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Would a meaningless 1st round win be a good thing?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by LosPollosHermanos, Apr 5, 2026.

  1. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Clutch Crew
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    I can see it now, we beat a very depleted lakers team and then Udoka and Stone sign 20 year contract extensions for winning a playoff series. I can’t think of anything more punishing atm tbh

    maybe the long play is losing..
     
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  2. Houston77

    Houston77 COOKIES AND CAKE, MY TEAM BAKED!
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    Oh be quiet. Of course winning a playoff series would be a good thing.
     
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  3. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Clutch Crew
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    You’re thinking 3D chess, we need to be on a 4D space here bro
     
  4. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    They aren't getting rid of Udoka no matter what, so we might as well win if possible.

    Fertitta owes him too much money for too many years to fire him.
     
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  5. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member
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    Unfortunately we are stuck with Ime whether we win or lose. Might as well win. I guess there is an outside chance that Ime would be fired if we lost to a Doncic and Reeves starved Laker team, but it would probably just mean we would blow it all up for Giannis.
     
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  6. a time to chill

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    That's a loser's mentality OP. Going to the second round would be a great thing for the franchise even if we get eliminated in the second round.

    It shows progress, a commitment to winning - continuing to establish a championship culture. It also makes everyone on the roster more valuable in the trade market if we want to bring in more vets to better compete next year.

    I'm not a fan of KD or Stone, but I'm rooting for the best possible outcome.
     
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  7. Shark44

    Shark44 71er
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  8. saleem

    saleem Member

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    A win vs a Lakers team without Luka can be considered meaningless, but the real test would be in the 2nd round.

    A 4-0 loss should result in the firing of Stone and Ime, but I think Ime will be retained. Stone might be replaced in this scenario.
     
  9. OremLK

    OremLK Member

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    Winning a playoff series and getting bounced in the second round while putting up a decent fight (at least two wins) would meet expectations for this season post-FVV's injury IMO.
     
  10. Dobbizzle

    Dobbizzle Member

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    Nah I don't think it matters tbh, Ime's here either way. I actually think the biggest disaster on the horizon is maxing out Amen and wasting all that money on a 3rd option Evan Mobley style, preventing us from ever trying to build a roster to compete with the real contenders.
     
  11. Imanimal

    Imanimal Member

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    Great post….we’ll beat the depleted Lakers 4-2 and lose 4-1 to OKC and they’ll call it a successful season and sign Tari to a 4 year 80 million extension. Stone and gang will run it back with FVV and we’ll lose again in the first round next season. Groundhog day with this organization.
     
  12. groovemachine

    groovemachine Member

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    Any additional playoff experience for the young guys will pay dividends next season and beyond
     
  13. Imanimal

    Imanimal Member

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  14. Imanimal

    Imanimal Member

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    You don’t learn from losing as we didn’t learn from the GS beat down last season.
     
  15. kjayp

    kjayp Member

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    man... both have multiple years remaining on their contracts - aint either getting an extension after this season... we could win the championship - and aint either getting an extension at the end of the year...

    feels kinda paranoid, bro... 4-D chess or overthinking an issue...?

    you cheer for your team to win - and hope for the best! :)
     
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  16. Kevooooo

    Kevooooo Member
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    They’re not going to fire either if we lose the first round. And didn’t we just extend Ime last year? And a first round win means 4 more playoff games. That’s 4 more opportunities for Amen, Reed, Sengun, et al to gain confidence and comfort playing in big, meaningful games. Can’t replicate that in regular season. So I can’t imagine a scenario where the risk of more Ime years outweighs playoff success.

    Ime has his flaws, but so does practically every coach. Grass ain’t always greener.
     
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  17. Kevooooo

    Kevooooo Member
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    Having FVV healthy wouldn’t be running it back. It would be like adding a veteran PG to a team desperate for a veteran PG.
     
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  18. Plowman

    Plowman Member

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    Yes, it would be a good thing, as it means our youngins are stepping up.
    Unfortunately, Ime isn't going anywhere.
     
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  19. Reeko

    Reeko Member

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    yes, simply because I like going to playoff games so the more the better for me

    I put up with all the fckery this season just for the playoff games

    plus injuries can happen to anyone at any time…with one injury we went from probably losing to the Lakers in a playoff series to it being the embarrassment of the century if we were to lose to them

    You take out the Harden era, and how many times have the Rockets made the 2nd round in the last 25 years?
     
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  20. harold bingo

    harold bingo Member

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    What kind of nonsense is this? You don't learn from losing? Losing and failing is the best way to learn literally anything. What are you talking about?
     

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