I hate seeing anyone injured, but the news about Frye is welcome our chances are now probably 20-30% better of winning the game against Phoenix
definitely need to win or split 2 games against phoenix. if we go 0-2 against them then its major trouble. we can catch memphis because Gay is still out and we hold the tie breaker
04/03/11 Sun @ San Antonio 04/05/11 Tue @ Chicago 04/06/11 Wed @ Minnesota 04/08/11 Fri @ New Orleans 04/10/11 Sun @ Dallas a spot in phoenix' schedule that makes them really really vulnerable.
Looking tough... Portland is hanging on. Utah will lose for sure. Chicago should be able to handle Hornets... I am worried about Memphis-Okc game and this Portland game... not feeling good about either.
Definitely. We really need NO to lose. I think the 3 teams we have the best chance at catching are NO, Pho and Utah. We should be blazing past Utah rather soon.
Listening to the game tonight, Bullard stated the Rockets need to close 12-5 to get to 45 wins and make it in. Assuming that number is about right (and it probably is) I got to looking at the remaining schedule. Its looking VERY difficult but not impossible. The key is not to give up any "gimmes" and to count on at least one let down by a team that is tough to beat. Here's what I think the Rockets must do to make 45 wins: @ PHX Win 1-0 vs. SA Loss 1-1 vs. PHX Win 2-1 vs. CHA Win 3-1 vs. BOS Loss 3-2 vs. UTAH Win 4-2 vs. GS Win 5-2 @ MIA Loss 5-3 @ NJ Win 6-3 @ PHI Win 7-3 vs. SA Loss 7-4 vs. ATL Win 8-4 vs. SAC Win 9-4 @ NOLA Win 10-4 @ LAC Win 11-4 vs. Dal Loss 11-5 @ MIN Win 12-5 LOTS of games that are really toss ups that I put in the Rockets win column...mainly the @ Philly, vs. ATL and @ NOLA not to mention sweeping the home and away vs. PHX. If we lose any of THOSE then we would have to get a win vs. SA, DAL, MIA or BOS to make up for it. Gulp.
I think Memphis is a lock in the playoffs. I mean they beat okc and dallas on a back to back. They proven that they playing hard enough to make it. I think our best shot is beating out new orleans. I hust did a quick run through of their schedule and all the remaining games are against .500 teams except for 2, which are sac and pacers. I think we can catch them we just got to handle phoenix.
repost Jonathan_Feigen After a week favoring his right knee, Scola questionable because of soreness in his right. Said won't play if he feels as he does now tom
Here is the schedule for NO and what I think the results will be... Wed 09 vs Dallas (L) 0-1 Sat 12 vs Sacramento (W) 1-1 Mon 14 vs Denver (L) 1-2 Wed 16 vs Phoenix (W) 2-2 Sat 19 vs Boston (L) 2-3 Thu 24 @ Utah (W) 4-3 Fri 25 @ Phoenix (L) 4-4 Sun 27 @ LA Lakers (L) 4-5 Wed 30 vs Portland (L) 4-6 Fri 01 vs Memphis (L) 4-7 Sun 03 vs Indiana (W) 5-7 Wed 06 vs Houston (L) 5-8 Fri 08 vs Phoenix (W) 6-8 Sun 10 @ Memphis (L) 6-9 Mon 11 vs Utah (W) 7-9 Wed 13 @ Dallas (L) 7-10
although...it's very possible Dallas will rest their players for that last game. that would be unfortunate.
Interesting note: We are out-phoenix-ing Phoenix Houston Pts/game: 105.6 (3rd) Phoenix Pts/game: 105.3 (4th) Houston Opposition Pts/game: 104.4 (24th) Phoenix Opposition Pts/game: 105.3 (25th) There are no playoff contending teams that give up more points than these two teams. The two teams that score more per game than we do are the Knicks and Denver. It would be interesting to see the same thing, but with the stats filtered out for after the All-Star break... granted it's only 7 games or so
Phoenix's last 7 games: Wed 23 vs Atlanta W 105-97 Fri 25 @ Toronto W 110-92 Sun 27 @ Indiana W 110-108 Mon 28 @ New Jersey W 104-103 Wed 02 @ Boston L 103-115 Fri 04 @ Milwaukee W 102-88 Sun 06 @ Oklahoma City L 118-122 Our last 7 games: Tue 22 @ Detroit W 108-100 Wed 23 @ Cleveland W 124-119 Sat 26 vs New Jersey W 123-108 Sun 27 @ New Orleans W 91-89 Tue 01 @ Portland W 103-87 Wed 02 @ LA Clippers L 103-106 Sat 05 vs Indiana W 112-95 In the last 7... Houston Pts/game: 109.14 Phoenix Pts/game: 107.43 (bear in mind they had 3 games that went to OT though lol) Houston Opposition Pts/game: 100.57 Phoenix Opposition Pts/game: 103.57 (25th)
