like he's already been doing.

Also, are you questioning this rotation? Bev +/- is off the charts, and Gordon has found his groove. I wouldn't mess with this rotation.

 

Better than 2.5 wks ago. The progress of Harrell and Dekker shows a ton of promise. I still see a flaw in
backup center & wing help. 1) I would like Ariza used as a defensive floater at wing. That would mean
another player combo SG-SF....not named Brewer or apparently KJ. 3 & D guy would be preferable.
Those players are hard to find and obtain. 2) backup center rim protecting shot blocker/rebounder.

Teams that have a dominant center on offense w/outside shooters present a problem for the Rockets.
One can see a pattern: Drummond, Cousins, Unibrow, Adams we collapse our defense and help out
without respect for outside shooters. Raps: Valanciunas had outside support from Ross, Lowry, DeRosan,
DeMarre, Cory Joseph, Paterson. T-Wolves: had inside out game of KAT w/Wiggins, Lavine, Dunn (some).
Clips? D Jordan/Blake Griffin w/outside shooting of Redick, Rivers, Crawford, Speigths, CP3, Wesley
Johnson, Pierce. Spurs? Recently saw clip of Duncan refining Gasol postup moves in practice.
So Gasol/Aldridge w/ Leonard, Danny Green, Ginobli, Simmons, Parker, Mills, Lee and
Dedmon/Bertans coming on strong. Warriors? bringing on MeGee for screens and lob inside game
and rim protection. Cavs? ? Each team has flaws. I'm hoping Cavs and Warriors make no more
roster moves. The Rockets can overtake them with a few tweaks.

 

I like this rotation very much. Defenses will try to create more turnovers, that's where Gordon's presence will give us an extra scorer/playmaker along with Harden. Bev will still be important for us.

 

See y'all in Cleveland.

 

avoid utah, that teams net rating when all their guys are healthy is freaky good

 

A playoff series is often about match-up: Is there a particular "kryptonite" lineup from a particular team that the opposing team just don't have the personnel to match up with?

Can this team handle Green-Durant-Iggy-Thompson-Curry or whatever other teams got?

 

I 'm betting Warriors vs Rockets in the WCF again.

These 2 teams have way too much fire power for Spurs or Clippers.

 

Teams value 3-D players too so unlikely to grab one without flaws, especially on the cheap. I also agree that Rockets can upgrade at back up 5 and the wing. Center discussions are hot and heavy elsewhere so will focus on versatile wing defender options. Would love Aaron Gordon as 3/4 that can defend positions 1-5. Not a polished offensive player but he would not be available otherwise. Not just an athletic specimen but his length, ability to handle ball and distribute in spurts makes him very different from KJ. Another guy is Robert Covington. He should be available for pennies because he is in shooting slump but he's long, has 3 range and has very good anticipation for steals.

 

It will go ok, but live by the jumpshot, die by it...the key is having enough people shooting well to win.

We are WAY better than last year or even 2 years ago.

DD

 

Thank goodness for both.

Yeppers, I was furious - - wanted Silas and a total rebuild. But, having fun now (more than Thibs et al, eh?) but - - could this team actually compete in a Best of v GSW, SAS, LAC? LBJs, Raps? I fear, not the Beard, but a ceiling that isn't high enough nor a clear path to breaking thru.

I've been wrong so far. Let me eat this reply. Please.

 

I wasn't too hopeful about us in the playoffs but was still really happy with the way the season is going.
But now I'm slowly gaining confidence with us getting past the first round and competing, as long as Gordon plays well in the playoffs. Teams will swarm Harden but if he gets that help we should be ok.

 

Rudy Gobert worries me. That Jazz loss was humbling. He completely took away the paint. We have also gotten destroyed by Towns and Lopez inside though won anyways.

 

You forgot about extending Harden's contract. That's looking more and more important these days. F durant... he wouldn't do what Ryno and Splash Gordon do for us.